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Common Management Admission Test (CMAT)

Updated on 4 Sept, 2026 by Kollegeapply

The CMAT 2021 General cutoff has been released by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This page shows General cutoff trends across colleges and courses (All & Female where available). Check the official site https://exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT/ for notifications.

We’ve analyzed CMAT cutoffs for 2021 to help you gauge admission chances at top colleges.


CMAT 2021 General category cutoff ranges from 60 to 80 percentile. Candidates with percentile under 80 have high chances of getting top colleges like XIME Bangalore, Welingkar Bangalore, and Thiagarajar School of Management.


CMAT 2021 Cutoff Highlights

The CMAT 2021 cutoff represents the minimum percentile required to qualify for admissions into participating colleges.

The cutoff is released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and is used for counselling and seat allocation.


Key Highlights

  • Exam Name: CMAT 2021
  • Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
  • Cutoff Type: Percentile
  • Total Counselling Rounds: 1
  • Total Colleges Participating: 3
  • Top Courses: Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), PGDM in Business Analytics, Diploma in Production and Operations Management
  • Quota Types: All India

CMAT 2021 Cutoff Overview

The table below provides complete details of the CMAT 2021 cutoff including exam structure, categories, and admission scope.

ParticularsDetails
Exam NameCMAT
Conducting BodyNational Testing Agency (NTA)
Cutoff TypePercentile
Courses AcceptingPGDM, MBA/PGDM, MBA
Total Rounds1
Total Colleges Participating3
Official Websitehttps://exams.nta.ac.in/CMAT/
QuotasAll India
Top CoursesPost Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), PGDM in Business Analytics, Diploma in Production and Operations Management

Status

  • Cutoff Status: Released
  • Last Updated: May 2026

CMAT 2021 General Cutoff Category Wise for Government and Private Colleges

The CMAT 2021 General category-wise cutoff highlights the opening and closing percentile range for admission into government and private colleges across different categories. The cutoff varies based on factors such as category reservation, seat availability, and college type, with government institutes generally having more competition compared to private colleges.

CategoryPrivate
General60 - 80

Can You Get a College with Your Percentile?

The CMAT 2021 percentile plays a crucial role in determining your chances of admission into top institutes across India. Based on previous cutoff trends, the table below highlights what type of colleges you can expect at different eligibility ranges.

Eligibility RangeTop Colleges
Below 1,000XIME Bangalore, Welingkar Bangalore, Thiagarajar School of Management

CMAT 2021 Marks vs Percentile

The table below shows the relationship between marks scored and the corresponding percentile in CMAT 2021. Understanding this mapping helps candidates estimate their expected percentile based on marks scored and compare it against historical cutoff trends.

  • A percentile of 99+ in CMAT corresponds to approximately 270 Marks.
  • A percentile of 95+ in CMAT corresponds to approximately 245 Marks.
  • A percentile of 90+ in CMAT corresponds to approximately 205 Marks.
MarksPercentile
300 - 350100
27099
26597
24595
20590
18080
17570

CMAT 2021 Expected vs Actual Cutoff

The CMAT 2021 cutoff comparison between expected and actual values helps candidates understand trend accuracy and exam competitiveness.

CategoryExpected (Percentile)Actual (Percentile)Difference
General45 - 10060 - 80Stable

Why Did the Cutoff Change?

The variation between expected and actual cutoff is influenced by:

  • Exam Difficulty Level: Slightly easier paper can increase cutoff, while tougher papers may reduce it.
  • Number of Candidates: Higher participation generally raises competition and affects closing trends.
  • Normalization Process: Session-wise normalization may create minor variation in final percentile outcomes.
  • Seat Availability: Stable seat intake usually keeps cutoff movement within an expected range.

Accuracy Analysis

  • Prediction Accuracy: Previous-year based estimates are generally close to actual cutoff outcomes.
  • General Category: Shows comparatively tighter competition and visible year-to-year movement.
  • Overall Insight: CMAT 2021 cutoff remained stable with minor fluctuations.

CMAT Cutoff Trend (2021 vs 2020)

The CMAT cutoff trend over the last few years helps candidates understand how competition and qualifying percentiles have evolved.


Year-wise Cutoff Trend

YearGeneral
202180
2020100

Key Insights

  • Overall Stability: General cutoff remains stable around 90-91 percentile
  • Increase from 2022 to 2023: Due to higher competition post-COVID normalization
  • Minor Fluctuations (2020-2021): Caused by normalization and paper difficulty
  • Reserved Categories: Gradual increase in cutoff due to rising participation
  • ST Category: Shows highest variation due to lower applicant pool

Insight: Cutoff trends show consistent competition growth with slight yearly variation


Category-wise College Cutoff Comparison (General Category)

This table shows how college-level cutoffs have changed over the last 3 years for General category.

College20212020
XIME Bangalore7575
Welingkar Bangalore8085
Thiagarajar School of Management6060

Insights

  • Top Colleges: Slightly more competitive in recent years
  • Mid-tier Colleges: Wider variation based on seat changes
  • Overall Trend: Competition increasing gradually

Marks vs Percentile (CMAT 2021)

The CMAT marks vs percentile gives a clear idea of score required to achieve a target percentile.

  • 99 Percentile -> ~270 marks
  • 95 Percentile -> ~245 marks
  • 90 Percentile -> ~205 marks

Insight: Aim for 180+ marks for top colleges and 120+ for safe options.


