CMAT Rank vs Percentile 2026: How to Calculate

Tiyasa Khanra

Updated On: January 07, 2026 08:51 AM

CMAT Rank vs Percentile 2026 explains how your raw score is converted into relative ranks for admissions. How to calculate this conversion of CMAT rank and percentile involves knowing score normalisation, exam level, and an idea of rank range as per scores.
 

CMAT Rank vs Percentile

CMAT Rank vs Percentile 2026 plays a key role in understanding how your raw scores translate to relative performance among test takers. How to calculate this relationship is key for CMAT 2026 aspirants to understand their chances of securing their dream B-School.
The overall mark in CMAT 2026 is 400. Based on expert predictions, a score of 360 - 365 is expected to secure the top rank along with a 100 percentile. A closer look at the CMAT 2026 rank vs percentile trend shows that examinees scoring between 290 and 360 generally fall within the 98 - 99.99+ percentile range. This range is highly competitive and often improves the chances of admission into leading CMAT 2026 participating colleges , such as SIMSREE, SIES, BIMTECH, JAGSoM, JBIMS, etc.

Scores in the bracket between 206 to 283 usually correspond to a percentile band of 80 - 95+. Although lower compared to the earlier band, such percentiles still offer opportunities to secure admission into reputable MBA programmes. To understand the latest CMAT 2026 rank vs percentile trends for admissions, read below!

CMAT Rank vs Percentile 2026 (Expected)

Below is an extended table providing a comprehensive breakdown of the estimated CMAT rank vs percentile 2026 based on score normalisation. This comparison will make it all the more clear for you regarding where you stand.

CMAT Percentile

CMAT Score

CMAT Rank Range

100

360 - 365

Rank 1

99.99

281-340

Rank 1-100

99.9

325

Rank 1-100

99.8

316

Rank 1-100

99.5

299

Rank 100 to 1000

99

292

Rank 100 to 1000

98

283

Rank 100 to 1000

95

271

Rank 1001 to 5000

90

258

Rank 1001 to 5000

85

240

Rank 5000+

80

206

Rank 5000+

75

193

Rank 5000+

70

179

Rank 5000+

65

167

Rank 5000+

60

154

Rank 5000+

50

133

Rank 5000+

CMAT Rank vs Percentile from Previous Years

Check the CMAT rank vs percentile analysis for the years 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019 in the table below.

CMAT Percentile

CMAT Rank

CMAT 2025 Score CMAT 2024 Score

CMAT 2023 Score

CMAT 2022 Score

CMAT 2021 Score

CMAT 2020 Score

CMAT 2019 Score

99.8-100

Rank 1 to 100

345-350 320-385

316-365

316-365

316-365

316-365

316-365

99.5-99.9

Rank 100 to 1000

340+ 303

305

303

325

320

315

99

Rank 100 to 1000

295-305 293

295

293

318

313

310

98

Rank 100 to 1000

283 280

283

283

283

283

283

95

Rank 1001 to 5000

245-262 260

262

260

260

250

282

90

Rank 1001 to 5000

205-240 240

245

240

282

232

264

80

Rank 5000+

180-211 211

215

211

200

203

234

70

Rank 5000+

170-188 188

195

180

170

180

210


N.B. : CMAT score-percentile figures provided for the past years in the above table are indicative and based on reported trends.NTA does not release an official score-percentile mapping.

Section-wise CMAT Cutoff 2026 (Expected)

The section-wise CMAT cutoffs for 2026 are as follows:

Name of the Section

CMAT Cutoff Percentile

Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation

50-55 percentile

Language Comprehension

45-50 percentile

Logical Reasoning

40-45 percentile

General Awareness

40 percentile

Innovation & Entrepreneurship

35-40 percentile

CMAT Score 2026

The CMAT score represents the total marks a candidate receives based on the marking scheme of the NTA. It is nothing but the accumulation of marks achieved in all five sections of the examination. Knowing how the CMAT 2026 score is calculated may help you approximate your performance. Here is a very simple explanation of the scoring process:

  • For each correct answer, you get 4 marks.
  • Deduct 1 mark for every incorrect answer.
  • No marks are awarded or deducted for questions that remain unanswered.
  • The final score is the sum of marks for correct answers minus marks lost due to wrong attempts.

Let’s understand this with an example:

Details

Questions Answered

Correct Answers

Wrong Answers

Marks for Correct Answers

Marks Deducted for Wrong Answers

Final CMAT Score

Candidate A

100

75

25

75 × 4 = 300

25 × 1 =25

300 - 25 = 275

Candidate B

88

80

8

80 × 4 = 320

8 x1 = 8

320 - 8 = 312

This score calculation takes into account negative marking significantly as well. The total number of marks will reduce by that amount of the wrong answers. Hence, this method is important for a very careful response. The CMAT 2026 result is calculated strictly using this method.

What is a Good Score in CMAT?

For CMAT 2026, if your scores lie within the range of 295-305 or more, you can clearly claim it is an excellent performance. Typically, such scores are expected to place you in the highest percentile, that is above 99.5 percent. That kind of a score, in addition to the preparedness, gives a strong push towards some of the best management institutes.

How to Calculate CMAT Percentile 2026?

