The score normalization process by CMAT is for the fair comparison of the candidates who appear for the exam in different sessions. This process helps calculate percentiles of CMAT with accuracy. CMAT 2025 results will be released after normalization.
The CMAT 2025 normalization process is used to negate the difference between the difficulty level in the question papers appearing in different shifts of the exam by adjusting the scores of the candidate. Normalization is a tried and tested process that is used for many other MBA entrance exams in India in addition to CMAT exam. Through normalization, the score of a candidate who faced a tougher question paper will be increased and the score of a candidate who faced an easier question paper will be decreased. To avoid putting any candidate at an advantage because of the difference in difficulty level of the question papers used in the exam, NTA will use the CMAT normalization process 2025 to ascertain the CMAT result 2025 and declare the same in February 2025. CMAT 2025 was conducted on January 25, 2025, in two different shits.
Also Read :
| What is a Good Score in CMAT 2025? | |
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| CMAT Merit List 2025 | |
| Steps to Challenge CMAT Answer Key 2025 |
CMAT 2025 Normalization Process
NTA has remarked that it will use the " Normalization procedure based on Percentile Score" in order to overcome any differences in the difficulty level of the question paper for each shift. Normalization is a simple and straightforward process. After ensuring a fair division of candidates into the different shifts, the percentile scores of candidates are calculated for each shift. This means that the percentile of candidates who appeared in Shift 1 will be calculated separately from those who appeared in Shift 2. Hence, the percentile score will be the normalized score of the candidate. It will be mentioned as the NTA Score in the merit list.
This will ensure that no candidate is either benefitted or disadvantaged due to the differences in the difficulty level of question papers in each shift. The objective of the CMAT 2025 Normalization Process is to identify the true merit of the candidate and to create a level playing field. The details of how normalization is carried out by the NTA are given below.
Step 1: Distribution of Candidates
All of the candidates will be distributed randomly into the two shifts to avoid any bias. The two shifts can be conducted on the same day or multiple days, as specified by the NTA. In case the conducting body wishes to increase the number of shifts, the candidates can be divided accordingly into each shift. As an example, NTA has provided an example of the distribution of candidates for 4 Shifts.
A random distribution of candidates would remove the chances of any bias in the shift allocation. The chances of bias would be further reduced with a large population of candidates appearing for the exam.
Step 2: Preparing of CMAT 2025 Result
NTA will prepare the exam results for each session. The result will be prepared in the form of the following scores.
- Raw Scores
- Percentile Scores of Total Raw Scores
The raw scores of the candidate will not be considered to identify their merit. Instead, NTA will consider the Percentile Scores calculated for each session for that purpose.
Calculation of CMAT 2025 Percentile Scores
The percentile compares the performance of a candidate relative to the other candidates who appeared for the exam. It is calculated based on the rank of the candidate. The candidate's percentile is the percentage of candidates, in the same session as the candidate, who has a score equal to or less than that candidate. The higher the rank of a candidate, the higher their percentile. The percentile ranges from 0 to 100 and is calculated using the following formula.
CMAT 2025 Percentile = [(No. of candidates in a 'Session' with equal to or less score than the candidate/ Total no. of candidates in the 'Session')] x 100 |
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The Percentile Score will be calculated up to 7 decimal places to reduce the chances of ties and avoid the 'bunching effect'. Calculating the percentile score separately for each session will have the following effects:
All of the candidates in the same session with the same raw score will have the same percentile.
If two or more candidates in different shifts have the same raw score, their CMAT 2025 percentile will most likely be different.
All candidates that have the highest raw score for their session will be awarded the 100 percentile.
All candidates who have the lowest score for their session will have a close to 0 percentile, depending on the number of candidates who appeared.
Let us understand the bottom two points further with examples given by the NTA.
Highest Raw Score and Percentile Score
As per the NTA, the normalized percentile scores for all of the highest raw scores will be 100 for their respective session. Given below is an example of the highest raw scores for an exam with 4 shifts.
Lowest Raw Score and Percentile Score
The percentile scores for all of the lowest raw scores will be close to 0. The exact score, however, will depend on the number of candidates who appeared for the session. Here is an example of the lowest raw scores for an exam with 4 shifts.
Step 3: Compilation of NTA Score
In the final step of the CMAT 2025 normalization, the percentile scores for all of the sessions are merged and called the NTA score. The scores can then be used for the compilation of results and in the CMAT selection process 2025 .
Important Information Regarding CMAT 2025 Eligibility Cut Off
There are chances that the percentiles for the different shifts on the same raw scores will be unequal. In such cases, issues may arise when deciding the eligibility cut off. However, NTA has specified that the lowest percentile across all shifts for any particular raw score will be considered to be the eligibility cut off. As an example. if 80 marks correspond to the 40 percentile in Shift 1 and 85 marks correspond to the 40 percentile in Shift 2, then all students who scored 80 and above would be considered eligible in both shifts.
