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Updated By Debanjalee Sen on 07 Dec, 2025 19:07
The CMAT provisional answer key is typically released in the last week of January. You can raise objections against the provisional answer key within the specified dates. The final answer key is tentatively issued in the second/ third week of February after considering the complaints raised by the aspirants.
Predict your Percentile based on your CMAT performance
Predict RankThe CMAT 2026 answer key (provisional) will tentatively be released in the last week of January 2026 along with the response sheet at exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT. The CMAT answer key challenge window will remain accessible as per the schedule.
The CMAT final answer key 2026 is expected to be issued in the second/ third week of February 2026. You will have to log in to the official website using your CMAT application number and date of birth to download the answer key with the question paper. The direct link to access the CMAT 2026 answer key will be updated below.
CMAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key Download Link ( To be activated) | CMAT 2026 Final Answer Key PDF Download Link (To be activated) | |
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The CMAT 2026 exam will be conducted on January 25, 2026. The main purpose of the preliminary answer key is to help you assess your performance by confirming the number of correct answers you marked. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will allow you to challenge the preliminary answer key if you find any discrepancies. The results will also be announcedin the second/ third week of February 2026.
The important details about the CMAT 2026 answer key, including the release date, the dates to raise objections, how to download, and the steps to raise objections, can be checked on this page.
The important dates for the CMAT 2026 answer key are available below:
Events | Date |
|---|---|
CMAT 2026 Exam Date | January 25, 2026 |
CMAT 2026 Answer Key Release Date | Fourth week of January 2026 |
Last Date to Raise Objections to CMAT 2026 Answer Key | Fourth week of January 2026 - First week of February 2026 |
CMAT 2026 Final Answer Key Release Date | Second week of February 2026 |
Declaration of CMAT 2026 Result | Second week of February 2026 |
According to patterns from the previous year, NTA typically publishes the CMAT answer key within a few days after the entrance exam is conducted.
| CMAT Exam Year | Date of CMAT Exam | CMAT Exam Slots | CMAT Answer Key Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMAT 2025 | January 25, 2025 | Two shifts | January 31, 2025 |
| CMAT 2024 | May 15, 2024 | Two shifts | May 23, 2024 (in 8 days) |
| CMAT 2023 | May 4, 2023 | Two shifts | May 12, 2023 (in 8 days) |
| CMAT 2022 | April 9, 2022 | Single shift | April 19, 2022 (in 10 days) |
| CMAT 2021 | March 31, 2022 | Two shifts | April 3, 2021 (in 4 days) |
| CMAT 2020 | January 28, 2020 | Single shift | January 30, 2020 (in 3 days) |
Follow the steps given below to download your CMAT 2026 answer key:
Step 1: Visit the official website (exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT).
Step 2: Click on the link 'CMAT 2026 - Answer Key Challenge'. The direct link to download the CMAT 2026 Answer Key is available here.
Step 3: Enter your Application No, Password/ Date of Birth and click on Sign In.
Step 4: The answer key and response sheet will be displayed on the screen.
Step 5: Check the Question Paper and Responses and take a printout for future reference.
The candidates have to follow the given steps to challenge CMAT answer key 2026 if they find any discrepancy in it:
Step 1: Log in to the official website at exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT.
Step 2: Click on the link to view the CMAT 2026 response sheet.
Step 3: Sign in with your application number and password.
Step 4: Click on the option to challenge CMAT answer key 2026.
Step 5: The list of exam questions will be displayed on the screen, along with their options and respective IDs.
Step 6: Review the correct answer, and you can mark any option where you have found a discrepancy.
Step 7: Click on the 'Save Your Claim' button available at the end of the page.
Step 8: Upload any supporting documents and proceed to the next step.
Step 9: Review the list of your challenges visible on the screen, make any changes if needed else, and proceed to fee payment.
Step 10: The fee to raise challenges to the CMAT answer key 2026 is INR 200 per question. The fee is non-fundable. Choose your desired mode of fee payment and complete the process.
Note: Challenges can only be submitted after payment of the fee. Candidates can pay the fee only through Debit/Credit Card/ Net Banking. If the challenge is found correct, the fee will be refunded to the candidate. |
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Candidates can use the CMAT 2026 marking scores to calculate their scores with the answer key. The marking scheme of the exam is as follows.
Type of Answer | Marks Awarded / Deducted |
|---|---|
For Each Correct answer | +4 marks |
For Each Wrong answer | -1 mark |
For Unanswered Questions | 0 |
Aspirants must calculate the number of correct and incorrect answers as given in the response sheet. Then, the raw score can be calculated using the simple formula given below.
