NMAT Score vs Percentile 2026: Expected Percentiles, Last 2 Years Data & Score Targets

NMAT score vs percentile 2026 shows which percentile your NMAT total score (out of 360) is likely to get. Based on GMAC’s percentile data for NMAT 2025 and NMAT 2024, a score of 255+ is expected to reach the 99th percentile, 242 the 95th, 233–234 the 90th, and 209 the 62nd percentile.

The NMAT Exam has an overall score range of 36 to 360, covering Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning. Candidates can check the NMAT marks vs percentile table below to see the expected percentile for different score ranges. The NMAT exam score vs percentile analysis is based on previous trends, so actual percentiles may vary in 2026.

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NMAT Score vs Percentile 2026 (Expected)

NMAT Total Score	Expected Percentile (NMAT 2026)
266–360	Above 99
255–265	99
250–254	98–99
246–249	97–98
244–245	96
242–243	95–96
240–241	94–95
238–239	93–94
236–237	92
235	91
233–234	90
231–232	88–89
229–230	86–87
226–228	83–86
223–225	80–83
219–222	75–79
215–218	70–74
209–214	62–69
201–208	50–61
190–200	36–49
180–189	25–35
Below 180	Below 25

Expected ranges are built from GMAC percentile rankings for NMAT 2025 (testing period 5 November 2025 to 17 January 2026) and NMAT 2024. Final NMAT 2026 percentiles will be known only after the testing window (2 November to 20 December 2026) closes. Once you know your score, compare it with the list of NMAT accepting colleges to see where you can apply.

NMAT Score	Expected Percentile
266–360	Above 99
255–265	99
250–254	98
246–249	97
244–245	96
242–243	95
240–241	94
238–239	93
236–237	92
235	91
233–234	90
229–230	87
223	80
219	75
215	70
209	62
200	49
190	36
180	25

The table is indicative and based on previously available score and percentile data. The actual score-to-percentile relationship may change.

Difference Between NMAT Score and Percentile

The NMAT exam score vs percentile comparison helps candidates understand the difference between their actual scaled score and their relative performance among other test-takers.

• NMAT Score: It is the scaled score obtained by a candidate in the exam. The overall score ranges from 36 to 360.
• NMAT Percentile: It shows the percentage of candidates who have scored equal to or below a particular candidate.

For example, if a candidate gets 230 marks, the score represents their performance in the exam. Their estimated percentile helps them understand how they performed compared to other test-takers.

Candidates should remember that a higher score generally indicates a better percentile. However, the exact percentile depends on the performance of the overall test-taking group.

NMAT 2026 Section-Wise Score Analysis

The NMAT exam has three sections: Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning. All three sections carry equal weightage, and candidates get a separate score for each section. For the full topic list of each section, see the NMAT exam pattern and syllabus.

Each section carries scores between 12 and 120. The total of all three section scores gives the overall NMAT Score. Candidates can use these scores to understand the NMAT Score vs Percentile and compare their performance with other test-takers.

NMAT Section	Number of Questions	Score Range
Language Skills	36	12–120
Quantitative Skills	36	12–120
Logical Reasoning	36	12–120
Total	108	36–360

The sectional scores are important because some colleges consider both overall and sectional performance while shortlisting candidates.

1. NMAT Language Skills Score

The Language Skills section tests a candidate's English language ability, including reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and sentence formation.

A good score in this section can improve the overall NMAT score and help candidates meet the sectional requirements of their preferred colleges.

2. NMAT Quantitative Skills Score

This section checks mathematical ability, calculation speed, and problem-solving skills. Questions are generally based on arithmetic, algebra, number properties, probability, and data interpretation.

Candidates should try to solve questions accurately while keeping an eye on the time. Timed practice with adaptive NMAT mock tests is the most reliable way to build that speed before the exam.

3. NMAT Logical Reasoning Score

The Logical Reasoning section checks how well candidates can analyse information, understand relationships, and solve different types of questions.

Topics such as critical reasoning, puzzles, deductions, and other reasoning-based questions are important for this section.

What is a Good NMAT Score in 2026?