Also Read :
CMAT Cutoff for Top Colleges
Colleges Accepting CMAT 2025 - Percentile-wise
Given below is the percentile-wise list of colleges accepting CMAT 2025:
Percentile | List of Colleges |
|---|---|
Percentile vs College | CMAT 2025 Percentile vs College |
90+ Percentile | |
80 - 90 Percentile | |
70 - 80 Percentile | |
60 - 70 Percentile | |
50 - 60 Percentile | |
Low Percentile |
CMAT Marking Scheme and Number of Good Attempts
The CMAT exam has five sections, and each section is equally weighted. For each correct answer, you gain 4 marks, but for every incorrect answer, you lose 1 mark. If you do not attempt a question, then you neither gain nor lose marks; it will simply be marked as zero. Below, you will find a detailed table with the total number of questions and the recommended number of good attempts to aim for.
CMAT Sections | Number of Questions | Number of Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|
Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation | 20 | 16-17 |
Logical Reasoning | 20 | 16-17 |
Language Comprehension | 20 | 16-17 |
General Awareness | 20 | 8-10 |
Innovation & Entrepreneurship | 20 | 7-9 |
Once the CMAT percentile scores are calculated, the selection commission aggregates scores from all the shifts in the exams to calculate final NTA-CMAT scores. These NTA scores then form the basis for the merit list. For those candidates whose CMAT percentiles vary from shift to shift, the least percentile score becomes the CMAT cut-off for each category.
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| What After CMAT 2025 Result? | |
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| Didn't Score Well in CMAT 2025? Here Are Some Alternatives to Look For | |
| CMAT Question Paper 2024 |
These were all of the details about the CMAT normalization process 2025. In case of any doubts, candidates can post their questions on the CollegeDekho QnA Zone . To make your college applications easier, fill up the Common Application Form (CAF) or discuss your options with our counsellor at 18005729877.
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FAQs
Yes, there is normalization in the CMAT 2025 exam. As the CMAT is conducted in multiple sessions, this process ensures that it is fair and addresses variations in the difficulty levels across different sessions. The normalization process adjusts the scores to a common scale so that candidates' performance can be compared fairly, regardless of the session in which they appeared. This normalized score is then used to calculate the final percentile.
- The CMAT normalization process ensures fairness, but it is not free from drawbacks.
- If their raw scores are reduced too much, candidates from easier sessions would be at a disadvantage.
- On the other hand, candidates from challenging sessions might see their scores inflated due to excessive upward adjustments.
- This would bring forth issues of justice and, therefore, scepticism regarding the validity of the ranking.
- Therefore, it may raise the question of the validity of the results.
A 99.99 percentile in the CMAT exam means scoring better than 99.99% of the test takers. This generally puts a score range of between 340 and 360 out of 400 marks. This percentile would open up the gates for management institutes that accept CMAT scores, such as JBIMS, SIMSREE, and GIM to a great extent.
Yes, normalization in the CMAT may increase your raw score. Normalization adjusts the scores according to the toughness level of different sessions in which the exams are taken. If your session is slightly tough, your raw score might be scaled up to match with scores from easier sessions so that all test-takers are treated equally. This process is to bring in a level playing field and may help increase your final CMAT score.
The CMAT 2025 examination will have 100 questions, with 20 questions in each of the five sections. You do not have to attempt all the questions; the total score for the examination will be 400 marks.
The percentile compares the performance of a candidate relative to the other candidates who appeared for the exam. It is calculated based on the rank of the candidate. The candidate's percentile is the percentage of candidates, in the same session as the candidate, who has a score equal to or less than that candidate. The higher the rank of a candidate, the higher their percentile.
CMAT score vs percentile is a detailed analysis of what score was required to attain a certain percentile in the exam. If a candidate scores between 315-350, then he may get a 100 percentile. Similarly, if a candidate scores between 286-310, then he may get a percentile between 99.1 – 99.99.
CMAT normalization process is used by the NTA to adjust the scores of test-takers according to the difficulty level of their question paper in their shift. Through normalization, the score of a candidate who faced a tougher question paper will be increased and the score of a candidate who faced an easier question paper will be decreased.
CMAT normalization process ensures that no candidate benefits or is put at a disadvantage due to the difference in the difficulty level of the question paper for their shift. During the normalization process, the score of candidates who faced a difficult paper will be increased while the score of candidates who faced a simple paper will be decreased to ensure there’s no disparity.
CMAT normalization process is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), the conducting body for CMAT. Through the CMAT normalization process, NTA ensures that each candidate is fairly evaluated irrespective of the difficulty level of the question paper in various shifts.
CMAT Previous Year Question Paper
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