The CMAT Score vs Percentile will give the candidates an idea on how well they have performed in comparison with other exam takers. Each right response contributes to the total score, wrong score decreases it by a little and the balancing of scores is made by balancing the shifts so that things are fair.
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According to historical trends, candidates with a score of about 345-350 in 2024 were ranked in the 100 percentile, those with 281-340 were ranked in the 90-99.99 percentile range with 201-280 being in the 81-89 percentile range.
- In the case of 2026, a score of 320+ will remain in the upper bracket, 250-319 will fall into the good mid-range category, and 170-249 for regional institutes. The results with less than 170 may restrict the options.
- Percentiles change every year depending on the difficulty and competition of examinations, therefore, it is more of a guide than a set rule.
- CMAT Score vs Percentile 2026
- How is CMAT Score Calculated?
- How is CMAT Percentile Calculated?
- CMAT 2026 Score Normalization
- Previous Years’ CMAT Score vs Percentile Analysis
- CMAT Score vs Percentile Previous Years’ Trends (2024, 2023, 2022)
- What is a “Good” CMAT Score in 2026?
- CMAT Score vs Percentile 2026: Cutoff for CMAT Colleges
- CMAT Score vs Percentile 2026 FAQs
CMAT Score vs Percentile 2026
Candidates who appeared for the CMAT 2026 exam can refer to the expected score vs percentile analysis to understand how their performance translates into percentile ranks after score normalization.
The table below shows the estimated CMAT 2026 score range and corresponding percentile range based on past year trends and normalization patterns released by NTA.
| CMAT 2026 Score Range | Expected Percentile Range |
|---|---|
| 345 + | 100 |
| 281 - 340 | 90 - 99.99 |
| 201 - 280 | 81 - 89 |
| 171 - 200 | 71 - 80 |
| 141 - 170 | 61 - 70 |
| 116 - 140 | 51 - 60 |
| Below 116 | Below 51 |
Ques. If I score 300, what percentile should I expect in CMAT?
Ans. Historically, 300+ tends to fall in the 98-99+ percentile band (excellent). But final percentile depends on the year’s overall difficulty and test-taker performance.
Also read:
How is CMAT Score Calculated?
The CMAT score is the total of marks obtained by a candidate in all the test sections.
It is calculated by using a predefined marking scheme, as mentioned in the CMAT Information Bulletin available on the official website.
CMAT Marking Scheme
| Type of Response | Marks Awarded |
|---|---|
| Correct Answer | +4 marks |
| Incorrect Answer | -1 mark (Negative marking) |
| Unanswered / Not Attempted | 0 marks |
CMAT Score Calculation
- Each candidate’s raw score is calculated by applying the marking scheme to all five sections:
- Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation
- Logical Reasoning
- Language Comprehension
- General Awareness
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Each section has 20 questions, carrying 80 marks, for a total of 100 questions (400 marks).
- Formula:
- CMAT Score = (Number of Correct Answers × 4) - (Number of Wrong Answers × 1)
Example for CMAT Score Calculation:
| Section | Questions Attempted | Correct | Incorrect | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Techniques | 20 | 15 | 5 | (15×4) - (5×1) = 55 |
| Logical Reasoning | 20 | 18 | 2 | (18×4) - (2×1) = 70 |
| Language Comprehension | 20 | 14 | 6 | (14×4) - (6×1) = 50 |
| General Awareness | 20 | 10 | 10 | (10×4) - (10×1) = 30 |
| Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 20 | 17 | 3 | (17×4) - (3×1) = 65 |
| Total | 100 | 270 / 400 |
- So, the candidate’s CMAT raw score = 270.
- This raw score is then used by NTA to calculate the percentile (using the normalization method).
How is CMAT Percentile Calculated?
The NTA does not publish a direct “score-to-percentile” chart. Instead, it follows a percentile-based ranking and normalization process so that scores from different shifts of the exam remain fair and comparable.
