Candidates aiming for MBA admission through MAT 2026 exam should understand the difference between MAT scores and percentiles. MAT score reflects a candidate's actual marks, while the percentile indicates their relative performance compared to others. By converting MAT scores to percentiles, candidates can assess their standing.

Knowing the composite score and percentile helps candidates select the right MBA college.

With a valid MAT score, candidates can apply to over 1000 MBA colleges in India. MAT 2026 results will include sectional scores, an overall score, and a percentile calculation. This article provides all essential details about MAT marks and percentiles.

MAT Expected Score VS Percentile 2026

MAT Score vs Percentile for 2026 will be updated after all exam sessions are completed. The analysis below is based on MAT exam taken by candidates in 2025. This will give you an idea of what to expect for 2026 exam. The percentile calculation involves converting raw scores into scaled scores through a normalization process, resulting in a final composite score out of 800.

MAT Score VS Percentile 2026: What is MAT Score?

MAT score is based on the number of correct answers a candidate gives in the exam. Since there is no negative marking, incorrect answers do not affect the score. This raw score is later converted into a scaled score.

How to Calculate MAT Score?

MAT 2026 scorecard shows scaled scores, which are calculated based on the marks a candidate scores in each section. MAT 2026 score calculation is given below:

• Each section has 40 questions, each carrying one mark, making the maximum raw score per section 40.
• Raw scores are converted into a scaled range of 0 to 100.
• Since MAT is held four times a year with varying difficulty levels, scores are adjusted to maintain fairness.
• Scaled scores accurately reflect a candidate's performance and allow comparison with other test-takers.
• Though the Indian & Global Environment section appears in the score report, it does not affect the composite score or percentile.
• According to AIMA, scores below 20 and above 80 are very rare in the MAT exam.

MAT Score VS Percentile 2026: What is MAT Percentile?

MAT 2026 percentile score represents a candidate's relative performance in the exam. It indicates the percentage of test-takers who scored lower than a particular candidate. In simple terms, a percentile rank compares a candidate's score with others. For example, if you score in the 90th percentile, it means you performed better than 90% of the candidates who took the exam.

How to Calculate MAT Percentile?

MAT scorecard shows both section-wise and overall percentile of a candidate. Here are some key points about the MAT 2026 percentile:

• The MAT percentile indicates the percentage of candidates who scored lower than a particular test-taker.
• It depends on the total number of candidates who appeared for the exam and their respective scores.
• Some colleges consider the MAT percentile for admissions, while others focus on the composite score.

MAT Score VS Percentile 2026: Percentile Formula

MAT scorecard provides section-wise scores along with the percentile, which indicates the percentage of candidates who scored lower than a particular student. For instance, if 5,000 candidates take the exam, a candidate's percentile is based on their performance relative to the remaining 4,999 candidates.

AIMA converts raw MAT scores into a composite score ranging from 199 to 801. MAT percentile is calculated using the formula:

MAT Percentile = (Candidate's Composite Score / Total Candidates) x 100

Many MBA colleges consider either the composite score or the percentile for admissions. Additionally, institutes may assess candidates through group discussions (GD), personal interviews (PI), and written ability tests (WAT).

MAT Score VS Percentile 2026: Comparison

The difference between MAT score and MAT percentile is given below:

MAT Score VS Percentile 2026: What is Composite Score?

MAT composite score is based on a candidate's performance in the first four sections of the exam. However, marks from the Indian and Global Environments section are not included in this calculation.

How to Calculate Composite Score in MAT?

MAT exam follows a scoring system set by AIMA, where performance determines both sectional and composite scores. A sectional score of 50 and a composite score of 500 represent an average test-taker's performance. The composite score calculation process is given below:

• The composite score ranges from 199 to 801.
• Scores below 200 and above 800 are extremely rare.
• A score under 200 is displayed as 199, while a score above 800 appears as 801 on the MAT scorecard.
• Only the first four sections contribute to the composite score, while the fifth section is not considered.
• AIMA has not disclosed any specific formula for calculating the composite score.

MAT Score VS Percentile 2026: Section- wise Scoring Pattern

The section- wise scoring pattern for MAT 2026 is given below:

Colleges Accepting MAT Score Percentile 2026

The top colleges accepting MAT 2026 score are given below:

MAT Score VS Percentile 2025: Top 10 College-wise Cutoff

You may also check the table below detailing the MAT score and percentile cutoffs for top MBA colleges in India for the year 2025:

*Note: The above data is based on available information from 2023. Actual cutoffs may vary slightly depending on the institution's specific criteria and the overall performance of applicants.

MAT Score vs Percentile Trends (Year-wise)

MAT 2026 Result

MAT 2026 results for IBT, PBT, and CBT modes will be declared a few weeks after the exam. MAT 2026 score will be valid for one year for admission to institutes that accept MAT scores. The scorecard will provide detailed information about the candidate's score and percentile. Those who clear MAT cutoff can move forward in the selection process.

Details Mentioned in MAT 2026 Scorecard

MAT results for all sessions within a phase are released together. MAT 2026 scorecard will display a candidate's sectional scores, composite score, and percentiles. It will include the following details:

• Scores in Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, and Economic & Business Environment
• Scaled scores for all sections
• Sectional percentiles for each of the five sections
• Overall, MAT percentile along with the composite score

MAT Cutoff 2026

Following the announcement of MAT 2026 results, participating institutes release their cutoff scores. These cutoffs set the minimum marks required for candidates to qualify for the next stage of the admission process. Below is a list of some top MBA colleges that accept MAT scores along with their expected cutoff marks.