IMHO they are looking on trading volumes and rare tokens that you trade. As I remember coin will add on CMC after 50000 USD day trading volume.
Are you reading between the lines? He meant was the exchange, not the coins or tokens to be listed there. Not all exchanges can be easily listed there fast.
Going back to the OP, the criteria is well indicated when you fill up the form, if you not met all requirements then dont expect to be listed easily there. The support of cmc is bad since there are no feedbacks but I guess. If youre exchange is good it will be listed soon.