What is a Good Score/Percentile in MAT 2026? How to Score Better?

A good MAT score is a composite score of 400 and above in the MAT exam. A composite score of this range is considered good for admission to the top-rated colleges across the country. The MAT score accepted for admission of a candidate differs between the colleges.

The MAT 2026 cutoff percentile for admission is decided by colleges based on a few factors. The cutoff percentile for admission depends on the difficulty level of the MAT question paper, the total number of candidates who have taken the test, and the highest marks scored or the MAT 2026 percentile achieved in the exam.

It is crucial to understand the difference between the MAT score 2026 and the MAT percentile 2026 while seeking admission to MBA colleges.

What is a Good MAT Score?

The MAT scores required for admission to different institutes are different. The cutoff scores for different institutes depend on several factors, such as the difficulty level of the examination, the total number of candidates taking the examination, and the highest marks scored in the examination.

In general, a MAT composite score of 400 and above is considered to be a good MAT score.

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What is a MAT Score?

Before knowing what a good MAT score is, it is important to understand what a MAT score is. Having a good MAT score is pertinent to getting an opportunity to study at the top B-schools. While the scores accepted in the colleges or B-schools vary from institute to institute, scoring decent marks helps the candidate get admission to the choicest of colleges.

The table given below will give an understanding of the sectional weightage followed in the MAT entrance test.

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What is a MAT Composite Score?

After understanding the sectional weightage in the MAT exam, the composite score must be understood. What is a composite score in the MAT exam? The composite score in the AMT exam is calculated based on how a candidate scores in the first 4 sections of the total 5 sections in the entrance exam.

Marks scored in the section ‘Indian and Global Environment’ are omitted while calculating the composite score of a candidate in the MAT exam.

The following parameters are taken into consideration while calculating the composite score in the MAT exam:

• The MAT composite score is always given between 199 and 801.
• In case a candidate scores below 200, the scorecard will record the marks of the particular candidate as 199, as it is the least mark that is given on the MAT scorecard.
• In another case, if a candidate scores above 800, then the scorecard for the particular candidate will record 801 marks only since it is the maximum score given on the MAT scorecard.

MAT Sectional Composite Score

The sectional composite score in the MAT exam can be understood by following the information given in the table below:

What is MAT Percentile?

MAT percentile is not the same as MAT score. The MAT scorecard will have both the score and the percentile obtained by the candidate. MAT percentile refers to the metric which shows the percentage of candidates out of the total number of candidates who have taken the MAT exam who have scored less than the candidate in question.

For example, if the MAT percentile of a candidate is 80, it signifies that 80% of the total number of candidates who have appeared for the MAT test have scored less than this candidate.

The formula used in the calculation of the MAT percentile is given below:

MAT Percentile = (A candidate’s composite score / Total number of candidates)  * 100

Difference Between MAT Score & MAT Percentile

The MAT score, or the composite score, given on the scorecard of a candidate indicates the total marks obtained by the candidate in all the sections of the MAT question paper (excluding the marks obtained in the 5th and last section). In contrast, the percentile of a candidate shows the ratio of candidates who have scored fewer marks in the MAT examination than the candidate in question.

MAT Score and MAT Percentile for Different Institutes

Every year a large number of candidates appear for the MAT examination and vie for seats in the top-notch colleges across the country. Shared below is a List of Top B-schools in India 2026 for MBA across the country and the expected MAT scores and MAT percentile that they will accept during the 2026 admission cycle.

Top Colleges in India Accepting MAT Scores 2026

The list of top colleges or B-schools in India accepting the MAT scores has been shared below:

Top Colleges in India Accepting MAT Percentile 80 - 90

The topmost colleges in India that are expected to accept a MAT percentile between 80 and 90 are shared below in the list along with their fees.

Top Colleges in India Accepting MAT Percentile 60 - 80

Some colleges accept a moderate MAT percentile between 60 and 80. The list of such colleges and their fees structure have been shared in the table below:

Top Colleges in India Accepting MAT Percentile 50 - 70

Candidates getting a percentile between 50 and 70 in the MAT exam can get admission in the colleges mentioned in the table under. The fees of the respective colleges have also been shared.

Here is a list of top MAT colleges accepting different scores in India.