CMAT 2026 Final Answer Key Released; NTA to Declare Scorecards Tonight at cmat.nta.nic.in
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially moved into the final stage of the CMAT 2026 admission cycle, signaling that the long wait for scorecards is minutes away from ending. For regular updates on admission notifications from top B-schools like JBIMS and SIMSREE, follow Only Education News.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the Final Answer Key for CMAT 2026 today, February 17, 2026, during the morning hours. Following this release, the portal is now set to activate the results link. According to the latest trends and official patterns, the CMAT 2026 Result is expected to be announced tonight, likely by or after 10:00 PM. This result will provide candidates with their sectional scores, overall percentile, and the highly anticipated All India Rank (AIR), which is the primary metric used by over 1,300 AICTE-approved management institutes.
To stay informed about the opening of the DTE Maharashtra CAP portal for MBA admissions, follow Only Education News for real-time alerts.
CMAT 2026: The Final Stretch Timeline
The NTA has successfully processed the objections raised during the provisional window (Jan 31 – Feb 2). Notably, in the final key released today, no questions were dropped, although one question has been assigned two correct option IDs, ensuring fairness for those who chose either valid response.
| Event | Status / Date |
|---|---|
| Exam Date | January 25, 2026 |
| Final Answer Key Release | February 17, 2026 (Out Now) |
| Result Declaration | February 17, 2026 (Expected 10 PM) |
| Admit Card Issuance | January 21, 2026 |
Score vs. Percentile Analysis
With the exam being conducted in a single shift this year, no normalization process was required. Based on early feedback and the final key, experts at Only Education suggest that a score of 320-340+ will likely be necessary to touch the 99.9+ percentile bracket required for top-tier government institutes.
What to Expect: Target Cut-offs for Top Colleges
As soon as the results are out, students should begin shortlisting colleges. The ROI (Return on Investment) factor makes government-aided institutes the most sought-after targets.
| Institute | Expected Cut-off (Percentile) | Average Placement (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| JBIMS, Mumbai | 99.97 – 99.99 | ₹26.40 LPA |
| SIMSREE, Mumbai | 99.95 – 99.97 | ₹15.10 LPA |
| PUMBA, Pune | 98.50 – 99.00 | ₹9.40 LPA |
| K J Somaiya, Mumbai | 98.00+ | ₹12.79 LPA |
| Welingkar (WeSchool) | 85.00 – 90.00 | ₹11.70 LPA |
Next Steps for Aspirants
Once you download your scorecard from cmat.nta.nic.in, the journey moves from testing to selection. Most premium institutes will now invite applications for the Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI), and Written Ability Test (WAT) rounds. Candidates targeting Maharashtra-based colleges should specifically watch for the MAH-MBA-CET CAP (Centralized Admission Process) notifications, as CMAT scores are a valid entry point for the All India seats in these colleges.
For a specialized list of "Best Value for Money" MBA colleges accepting 70-80 percentiles, follow Only Education News.