NTA will use the percentile equivalency for section-to-section in the CMAT score normalization process. Percentile scores will be based on the average performance of all candidates. In simple terms, the marks earned are converted into a scale for each examinee session, ranging from 100 to 0.
The CMAT score normalization process ensures a level playing field for candidates who take the exam in different sessions. The National Testing Agency (NTA) adjusts raw scores based on the difficulty of the question paper each test-taker receives.
Further, the CMAT 2025 exam was held for 3 hours, online. The paper ideally consists of four sections: English language comprehension, General Awareness, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. Each section consists of 25 questions.
What is the CMAT Score Normalization Process?
Due to the difficulty level of the CMAT exam and multiple sessions of the exam, there may be differences in the marks. Therefore, to avoid any misconception and to deliver justice, the CMAT Normalization process is adopted. For normalization across sections, the NTA will use a percentile balance.
Furthermore, in the CMAT normalization process, the score of the candidates facing the challenging question paper will be increased and the score of the candidates facing the easy question paper will be reduced. The candidates can also check the CMAT Score vs Percentile 2025 to get their tentative marks.
There are three processes involved in the CMAT normalization process:
1. Distribution of Students
In this process, candidates will be divided into different shifts to avoid any sort of favouritism. Moreover, the shifts can be held on the same day or different days. It will entirely depend upon the conducting body.
For example, here is the exam conducted for two days in two different shifts:
| Sessions | Day/Shifts | No. of Candidates | Marks | |||
| Appeared | Absent | Total | Highest | Lowest | ||
| Session - 1 | Day 1 Shift - 1 | 28012 | 3974 | 31986 | 335 | -39 |
| Session - 2 | Day 1 Shift - 2 | 32541 | 6189 | 38730 | 346 | -38 |
| Session - 3 | Day 2 Shift - 1 | 41326 | 6036 | 47362 | 331 | -44 |
| Session - 4 | Day 2 Shift - 2 | 40603 | 9074 | 49677 | 332 | -44 |
| Total | 142482 | 25273 | 167755 | 346 | -49 | |
2. Preparing for CMAT Result 2025
NTA will arrange for the CMAT results for each session. However, the CMAT results will be based on the following two factors:
- Raw Scores
- Percentile score of the total raw score.
CMAT Percentile Calculation
The CMAT result is released by the conducting authority in the form of a merit list. It contains each candidate’s sectional marks, overall marks, sectional percentiles and overall percentile. Moreover, to understand the CMAT Normalization Process candidates must first try to understand the CMAT percentile calculation.
CMAT Percentile Score
The CMAT percentile is calculated based on the candidate's score. The percentage is based on candidates' relative performance in the CMAT exam. The marks scored are transformed into a range of 100 to 0 for each session.
Procedure to Calculate CMAT Percentile Score
The following process is used to calculate the total CMAT percentile score:
100 x number of candidates that appeared in the session and scored either equal to or lesser than the candidate/ total number of candidates in the session
Example 1:
The highest raw score and percentile score of CMAT will be converted into a normalized percentile score of 100 for their respective session. Let us now understand this with the help of an example:
| Session | Total Number of Candidates (present) | Highest Raw Score | Total Number of candidates who Scored Equal to or Less than the highest raw score of a candidate | Applying the above formula |
| Session 1 | 28012 | 335 | 28012 | (28012/28012) X 100 = 100 |
| Session 2 | 32541 | 346 | 32541 | (32541/32541) X 100 = 100 |
| Session 3 | 41326 | 331 | 41326 | (41326/41326) X 100 = 100 |
| Session 4 | 40603 | 332 | 40603 | (40603/40603) X 100 = 100 |
Example 2:
The lowest raw score and percentile score of the CMAT will be calculated from the lowest raw scores and will depend on the total number of candidates who have taken the exam for the respective session.
| Session | Total Number of Candidates (present) | Lowest Raw Score | Total Number of candidates who Scored Equal to or Less than the lowest raw score of a candidate | Applying the above formula |
| Session 1 | 28012 | -39 | 1 | (1/28012) X 100 = 0.0035699 |
| Session 2 | 32541 | -38 | 1 | (1/32541) X 100 = 0.0030730 |
| Session 3 | 41326 | -49 | 1 | (1/41326) X 100 = 0.0024198 |
| Session 4 | 40603 | -44 | 1 | (1/40603) X 100 = 0.0024629 |
Candidates can use the CMAT Rank Predictor 2025 to get a tentative idea of the CMAT rank being scored.
3. Compilation of NTA CMAT Score
In this step, the percentile scores of all the sessions are compiled together to determine the score. It is known as NTA scores.
How is the CMAT Result Prepared using the Normalization Process?
In the preparation of CMAT results by using the CMAT score normalization process, the conducting authority will distribute the candidates into two sessions.
CMAT Exam Shift 1 and Shift 2
Shift 1 and shift 2 will act as an assurance that there is no bias. Moreover, CMAT results will be prepared in the form of:
- Raw Scores
- Percentiles Scores of Total raw scores
Preparation of CMAT Result and Merit List
CMAT percentile scores for total raw scores for all shifts (Shift 1 and Shift 2) will be combined and called NTA scores to be used for the preparation of the merit list. In case, the CMAT percentiles for the multi-shifts (shift 1 and shift 2) are uneven, the lowest will be the eligibility cutoff for that category for all students across all exam sessions.
For Example:
If 40 per cent marks are equivalent to 79 percentile in Shift 1 and 80 percentile in Shift 2, those with or equal to 79 percentiles in both shifts (100 to 79 percentile scores) will be eligible in the general category.
Must Read: Top B-schools Accepting CMAT Scores
