The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) 2026 answer key and response sheet are expected to be published shortly on the official NTA CMAT portal, giving candidates who appeared in the exam access to correct answers and their recorded responses. The provisional documents will help aspirants calculate their raw scores before the official result is announced.
CMAT 2026 Exam and Answer Key Timeline
The CMAT 2026 exam was held on 25 January 2026 in a single session for all candidates, with each section covering 20 questions across five major areas. The overall difficulty was moderate, similar to previous years. Although the official answer key release date has not been formally announced by the National Testing Agency (NTA), historical trends and expert expectations indicate that the provisional CMAT answer key and response sheet are likely to be available within a few days of the exam, often by late January or early February.
How to Download CMAT Answer Key and Response Sheet?
Once released, candidates will be able to download both the provisional answer key and response sheet PDF by logging in on the official platform. The process generally includes the following steps:
- Visit the CMAT official website: https://cmat.nta.nic.in/
- Navigate to the Answer Key / Response Sheet section.
- Enter Application Number and Password/DOB to log in.
- View and download your response sheet along with the answer key PDF.
The downloaded documents will include the candidate’s recorded responses, correct answers, and exam details such as name, roll number, session, and section-wise questions.
Answer Key Objection Process
Candidates who find discrepancies in the provisional answer key can challenge it through the official objection portal. A non-refundable fee of INR 200 per question is typically charged for each objection submitted. Challenges must include valid justification and will be reviewed by subject experts. If an objection is accepted, the final answer key may be revised accordingly. The objection window generally remains open for 2–3 days after the answer key release, so candidates must act promptly to raise any disputes.
Using the Answer Key for Score Estimation
With the official answer key and response sheet in hand, candidates can estimate their raw scores by comparing responses with correct options. The CMAT marking scheme — +4 for correct answers, −1 for incorrect ones — can then be used to calculate expected marks and approximate percentiles ahead of the result announcement
What’s Next After Answer Key Release?
Following the release and challenge phase of the answer key, NTA will compile a final answer key and prepare the CMAT 2026 result, likely by second week of February 2026, based on previous exam cycles. Candidates are advised to download their answer key and response sheet as soon as they are made available and follow official notifications for subsequent updates on CMAT results and related admission processes.