CMAT Step-by-Step Percentile Calculation :
Step 1 : Raw scores
- Each candidate’s raw marks are calculated out of 400 (100 questions × 4 marks).
- Each correct answer = +4 marks, and each incorrect answer = -1 mark (negative marking applies).
- These raw scores are used as the base for percentile calculation.
Step 2 : Percentile calculation (within each shift)
- If CMAT is conducted in more than one shift, NTA calculates percentile scores shift-wise first.
The formula used is:
- Percentile (P) = 100 × (Number of candidates in that shift with raw score ≤ your raw score) ÷ (Total number of candidates in that shift)
- Percentiles are computed up to 7 decimal places to minimize ties.
Source: @exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT
Example:
- If 10,000 candidates appeared in your shift and 9,500 candidates scored less than or equal to you,
then your percentile = (9500 / 10000) × 100 = 95.0000000 percentile.
Step 3 : Normalization across shifts
- If the CMAT exam is conducted in multiple sessions, each shift might have a slightly different difficulty level.
- To ensure fairness, NTA uses the Equi-percentile Normalization method, where percentile scores from different shifts are mapped to a common scale.
- That means if 98 percentile in Shift 1 represents a raw score of 320, and 98 percentile in Shift 2 represents a raw score of 315, both are treated equally during final ranking.
Highest Raw Score and Percentile: Candidates with the highest raw scores in each session receive a normalized percentile score of 100 for that session.
Source: @exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT
Lowest Raw Score and Percentile: The percentile for the lowest raw scores depends on the total number of candidates who appeared in that session.
Source: @exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT
Step 4 : Final percentile and rank
After normalization, NTA prepares a combined merit list of all candidates across all shifts.
Each candidate receives:
- Sectional scores and percentiles
- Overall score and percentile
- All India Rank (AIR)
The highest scorer in the exam always gets a 100 percentile (rank 1).
Example for CMAT Percentile Calculation :
| Candidate | Raw Marks (out of 400) | Shift | Percentile (Shift-wise) | Normalized Percentile (Final) | All India Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 350 | Shift 1 | 99.80 | 99.87 | 1 |
| B | 330 | Shift 1 | 99.50 | 99.60 | 5 |
| C | 330 | Shift 2 | 99.40 | 99.60 | 5 |
| D | 290 | Shift 2 | 97.00 | 97.10 | 30 |
| E | 220 | Shift 1 | 85.00 | 85.00 | 2200 |
Note that the above example is for explanation only. Actual percentiles and ranks vary each year.
Ques. Does CMAT always have multiple shifts?
Ans. Not necessarily always, but in recent years CMAT has often been held in two shifts. In case if the exam is conducted in a single session then in such cases, normalization is not required, and raw-score-based percentiles are directly used.
Ques. Can two candidates get the same percentile in CMAT?
Ans. Yes, two candidates get the same percentile in CMAT if their raw scores are the same and they fall within the same percentile range. To break ties, some specific tie-breaking criteria is used (like sectional scores, date of birth, etc.) that are mentioned in the CMAT Information Bulletin.
Ques. Are raw marks and percentile the same in CMAT?
Ans. No, raw marks are the marks you scored out of 400. Percentile is a relative measure showing how many candidates scored equal or below you. NTA percentile is the normalized score used for merit lists.
CMAT 2026 Score Normalization
The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in multiple shifts. Since each shift may have a slightly different difficulty level, NTA follows a score normalization process to ensure fairness among all candidates.
What is Normalization in CMAT?
Normalization is a method used to adjust the scores of candidates across different exam shifts so that the comparison is fair. This ensures that no candidate is at an advantage or disadvantage due to varying difficulty levels across sessions.
It balances out differences in question paper difficulty across shifts and brings all candidates’ scores onto a common scale.
Ques. Why is the Normalization system used to calculate CMAT percentile?
Ans. The Normalization system used to calculate CMAT percentile because:
- CMAT sometimes runs in two shifts, and question difficulty may differ slightly.
- The normalization method ensures equal opportunity regardless of which session a candidate appears in.
