CMAT Passing Marks 2026: Check Qualifying Marks for Top Colleges

Officially, the National Testing Agency (NTA) does not release a minimum CMAT passing marks or qualifying score. However, the general CMAT cutoff 2026 has been regarded as 120 out of 400, and any candidate who scores more than or equal to 120 out of 400 gets qualified and can go through the further selection process by respective colleges. If you score around 280, then you will be able to apply to some of the top B-schools in India. Generally, to enter the best MBA institutes, a score between 250 and 300 out of 400 should be aimed for. The top CMAT 2026 participating colleges that accept CMAT 2026 scores will soon release their cutoffs post result declaration.

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What is the Minimum CMAT Passing Marks in 2026?

Some of the institutes require passing marks in the CMAT exams for applying to management programs and if you have scored marks from 120 or more can participate in interviews or some kind of selection process in front of the top MBA colleges offering CMAT scores. Meanwhile, if you do not make it to the minimum marks qualifying in the CMAT of 2026, there might not be access towards quality postgraduate studies in major universities in India.

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CMAT Passing Marks 2026 for Top Colleges

As already mentioned, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has not set any specific passing marks for CMAT 2026. The CMAT passing score is determined by colleges accepting CMAT scores. However, scoring above 120 is generally considered good and can open up many options for Management colleges. A score between 250 and 300 (out of 400) is considered very good and can help you get into top colleges. The table below is a comprehensive overview of the estimated CMAT passing marks/qualifying scores 2026 for top colleges:

Note: These scores are estimates and are subject to change. Candidates should use these scores for reference only.

Percentile-wise CMAT Accepting Colleges

CMAT Cutoff for Top Colleges

Is There any Category-wise CMAT Passing Marks for 2026?

No, the National Testing Agency has not set any category-wise passing marks for CMAT 2025. However, based on observations from previous years, the All India qualifying score for the general category typically ranges between the 70th and 95th percentile. Candidates scoring within this range are likely to qualify for various management programs across the country.

While there is no reservation policy specifically for the CMAT exam, B-schools accepting CMAT scores will apply the reservation criteria as prescribed by the Government of India during the admission process.

CMAT Marking Scheme 2026

As per the latest CMAT 2026 marking scheme, you will get a total of 4 marks for every right answer. But for every wrong answer, you will lose 1 mark. Below, you will be able to see a clear breakdown of the CMAT marking scheme that will help explain the scoring system better for you.

CMAT 2026 Marks vs Percentile

For a perfect 100 percentile, candidates usually aim for scores ranging between 345 to 350. Attaining percentiles between 90 to 99.99 typically requires scores from 281 to 340, while securing percentiles of 81 to 89 necessitates scores between 201 to 280. Explore the table below outlining the CMAT scores and their corresponding percentile range.

How to Calculate CMAT Percentile

The CMAT examination, overseen by the National Testing Agency (NTA), employs a scoring system that rewards correct responses with +4 marks and penalizes incorrect ones with a deduction of -1 mark. If a question remains unanswered, no marks are deducted. To calculate your CMAT percentile, you can employ the following formula:

Percentile = 100 − (Candidate’s RankTotal Number of Candidates appeared×100)

Your CMAT score is the cumulative total of marks earned or lost in each section of the CMAT test. You receive marks for each section, which are then aggregated to yield your CMAT Total Score (out of 400).

Factors Influencing CMAT Percentile

CMAT percentile ranks candidates based on their performance in the exam, indicating their position on the merit list relative to others. It is calculated by comparing a candidate's score with those of other qualified candidates. Below are the key determinants influencing the CMAT Percentile:

• Exam Difficulty: The difficulty level of the CMAT exam impacts the percentile, with more challenging exams potentially resulting in lower percentiles.

• Number of Test-Takers: The total number of candidates taking the CMAT exam affects percentile rankings, with higher competition potentially leading to lower percentiles.

• Available Seats in Participating Institutes: The number of seats available in institutes accepting CMAT scores influences percentiles, with limited seats possibly affecting percentile distribution.

• CMAT Scorecard: While CMAT scorecards display raw scores and All India Rank (AIR), they do not include percentiles. Candidates can utilize the CMAT percentile predictor to gauge their performance and estimate expected cutoffs.

Previous Year's CMAT Score vs Percentile

Below is the comparison of CMAT scores from the previous year alongside their corresponding percentiles, allowing candidates to assess their performance:

In summary, while the 2026 CMAT Passing Marks have no strict threshold, aiming for a minimum score of 120 is advisable. The CMAT college cut-off serves as the minimum score requirement for advancing to subsequent rounds of the MBA admission process, such as Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI).

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