CMAT 2026 provisional answer key, response sheet released: download by February 2

The National Testing Agency (NTA) released the Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026 Provisional Answer Key and Response Sheet on January 31, 2026. Candidates were able to access these documents on the official portal, cmat.nta.nic.in, to review their responses and the provisional answers provided by the NTA. This release allowed candidates to estimate their scores and identify any discrepancies before the final results were published.

The CMAT exam serves as a national-level entrance examination for admission to management programmes across India. Over 60,000 students appeared for the CMAT exam in the previous year, highlighting its significance for aspirants seeking admission to AICTE-Approved Institutions, University Departments, Constituent Colleges, and Affiliated Colleges.

Objection Window and Evaluation Process

Following the release of the provisional answer key, candidates were given a window to challenge any perceived errors. The last date to object to the CMAT 2026 Provisional Answer Key was February 2, 2026. A fee of INR 200 was applicable for each question challenged by a candidate. This mechanism was put in place to ensure transparency and fairness in the evaluation process, allowing for corrections before the final answer key was used for result preparation.

The CMAT 2026 examination was conducted in a Computer Based Test (CBT) mode on January 25, 2026. The exam evaluated candidates across five sections: Quantitative Technique and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Since the examination was held in a single shift, score normalization was not applicable for CMAT 2026.

CMAT 2026 Scoring and Results

The CMAT 2026 marking scheme awarded +4 marks for each correct answer, while -1 mark was deducted for each incorrect answer. No marks were added or deducted for unattempted questions. The total marks for CMAT 2026 were 400. Candidates could calculate their raw score using the formula: (Correct Answers × 4) – (Incorrect Answers × 1).

The CMAT 2026 Result Date was February 13, 2026, and the Score Card for CMAT – 2026 became live on February 17, 2026. The response sheet provided to candidates included their Name, Roll Number, Exam Date & Shift, Question IDs, Option Chosen, and Question Status, aiding in their self-assessment. Candidates were advised to save a copy of their response sheet and provisional answer key for future reference.

Accessing Documents and Next Steps

To view and download their response sheet and provisional answer key, candidates were required to log in to the CMAT portal using their Application Number and Password or Date of Birth. The process for challenging an answer key involved logging into the CMAT portal, clicking on “Challenge Answer Key,” selecting the question ID, uploading supporting documents, and paying the objection fee before the specified deadline of February 2, 2026.

The CMAT score is accepted by all AICTE-Approved Institutions, University Departments, Constituent Colleges, and Affiliated Colleges for admission to management programmes. The release of these documents was a crucial step for candidates to assess their performance and plan for subsequent stages such as college selection and personal interviews.

Further reading

• CMAT counselling: rounds, dates and seat allotment Next step
• Koshys Institute 2026: Apply for admission via CAT/XAT/MAT/KMAT/PGCET by Sep 17
• MBA Entrance Exams 2026-27: CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP Registration and Dates Announced Today Applications open
• CMAT: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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