- It makes the result statistically fair and transparent, following NTA’s standardized percentile process used in all national exams.
Ques. Can normalized scores be lower than raw scores?
Ans. Yes, it’s possible that the normalized scores are lower than raw scores. Depending on the shift’s relative difficulty, a candidate’s normalized score may increase or decrease slightly compared to the raw score, but fairness across all shifts is maintained.
Ques. Does normalization affect my final CMAT percentile?
Ans. Yes, candidates' final percentile is based on the normalized score, not just your raw marks. This process ensures fairness across all exam sessions.
Previous Years’ CMAT Score vs Percentile Analysis
Previous Years’ CMAT Score vs Percentile Analysis helps candidates understand how their scores translated into percentiles in past exams. This analysis provides insights for planning and estimating performance for CMAT 2026.
CMAT 2025 Score vs Percentile : Trend Analysis
Understanding how scores are mapped to percentiles in CMAT 2025 helps candidates gauge their performance and estimate admissions chances.
- In CMAT 2025, scores of 300 - 325 often led to a 99.5+ percentile, 205-340 to 90-99.99, 180 - 205 to 81-89, and below 116 placed candidates under the 50th percentile.
- Exam difficulty appeared fairly uniform between the two shifts in 2025, with no major advantage for either shift, per expert feedback.
| Score Range (out of 400) | Estimated Percentile in 2025 | Observations |
|---|---|---|
| 340+ | 99.99 | Top performers needed very high scores to reach this percentile band |
| 300 - 325 | 99.5 | Very competitive range |
| 270 - 292 | 99.0 | Strong showing, good for many top B-schools |
| 240 - 260 | 95 | A solid result in the upper percentile ambit |
| 205 - 240 | 90 | Mid-level percentiles, many private / regional colleges use these ranges |
| 180 - 205 | 80 | Lower mid percentile range |
| Below 180 | Below 80 | Falling in the bottom half in percentile |
CMAT 2024 Score vs Percentile : Trend Analysis
Understanding how scores are mapped to percentiles in CMAT 2024 helps candidates assess their performance and plan for admissions opportunities.
In CMAT 2024, 345-350 marks were needed for 100 percentile, 281-340 for 90-99.99, 201-280 for 81-89, and below 116 for under 50th percentile. General Awareness and Innovation sections were trickier, with similar difficulty across shifts.
| Score Range (out of 400) | Approximate Percentile in 2024 | Observations |
|---|---|---|
| 345 - 350 | 100 | Top performers needed very high scores to reach this percentile band |
| 281 - 340 | 90 - 99.99 | Very competitive range |
| 201 - 280 | 81 - 89 | Strong showing, good for many good B-schools |
| 171 - 200 | 71 - 80 | Mid-level percentiles, many private/regional colleges use these ranges |
| 141 - 170 | 61 - 70 | Lower mid percentile range |
| 116 - 140 | 51 - 60 | Moderate performance range |
| Below 116 | < 51 | Falling in the bottom half in percentile |
CMAT Score vs Percentile Previous Years’ Trends (2024, 2023, 2022)
CMAT Score vs Percentile Previous Years’ Trends shows that scoring in the mid-200s to low 300s usually secured a 90+ percentile, though exact cutoffs vary with exam difficulty and attempts.
Yearly fluctuations highlight why NTA uses normalization instead of fixed tables, and 300+ marks often serve as a safe benchmark for 90+ percentile.
| ~ Percentile Band | 2024 (~ Score Range) | 2023 (~ Score Range) | 2022 (~ Score Range) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 - 99.9 | 281 - 340 | 261 - 285 | 240 - 340 |
| 81 - 89 | 201 - 281 | 201 - 260 | 211 - 225 |
| 71 - 80 | 171 - 200 | 171 - 200 | 118 - 211 |
| 61 - 70 | 141 - 170 | 141 - 170 | 168 - 188 |
| 51 - 60 | 116 - 140 | 116 - 140 | 150 - 168 |
What is a “Good” CMAT Score in 2026?
