Following the successful conclusion of the CMAT 2026 on January 25, candidates have begun using the official marking scheme to estimate their raw scores. With over 1,300 MBA colleges awaiting results, understanding the relationship between raw marks and percentile is crucial for shortlisting B-schools. Explore the expected cut-offs for top institutions like JBIMS and SIMSREE based on current difficulty trends and session data.

In the aftermath of the January 25 examination, thousands of MBA test-takers are actively utilizing the NTA-prescribed marking system to gauge their performance. The CMAT 2026 followed a standard format where each correct response earns four marks, while a penalty of one mark is applied for every incorrect answer. This raw data is currently being used by students to create a preliminary self-assessment before the National Testing Agency releases the official response sheets.

• Positive Increments: Each of the 100 questions successfully answered contributes +4 marks to the total raw score.
• Negative Impact: Incorrect choices result in a -1 deduction, making accuracy a deciding factor in final rankings.
• Neutral Questions: Unattempted questions carry zero weightage and do not affect the candidate's standing.
• Sectional Insights: Test-takers are specifically focusing on the 'Innovation and Entrepreneurship' and 'General Awareness' sections, which reportedly varied in difficulty across the single shift.

Detailed score calculation guides suggest that a total exceeding 300 marks is likely to place a student in the 99th percentile bracket for the 2026-27 admission cycle.

Percentile Prediction and B-School Shortlisting

Since CMAT is a competitive examination, the final result is presented as a percentile representing a candidate's relative standing. Many coaching institutes have released expected score vs percentile charts to help test-takers identify which of the 1,300 participating institutes fall within their reachable range. Early feedback indicates that the 2026 paper was moderate, meaning cut-offs for elite Mumbai-based programs may remain high.

Experts suggest that test-takers should not rely solely on their raw score, as the NTA will apply a normalization process if discrepancies are found in question difficulty levels. This ensures a level playing field for all candidates regardless of specific set variations.

Conclusion

As the wait for the February 13 result continues, the initial phase of raw score estimation allows candidates to prepare for the subsequent Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds. While the official NTA CMAT portal will provide the final verified scores, these early estimates are vital for timely applications to private B-schools whose deadlines often coincide with the result declaration. For the 2026 examination cohort, the next ten days are critical for document preparation and researching the specialized programs offered by the top-tier CMAT-accepting institutions.