CMAT: MBA Colleges to Apply Based on Your Score

After the CMAT exam, one of the biggest questions every aspirant faces is: Which colleges should I apply to?

Unlike some other exams, CMAT does not have a centralized counselling process. Candidates must apply separately to individual colleges based on their expected percentile. This makes college selection a very important step in your MBA journey.

As one MBA student shared:
“Your CMAT score matters, but choosing the right college matters even more.”

This guide will help you shortlist the best MBA colleges based on your CMAT percentile.

The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a National Level Entrance Examination for admission to management programs in the country. This Test facilitates AICTE-affiliated/ Participating Institutions to select suitable graduate candidates for admission to the Management Courses in such Institutions.

CMAT is considered to be the last National-level MBA entrance exam. After this, we are left with a few smaller exams but in CMAT you get an opportunity to get into top business schools. 

Now let’s check out CMAT score vs Percentile (expected):

Thus, we recommend 10 marks maximum deviation in the above-stated scores as these are predicted scores from the previous year's data.  

Key Highlights about CMAT:

• What is CMAT?

  • The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a national-level entrance exam for admission to MBA/PGDM programs in India.
  • Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). (Previously conducted by AICTE)
  • Third most popular MBA entrance exam after CAT and XAT.

  CMAT Exam Format

  • Computer-Based Test (CBT): Conducted online.
  • Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes)
  • Sections: The exam is divided into five sections:
    • Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation (20 questions)
    • Logical Reasoning (20 questions)
    • Language Comprehension (20 questions)
    • General Awareness (20 questions)
    • Innovation and Entrepreneurship (20 questions) (Note: This section was introduced recently)
  • Marking Scheme: 4 marks for each correct answer, negative marking for incorrect answers.
    
    

• Who accepts CMAT scores?

  • Over 1,300 B-schools (government and private) in India accept CMAT scores, including prestigious institutes like:
    • Great Lakes Institute of Management
    • JBIMS Mumbai
    • SIMSREE Pune
    • KJ Somaiya Mumbai
    • Welingkar Mumbai
    • PUMBA

  Other Key Points:

  • Difficulty Level: Generally considered moderate.
  • Eligibility: Graduates from any discipline can apply.
  • Frequency: Held annually, typically in the month of April/May.
  • Selection Process: Selection for MBA programs is based on CMAT score, followed by WAT/GD/PI rounds conducted by the B-schools.

CAT Online Courses  

CMAT Score vs Percentile

Actual percentiles may vary slightly depending on exam difficulty.

Colleges to Apply (95+ Percentile)

If your expected percentile is above 95, you should target top private B-schools.

Candidates in this range should focus on Tier-1 and high ROI institutes.

Colleges to Apply (90–95 Percentile)

This range offers strong Tier-2 options.

These colleges offer good placements and industry exposure.

Colleges to Apply (80–90 Percentile)

Candidates in this range should focus on balanced ROI.

Apply to multiple colleges to increase admission chances.

Colleges to Apply (70–80 Percentile)

Options are available but require careful evaluation.

Check placement reports and fee structure before applying.

CAT online courses and mocks

CMAT DIDN’T GO WELL If you are someone who cannot take another drop year we recommend you to consider the following options for colleges if CMAT didn’t go well. Here is a list but watch the video for more details on them. Well if CMAT didn’t go well we are left with a few more exams listed below:

• CET- This is mainly for Maharashtrians as they are given maximum seats. Top colleges- JBIMS, Sydenham.
• MAT Exam - The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is a national-level entrance exam for admission to MBA and allied programs in India.
• ATMA Exam
• GMAT- For this, we need to consider certain points as to when and why to take GMAT. Firstly, understand your liking and wanting if you want to go abroad. Secondly, where do you want to work i.e. Abroad or in India? The Gmat exam costs 18-20k for application and its marks remain valid for 5 years. All tier 1 Indian colleges are open to admission through GMAT. You can add up your marks to your resume or use it while seeking jobs abroad.
• Online MBA. Many reputed MBA colleges are partnered with several online teaching platforms like Upgrade which are reliable and ensure placements too.

CAT: If you are considering for CAT now, understand that procedure is not over and it is too early to surrender. Rahul Sir from CATKing recommends to first convert all the colleges that you have received calls from and then decide what to do next. Focus on converting your calls. Next thing to ask yourself is evaluate yourself according to your potential and ask if you deserve/ belong to the particular college or not. After evaluating, check the Deana and Directors of the college and observe whether the alumni network has been transformed due to the college.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many colleges should I apply to after CMAT?
Candidates should apply to around 8–10 colleges, including dream, realistic, and safe options to increase admission chances.

2. Which colleges can I get with 90 percentile in CMAT?
Candidates with 90 percentile can target institutes like XIME, IFMR, BIMTECH, and other strong Tier-2 colleges.

3. Is there centralized counselling for CMAT?
No, candidates must apply separately to individual colleges based on their expected percentile.

4. What is a good percentile in CMAT?
A percentile above 95 is considered strong and can help secure admission in top private MBA institutes.

5. Can I get a good college with 80 percentile?
Yes, institutes like Jaipuria, ITM, and VIT Business School are good options in the 80–90 percentile range.

6. Should I apply before CMAT results?
Yes, many colleges close applications early, so applying based on expected percentile is recommended.

7. What factors should I check before selecting a college?
Placement statistics, fees, ROI, location, specialization, and industry exposure should be considered.

8. What should I do if my CMAT percentile is low?
You can apply to safe colleges, consider other exams, or reattempt next year if your goal is a top institu

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