What is CMAT Score vs Percentile?

CMAT Score

The raw marks you obtain out of 400 in the exam.

CMAT Percentile

Indicates the percentage of candidates who scored lower than you.
For example, if your percentile is 90, it means you scored above 90% of test-takers.

Why Percentile Matters

  • Colleges consider percentile + raw score for shortlisting.

  • A high percentile signals strong performance relative to others.

  • Helps you predict which colleges you can target.


CMAT score vs Percentile – a quick read  The Common Management Aptitude Test (CMAT) score is important, but it's only part of the picture. To understand how well you did compared to other test-takers, you need to look at your CMAT percentile. 

  • CMAT Score: This is the raw number of marks you get on the exam, out of a maximum of 400.
  • CMAT Percentile: This tells you what percentage of test-takers scored lower than you. So, a 90th percentile score means you did better than 90% of the candidates.

    Expected CMAT Score vs Percentile 2025

    Percentile Expected Score (2025)
    99+ 330+
    95 300–320
    90 270–295
    80 230–260
    70 190–220
    60 150–180

CMAT Percentile Calculation Method

Students often ask: “How is CMAT percentile calculated?”

Here is the simple formula:

Percentile = (Total Candidates – Rank) / Total Candidates × 100

Example:
If 80,000 candidates appeared and your rank is 8,000:

→ Percentile = (80,000 – 8,000) / 80,000 × 100
→ 90 percentile

Well, here is something even better:

Percentile 2024(Score) 2023(Score) 2022(Score)
90 - 99.9 281 - 340 261 - 285 240 - 340
81 - 89 201 - 281 201 - 260 211 - 225
71 - 80 171 - 200 171 - 200 118 - 211
61 - 70 141 - 170 141 - 170 168 - 188
51 - 60 116 - 140 116 - 140 150 - 168

 

Year-wise analysis and comparison of the CMAT score vs percentile have been shown in the above table. You can use these to predict your percentile or aim accordingly if you are targeting CMAT for the next year

Prepare for CMAT the smart way

Insights:-

  • This years paper was a bit easier than last years
  • For JBIMS target should be more than 340
  • Colleges you can still apply to are Great lakes, IMT Nagpur, Wellingkar, JAGSOM, etc.

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the difference between CMAT score and percentile?
Your CMAT score is the raw marks you obtain out of 400, while the percentile shows how you performed compared to other test-takers.

Q2. Why is CMAT percentile important for admissions?
Colleges look at your percentile to judge your relative performance. A higher percentile increases your chances of getting shortlisted.

Q3. What CMAT score is needed for 90+ percentile?
Based on recent years, a score of 280+ usually translates to the 90th percentile or higher.

Q4. How did the difficulty level of CMAT 2024 compare to previous years?
The 2024 paper was slightly easier than the 2023 paper, which is why cut-offs were higher.

Q5. What score should I aim for if I want JBIMS?
You should target 340+ to be on the safer side for JBIMS.

Q6. Which colleges can I apply to with a decent CMAT percentile (70–85)?
Options include Great Lakes, IMT Nagpur, Welingkar, JAGSOM, among others.

Q7. Can I predict my percentile using my score?
Yes, the score vs percentile table helps you estimate your approximate percentile based on past year trends.

Also, read:

The Ultimate Guide to Cat Exam Preparation

CAT Preparation in 5 months : Toppers Strategy