GMAC does not releases the NMAT cutoff. The overall and sectional NMAT cutoff are set by the participating B-schools. A safe score in NMAT 2026 is expected to be around 230+ for overall, with at least 70 in each section, to secure a call from NMIMS Mumbai.
- Candidates getting NMAT 2026 score of around 220+ overall with 60 in each section is safe for B-schools such as TAPMI Manipal.
- With an overall NMAT score of around 225 and a sectional cutoff expected to be around 60+, is considered safe for premier institute like KJ Somaiya Mumbai.
To be eligible for shortlisting candidate should clear the overall and sectional NMAT cutoff scores.
Related Articles:
- NMAT 2026 Expected Cutoff: Sectional and Overall Scores for Top Colleges
- List of Top Colleges in India Accepting NMAT Based on 2026 Ranking
Key Summary
- Candidates must clear the overall NMAT 2026 and sectional cutoffs to be eligible for shortlisting at participating institutes.
- You should equally perform well in LR, LS and QA sections to get a good percentile to be eligible for a call from participating institutes.
- The maximum NMAT score is 360 and 120 for each section.
NMAT 2026 Score Structure and Exam Pattern
NMAT by GMAC reports a scaled score, not a raw mark. The table below shows the section-wise structure for NMAT 2026.
| Section | Number of Questions | Time Limit | Scaled Score Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Skills | 36 | 28 minutes | 12 to 120 |
| Quantitative Skills | 36 | 52 minutes | 12 to 120 |
| Logical Reasoning | 36 | 40 minutes | 12 to 120 |
| Total | 108 | 120 minutes | 36 to 360 |
Note: The NMAT 2026 exam window runs from November 5 to December 19, 2026, with registration beginning on August 1, 2026.
Source: mba.com/exams/nmat
Related Article: NMAT 2026 Exam Pattern: Marking Scheme, Section-Wise Weightage, Duration
Ques. Does NMAT 2026 have negative marking?
Ans. No, NMAT 2026 has no negative marking. You should attempt every question, as there is no penalty for a wrong answer.
Safe Score for Top MBA Colleges Accepting NMAT 2026
The table below are expected NMAT 2026 safe score for top MBA colleges based on 2025 score trends:
- Candidates scoring around 230+ are considered to be safe to get a call for shortlisting for further rounds at NMIMS Mumbai, one of the top MBA College.
- Scoring around 220+ in NMAT 2026 will make you eligible for PI rounds at NMIMS campuses including, NMIMS Bengaluru, NMIMS Hyderabad, NMIMS Navi Mumbai and KJ Somaiya Mumbai.
| College | Programme | Expected Minimum Cutoff | Expected Safe Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| NMIMS Mumbai | MBA | 209 | 232+ |
| NMIMS Bengaluru | MBA | 200 | 225+ |
| XIMB Bhubaneswar | MBA (HRM) | 215 | 230+ |
| KJ Somaiya Mumbai | MBA | 200 | 225+ |
| NMIMS Hyderabad | MBA | 195 | 220+ |
| NMIMS Navi Mumbai | MBA | 195 | 220+ |
| TAPMI Manipal | MBA | 190 | 210+ |
| NMIMS Indore | MBA | 190 | 215+ |
| XIMB Bhubaneswar | MBA (Rural Management) | 185 | 200 |
You can watch the video by “Cracku- MBA CAT Preparation” to know the full roadmap for the NMAT 2026 exam.
Related Articles:
- NMAT Cutoff: Section Scores That Can Make or Break Your Admission
- NMAT Selection Process: Check Dates, Admission Criteria, GD, WAT, PI Format, and Top Colleges
According to a Reddit post, a user asked can he expect a call from NMIMS with NMAT score of around 229. In the discussion it was said that it depends on the cutoff set by the institutes. Last year the cutoff 209 but in 2024 the cutoff was around 234- 235 score.
Source: Reddit
Ques. What is a good NMAT score for top B-schools?
Ans. A score of 200 or 220+ is good for most reputed colleges. For NMIMS Mumbai and other top colleges, you should target 230 or more.
Section-Wise Minimum NMAT Cutoffs for Top Colleges
Meeting the overall safe score is necessary but not sufficient. A student scoring 235 overall but only 58 in Quantitative Skills would be rejected if the sectional cutoff is 62. The expected section-wise minimums below are based on the 2025-26 admission cycle.
| College | Language Skills (min) | Quantitative Skills (min) | Logical Reasoning (min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NMIMS (all campuses) | 62 | 62 | 62 |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 70+ | 70+ | 70+ |
| XIMB Bhubaneswar | 60+ | 60+ | 60+ |
| KJ Somaiya Mumbai | 65 | 60 | 60 |
| TAPMI Manipal | 60 | 55 | 55 |
Note: The NMIMS sectional cutoff of 62 per section was confirmed for the 2025-26 cycle. Students targeting NMIMS Mumbai should aim for at least 70 in each section to be safe.
