National Testing Agency did not publish the CMAT 2026 question paper, but its official answer key is hosted on this page as a PDF. The CMAT exam covers Quant/DI, Logical, Language, General Awareness and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
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Official files from the NTA
The NTA final answer key for CMAT 2026 (1 page, question IDs and correct option IDs) and the 2026 information bulletin (54 pages). The question paper itself was not made public.
At a glance
| Exam date | 25 January 2026 (Sunday), 9.00 am to 12 noon |
| Questions | 100, five sections of 20 each |
| Marking | +4 correct, minus 1 wrong, 0 unattempted |
| Mode | Computer-based test, English only, single shift |
| Candidates | 53,453 registered; 41,872 appeared (78.33%) |
| Provisional key | Challenge window 31 January to 2 February 2026, Rs 200 per question |
What the 2026 files are
The final key is a one-page NTA list for the single Shift-I paper, giving each question ID next to the correct option ID. CMAT is a computer-based test, so the IDs identify the question and its correct option rather than a letter A to D; you can match them only against the recorded-response sheet from your own login.
The bulletin is the NTA document for CMAT 2026. It sets the exam at 180 minutes, English only, and spells out the marking scheme: 4 marks per correct answer, minus 1 per wrong answer, no marks when unattempted, and full marks to everyone for a question dropped for a technical error.
How the 2026 key process ran
The NTA public notice of 31 January 2026 opened the provisional key and recorded responses for challenge, at Rs 200 per question, through 2 February 2026. The final key and the result were posted on 17 February 2026. Per the bulletin, no key grievance is entertained after the result.
Using it
Use the key to verify your own recorded-response sheet and recompute the raw score at +4 and minus 1, section by section. To build a mock, follow the pattern table on the syllabus & pattern page: 100 questions in 180 minutes.
Other years
FAQ
Where can I download the official CMAT 2026 answer key?
The final answer key file is hosted above, copied from the NTA’s CMAT site (cmat.nta.nic.in). The question paper with recorded responses was shown only to candidates during the challenge window, so no public question paper is hosted.
When was CMAT 2026 held?
On 25 January 2026 (Sunday), in a single shift from 9.00 am to 12
noon, as a computer-based test.How many candidates took CMAT 2026?
The NTA press release of 17 February 2026 records 53,453 registered candidates and 41,872 appeared, 78.33 percent, across 259 exam centres in 110 cities.
What is the CMAT 2026 marking scheme?
Each of the 100 questions carries 4 marks; a wrong answer costs 1 mark and an unattempted question scores nothing. The medium is English only.