NMAT Cutoff 2026 (Updated)

NMAT Cutoff 2026 for NMIMS, KJ Somaiya, TAPMI, XUB, IFMR, Great Lakes and Other B-schools

NMAT 2026 registration opened on 20 August 2026 and the testing window runs from 2 November to 20 December 2026. With more than 60,000 aspirants expected to appear, NMAT remains one of India's largest management entrance exams after CAT, and the primary gateway to the MBA programs at NMIMS Mumbai and the other NMIMS campuses.

The exam is conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) and is known as NMAT by GMAC. GMAC states that the exam is now accepted by 58+ leading B-schools, including XUB, TAPMI, KJ Somaiya, IFMR, SDA Bocconi and SPJIMR, along with several schools abroad. NMIMS Mumbai, the most sought-after college accepting NMAT, features among the top 20 MBA programs in the country, which keeps NMAT in high demand.

With so many colleges accepting NMAT scores, aspirants need a clear view of cutoff trends for the institutes they plan to apply to. Knowing the expected and previous years' cutoffs helps students shortlist sensibly and set realistic score targets.

The 2024 reform still governs admissions: NMIMS reduced its cutoff to 209 and applied a common cutoff across all major programs (MBA, MBA-HR, MBA Business Analytics, MBA Digital Transformation) and campuses (Mumbai, Bengaluru, Navi Mumbai, Hyderabad, Indore). Only MBA Pharmaceutical Management retained a separate cutoff of 190. Sectional cutoffs dropped to 62. That framework held through the 2025 cycle and is expected to continue in 2026.

NMAT Cutoff 2026

The standardized structure NMIMS introduced in 2024 is now firmly in place, and the NMAT 2026 cutoff is expected to follow the same unified pattern across all campuses — Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Indore. The projected NMAT 2026 cutoffs below serve as working score benchmarks so aspirants can set precise targets and align preparation with the admission standards actually followed by NMIMS and other top B-schools. Final figures are confirmed by each institute only after the testing window closes.

NMAT 2026 Official Dates & FeesSource: mba.com/exams/nmat

GMAC has published the full 2026 timeline. Slots are released first-come, first-served, so scheduling early matters if you want a specific date, time or test centre. Registering for NMAT and applying to a B-school are two separate steps — you must submit each institute's application on its own portal, within its own deadline.

NMAT 2026 Exam Pattern (Official)

NMAT has three sections — Language Skills, Quantitative Skills and Logical Reasoning — each individually timed. Questions are delivered one at a time from a question pool, and you choose the order in which you attempt the sections at the start of the exam. The test is computer adaptive: the difficulty of each question is targeted at your demonstrated ability level, and your final scaled score in each section runs from 12 to 120. There is no negative marking, and you can preview an unofficial score immediately after the test, with the scorecard downloadable within 48 hours. Up to three attempts are allowed in a testing cycle (one attempt plus two retakes).

Section Topics (as listed by GMAC)

Language Skills: Reading Comprehension, Para Forming, Error Identification, Prepositions, Sentence Completion, Analogies.
Logical Reasoning: Critical Reasoning, Analytical Puzzles, Deductions, and other reasoning.
Quantitative Skills: Number Properties, Arithmetic, Algebra and Probability, Data Integration (caselets and tables), Data Integration (graphs and charts), Data Sufficiency.

NMAT Cutoff 2025

The 2025 cycle carried forward the overhaul NMIMS introduced in 2024: a single common NMAT cutoff for all major campuses and programs, with only Pharmaceutical Management at NMIMS Mumbai kept on an independent, lower cutoff. NMIMS positioned these changes as an alignment with industry expectations, weighting well-rounded managerial competence over exam scores alone. The Competency Test — added as an extra assessment layer in the post-NMAT stage alongside the Personal Interview — evaluates analytical ability, communication, managerial aptitude and overall readiness.

