CMAT Syllabus 2025: Section-wise Syllabus, Weightage, Pattern & Books

The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national-level entrance examination for admission to management programs in the country. Its purpose is to select suitable graduate candidates for admission to management courses at affiliated or participating institutions. The CMAT 2025 will be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on January 25th 2025. The CMAT syllabus evaluates candidates on logical reasoning, quantitative techniques, data interpretation, general awareness, and comprehension.

CMAT Syllabus and Sections 

The CMAT Syllabus comprises five sections: logical reasoning, quantitative techniques and data interpretation, general awareness, language comprehension, and innovation and entrepreneurship. NTA will not release an official CMAT Syllabus on its website. The authority will mention only the sections that must be included in the CMAT exam syllabus.

The CMAT entrance exam has 100 questions, with 20 questions asked in each section. The CMAT Syllabus 2025 is anticipated to follow the same trend as last year. 

Important topics on the CMAT Exam Syllabus:

The key topics covered in the past year’s CMAT exam syllabus are: 

1. Most of the questions in Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation were based on Arithmetic, Algebra, and Number System.
2. The section on Logical Reasoning of the CMAT syllabus included questions on topics like coding, decoding, series, and more. 
3. The language comprehension section had most of its questions from vocabulary, grammar, and RC passages. 
4. The general awareness section comprised of questions from static and current affairs. 
5. The section on innovation and entrepreneurship was added in 2021. The questions asked were based on entrepreneurship and management. 

Read More – CMAT Answer Key 2024 – Download answer key PDF here

CMAT 2025 syllabus – Sections and important topics

CMAT Exam Syllabus for Logical Reasoning 

This section of the CMAT Syllabus for logical reasoning includes 20 questions in total. In the logical reasoning section, students are assessed for their logical thinking and verbal/reasoning ability. The logical reasoning section of the CMAT Syllabus 2025 includes topics ranging from verbal reasoning to analytical reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. 

The important concepts covered in this section of the CMAT Syllabus for logical reasoning are: 

Analytical Reasoning	Verbal Reasoning	Non-Verbal Reasoning
Linear Arrangements Circular Arrangements Matrix Arrangements Blood Relationship Coding and decoding Numerical puzzles Number and Alphabet Series Direction and Distance Analogy Order and Ranking	Syllogism Course of Action Inference Statement Assumptions Statements and Conclusion Statements and Arguments Cause and Effects Strong and Weak arguments	Visual Reasoning

CMAT Exam Syllabus for Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation 

There are a total of 20 MCQ questions in the quantitative aptitude and data interpretation section of the CMAT 2025 syllabus. This section is divided under the headings geometry, arithmetic, number systems, algebra, and modern maths. 

The key topics of the CMAT Syllabus are as follows. Below is the CMAT analysis from last year to get an idea of how difficult the exam is.

CMAT Exam Syllabus for Language Comprehension 

The section on language comprehension comprises 20 questions. The CMAT syllabus for language comprehension includes questions on vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension. 

The CMAT syllabus 2025 covers the following topics for language and comprehension:

1. Synonyms and Antonyms 
2. Reading Comprehension 
3. Grammar/Vocabulary based fill in the blanks 
4. Error Spotting 
5. English usage errors 
6. One-word substitution 
7. Idioms and phrases 
8. Sentence correction 
9. Para jumbles 
10. Foreign language words used in English 

CMAT Exam Syllabus for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The CMAT Innovation and Entrepreneurship section was first introduced in CMAT 2021. It was an optional section that included 25 questions. Meanwhile, in CMAT 2022, the section was made compulsory and included 20 questions.

The CMAT Syllabus 2025 for Innovation and Entrepreneurship includes topics that test the entrepreneurial skills of the aspirants. 

Below is the detailed CMAT syllabus for entrepreneurship and innovation 

The CMAT Innovation and Entrepreneurship section:

1. Entrepreneur- Definition, Types 
2. Concepts of Innovation 
3. Innovation Framework 
4. Theories of Entrepreneurship 
5. Entrepreneurship Challenges 
6. Types of Entrepreneurs 
7. Role of the Government in Promoting Entrepreneurship 
8. The legal structure of start-ups 
9. Marketing and growth strategy 
10. Funding of start-ups 

CMAT Exam Syllabus for GK

The GK Syllabus section is slightly different from other MBA exams like IIFT and CAT. This section does follow a fixed CMAT Syllabus. The questions are asked from topics including current affairs and static GK. 

