CMAT Exam Analysis 2024 – Slot 1
CMAT 2024 is being conducted on May 15, 2024, in two slots between 9 AM to 12 Noon (Slot 1) and 2.30 PM to 5.30 PM (Slot 2). This is the CMAT 2024 analysis of the first slot.
TEST OVERVIEW
The structure of the test and estimates of good attempts are as follows:
| Section | No Of Questions | Marks per Question | Maximum Marks | Good Attempts | Overall LOD |
| Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation | 20 | 4 | 80 | 16-17 | Easy |
| Logical Reasoning | 20 | 4 | 80 | 15-16 | Easy |
| Language Comprehension | 20 | 4 | 80 | 15-16 | Easy |
| General Awareness | 20 | 4 | 80 | 10-11 | Medium |
| Innovation and
Entrepreneurship |
20 | 4 | 80 | 11-12 | Medium |
| Total | 100 | 400 | 70-75 |
- The test had no sectional timing.
- Incorrect responses invited negative marks (-)1 for each incorrect response
VERDICT
Overall, the difficulty level of slot 1 of CMAT 2024 was similar to that of CMAT 2023 (morning slot).
As is the case generally with CMAT, this time too, time was not a constraining factor. Some of the questions in the five sections were sitters. However, some questions in both the General Awareness and Innovation and Entrepreneurship sections were challenging. They could become the decisive questions and impact the overall percentile. Based on the feedback received from IMS candidates and experts, we expect the following cut-offs in CMAT 2024:
| Score | Percentile |
| 295 – 305 | 99.5+ |
| 275 – 285 | 99 |
| 255 – 265 | 95 |
| 235 – 245 | 90 |
| For B-School cut-offs, see Note ** at the end | |
SECTIONAL ANALYSIS
Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation:
This section was relatively easy in terms of Level of Difficulty. Out of 20 questions in the section, 3 were on Data Interpretation and the remaining 17 were on Quantitative Technique. A set of 3 questions on Data Interpretation consisted of questions based on caselets. These questions on Data Interpretation involved simple calculations.
The questions on Quantitative Techniques were dominated by questions on Arithmetic. Out of 17 questions on Quantitative Techniques, 7 questions were on Arithmetic, which included questions on Time-speed-distance, Ratio-Proportion, Profit & Loss, SICI, Time & Work. There were 2 questions each on Modern Math and Algebra, 5 questions on Numbers, and 1 question on Geometry. Most of the questions on the Quantitative Technique were easy. Some questions involved true false statements and Quantitative comparison.
| Area | No of Questions. | Details | |||
| Easy | Medium | Difficult | Total | ||
| Arithmetic | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 | Time-speed-distance, Ratio-Proportion, Profit & Loss, SICI, Time & Work |
| Geometry | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Mensuration |
| Modern Math | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | Permutation & Combination, Probability |
| Numbers | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | Surds, Properties of numbers |
| Algebra | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | Quad equations, Quad inequality |
| Data Interpretation | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Caselet (Set of 3 questions) |
Around 16-17 attempts in this section with 80% accuracy would be good.
Logical Reasoning:
Out of the 20 questions in this section, 11 were on Non-Verbal Reasoning and 9 questions were on Verbal Reasoning. All the questions were standalone questions and there were no set-based questions.
The questions on Non-Verbal Reasoning were spread across different topics in Logical Reasoning such as Directions, Cubes, Counting the number of triangles and squares, Linear Arrangements, Coding, etc. The questions on Verbal Reasoning included questions such as Syllogisms, strong/weak arguments, assertion-reason, analogy, odd one, etc.
The questions were not lengthy and many questions were straightforward and very easy to solve.
| Area | No. of Qs. |
| Directions | 2 |
| Cubes | 2 |
| Counting the number of triangles | 1 |
| Linear Arrangement | 1 |
| Coding | 2 |
| Clocks | 1 |
| Numerical Puzzle | 1 |
| Misc | 1 |
| Verbal Reasoning | |
| Syllogisms, strong/weak arguments, assertion-reason, analogy, odd one out., Statement-Conclusion, Statement-Assumption, Statement-Assertion, Arrange words in sequence | 9 |
Around 15-16 attempts in this section, with 80% accuracy, would be a good attempt.
Language Comprehension:
The Language Comprehension Section consisted of 2 Reading Comprehension questions and 18 Non-RC questions. The passage was easy to read. The non-RC questions were easy as well.
| Area | No. of Qs. |
| Reading Comprehension – 1 Passage – 200 words Topic: Impact of Diversity on Education | 2 |
| FIB, Parts of Speech, Antonyms, One-word substitution, Odd one out, Replace underlined phrase, Passive voice, Cloze passage [3 blanks], Para-jumble, Jumbled sentence, Grammar [Assertion reasoning and True/False statements], Match the idioms with their meanings, Match the foreign words with their meanings, Synonyms. | 18 |
Around 15-16 attempts in this section with 80% accuracy would be good.
General Awareness:
Out of the 20 General Awareness questions, 15 were based on Static GK. 5 questions were on Current Affairs. The majority of questions were based on Indian events. Only a few questions were on international events. The questions were on Sports, constitution, history, books and authors, physics, geography, etc. Overall, this section was of medium difficulty level.
10 to 11 attempts in this section with 80 % accuracy would be a good attempt.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship:
Out of the 20 questions, 16 were based on Business and Entrepreneurship concepts (Nascent Entrepreneur; Phases of funding; Reasons for failure, etc.). 4 questions were on Business GK. Overall, this section was of medium difficulty level.
11 to 12 attempts in this section with 80 % accuracy would be a good attempt.
**Note:
Approximate Cut-Off for CMAT Based Colleges
The following B-School admissions (based on CMAT score) generally close at these percentiles:
MMS Programs – (All India Seats)
JBIMS – 99.99 percentile
Sydenham – 99.95+ percentile
KJ Somaiya – 99.94
Welingkar Institute Of Management- 99.9
PGDM Program
Great Lakes, Chennai – 90 + percentile + profile based
GOA Institute of Management – 95+ percentile
KJ Somaiya – 95 + percentile
IFMR – 85 + percentile
NIBM – 90 + percentile
Welingkar Institute Of Management – 70 + percentile (eligibility) + profile based