Updated on 1st October 2026 | 12:40 pm | #XATScoreVSPercentile
Once you have taken the NMAT by GMAC, the first thing you want to know is what your score means. Your NMAT score shows the marks you have earned on the scale of 36 to 360, whereas your NMAT percentile shows the percentage of test takers you performed better than. To check whether you meet the cutoff criteria of the B-schools you are targeting, you need to read your NMAT score vs percentile together, as the expected NMAT cutoffs are stated as scores.
The NMAT score vs percentile 2026 table on this page is based on the percentile rankings published by GMAC. As per the table, a total score of 209 corresponds to the 62nd percentile, while a total score in the range of 255-265 corresponds to the 99th percentile.
This page also covers the NMAT 2026 section-wise scaled scores with the expected sectional cutoff, the expected NMAT cutoffs 2026 by program, and how the NMAT score and percentile are calculated.
The NMAT score is the total score you obtain in the NMAT by GMAC exam, on a scale of 36 to 360. The NMAT percentile indicates what percentage of test takers you performed better than.
For example, a percentile of 75 means that you performed better than 75% of other test takers, and 25% of test takers performed better than you.
The table below shows the NMAT total score vs percentile as published by GMAC. Where a percentile applies to a range of scores, the range is shown.
|
NMAT Total Score |
NMAT Percentile |
|
36-100 |
< 1 |
|
101-120 |
1 |
|
121-130 |
2 |
|
131-137 |
3 |
|
138-141 |
4 |
|
142-145 |
5 |
|
146-149 |
6 |
|
150-152 |
7 |
|
153-154 |
8 |
|
155-157 |
9 |
|
158-159 |
10 |
|
160-161 |
11 |
|
162-163 |
12 |
|
164 |
13 |
|
165-166 |
14 |
|
167 |
15 |
|
168-169 |
16 |
|
170 |
17 |
|
171-172 |
18 |
|
173 |
19 |
|
174 |
20 |
|
175-176 |
21 |
|
177 |
22 |
|
178 |
23 |
|
179 |
24 |
|
180 |
25 |
|
181 |
26 |
|
182 |
27 |
|
183 |
28 |
|
184 |
29 |
|
185 |
30 |
|
186 |
31 |
|
187 |
32 |
|
188 |
33 |
|
189 |
35 |
|
190 |
36 |
|
191 |
37 |
|
192 |
38 |
|
193 |
40 |
|
194 |
41 |
|
195 |
42 |
|
196 |
44 |
|
197 |
45 |
|
198 |
46 |
|
199 |
48 |
|
200 |
49 |
|
201 |
51 |
|
202 |
52 |
|
203 |
54 |
|
204 |
55 |
|
205 |
56 |
|
206 |
58 |
|
207 |
59 |
|
208 |
61 |
|
209 |
62 |
|
210 |
64 |
|
211 |
65 |
|
212 |
67 |
|
213 |
68 |
|
214 |
69 |
|
215 |
71 |
|
216 |
72 |
|
217 |
73 |
|
218 |
74 |
|
219 |
76 |
|
220 |
77 |
|
221 |
78 |
|
222 |
79 |
|
223 |
80 |
|
224 |
82 |
|
225 |
83 |
|
226 |
84 |
|
227 |
85 |
|
228 |
86 |
|
229-230 |
87 |
|
231 |
88 |
|
232 |
89 |
|
233-234 |
90 |
|
235 |
91 |
|
236-237 |
92 |
|
238-239 |
93 |
|
240-241 |
94 |
|
242-243 |
95 |
|
244-245 |
96 |
|
246-249 |
97 |
|
250-254 |
98 |
|
255-265 |
99 |
|
266-360 |
> 99 |
Note: The above table is based on percentile rankings published by GMAC with a data period of 5th November 2025 to 17th January 2026.
