MAT Cutoff 2026 is released individually by each participating MBA college after AIMA declares the MAT result. AIMA conducted the May 2026 session on May 31 (PBT) and June 14 (CBT), 2026, with results expected by the last week of June 2026. Over 600 B-schools across India accept MAT scores, and each one sets its own cutoff based on its intake and demand. Unlike centralised exams, there is no single MAT cutoff announced by AIMA. This article covers college wise expected cutoff percentile and composite score, the score vs percentile relationship, previous year cutoff trends, and how the admission process works after clearing the cutoff at a target college.
MAT 2026 cutoff is not one number but a range that differs from college to college. The table below covers the basic details about the exam and how the cutoff works.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | Management Aptitude Test (MAT) |
| Conducting Body | All India Management Association (AIMA) |
| MAT 2026 May Session Dates | PBT: May 31, 2026 | CBT: June 14, 2026 |
| Other Sessions in 2026 | February (completed), September, December |
| Total Marks | 200 MCQs across 5 sections |
| Composite Score Range | 199 to 801 (scaled) |
| Negative Marking | Yes, minus 0.25 per wrong answer |
| Cutoff Type | College wise percentile and composite score |
| Number of Colleges Accepting MAT | Over 600 B-schools |
| Official Website | mat.aima.in |
MAT Cutoff 2026 varies widely because the 600 plus colleges that accept MAT scores range from well known institutes to smaller regional B-schools. The table below groups them by tier and lists the expected cutoff for each.
| College Tier | Example Colleges | Expected Percentile | Expected Composite Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top Tier | BIMTECH Noida, XIME Bangalore, Christ University | 85 to 95+ | 650 to 750+ |
| Upper Mid Tier | IPE Hyderabad, AIMS Bangalore, Amity Noida | 75 to 85 | 550 to 650 |
| Mid Tier | KIIT Bhubaneswar, Jaipuria Noida, NDIM Delhi | 65 to 75 | 480 to 550 |
| Moderate Tier | ITM Navi Mumbai, ISBR Bangalore, IIMS Pune | 55 to 65 | 400 to 480 |
| Entry Level | Regional private B-schools | 50 to 60 | 350 to 420 |
Note: These are estimated ranges. Each college publishes its own cutoff after the MAT result is declared. Candidates should check the admission page of the specific college they are targeting.
MAT 2026 does not use raw marks directly for admission. AIMA converts raw scores into a composite scaled score between 199 and 801, and then calculates a percentile from that composite score. The table below shows the approximate relationship based on data from recent MAT sessions.
| Composite Score Range | Approximate Percentile | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 750 to 801 | 99 to 99.9 | Among the top 1 percent of all test takers |
| 650 to 749 | 90 to 99 | Strong score, eligible for top tier MAT colleges |
| 550 to 649 | 75 to 90 | Good score, eligible for upper mid tier and mid tier colleges |
| 450 to 549 | 60 to 75 | Moderate score, eligible for mid tier and moderate colleges |
| 350 to 449 | 45 to 60 | Below average, limited options at regional B-schools |
| 199 to 349 | Below 45 | Very few colleges accept this range |
AIMA normalises scores across PBT, CBT, and IBT modes so that candidates who took different modes in the same session are compared on a level field. The GK section (Indian and Global Environment) is scored separately and is not included in the composite score calculation.
MAT 2026 has five sections, but only four of them contribute to the composite score that colleges use for cutoff purposes. This is a point many first time MAT candidates miss.
| Section | Questions | Counted in Composite Score? |
|---|---|---|
| Language Comprehension | 40 | Yes |
| Mathematical Skills | 40 | Yes |
| Data Analysis and Sufficiency | 40 | Yes |
| Intelligence and Critical Reasoning | 40 | Yes |
| Indian and Global Environment (GK) | 40 | No |
Even though the GK section does not affect the composite score or percentile, some colleges may consider it during the GD or PI rounds. Candidates should not skip this section entirely, but the priority during the exam should be the four scored sections.