A good NMAT score depends on the college a candidate wants to apply to. Candidates targeting highly competitive MBA programmes should aim for a higher overall score along with a balanced performance in all three sections.

Candidates can refer to the NMAT score vs percentile 2026 table to decide what score they should aim for based on their preferred MBA colleges.

NMAT Score	Performance Level
250 and above	Very good
230–249	Good
210–229	Decent
190–209	Average
Below 190	Needs improvement

A score above 230 can be a reasonable target for candidates aiming for competitive MBA colleges. However, scoring 230 or more does not guarantee admission.

Candidates should also check the latest NMAT cut off for their preferred college, as the required score can differ across programmes and campuses.

NMAT Score vs Percentile: Last 2 Years Data (NMAT 2025 and NMAT 2024)

The best way to estimate your NMAT 2026 percentile is to see how the same scores performed in the last two exam cycles. The good news: the NMAT score vs percentile mapping has been remarkably stable. Most scores mapped to the same percentile in both NMAT 2024 and NMAT 2025, and the biggest difference at any score was about one percentile point.

NMAT Score	Percentile (NMAT 2025)	Percentile (NMAT 2024)
266 and above	Above 99	Above 99
264–265	99	Above 99
255	99	99
254	98	99
250	98	98
245	96	96
242	95	95
240	94	94
235	91	91
233	90	90
230	87	87
229	87	86
225	83	82
223	80	80
219	76	75
215	71	70
209	62	62
205	56	56
200	49	49
190	36	36
180	25	25
170	17	17

NMAT Score vs Percentile for Top MBA Colleges

Different MBA colleges accept NMAT scores for admission to their management programmes. The score required for shortlisting also varies depending on the institute, course, and admission year.

The following table provides an indicative overview of the expected scores and percentiles for some colleges.

MBA College	Expected NMAT Score	Approx. Percentile
NMIMS Mumbai	209+	62+
NMIMS Bangalore	209+	62+
NMIMS Hyderabad	209+	62+
NMIMS Navi Mumbai	209+	62+
XIM University	Varies by programme	Varies
TAPMI	220+	Around 80+
K J Somaiya	225+	Around 85+
IFMR Graduate School of Business	215+	Around 70+

These are indicative reference figures collected from available cutoff estimates, not confirmed admission cutoffs. Colleges may change their requirements for the 2026–27 admission cycle. For overall and sectional cut-offs of NMIMS campuses and other colleges, see our detailed guide on NMAT exam cutoff.

Candidates should also check the list of NMAT accepting colleges before applying. Each institute has its own application process, eligibility requirements, and admission deadlines.

How to Calculate NMAT Score?

The NMAT score depends on how well a candidate performs in all three sections: Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning. Each section has equal weightage, and candidates get a separate scaled score for each one.

The NMAT total score ranges from 36 to 360, with each section having a score range of 12 to 120.

Here is how the NMAT score is calculated:

1. Section-wise scoring: Candidates receive a scaled score for each of the three sections based on their performance.
2. Score scaling: Since NMAT is an adaptive exam, the difficulty level of questions can change according to a candidate's performance. GMAC uses a statistical scoring method to adjust for differences in question difficulty.
3. Total score calculation: The three section-wise scaled scores are added to get the final NMAT score.

NMAT Score Calculation Formula: Total NMAT Score = LS + QS + LR

Where:

• LS = Language Skills score
• QS = Quantitative Skills score
• LR = Logical Reasoning score

Example of NMAT Score Calculation: Suppose a candidate receives the following scores:

NMAT Section	Scaled Score
Language Skills	85
Quantitative Skills	90
Logical Reasoning	88
Total NMAT Score	263/360

In this example, the candidate's final NMAT score is 263 out of 360.

Important Points to Remember:

• NMAT does not follow a simple raw marks calculation based on the number of correct answers.
• There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.
• The final score is reported on a scaled score range of 36–360.
• Candidates receive their section-wise and overall scores after completing the exam.

How to Calculate NMAT Percentile?

NMAT percentile shows how a candidate has performed compared to other candidates who appeared for the exam. It tells you the percentage of test-takers who scored lower than you.