Also Read: NMAT Syllabus 2026 | NMAT Exam Pattern 2026
Each NMAT section is scored on a scaled range of 12 to 120. The expected sectional cutoff for each section is 60.
|
Section |
Scaled Score Range |
Expected Sectional Cutoff* |
|
Language Skills |
12-120 |
60 |
|
Quantitative Skills |
12-120 |
60 |
|
Logical Reasoning |
12-120 |
60 |
Note: *The expected sectional cutoff is indicative.
The table below lists the expected overall NMAT cutoffs for 2026 by program. The percentile shown alongside each cutoff is taken from the GMAC score vs percentile table above.
|
Program |
NMAT Cutoff 2026 (Overall) |
Percentile (As Per GMAC Table) |
|
MBA Mumbai |
209 |
62 |
|
MBA HR |
209 |
62 |
|
MBA Business Analytics |
209 |
62 |
|
MBA Digital Transformation |
209 |
62 |
|
MBA Pharmaceutical Management |
190+ |
36 and above |
|
MBA Bangalore |
209 |
62 |
|
MBA Navi Mumbai |
209 |
62 |
|
MBA Hyderabad |
209 |
62 |
|
MBA Indore |
209 |
62 |
Note: The cutoffs above are expected figures and are indicative.
Also Read: NMIMS NMAT Cutoffs 2026
Your NMAT total score is the sum of your scaled scores in the three sections: Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning. Each section is scored on a scaled range of 12 to 120, so the total score ranges from 36 to 360. All three sections carry equal weightage.
NMAT Total Score = Language Skills scaled score + Quantitative Skills scaled score + Logical Reasoning scaled score
For Example: A candidate who scores 68 in Language Skills, 75 in Quantitative Skills, and 66 in Logical Reasoning has a total score of 209. As per the GMAC table above, a total score of 209 corresponds to the 62nd percentile.
NMAT is a computer adaptive exam, so your score is not a simple count of correct answers. GMAC obtains your final ability estimate using the probabilistic model approach of modern test theory and transforms it into a scaled score. You can preview your score instantly after the exam, and the scorecard can be downloaded within 48 hours.
The following are the key points of the NMAT marking scheme:
Percentile rankings indicate what percentage of test takers you performed better than.
NMAT Percentile = (Number of test takers who scored below you ÷ Total number of test takers) x 100
For Example: If 62 out of every 100 test takers scored below you, your NMAT percentile is 62. This means you performed better than 62% of other test takers, and 38% of test takers performed better than you.
The easiest way to find your NMAT percentile is to look up your total score in the NMAT expected score vs percentile 2026 table above.
Your NMAT total score ranges from 36 to 360, and your percentile tells you what percentage of test takers you performed better than. As per the GMAC percentile rankings, a total score of 209 corresponds to the 62nd percentile, a score in the range of 255-265 corresponds to the 99th percentile, and a score in the range of 266-360 corresponds to a percentile above 99.
The expected NMAT cutoff for 2026 is 209 overall for most programs listed above, and 190+ for MBA Pharmaceutical Management. The expected sectional cutoff is 60 in each of the three sections. Check your section-wise scaled scores and your total score against these figures, and use the score vs percentile table to see where you stand.
The NMAT total score ranges from 36 to 360. It comprises the Quantitative Skills, Language Skills, and Logical Reasoning sections, and each section score contributes equally to the total score.
Each NMAT section, namely Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning, is scored on a scaled range of 12 to 120.
According to GMAC's published percentile rankings, an NMAT total score of 209 corresponds to the 62nd percentile.
As per the percentile rankings published by GMAC, a total score in the range of 255-265 corresponds to the 99th percentile, while a total score in the range of 266-360 corresponds to a percentile above 99.
The expected sectional cutoff is 60 in each of the three sections: Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning.
An NMAT percentile indicates what percentage of test takers you performed better than. For example, a percentile of 75 means that you performed better than 75% of other test takers, while 25% of test takers performed better than you.