CMAT Raw Sore = 4 x (No. of Correct Answers) - 1 x (No. of Wrong Answers) |
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If you appeared for CMAT 2026, not only can you estimate your CMAT 2026 raw score but also your CMAT 2026 percentile using the CMAT answer key. The question-wise correct answers, options chosen by the candidate, and marks awarded for correct option and marks deducted for incorrect option will be mentioned in the CMAT 2026 answer key. You can calculate your raw CMAT score taking the CMAT marking scheme under consideration:
You can calculate CMAT score with the help of the CMAT answer key in the following manner:
Suppose, the total number of attempts in the Logical Reasoning (LR) section is 20 questions out 25. Out of 20, 14 answers are correct and six are incorrect. Hence, the score pbtained in the Logical Reasoning section will be 14x4-6 = 50. Thus, in LR, your score is 50 out of 100 marks.
Using the formulas below, you can quickly determine their CMAT 2026 percentile.
Percentile (P) = 100 x the Number of candidates who appeared in the examination with a raw score equal to or less than the candidates divided by the total number of candidates who appeared in the CMAT exam.
For Instance, Suppose 10,000 candidates appeared in the CMAT 2026 entrance exam and a candidate gets Rank 1 then the CMAT percentile score will be 99.99 or Percentile (P)= 10,000 -1 (rank)/ 10,000 x 100= 99.99.
Here are the details that candidates will find on the CMAT answer key 2026.
After the National Testing Agency (NTA) releases the preliminary CMAT answer key 2026, test-takers should carefully review and compare it with their own responses. If there are any discrepancies, they are allowed to raise objections against the preliminary answer key. The NTA will thoroughly examine all objections raised and subsequently release a final answer key incorporating any necessary changes.
The final answer key and CMAT result 2026 will be published simultaneously. After the release, candidates will be notified of their achieved percentile or rank. It's important to note that due to the absence of a centralized admission process, candidates will need to submit separate applications to each college or institution they are interested in, based on their CMAT scores. This detailed process ensures that candidates have the opportunity to apply to multiple institutions based on their performance in the CMAT examination.
CMAT score vs percentile 2026 is a detailed analysis of what score is required to attain a certain percentile in the exam. Check the table below for the CMAT score vs percentile analysis.
CMAT 2026 Score (Out of 400) | CMAT 2026 Percentile Range |
|---|---|
345-350 | 100 |
281-340 | 90-99.99 |
201-280 | 81-89 |
171-200 | 71-80 |
141-170 | 61-70 |
116-140 | 51-60 |
Below 116 | Below 51 |
Want to know more about CMAT
The CMAT final answer key is released once the National Testing Agency has checked all the objections that candidates have raised against the CMAT provisional answer key and all the valid objections have been incorporated into the answer key. The CMAT answer key is released along with the CMAT result.
No, you cannot challenge the CMAT final answer key. The CMAT final answer key is released only after all the objections against the CMAT provisional answer key have been considered and valid objections have been incorporated. The CMAT results are based on the CMAT final answer key and both of these are released together by the NTA on the official website.
Yes, CMAT answer key and response sheet are different, although both these documents may be released together. The CMAT answer sheet contains all the correct solutions to the questions asked in the CMAT question paper. The CMAT response sheet contains all the responses that candidates have given during the CMAT exam. CMAT candidates can download both these documents once they are released on the official website.
The major difference between provisional and final CMAT answer key is that the CMAT provisional answer key is released a few days after the exam is concluded and aspirants can object against the same if any discrepancies are found. The CMAT final answer key is released along with the CMAT result and it cannot be objected against.
Yes, NTA releases CMAT answer key for wach slot of the CMAT exam. Candidates who appeared for Slot 1 of the CMAT exam will be able to access the answer key for their slot and the response sheet as well. Also, candidates of CMAT slot 1 may not be able to access the CMAT slot 2 answer key.
Yes, the NTA (National Testing Agency) releases the CMAT answer key. The NTA releases the answer key a few days after the CMAT exam is concluded and the answer key is released on the official website. Candidates must note that the CMAT official answer key released right after the exam is the provisional answer key and NTA allows objections against the same if discrepancies are found.
The CMAT 2026 provisional answer key will be released in the last week of January 2026 by the NTA on the official website. After the CMAT 2026 result is declared in the second week of February 2026 (tentatively), the CMAT admission process will be initiated and CMAT accepting B-schools will release their CMAT cutoffs.
In order to challenge the CMAT 2026 answer key candidates must have valid objections against the solutions provided in the provisional answer key. Follow the steps below to challenge the CMAT 2026 answer key:
Candidates can download the CMAT answer key 2026 PDF once it is released by the CMAT exam conducting authorities which is the NTA. Follow the steps mentioned below:
The information mentioned in the CMAT answer key includes section-specific questions and their correct solutions, and candidates’ responses. If a candidate finds any of the answer to be wrong, they may object against the answer key. They must fill out an online objection form which the NTA will make available on the official NTA-CMAT website to object against the CMAT provisional answer key.
Candidates can raise an objection against the CMAT 2026 answer key till the first week of February 2026. The NTA will notify the deadline for submitting objections to the CMAT answer key 2026 along with the CMAT 2026 provisional answer key.
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