MAT Score vs Percentile 2026: How to Calculate?

What is the difference between MAT score and MAT percentile. How to calculate it? We provide the answers here. Also know the estimated MAT score vs percentile 2026.

MAT score vs percentile  - AIMA releases MAT result in percentile, but the performance is evaluated basis the marks score in the exam. First of all, candidates must know that the MAT percentile is calculated from scaled score and not the raw score. Formula to calculate MAT scaled score is also different from that of other MBA entrance exams. MAT aspirants must know how much MAT score will convert into MAT percentile. This will be helpful in making a focussed exam preparation strategy. It will further aide in college selection.

MAT Score vs Percentile 2026

MAT exam is conducted in multiple sessions and the candidate has the choice of attempting the exam more than once in the same academic session. So, the MAT scoring process is slightly different from other MBA entrance exam. Although the exam has 5 sections, scoring is done for only 4 sections (Economic and Business Environment section is excluded). For MAT percentile calculation, marks of the top scorer of a particular session is compared against rest of the test takers of that session. Read on to understand key aspects of MAT score and percentile along with calculation process. 

What is MAT Score?

The MAT score or MAT composite score is the total marks calculated on the basis of performance in all the sections of the exam as these sections are related to the skills required over a longer period of time in the management field. The following points listed by AIMA will further explain calculation of MAT composite score.

• The MAT composite score is given on a scale of 200 to 800.
• The composite score on MAT result, less than 200 or more than 800 is rare.
• Sectional scores less than 20 and more than 80 are rare 
• All scores below 200 are stated as 199 and all scores above 800 are reported 801. This means, even if you get less than 199, your composite score will be reported as 199. Similarly, for scores above 801, it will be reported as 801 only.
• MAT Composite Score is arrived at by using all five sections of the test.

MAT Score Normalization

Here’s the explanation of MAT Normalization process explained by AIMA - In the MAT normalization process, distribution of scores for the overall session for a specific subject/Section is used as standard form against which the scores obtained in each of the sessions gets normalized. In the formula used here, α% top scores are used depending on the number of candidates in different sessions.

MAT score normalization

MAT Score vs Percentile 2026 (Expected)

Here’s an estimation of MAT score vs percentile for 2026 session. This will give you an idea of how much MAT raw score will convert into how much MAT percentile.

MAT Composite Score	MAT Expected Percentile
750 to 800	98 to 99 Percentile
700 to 750	95 Percentile
650 to 700	90 Percentile
550 to 600	80 Percentile
500 to 550	70 Percentile

Check this video to understand MAT score vs Percentile 

 What is MAT Percentile?

MAT score and MAT percentile are different. Candidates must not get confused between the two. In the MAT scorecard, a percentile is mentioned for each of the sectional scores. This MAT percentile can be understood as percentage of the all candidates who scored below candidate A, based on administration of the entire exam. For example, if 5,000 candidates appeared in a particular MAT paper, the percentile of each candidate will be calculated basis the performance of rest of the 4,999 candidates.

How to Calculate MAT Percentile?

From the explanation of MAT Composite Score calculation, it is understood that how AIMA takes raw MAT scores and represents it on a scale of 199 to 801. However, for calculation of MAT Percentile, the following formula is applied:

                        Number of candidates with lower score than candidate A X 100    _{=  MAT percentile}

Total number of candidates  

MAT Percentile indicates the percentage of candidates scoring less than a particular candidate in MAT exam. Some of the B-Schools accepting MAT scores offer admission on the basis of composite scores while the remaining take MAT percentile for final selection of candidates. Besides, MAT score, many MBA colleges select candidates on the basis of Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT).  

Details Mentioned on MAT Result-cum-Scorecard

MAT results for all sessions of a particular phase are released together. The MAT result cum scorecard contains candidate's sectional scores, composite scores as well as percentiles. The following details will be mentioned on the MAT result/ scorecard 2026–

• Scores obtained in Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning and Economic & Business Environment
• Scaled Score of all sections of MAT 2026
• Sectional Percentiles  of all five sections of MAT
• Overall MAT percentile as well as overall Composite Score

MAT scorecard sample

What is the Difference Between MAT Score and MAT Percentile?

Now that you've understood 'what is a MAT score?' and 'what is a MAT percentile?', it is easy for you to decipher the difference between the two. Simply put, MAT score is candidate's actual performance in the exam and MAT percentile is a candidate's performance in comparison to other candidates. Another major difference between MAT score and MAT percentile is that the former is not considered for admission by MBA colleges. The MAT accepting colleges shortlist candidates on the basis of their overall MAT percentile only.

Read More:

• What after MAT result 2026?
• Top colleges accepting MAT score for MBA admission
• Institute-wise MAT 2026 cut offs 
• Top MBA entrance exams in India
• MAT selection process and admissions criteria 2026
• Group Discussion Topics for MBA admission 2026