Anisha has done MBA in Marketing from NMIMS And Executive Management(PMNO) from Harvard Business School. She has been instrumental in growing CATKing Digital with her experience with Marico and Henkel in the past.
The basic requirement for getting into B schools in India is to clear the entrance exams. CAT, MAT, ATMA, NMAT, XAT, CMAT, and GMAT. Clearing one of these entrance exams is mandatory for the aspirants to get into B school that is AICTE approved. The first phase of the process of getting into a B school is to crack one of the above-mentioned entrance exams and get a call from the applied B school. The next phase of the process is the Group Discussion/Personal Interview/Group exercise/Written Assessment Test. IIFT, NMAT, SNAP, and TISSNET results are accepted by those B schools who are conducting these exams. In this article, we will be analyzing the CMAT vs CET exam based on their exam pattern, the process of the exam, and important dates. How are these exams and how we need to approach them to crack it?
Official 2026 important dates
CMAT (NTA) — 2026
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Registration opened (CMAT 2026 registration LIVE). (NTA CMAT registration page).
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Application correction window & form update announcements were active in late Nov 2025. NTA indicates CMAT 2026 will be conducted as a computer-based test in January 2026 (official bulletin and news updates).
MAH MBA CET (Maharashtra) — 2026
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MAH MBA CET 2026 exam dates announced (state CET cell): April 6–8, 2026; a second MAH MBA CET window scheduled May 9, 2026 (two sessions in 2026).
Note: State CETs differ by state — check your state’s CET cell for exact dates and application windows.
MAH-CET
In order to get into a B-school in the state of Maharashtra, one needs to write the MH-CET exam which is conducted by Directorate of Technical Education DTE, Maharashtra every year. This exam score is accepted by more than 100+ management institutes in the state of Maharashtra. MH-CET exam by the DTE is held once a year in the month of February/ March. So, keep yourself up-to-date so that you do not miss out on important dates for the exam.
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Daily Practice: Create a study timetable and practice regularly. Allocate specific time slots for each section of the exam.
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Analyze Previous Year's Papers: Analyze previous year's question papers to understand the exam pattern and types of questions asked. Identify your weak areas and work on improving them.
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Thorough Practice: Practice questions and concepts thoroughly. Solve a variety of questions to get comfortable with different types of problems.
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Time Management: Since you have to attempt 200 questions in 150 minutes, time management is crucial. Practice solving questions within the given time limit to improve your speed.
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Mock Tests: Take regular mock tests to simulate the exam environment. This will help you gauge your preparation level and identify areas that need improvement.
Detailed: Typical State CET — pattern & process
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Who manages: State CET Cell (schedules, registration, counseling).
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Pattern: Varies by state; MAH MBA CET often uses specific sectional breakdowns and may run multiple dates. For 2026, MAH MBA CET has April 6–8 window and another on May 9 (two attempts). Check local CET cell for precise paper pattern/syllabus per year.
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Process: register on state CET portal → choose test date (if multiple) → admit card → CBT → score & merit list → state counseling/admission rounds.
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Best for: Students seeking state government colleges, regional universities and affiliated institutes with in-state reservations/seat advantages.
MAH-CET Eligibility
The MBA CET eligibility criteria is determined by the State CET, Maharashtra. Given below is the academic qualification required to be eligible for MAH CET 2024:
- The candidate must have passed a bachelor’s degree of three-year duration in any discipline with at least 50 percent marks in aggregate or equivalent from a university recognized by the University Grants Commission or the Association of Indian Universities.
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For general category candidates, a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate in the bachelor's degree is required.
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For candidates belonging to Backward Class categories and Persons with Disability (PWD) from Maharashtra State, the minimum aggregate percentage required is 45%.
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Candidates who are in the final year of their bachelor’s degree program from a UGC or AIU-recognized university are also eligible to apply for MAH CET 2024.
- The student who wants to get into admission will have no age limit.
MAH-CET Exam Pattern
- MBA CET Exam is conducted online over a period of 2.5 hours (150 minutes).
- The medium of the exam was English, and the paper had a total of 200 multiple-choice questions.
- Candidates will be allotted 1 mark for every correct answer.
- There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
- Every question had 5 answer options out of which candidates had to select one.
- Competent Authority, using the standardized Equi-percentile method, equates scores across sessions.
- The test comprises multiple-choice questions. Candidates need to attempt 200 questions in 150 minutes.
There are four sections in the paper:
- Logical Reasoning (LR)
- Abstract Reasoning (AR)
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
The number of questions per section is:
| Section | No. of Questions |
| (LR) | 75 |
| (AR) | 25 |
| (QA) | 50 |
| (VARC) | 50 |
A total of 200 questions for 200 marks
IIM WAT PI Experience Dockets
In order to get a seat in the B school, DTE conducts counseling in the month of July but due to Covid things have changed. The aspirants need to register themselves for the counseling process and the seat allotment process. Only these aspirants who register are qualified to appear for the counseling process. MAH-CET Centralized Allotment Process (CAP) is the process followed during MHCET counseling. The aspirants need to submit their preferred choice of courses and colleges during the counseling process
CMAT (Common Management Admission Test)
Another exam that all MBA aspirants can attempt is CMAT (Common Management Admission Test). This exam is the national-level MBA entrance exam which is conducted by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). It is accepted by more than 400 top colleges through CMAT in India. Through CMAT we can get admission into top B schools like JBIMS, KJ Somaiya, GIM, and many other premier institutions.
Detailed: CMAT exam pattern & process (what to expect)
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Sections & Qs: 5 sections × ~20 questions each = ~100 MCQs.
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Duration: 180 minutes (3 hours); no sectional time limits — you can allocate time as you prefer.