Below are some key topics of CMAT GK Syllabus 2025:

Static GK 

History 

Geography 

Books and Authors 

Important Days 

Indian Polity 

Art and Culture 

Current Affairs 

Awards 

Business and Economy 

National and International Affairs 

Obituaries 

Sports 

Appointment 

Science and Technology. 

CMAT 2025 Exam Pattern: 

The CMAT exam pattern will help students prepare for the CMAT 2025 exam, and the same is mentioned below: 

Mode of the Exam: Computer-based 

Type of Queries: Objective or MCQ 

Period of exam: 180 minutes 

Number of Questions: 100. Each question will have 25 

Total marks: 400 marks 

CMAT Marking scheme: 

+4 for each correct answer
-1 for each wrong answer

Section-wise weightage for CMAT 2025 syllabus

The below table exhibits the section-wise weightage of the CMAT 2024 Syllabus: 

Changes in CMAT Syllabus

CMAT exam pattern was revised by the exam conducting body NTA in 2022. There was a compulsory section on entrepreneurship and innovation. CMAT 2021 introduced a 25-question optional section for this section. In 2023, the CMAT exam syllabus remained the same. There have been no changes in the CLAT syllabus since.

Tips and Strategies to Prepare for CMAT Exam Syllabus

Below are some tips that will help aspirants prepare for the CMAT Exam Syllabus and ensure a thorough understanding:

1. Practice past year’s papers to get familiar with the type of questions asked and the difficulty level of the exam.
2. Keep a journal and jot down difficult words while preparing for sections like language comprehension in CMAT Syllabus. Prior to the exam day, review them.
3. Candidates should enhance their habit of reading newspapers for the CMAT GK Syllabus. In addition to enhancing your vocabulary, it will also help you in the language comprehension section. 
4. Aspirants should practice more while preparing for the CMAT exam syllabus for quantitative techniques and data interpretation. Make use of formulas and tricks to help you answer the questions quickly.
5. Refer to the basics of entrepreneurship while preparing for the innovation and entrepreneurship section. The questions in CMAT 2021 tended to focus on the GK side of Entrepreneurship. Hence, candidates should familiarize themselves with basic terminology, such as government schemes that provide funds to start-ups. 
6. The candidates should practice mock and online tests to prepare for the logical reasoning section of CMAT Syllabus 2024. 

Read more about CMAT Preparation 2024 – How To Prepare For CMAT Exam? – (Tips, Tricks & Strategy)

Read more about CMAT Eligibility 2024 – Age Limit, Educational Qualification, Marks, Reservation & Fees

FAQs on CMAT Syllabus 2024 

1. Does the CMAT syllabus change each year? 

The CMAT exam syllabus depends on the pattern of the CMAT exam of that year. In CMAT 2021, the optional section on innovation and entrepreneurship was introduced, and it was included in the syllabus also. But in the years 2022 and 2023, this section was covered as a compulsory section in the CMAT exam syllabus. 

Read more about CMAT Exam Pattern 2024 – Check CMAT Paper Pattern, Duration, Marking Scheme

2. What are the sections of CMAT Syllabus 2024? 

There are five sections in the CMAT Syllabus 2024 comprising data interpretation and quantitative techniques, logical reasoning, general awareness, language comprehension, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

3. Are the CMAT and CAT syllabi the same? 

The CAT and CMAT syllabus are not the same. 

4. What is CMAT GK Syllabus? 

The CMAT GK Syllabus includes questions on any topic related to current affairs and static GK. It is not defined. A few topics that it includes are books, the latest awards, science and technology, and important dates. 

5. What is the best way to complete the CMAT detailed syllabus while working? 

Students should ensure that they have a proper strategy to ace the CMAT exam and complete the detailed syllabus while working. Before starting the preparation, students should study difficult topics and understand the CMAT exam syllabus. 

6. What is the CMAT Maths syllabus for 2024? 

The CMAT Maths syllabus 2024, comprising quantitative techniques and a data interpretation section, includes topics like algebra, arithmetic, number systems, modern maths, tables, charts, and geometry. 

7. Which best books are available to cover CMAT Syllabus for language comprehension? 

Wren and Martin (Grammar) are the best books for covering the CMAT syllabus for language comprehension. Candidates can also read newspapers and novels to improve their vocabulary.

8. How many days are needed to cover CMAT Exam Syllabus completely? 

The aspirants should keep a minimum of 4-5 months aside to complete the CMAT syllabus since there are five subjects and multiple topics. But, if you have taken CAT and IIFT, you can complete the CMAT syllabus in two months.