A safe score of 110-130 marks out of 225 is expected for OBC students, 90-110 for SC students, and 80-100 for ST students in DAVV CET 2026 to secure admission in programs like MBA at IMS DAVV, Indore.

Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), Indore conducts the DAVV Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to postgraduate programs including MBA, MCA, M.Sc., M.Com., and M.A. The exam carries a total of 225 marks spread across 75 multiple-choice questions. Reserved category students - OBC, SC, and ST - compete within their own quota, which means their closing cutoffs are lower than the General category. Knowing the safe score for your category helps you set a clear preparation target and estimate your admission chances once the DAVV CET 2026 result is declared.

  • DAVV CET 2026 is a 225-mark exam with 75 MCQs worth 3 marks each.
  • OBC students should target 110-130 marks for MBA at IMS DAVV based on 2024-2025 trends.
  • SC students are expected to secure a seat with 90-110 marks for MBA and 85-105 marks for MCA.
  • ST students can aim for 80-100 marks for MBA programs based on previous year closing cutoffs.
  • All scores are out of 225; negative marking of 1 mark applies for every wrong answer.
  • Scores below the safe range do not guarantee rejection - final cutoffs depend on the applicant pool and paper difficulty each year.

DAVV CET 2026 Exam Pattern and Total Marks

Before reading any score figure, it helps to understand the exam structure. DAVV CET 2026 is a computer-based test with 75 MCQs carrying a total of 225 marks. Each correct answer earns 3 marks and each wrong answer costs 1 mark. The exam lasts 90 minutes. For Division A programs - MBA, MCA, M.Com., and M.A. - the paper covers five sections of 15 questions each.

Parameter Details
Mode Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Total Questions 75 MCQs
Total Marks 225
Marks for Correct Answer +3
Negative Marking -1 per wrong answer
Duration 90 minutes
Sections (Division A) Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, English Language, General Awareness (15 questions each)
Official Portal dauniv.ac.in/cet

DAVV CET 2026 Category-Wise Safe Score for All Programs

The table below shows the expected safe score ranges for General, OBC, SC, and ST categories across the most popular programs at DAVV Indore. These figures are based on 2024-2025 cutoff trends and are not confirmed for 2026. Actual cutoffs will be published by DAVV after the merit list is released. Students from reserved categories compete within their own quota, so their safe scores are meaningfully lower than the General category.

Program General (Expected) OBC (Expected) SC (Expected) ST (Expected)
MBA - IMS DAVV 130-150 110-130 90-110 80-100
MCA 120-140 100-120 85-105 75-95
M.Sc. (CS / Biotechnology) 115-135 95-115 80-100 70-90
M.Com. 90-110 72-92 60-80 55-75
M.A. (English / Economics) 100-120 80-100 65-85 60-80

All scores are out of 225. Figures are expected based on previous year trends and subject to change in 2026.


DAVV CET 2026 Safe Score for OBC Students

OBC students at DAVV benefit from a 27% seat reservation under Madhya Pradesh government norms. This means OBC students compete within the OBC quota for reserved seats, and the closing cutoff is typically 15-20 marks lower than the General category for the same program. The table below shows the expected safe score range and the approximate number of correct answers needed for OBC students in each program.

Program Expected OBC Safe Score (out of 225) Approx. Correct Answers Needed
MBA - IMS DAVV 110-130 37-44
MCA 100-120 34-40
M.Sc. Computer Science 95-115 32-39
M.Sc. Biotechnology 90-110 30-37
M.Com. 72-92 24-31
M.A. (English / Economics) 80-100 27-34

The "Correct Answers Needed" column assumes minimal wrong attempts. For MBA, an OBC student aiming for 110 marks should correctly answer around 37 questions with no wrong answers (37 x 3 = 111). In a real attempt where 10 questions are wrong, you need 40 correct answers: (40 x 3) - (10 x 1) = 110 marks. Minimising negative marking is as important as increasing correct attempts in DAVV CET 2026.


DAVV CET 2026 Safe Score for SC and ST Students

SC students have a 16% seat reservation and ST students have a 20% reservation at DAVV under Madhya Pradesh norms. Both categories have historically recorded the lowest closing cutoffs among all groups. However, SC and ST students should still aim comfortably above the lower bound of the safe range, as competition within the quota can rise if more students appear in a given year.

Program Expected SC Safe Score (out of 225) Expected ST Safe Score (out of 225)
MBA - IMS DAVV 90-110 80-100
MCA 85-105 75-95
M.Sc. Computer Science 80-100 70-90
M.Sc. Biotechnology 75-95 65-85
M.Com. 60-80 55-75
M.A. (English / Economics) 65-85 60-80

SC students aiming for the MBA program should target at least 90 marks to stay on the safer side. ST students competing for the same program can treat 80 marks as a reasonable floor based on previous year trends. For both categories, crossing the upper end of the safe range gives a stronger buffer and improves college and branch choices during counselling.


Factors That Affect DAVV CET 2026 Cutoff

Safe scores are estimates built on past data. The actual 2026 cutoff for each category and program can shift because of the following factors. Keep these in mind while interpreting the ranges above.

  • Total applicants per category: A spike in OBC or SC applicants for a popular program raises the closing cutoff within that quota.
  • Paper difficulty: A tougher exam lowers average scores across the board and typically brings cutoffs down for all categories.
  • Seat availability: Programs with fewer reserved seats experience tighter competition and higher category-wise cutoffs.
  • Score normalisation: If DAVV CET 2026 is held in multiple shifts, scores may be normalised before the merit list is prepared, affecting effective cutoffs.
  • Counselling rounds: Cutoffs usually drop in later rounds as vacated and unfilled seats are redistributed, giving lower-scoring students a second chance.
  • Category-specific seat matrix: Each program has a fixed number of OBC, SC, and ST seats; if intake changes, cutoffs shift accordingly.

DAVV CET 2026 Safe Score FAQs

Ques. What is the total marks for DAVV CET 2026?

Ans. DAVV CET 2026 carries a total of 225 marks. The exam has 75 MCQs worth 3 marks each, with a deduction of 1 mark for every wrong answer and no penalty for unattempted questions.

Ques. What is the expected safe score for OBC students in DAVV CET 2026?

Ans. OBC students should aim for 110-130 marks for MBA at IMS DAVV and 100-120 marks for MCA, based on 2024-2025 trends. These are expected figures and may change depending on the 2026 applicant pool and paper difficulty.

Ques. How many marks do SC students need in DAVV CET 2026?

Ans. SC students should target at least 90-110 marks for MBA and 85-105 marks for MCA based on previous year cutoff trends. For less competitive programs like M.Com., 60-80 marks may be sufficient for the SC quota.

Ques. What is the expected safe score for ST students in DAVV CET 2026?

Ans. ST students are expected to secure seats with 80-100 marks for MBA and 75-95 marks for MCA. The ST quota typically records the lowest closing cutoff among all categories at DAVV, based on past trends.

Ques. Does DAVV prepare separate merit lists for OBC, SC and ST students?

Ans. Yes. DAVV prepares separate merit lists for each category - General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS. You are ranked within your own category for reserved seats, which is why cutoffs differ significantly across categories even in the same program.

Ques. How does negative marking affect the DAVV CET 2026 score?

Ans. Each wrong answer deducts 1 mark from your total. If you attempt 50 questions, answer 40 correctly and get 10 wrong, your score is (40 x 3) - (10 x 1) = 110 marks. Keeping wrong attempts low is as critical as increasing correct answers, especially when targeting the OBC or SC safe score range.