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Marking: +4 for correct answer, −1 for incorrect answer; unattempted = 0.
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Syllabus focus: Quant + DI, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension (RCs), General Awareness, Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
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Ticket to apply: Registration via NTA portal; admit card, CBT slot and center are managed centrally by NTA.
Exam process : register → pay fee → get admit card → take CBT → provisional answer keys → results & scorecard. NTA publishes final answer keys and scores.
CMAT Exam Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for CMAT is:
- Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree of minimum three-year duration or equivalent in any stream from AICTE approved institute/university.
- Final year students of graduate courses (10+2+3) are also eligible for CMAT, provided the results are declared before the commencement of admission
- There’s no age limit for CMAT
- The candidate must be a citizen of India
- However, the minimum score requirement of maximum CMAT participating colleges is 50 % (45% for reserved categories).
CMAT Exam Process
STEP 1: Application Process
- Candidates need to register as new users on the official CMAT website.
- After successful registration, they will receive a login ID which will be used for all login purposes.
- Ensure not to miss out on important dates related to the application process.
STEP 2: Admit Card
- CMAT admit cards will be available for download on the official website according to the schedule.
- Registered candidates can download the admit cards until the day before the exam.
This process ensures that candidates are well-prepared and informed about the CMAT exam and its requirements.
CMAT Exam Pattern
The CMAT exam is held for 180 minutes. The test comprises of hundred questions divided into four sections: Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, and General Awareness. There’s a negative marking of one (1) mark for each wrong answer.
| Section | Number of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation | 25 | 100 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 100 |
| Logical Reasoning | 25 | 100 |
| Language Comprehension | 25 | 100 |
Total of 100 questions for 400 marks
Pros & Cons — Which should you attempt?
CMAT pros
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National acceptance — wide college options.
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Predictable pattern & stable syllabus.
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Good for non-state candidates aiming for private/national colleges.
CMAT cons
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High national competition for top seats.
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Single annual window (plan accordingly).
State CET (MAH CET) pros
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Strong presence for state universities and preferred seats for residents.
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Sometimes multiple sessions (2026 MAH CET twice) → additional attempt flexibility. The Times of India
State CET cons
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Limited to state college ecosystem (though good ROI).
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Pattern & dates vary by state → must track state CET notifications.
CMAT vs CET
- CMAT has a negative marking in the exam which means that the aspirant should be cautious and balance the accuracy. CET, on the other hand, has no negative marking, students can attempt all the questions and do the guesswork
- CMAT is the national-level exam conducted by AICTE and MAH-CET is the state-level exam conducted by DTE, Maharashtra.
- The proportion of Quants questions in the entire paper is more in CMAT than in CET
- They asked Visual reasoning questions in CET whereas in the CMAT exam such questions are not asked.
- The reading comprehension in the CMAT is not of conventional type, these RCs are not traditional long RCs but these are short paragraph-based RCs.
- The paper on the CET has more reasoning questions, almost around 50% of the paper contains reasoning questions. This is the main advantage for Non-Engineering students. Whereas in the CMAT only 25% of marks are allocated for logical reasoning.
- CET has verbal reasoning questions. Around 20 questions are from this section. But these kinds of questions don’t appear in CMAT.
Learn from CMAT Toppers and get 99.99%ile
Aspirants who are preparing for the entrance exam should concentrate on all the exams and try to excel in all. This gives the students a clear advantage in selecting their preferred B school from the available options. Concentrate on your preparation and follow all the guidelines given by your mentors.
At-a-glance comparison: CMAT vs MAH MBA CET
| Feature | CMAT (NTA) | MAH MBA CET (State example) |
|---|---|---|
| Who conducts | National Testing Agency (NTA) | State CET Cell (e.g., Maharashtra State CET Cell) |
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Total questions / marks | 100 ques (5 sections) — 400 marks (each Q = +4, incorrect = −1) | Varies by state. Example MAH MBA CET: sectional pattern and total vary; usually 200 marks / 100 ques pattern differs — check state bulletin. |
| Sections | Quantitative Techniques & DI, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, Innovation & Entrepreneurship. | Varies; many state CETs include Quant, Verbal, Logical/Reasoning, and GK or Domain sections depending on the program. |
| Duration | 180 minutes (3 hours) | Typically 120–180 minutes depending on exam; MAH MBA CET 2026 consolidated sessions may be 120 minutes for some combined tests. |
| Score usage | Accepted by many national & private institutes (wide reach) | Used for state college admissions (strong presence in state universities / affiliated colleges) |
| Sessions per year | Usually once per year (check NTA for special cases) | Some states (MAH CET) may offer two sessions in 2026 (policy change) |
| Best if you want | National reach, flexible applications to many colleges | State-focused admission (cheaper fees, regional preference) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. When is CMAT 2026 scheduled?
A1. NTA’s CMAT 2026 registration is live and the exam is scheduled in January 2026 (refer to NTA CMAT portal for exact date and session details).
Q2. When is MAH MBA CET 2026?
A2. MAH MBA CET 2026 dates have been announced: April 6–8, 2026 with a second session on May 9, 2026. Check the State CET cell notice for updates.
Q3. Is CMAT easier than a state CET?
A3. Difficulty is subjective; CMAT is generally considered moderate and predictable. State CETs vary — some may be easier or harder depending on syllabus and competition.
Q4. Can I take both CMAT and State CET?
A4. Yes — if schedules do not clash and you meet eligibility criteria, many candidates take both to broaden options.
Q5. Where should I check official updates?
A5. Check the NTA CMAT official site and your state’s CET cell portal for authoritative notifications.
All the best!!!
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