For example, if you score in the 90th percentile, it means you have performed better than 90% of the candidates who appeared for the NMAT exam.

The NMAT percentile is calculated by comparing your overall score with the scores of other candidates in the same testing cycle.

NMAT Percentile Calculation Formula:

Example of NMAT Percentile Calculation:

Suppose 50,000 candidates appeared for the NMAT exam, and 45,000 candidates scored lower than you.

Your percentile will be:

Therefore, your NMAT percentile will be 90.

How to Understand Your NMAT Percentile?

Here is a simple example to understand what different NMAT percentile scores mean:

NMAT Percentile	What it Means
99 Percentile	Scored higher than 99% of candidates
95 Percentile	Scored higher than 95% of candidates
90 Percentile	Scored higher than 90% of candidates
80 Percentile	Scored higher than 80% of candidates
70 Percentile	Scored higher than 70% of candidates

Important Points About NMAT Percentile:

• NMAT percentile is different from the overall scaled score.
• The same NMAT score may correspond to a slightly different percentile across different testing cycles.
• Percentile depends on the performance of all candidates who appeared for the exam.
• GMAC publishes score-wise percentile rankings based on candidate performance during a particular testing period.

Candidates can refer to the latest GMAC percentile data to estimate their NMAT Score vs Percentile 2026. The final percentile may vary depending on how other candidates perform in the exam.

How to Check NMAT Result 2026?

Candidates can check their NMAT Result 2026 by following the steps given below:

1. Visit the official NMAT by GMAC website.
2. Log in using your registered email ID and password.
3. Open your candidate dashboard.
4. Click on the scorecard or result option.
5. Check your overall score and section-wise scores.
6. Download the scorecard and save it for future admission requirements.

Candidates should keep a copy of their scorecard because they may need it during the college application and selection process.

Important: GMAC provides scaled scores on the official scorecard. The percentile tables available online should be treated as estimates rather than confirmed percentile rankings.

Factors Affecting NMAT Exam Score vs Percentile 2026

The relationship between NMAT scores and percentiles can change from one exam cycle to another. A few factors influence how a particular score compares with the performance of other candidates.

1. Overall Candidate Performance

The performance of candidates appearing for the exam plays an important role in determining the score-to-percentile relationship. If more candidates secure higher scores, the percentile corresponding to a particular score may change.

2. Difficulty Level of the Exam

NMAT is a computer-adaptive examination. The questions are selected based on a candidate's performance during the test. Therefore, candidates may not receive exactly the same set of questions.

The scoring process considers the difficulty of the questions while calculating the scaled score.

3. Number of Candidates Appearing

The number of students who appear for NMAT also matters when calculating percentiles. A candidate's percentile depends on how their score compares with the scores of other students.

4. Section-Wise Performance

A good overall score may not be enough for some colleges. They also check how candidates have performed in individual sections before calling them for the next round.

NMAT Score vs Percentile: How Does Your Score Affect Admission?

After checking the NMAT score vs percentile analysis, candidates should focus on the admission requirements of their preferred colleges.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Check college cutoffs: Go through the previous year's NMAT cutoff scores to understand the approximate score required for admission.
• Maintain sectional balance: Do not focus only on the overall score. Try to perform well in all three sections.
• Apply before deadlines: Some colleges have separate application deadlines, so complete the application process on time.
• Prepare for further rounds: Colleges may conduct additional selection rounds, including personal interviews and other assessments.
• Check college-specific requirements: Read the admission guidelines of each institute before applying.

The NMAT Selection Criteria may differ from one college to another. Apart from NMAT scores, some colleges also consider graduation marks, work experience, and performance in personal interviews.

Conclusion

The NMAT Score vs Percentile analysis gives candidates a fair idea of the scores required to target different MBA colleges. The NMAT marks vs percentile estimates can help them shortlist institutes, but they should also check the latest admission requirements.

Candidates should not choose colleges based only on expected percentiles. They should also check the latest cutoffs, sectional scores, and admission rules of each college. After the NMAT 2026 result is declared, they can check their scores and decide which colleges to apply to.