The National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to release the CMAT Answer key 2026 for the MBA Entrance Exam which was recently conducted on January 25, 2026. You can download the CMAT 2026 Answer sheet by visiting the official website at exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT or the active portal at cmat.nta.nic.in.
The official authority allows you to raise objections against the provisional CMAT Answer key. These challenges will be verified by a panel of subject experts; if an objection is found correct, the answers will be revised. Based on the final revised answer key, the CMAT 2026 result will be released to students, expected by mid-February.
How To Download The CMAT Answer Key 2026
The information furnished in this section will guide you through the step-by-step procedure to download your response sheet. To download the CMAT 2026 Answer Key, please follow this process:
- Go to the official NTA portal at exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT.
- Click on the link “Display Question Paper and Answer Key Challenge for CMAT 2026.”
- Login Parameters: You must enter your Application Number and either your Date of Birth or Password.
- Check and download your specific answer key and response sheet.
- Print it for future reference and for calculating your expected score.
Direct link to the CMAT Portal
CMAT Marking Scheme & Score Calculation
Before you raise an objection, we recommend calculating your raw score using the official marking scheme:
- Correct Answer: +4 marks
- Incorrect Answer: -1 mark
- Unanswered Question: 0 marks
CMAT 2026 Expected Score vs Percentile
Based on 2026 exam difficulty trends, you can estimate your percentile ranking using the table below:
| Raw Score (Out of 400) | Estimated Percentile |
|---|---|
| 340+ | 99.99+ |
| 295 – 310 | 99.5+ |
| 275 – 285 | 99.0+ |
| 255 – 265 | 95.0+ |
| 235 – 245 | 90.0+ |
How to raise objections against CMAT Answer Key 2026
If any discrepancy is found in your recently released key, you can challenge it. We have listed the steps for you to challenge the CMAT Answer Key 2026:
- Visit the official CMAT 2026 web portal and click on ‘Challenge Answer Key’.
- Enter your application ID, date of birth, and security pin, then submit.
- Identify the Question IDs you wish to challenge from the sequential list.
- To challenge, select the checkboxes for the correct option IDs as per your findings.
- Save your claim and upload supporting documents (must be a single PDF file).
- Pay the processing fee of INR 200 per challenged question. Note: This fee is refunded to the original payment method only if your challenge is accepted.
The “Dropped Question” Rule: If a question is dropped due to a technical error after the challenge process, full marks (+4) will be given to all candidates, regardless of whether they attempted it or not.
Watch: CMAT 2026 Exam Analysis Expected Cutoffs
CMAT Answer Key 2026 Dates (Actual & Projected)
| CMAT Events | Dates (Actual/Tentative) |
| CMAT 2026 Exam Date | January 25, 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key Release | January 31, 2026 (Expected) |
| Objection Window Closes | February 3, 2026 (Expected) |
| Final Answer Key & Result | February 13, 2026 (Expected) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
I have not appeared for the CMAT exam. Can I download the answer key?
To see your specific responses and calculate your score, you must enter your login credentials. General answer keys for the session are sometimes released publicly later.
Can I challenge the CMAT final answer key?
No. You can only challenge the provisional answer key. The final key released alongside the result is binding and cannot be challenged further.
When will the CMAT answer key 2026 be available?
The Answer key is typically released within 5-6 days after the exam. For 2026, expect it around January 30th or 31st.
Is the CMAT objection fee refundable?
Yes, but only for genuine objections. If the NTA experts agree with your challenge, the INR 200 fee will be refunded within a week of the result declaration.
Related Blog: CMAT 2026 Exam: Dates, Registration Process
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