Candidates must note that if one has obtained a lower rank, the percentile will be higher and vice versa. For example, if you have a secured rank 1, your percentile will be close to 100, implying you have scored more than almost all other candidates. On the other hand, a higher rank corresponds to a lower percentile. If you have obtained a rank close to 10,000, your percentile will be lower, which indicates that a large number of candidates (approximately 9999) have scored higher than you.

CMAT marks vs rank 2026 are calculated to seven decimal places to minimize ties as well as prevent the bunching effect. The average or total of the grades for each subject will not be regarded as the final grade. Also, there will be no correlation between the percentile score and the percentage of marks obtained by the candidate. The first step is to determine the total number of candidates appearing for the CMAT 2026 exam. Use the formula provided below to calculate your CMAT 2026 total percentile:

Total Percentile (TP1): 100 x (Number of applicants who appeared in the session with raw scores equal to or less than T1 score/Total number of candidates appearing in the exam)

For example, if a total of 10,000 candidates appeared in the CMAT exam and a candidate has secured the 5th rank, their percentile would be calculated in the following manner:

CMAT Percentile = 100 x (10000-5/10000) = 99.95

How to Calculate CMAT Rank 2026?

If you are planning to calculate your CMAT rank for 2026, follow these steps below:

  • Get Your CMAT Percentile
    • Firstly, get your percentile of the CMAT. This tells you how you have fared in comparison with the other candidates who appeared for the exam.
    • The percentile score is usually available along with the CMAT results.
  • Understand Your Scorecard
    • Once you get your percentile, you can refer to your CMAT scorecard.
    • Calculate your total raw score by adding up marks from all sections. Remember that the scoring system gives 4 marks for every correct answer and deducts 1 mark for every incorrect answer.
  • Know Ranking Trends
    • Based on your percentile, you can estimate your rank by referring to the trends of previous years.
    • A lower rank means you have performed better as you have scored more than most of the candidates, whereas a higher rank reflects comparatively lower performance.
  • Verify the CMAT Merit List
    • The CMAT merit list contains all the information such as roll number, rank, section-wise scores, and NTA score.
    • This list will be of help to you in the determination of your rank and your ranking in comparison to others.
  • Reflect on the Difficulty Level of Exams and Performance Distribution
    • Ranking and percentile can differ according to the difficulty level of the exam and also considering the performance of candidates on a whole.
    • Considering the past data and trends would make an educated guess regarding percentile and rank conversion as no set formula is available to do this conversion.
Check the links below to learn more about CMAT 2026!

Also Read:

MBA Colleges for Low Percentile/ Score in CMAT 2026

CMAT 2026 Percentile Predictor

List of MBA Colleges Accepting 70-80 Percentile in CMAT 2026

List of MBA Colleges Accepting 60-70 Percentile in CMAT 2026

For further inquiries regarding the CMAT Rank vs Percentile 2026, post your queries on the Collegedekho QnA zone . For admission-related assistance, fill up our Common Application Form .

FAQs

What are the benefits of taking the CMAT exam?

One benefit of CMAT is the number of MBA colleges in India that accept the CMAT. The difficulty level is moderate, so it doesn't require deep study. Another benefit is that women and reserved category candidates get a reduced cost on the application fee.

Does SP Jain accept CMAT scores?

No, the S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) does not accept CMAT scores for its PGDM admissions; it accepts scores from other tests like CAT, XAT, NMAT, and GMAT. 

How many top colleges accept CMAT scores?

CMAT is one of the top MBA entrance exams in India. Over 1,300 B-Schools accept CMAT scores for providing admission to MBA/PGDM programmes. Some of the top colleges accepting CMAT are NMIMS, XIME, Christ University, Welingkar's, DY Patil School of Management, VIT and KJ Somaiya among others.

What is the difference between CMAT score and percentile?

The score of CMAT is a representation of the total marks earned by you in the exam. Your percentile will tell you how your performance compares with the others who have taken the test. For example, if your percentile is 95, it means you scored better than 95% of all the candidates who appeared for the exam.

Is 150 a good score in CMAT 2026?

If you score 150 on the CMAT exam 2026, it means that you can expect an average performance. Normally, one will expect a score as such to fall between 61 and 70 percentiles. It means that you are not at the top. However, you are more than likely within a nice range where most students typically fall.

How to calculate percentile in CMAT 2026?

To calculate your CMAT 2026 percentile, you can follow a simple formula:

Total Percentile (TP1) = 100 × Number of candidates with raw scores equal to or less than T1 score / Total number of candidates in the session

Your performance is compared to that of every participant in the same session using this algorithm. While the total number of participants in that session is the denominator, the numerator is the number of candidates who scored the same or lower than you. This ratio is multiplied by 100 to determine your percentile score. It is a simple way to measure where you stand compared to others in the session.

Is 230 a good score in CMAT 2026?

A CMAT score of 230 enables a percentile above 85, and you would fall under the competitive range. Now, this score may just be average, but it promises access to many great colleges. You can look for any of these colleges, namely: BIMTECH, IPE Hyderabad, JIMS, NDIM, AIMS School of Business and more. Evaluate these colleges about their programs, faculty, placement opportunities, and alignment with your career goals to make the best-informed decision.

What is the passing marks for CMAT 2026?

If you scored 133 on the CMAT, you would most probably rank at the 50th percentile. This is what most people consider a bare minimum score to pass an examination.

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