MAT cutoff percentiles at popular B-schools have stayed in a narrow range over the last four years, with minor shifts linked to exam difficulty and applicant numbers. The table below shows the general category cutoff at select colleges.
| College | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIMTECH Noida | 90 to 95 | 90 to 95 | 90 to 95 | 90 to 95 |
| XIME Bangalore | 85 to 90 | 85 to 90 | 85 to 90 | 85 to 90 |
| Christ University Bangalore | 80 to 85 | 80 to 85 | 80 to 85 | 80 to 85 |
| IPE Hyderabad | 78 to 82 | 78 to 83 | 78 to 83 | 78 to 85 |
| Amity Noida | 75 to 80 | 75 to 80 | 75 to 80 | 75 to 80 |
| KIIT Bhubaneswar | 70 to 75 | 70 to 75 | 70 to 75 | 70 to 75 |
| Jaipuria Noida | 65 to 72 | 65 to 73 | 68 to 75 | 68 to 75 |
| NDIM Delhi | 60 to 70 | 62 to 70 | 65 to 72 | 65 to 72 |
Top tier colleges like BIMTECH and XIME have kept their cutoff percentile steady at 85 to 95 across all four years. Mid tier colleges like Jaipuria and NDIM show a slight upward movement, which means competition at this level is increasing gradually.
MAT Cutoff 2026 at each college changes based on how that particular institute handles its admission cycle. Unlike government exams with a single cutoff, each B-school sets its own number based on the factors below.
| Factor | How It Affects MAT Cutoff 2026 |
|---|---|
| Number of MAT test takers in the session | More candidates push the percentile distribution upward, which can raise the effective cutoff at popular colleges |
| Difficulty of the MAT session | An easier paper raises composite scores across the board, lifting the cutoff. A harder paper brings scores down |
| Seats available at the college | Colleges with fewer MBA seats (50 to 100) tend to have higher cutoffs than those with larger intake (200 plus) |
| College reputation and demand | Well known institutes attract more applicants, raising the competition and the cutoff |
| Other exams accepted by the same college | Colleges that also accept CAT, XAT, or CMAT may fill some seats through those exams, reducing the MAT seat pool and raising the MAT cutoff |
| Session timing | The February and May sessions usually have higher test taker counts than September or December, which can affect the percentile calculation |
MAT 2026 result and scorecard are published on mat.aima.in after each session. Each college then releases its own cutoff separately. The steps below explain how to check both.
MAT Cutoff 2026 is just the first filter. Clearing it means the candidate is shortlisted by a college, but the final seat depends on how they perform in the remaining rounds.
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| 1. MAT Score Sent to Colleges | AIMA sends the scorecard to 5 colleges selected during registration. Candidates can apply to more colleges separately through their websites |
| 2. College Shortlists Candidates | Each college compares the MAT percentile or composite score against its own cutoff and publishes a shortlist |
| 3. Group Discussion (GD) | Some colleges conduct a GD round where candidates discuss a topic in a group. Not all colleges include this |
| 4. Personal Interview (PI) | Most colleges conduct a one on one interview to assess the candidate beyond the exam score |
| 5. Written Ability Test (WAT) | A few colleges include a WAT where candidates write on a given topic within a time limit |
| 6. Final Merit and Admission | Colleges combine the MAT score, GD or PI performance, academic record, and work experience to prepare the final merit list |
There is no centralised counselling for MAT. Each college runs its own admission process independently after the result.
MAT 2026 is held four times a year (February, May, September, December), and candidates can appear in any or all sessions. This is one of the biggest differences between MAT and exams like CAT or XAT, which are held only once a year.