Related Articles:
- NMAT 2026 Cutoff and Seats: NMIMS Bengaluru and Hyderabad
- NMAT 2026 Safe Score for NMIMS Mumbai: Section-Wise Cutoff
Ques. What is the difference between sectional and overall cutoff?
Ans. The sectional cutoff is the minimum score in each of the three sections. The overall cutoff is the minimum total score out of 360. You must clear both to get shortlisted.
NMAT 2026 Score vs Percentile
The table below is an expected guide for NMAT 2026 score vs percentile based on 2025 score distribution trends.
- Candidates scoring 240+ are considered safe to get a call from NMIMS Mumbai as it will correspond to a percentile of more than 99 in NMAT 2026.
- Students with 95 to 98 percentile is excepted to have an overall NMAT score of around 230+ making them eligible for shortlisting at NMIMS campuses and XIMB.
| NMAT Scaled Score | Expected Percentile | College Eligibility (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| 240 and above | 99th percentile | strong shortlisting call for NMIMS Mumbai |
| 230 to 239 | 95th to 98th percentile | Safe for NMIMS Mumbai and XIMB HRM |
| 220 to 229 | 88th to 94th percentile | Safe for NMIMS Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Navi Mumbai |
| 210 to 219 | 78th to 87th percentile | Competitive for TAPMI and XIMB Rural Management |
| 200 to 209 | 65th to 77th percentile | Borderline for most top-10 NMAT colleges |
| Below 200 | Below 65th percentile | Eligible for Tier-2 NMAT-accepting colleges only |
Note: The above percentile are estimates based on 2025 score distribution trends. Actual NMAT 2026 percentiles depend on the overall test-taker pool for that cycle.
You can watch the YouTube video by “Unacademy CAT” to know the strategy for scoring 99+ in NMAT 2026.
Related Article: NMAT Score vs Percentile: Score Calculator, Top Colleges Cutoff and Percentile Predictor
Ques. What is the minimum NMAT score to get NMIMS Mumbai?
Ans. You need around 209 marks to clear the expected NMIMS Mumbai cut off. To feel safe for the flagship MBA, you should aim for a score of 230 or above.
What Happens If You Score Below the Safe Score
Scoring below the safe score does not remove all options. Here is what students should know about scoring in lower bands.
- Score range 200 to 229: NMIMS campuses outside Mumbai, XIMB Rural Management, KJ Somaiya, and TAPMI remain accessible with a strong GD/PI performance.
- Score range180 to 199: Competitive for Alliance University, ICFAI Business School, and several other programmes that accept NMAT scores.
- Reattempt option: NMAT allows up to three attempts per cycle so students who miss the safe score in the first attempt should reattempt within the same cycle.
- Sectional weakness: If the overall score is on target but one sectional score is low, focused practice on that section before the next attempt.
Related Articles:
- NMAT Preparation: Study Plan, Books, Preparation Guide
- NMAT Mock Test 2026: Attempt Full Test, Chapter-wise Test Online for Free
NMAT 2026 Safe Score FAQs
Ques. What is a safe score in NMAT 2026 for NMIMS Mumbai?
Ans. A score of 232 or above is considered a safe score for NMIMS Mumbai, based on 2025 cutoff trends. Students must also clear the sectional minimum of 62 in each of the three sections to be shortlisted.
Ques. What is the total score range in NMAT by GMAC?
Ans. The NMAT total scaled score ranges from 36 to 360. Each of the three sections — Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning — carries a scaled score of 12 to 120.
Ques. Is clearing the sectional cutoff mandatory in NMAT?
Ans. Yes. Colleges like NMIMS and SPJIMR enforce independent sectional cutoffs alongside the overall threshold. Failing even one section’s minimum — for example, scoring 58 in Quantitative Skills against a cutoff of 62 — leads to rejection regardless of the total score.
Ques. How many times can a student attempt NMAT 2026?
Ans. Students can attempt NMAT up to three times in a single exam cycle. The best score across attempts is submitted to colleges. Reattempting is one of the most effective strategies for crossing the safe score threshold.
Ques. What NMAT score is needed for SPJIMR?
Ans. SPJIMR typically shortlists students scoring 240 or above for its Global Management Programme. This is the highest NMAT threshold among major accepting colleges, based on 2025 admission data.
Ques. What percentile does a score of 230 correspond to in NMAT 2026?
Ans. A score of 230 in NMAT 2026 is expected to correspond to approximately the 95th to 98th percentile, based on 2025 score vs percentile trends. This places a student comfortably in the safe zone for NMIMS Mumbai.
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