Knowing what a good CMAT score is, can help candidates to plan better and aim for the right colleges. Based on past trends, the scores can be classified into the following categories:
- Top-tier / flagship seats: If you aim for ~320-360 (99+ percentile), you’re targeting the top private B-schools and a few high-ranked institutes that accept CMAT.
- Strong mid-tier: Scores around ~250-319 (95-99 percentile) are good for reputed state-level and many private B-schools.
- Safe mid / regionals: Marks between ~170-249 (70-95 percentile) open doors to many regional colleges and private institutes.
- Below target: Scoring less than 170 (below ~70 percentile) means limited admission options.
Ques. Is 280 a good score in CMAT?
Ans. Yes. A score of 280 usually corresponds to a 95-98 percentile, making it competitive for many good colleges. However, what counts as “good” depends on the specific college you are targeting.
Ques. Will CMAT cutoffs change in 2026?
Ans. Yes, cutoffs can change based on available seats, the applicant pool, and the year’s exam trends as cutoffs are set individually by colleges. Previous years’ cutoffs are useful guides, but small changes are expected.
CMAT Score vs Percentile 2026: Cutoff for CMAT Colleges
Based on the previous years’ cutoff for colleges accepting CMAT score, here are the expected cutoff percentiles for top B-schools accepting CMAT scores:
| College | Expected CMAT 2026 Cutoff Percentile |
|---|---|
| JBIMS Mumbai | 99.9+ |
| SIMSREE Mumbai | 99.9+ |
| PUMBA Pune | 99+ |
| Great Lakes Chennai | 95+ |
| K.J. Somaiya Mumbai | 90-95+ |
| Welingkar Mumbai | 85+ |
| Welingkar Bangalore | 80+ |
Also read:
CMAT Score vs Percentile 2026 FAQs
Ques. How is the CMAT percentile calculated by NTA?
Ans. The CMAT percentile is calculated using the formula:
Percentile = 100 × (Number of candidates in the same shift with raw score ≤ your score) / (Total number of candidates in that shift).
NTA then applies normalization to ensure fairness across multiple exam shifts.
Ques. Will NTA publish a score-to-percentile table for CMAT 2026?
Ans. No, NTA does not release a fixed score-to-percentile conversion table. It only publishes the result and percentile calculation method. Since percentiles vary each year based on the score distribution and number of test-takers, candidates can refer to expert analysis and previous year trends for approximate estimates.
Ques. What raw score gives 99 percentile in CMAT?
Ans. Based on previous years’ trends, a raw score of around 280-310 out of 400 usually corresponds to the 99 percentile in CMAT. However, this may vary slightly each year depending on the exam’s difficulty level and the number of candidates appearing for the test.
Ques. If my CMAT percentile is borderline, what should I do?
Ans. Apply to a mix of target and backup colleges, and prepare well for GD/PI rounds to strengthen your profile if your scores are falling in borderline. Also explore state-level universities and private B-schools that accept slightly lower percentiles for better admission chances.
Ques. What is a “good” CMAT score for top colleges?
Ans. A score of 320+ (99+ percentile) is ideal for top B-schools like JBIMS, SIMSREE, and GIM, while 250-319 (95-99 percentile) is good for reputed private and state-level institutes.
Ques. What score is needed for 95 percentile in CMAT?
Ans. If you aim for a 95 percentile, you generally need to score between 250 and 270 marks. This means you performed better than roughly 95% of all candidates, which is considered a strong score for many reputed B-schools.
Ques. Is 200 a good CMAT score?
Ans. Scoring around 200 marks usually lands you in the 70-80 percentile range. It’s not top-tier, but it’s good enough for several regional or private B-schools. Essentially, it gives you decent options without being among the highest scorers.
Ques. How many candidates score above 300 in CMAT?
Ans. Only about 5% of test-takers manage to score above 300 marks. This makes it a highly competitive benchmark, meaning that if you reach this score, you are likely among the top performers and have a good chance at top B-schools.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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