January 27, 2026
Overview: CMAT 2026 was conducted on 25 January 2026 in CBT mode in a single shift from 09:00 AM to 12:00 PM (as per NTA notice/admit card). CMAT 2026 cut offs are college-wise (institutes release their own shortlist/cut-off). For the latest notices, city intimation slip and admit card updates, refer to the official CMAT website. “CMAT result and subsequent college cutoffs are typically released a few weeks after the exam; candidates should track the official CMAT website for the latest timeline.
CMAT cut off is college-wise and varies by category, seat intake, and counselling/admission rounds. If you’re targeting top CMAT colleges, a 95–99+ percentile is commonly competitive, while many good options fall in the 80–90 percentile band (depending on the college).
Use the expected CMAT 2026 cutoff list below and the CMAT score vs percentile table to set a safe target and shortlist colleges.
CMAT (Common Management Admission Test) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to MBA/PGDM programmes in AICTE-approved institutions and participating universities. This page covers the expected CMAT 2026 cut off for top colleges, previous year cut off trends, and how to shortlist colleges based on your percentile.
Official CMAT website: cmat.nta.nic.in
Data freshness: Cutoff trends are updated whenever new official CMAT updates/college shortlists are released.
This blog will explore the latest updates, cut-off trends, and essential information to help you navigate the CMAT 2026 Cut Off
Read More | CMAT Exam Mock Test
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Examination | 25 January 2026 |
| Mode of Exam | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 180 minutes (03:00 hours) |
| Language of Paper | English only |
Note: City intimation slip/admit card timelines are announced separately on the official CMAT website.
Also Read | Download CMAT 2026 Admit Card Now
Take a free CMAT mock test and benchmark your performance with an all-India rank.
Tip: Use the score vs percentile trend on this page to set a safe score target.
CMAT cutoff is college-wise. Use the quick table below to understand what your percentile typically unlocks, then scroll to the detailed expected cutoff lists for college names.
| Percentile Band (Expected) | What it generally means | Examples you cover on this page |
|---|---|---|
| 99+ percentile | Top-tier CMAT colleges where cutoffs are extremely high. | JBIMS, SIMSREE (as per your expected list) |
| 95–99 percentile | Strong shortlist zone for many premium institutes. | K J Somaiya, Great Lakes (as per your expected list) |
| 80–90 percentile | Good options open up; college-wise variation is higher. | See your “80–90” college list below |
| 70–80 percentile | Entry into several institutes; shortlist carefully. | See your “70–80” college list below |
These are the expected CMAT 2026 cut offs (percentile) for top colleges based on recent trends. Actual cut offs may vary by category, seats, and institute admission policy.
| College | Course | Fees (Approx.) | Expected CMAT 2026 Cut Off (Percentile) |
|---|---|---|---|
| JBIMS (Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies) | MMS | ₹6 Lakhs | 99.90+ |
| SIMSREE CMAT Cut Off | MMS | ₹1.34 Lakhs | 99+ |
| Welingkar CMAT Cut Off | PGDM | ₹9.8 Lakhs | 95–99 |
| Great Lakes CMAT Cut Off | MBA | ₹20.8 Lakhs | 95–99 |
| KJ Somaiya CMAT Cut Off | MBA | ₹20.8 Lakhs | 95–99 |
| NIBM Pune CMAT Cut Off | PGDM | ₹8.5 Lakhs | 90–95 |
| PUMBA CMAT Cut Off | MBA | ₹7 Lakhs | 85–90 |
Summary: Use this table to shortlist your target colleges quickly by expected percentile cut off.
Read More | Top Colleges Accepting CMAT Scores 2026 In India
| College | Expected Cut Off (Percentile) |
|---|---|
| IMT, Nagpur | 90+ |
| NIPM, Pune | 85–90 |
| XBS, Kolkata | 85–90 |
| IFMR at Krea University, Sri City | 85–90 |
| Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida | 85+ |
| SIES, Mumbai | 80–85 |
| IPE, Hyderabad | 80–85 |
| IFIM Business School, Bangalore | 80–85 |
| IMT Hyderabad | 80+ |
| XIME, Bengaluru | 80+ |
Summary: This bucket is ideal for strong college options in the 80–90 range.
Summary: If you’re targeting 90+ percentile, shortlist from this bucket first.
| College | Expected Cut Off (Percentile) |
|---|---|
| IES Management College, Mumbai | 80 |