NMAT 2026 Sectional Cutoff

Different colleges set different NMAT cutoffs, tied to the reputation, demand and competitive positioning of each institute. Among the top B-schools accepting NMAT, XUB consistently sets the highest cutoff, followed by TAPMI and KJ Somaiya. These institutes also enforce strict sectional requirements, so candidates must show balanced performance across all three sections.

To secure an interview call from a top MBA program you must clear both the overall cutoff and every sectional cutoff — missing even one section disqualifies you regardless of total score. Below are the ranges expected for interview calls from the top 5 MBA programs accepting NMAT.

NMAT Cutoff 2026 (Expected) for Other Colleges

Beyond the top tier, many reputable B-schools across India accept NMAT scores, each setting its own bar based on program demand, applicant volume and institutional reputation. These cutoffs sit below NMIMS, XUB, TAPMI or KJ Somaiya but still expect balanced sectional performance. Use the ranges below to build a realistic target list. Fees and placement figures are indicative and should be verified on each institute's own website.

NMAT Score vs Percentile

Many colleges publish no fixed score cutoff and shortlist on percentiles instead. SPJIMR's GMP program is the best-known example, evaluating applicants mainly on NMAT percentile rather than absolute score. Percentiles measure your performance against the whole test-taking population, and small score movements can shift your percentile band noticeably — which is why the conversion below is worth knowing before you set a target.

NMAT Cutoff 2026 for XUB / XIMBTracked first on gradsqr.com

XUB accepts NMAT scores for three distinct programs — MBA HR, MBA Rural Management and MBA Sustainability Management — and each carries its own cutoff. The expected 2026 bands below are built on the last two admission cycles, in which XUB HR settled at 228–230 and Rural Management around 200.

NMIMS Mumbai cutoffBatch 2026–28

The NMIMS Mumbai cutoff reflects the revised framework that standardized the bar across flagship programs and campuses. It is the clearest benchmark for what it takes to make the Mumbai shortlist, and the context for the 2026 expectations that follow.

NMIMS Bangalore cutoffBatch 2026–28

NMIMS Bengaluru follows the same unified requirement as Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Hyderabad and Indore for its core MBA program — a useful reference for gauging how the campus compares on competitiveness.

NMIMS Hyderabad cutoffBatch 2026–28

Hyderabad sits on the same benchmark as the other campuses, reflecting NMIMS' intent to keep admission quality consistent while simplifying evaluation for applicants.

NMIMS Navi Mumbai cutoffBatch 2026–28

Navi Mumbai adopted the common cutoff policy along with every other major campus, giving aspirants a single number to plan against regardless of location preference.

NMIMS Indore cutoffBatch 2026–28

Indore follows the same overall requirement as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Navi Mumbai for its primary MBA program, underscoring uniform admission standards across all NMIMS centres.

NMIMS Composite Score Breakdown (Updated)

The composite score was rebuilt as part of the 2024 reforms, shifting selection toward a competency-driven model. The NMAT score now carries reduced weight, while the Competency Test, Personal Interview, academic record and work experience carry more. Clearing the cutoff gets you into the room; what happens after that decides the offer.

NMAT Historical Cutoffs

The 2024 cutoff marked a break from everything NMIMS had done before. For the first time a uniform cutoff applied across all campuses and core MBA programs: an overall 209 with sectionals of 62 or higher qualified a candidate for the interview round, whichever campus they were targeting. Previously, each campus set its own bar.

The equally consequential change was cutting NMAT's weight in the final composite to 20%. Clearing the cutoff stayed essential, but the score itself stopped dominating selection — post-NMAT components took over. The pre-2024 NMIMS Mumbai cutoffs below show how far the bar has moved.

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FAQs About NMAT Cutoff 2026

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Exam dates, fees and pattern are sourced from the official NMAT by GMAC website (mba.com/exams/nmat). Cutoff figures for 2026 are expectations based on previous admission cycles and are not official announcements — always confirm with each institute before applying.