A good CMAT score 2026 is generally considered to be in the range of 250-280 marks out of 400, which will translate into 90-95 percentile. This score will make you eligible for admission to a large number of top MBA colleges, including SIMSREE, SIES, BIMTECH, and JAGSoM.
- SIMSREE, Mumbai usually accepts a CMAT score of 270-290 (95-98 percentile) and offers an average package of ₹6–7 LPA.
- SIES, Mumbai requires a CMAT score of 250-270 (90-95 percentile) for eligibility and provides an average package of ₹5–6 LPA.
- BIMTECH, Greater Noida, typically considers candidates scoring 260-280 (90-95 percentile) in CMAT with an average package of ₹8–9 LPA.
- JAGSoM, Bengaluru, admits students with a CMAT score of 250-270 (90-95 percentile) and offers an average package of around ₹6–7 LPA.
This article offers an in-depth analysis of the score vs percentile so that the candidate can have a better idea about how the CMAT scores correspond to percentiles and expected cutoffs.
CMAT Good Score 2026 Latest Trends:
CMAT Score 2026
| CMAT Score (Out of 400) | Expected Percentile (2026) | Performance Level |
|---|---|---|
| 350+ | ~100 | Elite (top rank) |
| 300–350 | ~99–99.99 | Excellent |
| 280–299 | ~97–99 | Very Good |
| 240–279 | ~90–97 | Strong |
| 200–239 | ~75–89 | Decent |
| Below 200 | <75 | Below average |
CMAT 2026 Score Calculator
The CMAT exam is designed to test a candidate's aptitude in various areas, and the scoring system reflects their proficiency in each section.
How to Calculate CMAT Score?
The CMAT score is obtained by applying the official provisional answer key and your response sheet. The provisional answer key is issued by the NTA, after the test is over, and it indicates the correct answer to the questions posed in the test. The response sheet is the sheet where the candidate's answers are marked during the test.
CMAT 2026 Marking Scheme
The CMAT 2025 exam consists of 4 sections:
- Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation (QT & DI)
- Logical Reasoning (LR)
- Language Comprehension (LC)
- General Awareness (GA)
Detailed Section Breakdown
| Section | Total Questions | Marks per Correct Answer | Total Marks per Section | Marks for Incorrect Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques & DI | 25 | 4 | 100 | -1 |
| Logical Reasoning | 25 | 4 | 100 | -1 |
| Language Comprehension | 25 | 4 | 100 | -1 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 4 | 100 | -1 |
| Total | 100 | 4 | 400 | -1 |
CMAT Score Calculation Formula
What is the highest score in CMAT?
The highest possible score in the CMAT 2025 exam is 400 marks. This score is achievable if a candidate answers all the questions correctly across all sections, with no penalties for incorrect answers.
CMAT 2026 Colleges Accepting High Scores
| College | Expected CMAT Cut-off (Percentile) | Approx Score Target | Notes |
| JBIMS, Mumbai | 99.90 + | 330 + | Most competitive for CMAT; excellent ROI & placements. |
| SIMSREE, Mumbai | 99 + | 310 + | Extremely low fees & strong placements. |
| PUMBA, Pune | 96 + | 280 + | Gov-affiliated with good outcomes. |
| KJ Somaiya, Mumbai | 95–99 | 270–300 | Premier private MBA with good placements. |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai | 95–99 | 270–300 | Known for analytics & corporate ties. |
Check CMAT 2025 Selection Process
CMAT Score vs Percentile
The CMAT score range typically spans from 0 to 400, and your percentile is determined based on your performance relative to other test-takers. Higher scores lead to higher percentiles, which are essential for admission into top-tier B-schools.
Here's a detailed breakdown of the expected scores and their corresponding percentiles:
A score of 250-270 (90-92 percentile) gets one into mid-level B-schools such as SIES and PUMBA, which have good MBA programs but less competition. A score of 270-290 (92-95 percentile) gets one into schools such as BIMTECH, JAGSoM, and Welingkar, which are good but less competitive.
A score of 290-310 (95-98 percentile) gets one into the best colleges such as SIMSREE, KJ Somaiya, and IMT. A score of 310-330 (98-99 percentile) qualifies candidates for top schools such as JBIMS, XIMB, and SPJIMR.
A score of 330-350 (99-99.5 percentile) is extremely competitive, guaranteeing admission to top schools such as JBIMS and IIMs. Scores over 350 (99.5+ percentile) provide the greatest opportunities for admission to the IIMs and other top B-schools, with assured excellent results in terms of placements.
| CMAT Score Range | Expected Percentile | Top Colleges Likely to Accept |
|---|---|---|
| 250-270 | 90-92 | SIES, PUMBA |
| 270-290 | 92-95 | BIMTECH, JAGSoM, Welingkar |
| 290-310 | 95-98 | SIMSREE, KJ Somaiya, IMT |
| 310-330 | 98-99 | JBIMS, XIMB, SPJIMR |
| 330-350 | 99-99.5 | JBIMS, IIMs, SPJIMR |
| 350+ | 99.5+ | IIMs, Top-tier B-schools |
Check: CMAT Score vs Percentile
Is 200 a good score in CMAT?
A score of 200 in CMAT 2025 is considered to be average and typically places a candidate in the 80-90 percentile range.
Expected Cutoff and Colleges
At a score of 200, candidates may still be able to gain admission to moderate-tier MBA colleges that accept CMAT scores. Here’s a breakdown of the expected percentile range for different score bands, including 200, and some colleges that are likely to accept candidates with such scores:
| CMAT Score Range | Expected Percentile | Colleges Likely to Accept |
|---|---|---|
| 200-250 | 80-90 | SIES, PUMBA, VIT Business School, Lingayas University, and VIPS, Delhi |
Moderate-range Colleges: Such colleges as SIES, PUMBA, and other medium-range business colleges will consider 200 score candidates. These colleges might have cut-offs of 80-90 percentile and would generally provide reasonable academic courses and placement opportunities.
What is 170 marks in CMAT?
A score of 170 in CMAT 2025 is considered to be below average, typically placing a candidate in the 70-80 percentile range.
CMAT Score Range and Expected Percentiles
To better understand where a score of 170 stands in relation to other scores, here is a table showing the score-to-percentile relationship based on expected trends:
| CMAT Score Range | Expected Percentile | Remarks | Colleges Likely to Accept |
|---|---|---|---|
| 170-200 | 70-80 | Below average score, limited competitive options | Lesser-known B-schools, University of Lucknow, IMS Noida, and Aligarh Muslim University |
Lower-Ranked B-Schools: Colleges that accept CMAT scores with a 170 score are generally less competitive and have lower cutoffs (approximately 70-80 percentile) like the University of Lucknow, Lucknow, IMS Noida (Institute of Management Studies), and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh. These institutions offer affordable education and still provide decent job placement opportunities, but they may not have the same prestige or national reach as higher-ranked schools.
CMAT Accepting Colleges Cutoff and Fees
Check: Expected CMAT 2025 Cut off
The cutoffs and fees vary depending on the reputation, location, and demand of each institution.
- Tier One B-Schools like JBIMS and SPJIMR have high cutoffs (over 99 percentile) and high fee structures.
- Mid-range B-Schools including SIMSREE, IMT, and BIMTECH have average cutoffs (of about 90-95 percentile) and average fees.
- Low-strength colleges normally have lower cut-offs (circa 80-90 percentile) and reasonable fees.
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