MAT 2026 scores are accepted by over 600 MBA and PGDM colleges across India. The table below lists some of the well known colleges by city, along with their approximate cutoff tier.
| City | College | Approximate Cutoff Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi NCR | BIMTECH Noida, Amity Noida, JIMS Rohini, NDIM Delhi | Top to Mid Tier (70 to 95 percentile) |
| Bangalore | XIME, Christ University, AIMS, ISBR | Top to Mid Tier (70 to 90 percentile) |
| Pune | PUMBA, IMS Pune, Indira Group | Upper Mid to Mid Tier (65 to 85 percentile) |
| Hyderabad | IPE, IBS Hyderabad, ICFAI | Upper Mid to Mid Tier (65 to 85 percentile) |
| Kolkata | Globsyn, IISWBM, Army Institute of Management | Mid to Moderate Tier (60 to 78 percentile) |
| Chennai | Great Lakes (separate process), SRM, VIT | Mid to Moderate Tier (60 to 80 percentile) |
| Other Cities | Jaipuria Lucknow, KIIT Bhubaneswar, IBA Indore | Mid Tier (65 to 78 percentile) |
MAT 2026 is often taken alongside CAT and CMAT by candidates who want to keep multiple options open. A brief comparison helps candidates understand how MAT cutoff difficulty compares with other national MBA entrance exams.
| Parameter | MAT (AIMA) | CAT (IIMs) | CMAT (NTA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions per Year | 4 (Feb, May, Sep, Dec) | 1 (November) | 1 (typically Jan or May) |
| Total Questions | 200 | 66 | 100 |
| Duration | 150 minutes | 120 minutes | 180 minutes |
| Composite Score | 199 to 801 | Percentile (0 to 100) | Marks out of 400 |
| Negative Marking | Yes (minus 0.25) | Yes (minus 1) | Yes (minus 1) |
| Top Colleges Accepting | BIMTECH, XIME, Christ | IIMs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR | JBIMS, SIMSREE, GIM Goa |
| Competition Level | Moderate (3 lakh plus) | Very High (3 lakh plus) | Moderate to High (80K plus) |
MAT offers more flexibility with four attempts per year and a wider range of accepting colleges, but the top tier colleges accessible through MAT are generally in the second or third tier of the overall MBA college ranking. Candidates targeting IIMs or FMS should take CAT, while those targeting JBIMS or GIM Goa should consider CMAT alongside MAT.
MAT Cutoff 2026 works differently from centralised exams like CAT or CMAT. Candidates should keep these points in mind before and after the result.
MAT Cutoff 2026 is released individually by each MBA college after AIMA publishes the result for a given session. Candidates who have appeared for the May 2026 session should download their scorecard from mat.aima.in once results are out, check the cutoff at their target colleges, and start preparing for GD and PI rounds without waiting. Using the best score from multiple MAT sessions and applying to colleges across different tiers will give candidates the widest range of admission options.
| MAT Reference Links | ||
|---|---|---|
| MAT Question Paper 2025 | MAT Question Paper 2024 | MAT Question Paper 2023 |
| MAT Previous Year Papers | MAT Question Paper 2022 | MAT Question Paper 2021 |
Ques: Can a candidate apply to more than 5 colleges with one MAT score?
Ans: Yes, but only 5 colleges receive the scorecard automatically from AIMA. For additional colleges, candidates need to visit each college website separately, fill the admission form, and upload or share the MAT scorecard manually.
Ques: Is MAT cutoff the same for PBT, CBT, and IBT modes?
Ans: Yes. AIMA normalises scores across all three modes so that the composite score and percentile are comparable. Colleges do not differentiate between modes while applying the cutoff.
Ques: What should a candidate do if their MAT score falls between two college tiers?
Ans: Candidates in this range should apply to colleges in both tiers. A strong GD and PI performance can compensate for a slightly lower MAT score at some colleges, especially those that give higher weightage to the interview round.
Ques: Does work experience affect MAT cutoff at any college?
Ans: Some colleges give additional weightage to candidates with 1 to 3 years of work experience during the final merit preparation. This does not change the MAT cutoff percentile itself, but it can improve the candidate's overall rank in the college's merit list after the GD and PI rounds.
Ques: Can a candidate use a MAT score from one session to apply for admission in a later cycle?
Ans: Yes, as long as the score is within the one year validity period. For example, a February 2026 MAT score can be used for admissions opening in September 2026 if the college accepts that session's score and the score has not expired.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
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