| KIIT School of Management, Bhubaneswar | 80 |
| AIMS, Bangalore | 80 |
| BIT, Mesra | 75+ |
| DY Patil School of Management, Pune | 75+ |
| NDIM, New Delhi | 75+ |
| Calcutta Business School | 75+ |
| XIME, Chennai | 70+ |
| ITM Group of Institutions, Mumbai | 70+ |
| SCMS, Cochin | 70+ |
Summary: This bucket helps you build a realistic list if your percentile is 70–80.
Read More | CMAT 2026 Exam Eligibility
The CMAT 2026 cut off is released institute-wise after results. Until official cutoffs are out, our expected cutoff lists and score targets are prepared using:
Note: Treat expected cutoffs as a guidance range. Always check the official shortlist/cutoff published by your target institute.
CMAT 2026 Toolkit (Quick Links)
Shortlist colleges using cut-off buckets, then boost your score with mocks + analysis. Here are the most-used CMAT resources:
Read More | CMAT Application Form - Step By Step Guide
Use these ranges to estimate what score is typically needed for a percentile band. Colleges usually shortlist using percentile, not raw marks.
The table below is a widely used CMAT 2025 score vs percentile reference to estimate targets for CMAT admissions. Score-percentile mapping changes slightly every year.
| CMAT Score (Out of 400) | Expected Percentile |
|---|---|
| 295–305 | 99.5+ |
| 275–285 | 99 |
| 255–265 | 95 |
| 235–245 | 90 |
Note: Score-percentile mapping varies year to year. Use 2024/2025 as a trend reference and prioritise percentile for shortlisting.
| Percentile Range | Marks Range |
|---|---|
| 100 | 365 |
| 99–99.99 | 292–360 |
| 95–99 | 271–292 |
| 90–95 | 258–271 |
| 81–89 | 206–258 |
| 71–80 | 179–206 |
| 61–70 | 154–179 |
| 51–60 | 133–154 |
| Below 51 | Below 133 |
| Percentile Range | Marks Range |
|---|---|
| 100 | 385 |
| 99–99.99 | 293–380 |
| 95–99 | 260–293 |
| 90–95 | 240–260 |
| 81–89 | 211–240 |
| 71–80 | 188–211 |
| 61–70 | 168–188 |
| 51–60 | 150–168 |
| Below 51 | Below 150 |
Summary: Score ranges shift each year—use these as estimates, not guaranteed cut-offs.
Find Out | CMAT Exam 2026 Exam Centres
Use this table to set a safe CMAT score target. These are trend-based estimates (actual score vs percentile can change each year depending on exam difficulty and normalisation).
| Target Percentile | Safe Score Range (Expected) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 99.5+ percentile | 295–305 | Top-tier target zone (very strong shortlist probability). |
| 99 percentile | 275–285 | Strong shortlist zone for many premium CMAT colleges. |
| 95 percentile | 255–265 | Solid band for several well-known institutes. |
| 90 percentile | 235–245 | Good options open up; college-wise variation increases. |
Source: Expected score vs percentile trend used widely for CMAT counselling shortlisting. Always treat this as an estimate.
The CMAT cutoffs are determined by many factors, such as the overall difficulty level of the exam, the number of test-takers, and the candidates' performance.
For admission purposes, colleges have their cut-offs based on the following factors:
Candidates must know these criteria to strategically plan the colleges to apply to based on expected CMAT exam cutoffs.
Read More| CMAT Exam Syllabus Subject-wise Explained
The CMAT cut off 2026 are based on many factors, such as the overall difficulty level of the exam, the number of test-takers, and the candidates' performance.
For admission purposes, every college has its own CMAT 2026 cut off category, which is based on factors like the number of candidates who appeared for the CMAT 2026 exam, insights derived after the release of the CMAT answer key, the number of seats available in the college, the difficulty level of the CMAT question paper, the overall pass percentage of the candidates in CMAT 2026, and the previous year's CMAT cutoff for admissions
Also check | Super charge your CAT Preparation with CAT Online Coaching
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CMAT cut off released by NTA?

What is a good percentile in CMAT 2026?

Is 80 percentile enough in CMAT?

What CMAT score is needed for 99 percentile?

Does CMAT cut off differ category-wise?

Do CMAT cutoffs change across admission rounds?

What should I do after checking my CMAT percentile?

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