College wise CMAT 2021 Cutoff (Category-wise Opening & Closing Percentiles)

The CMAT 2021 college-wise cutoff includes opening and closing percentiles for top colleges like XIME Bangalore and Welingkar Bangalore across categories. These cutoffs are released during counselling and vary based on college, branch, category, and quota

CollegeBranchCategoryOpening PercentileClosing Percentile
XIME BangalorePGDM in Business AnalyticsGeneral7575
Welingkar BangalorePost Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)General7580

Insight: XIME Bangalore and Welingkar Bangalore close within top 75-80 percentiles for core branches.

Key Insights

  • Cutoffs vary significantly by college tier and branch popularity.
  • PGDM in Business Analytics has the lowest closing percentile (75), indicating highest competition.
  • 2 colleges close within top 20,000 percentiles, while 2 are within top 30,000 percentiles.
  • Final cutoff depends on counselling rounds, preferences, and seat matrix.

College-wise CMAT 2021 Cutoff (General Opening & Closing Percentiles)

CollegeAll
XIME Bangalore65 - 75
Welingkar Bangalore70 - 80
Thiagarajar School of Management60

Safe Score for CMAT 2021

The CMAT safe score is the minimum marks range required to secure admission into good colleges without high risk. It varies based on category, branch preference, and competition level.


Safe Score for Top Colleges

245-245+ marks

What this means:

  • Strong chance in top colleges with competitive branches.
  • Possible entry into PGDM in Business Analytics and Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) in good institutes.
  • Percentile range typically under 75-75 for stronger options.

Safe Score for Other Good Colleges

205-205+ marks

What this means:

  • Good chance in institutes offering PGDM in Business Analytics and Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM).
  • Access to mid to top institutes with strong placement records.
  • Percentile range typically under 75-80.

Pro Tip: Always keep a buffer of +10-20 marks above the safe score due to normalization and yearly cutoff variation.


What Percentile is Required for Top Colleges?

The CMAT percentile is the most critical factor in securing admission to top colleges. Based on previous trends, the table below shows what percentile is required for XIME Bangalore and Welingkar Bangalore across categories.


Percentile under 80

College NameGeneral
XIME Bangalore65 - 75
Welingkar Bangalore70 - 80
Thiagarajar School of Management60

Percentile under 80

  • Strong chance in colleges like XIME Bangalore and Welingkar Bangalore.
  • Likely branches: PGDM in Business Analytics and Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM).
  • Category advantage applies for better branch outcomes.

Insight: Best range for highly competitive colleges in current trends.


Percentile under 75

  • Admission possible in colleges like XIME Bangalore.
  • This range keeps more realistic options open across counselling rounds.
  • Wider branch flexibility is usually available compared to lower percentile bands.

Insight: Ideal for balanced college and branch targets with strong placement potential.


Final Takeaway: Under 80 percentiles target top-tier options, under 80 percentiles strengthen access to Top Colleges, and under 75 percentiles open broader options like Good Colleges.

  • Under 80: 2 strong cutoff outcomes in current trend set.
  • Under 75: 1 broader cutoff outcomes in current trend set.

Top Colleges Accepting CMAT 2021 Cutoff

Explore the top management colleges accepting CMAT 2021 scores. Click below to check detailed branch-wise opening & closing percentiles and cutoff trends.

CollegeFeesMedian SalaryCoursesRanking
XIME Bangalore₹ 6.95 Lakhs₹ 10.50 Lakhs3BusinessToday #74
Welingkar Bangalore₹ 16.61 Lakhs-4BusinessToday #50

Top Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) Colleges - 2021 Cutoff (General Opening & Closing Percentiles)

The CMAT 2021 cutoff for Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) highlights category-specific closing ranks for top colleges. This branch continues to see strong demand among candidates.

CollegeAll
Welingkar Bangalore75 - 80

Key Insights

  • Top 3 colleges (Welingkar Bangalore) close within top 80 ranks.
  • Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) remains a high-demand branch across top colleges.

Insight: To secure Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) in top colleges, aim for under 64 rank for stronger outcomes.


Top PGDM in Business Analytics Colleges - 2021 Cutoff (General Opening & Closing Percentiles)

The CMAT 2021 cutoff for PGDM in Business Analytics highlights category-specific closing ranks for top colleges. This branch continues to see strong demand among candidates.

CollegeAll
XIME Bangalore75

Key Insights

  • Top 3 colleges (XIME Bangalore) close within top 75 ranks.
  • PGDM in Business Analytics remains a high-demand branch across top colleges.

Insight: To secure PGDM in Business Analytics in top colleges, aim for under 60 rank for stronger outcomes.


Top Diploma in Production and Operations Management Colleges - 2021 Cutoff (General Opening & Closing Percentiles)

The CMAT 2021 cutoff for Diploma in Production and Operations Management highlights category-specific closing ranks for top colleges. This branch continues to see strong demand among candidates.

CollegeAll
XIME Bangalore75

Key Insights

  • Top 3 colleges (XIME Bangalore) close within top 75 ranks.
  • Diploma in Production and Operations Management remains a high-demand branch across top colleges.

Insight: To secure Diploma in Production and Operations Management in top colleges, aim for under 60 rank for stronger outcomes.


All India PGDM in Business Analytics Cutoff 2021 – Opening & Closing Percentiles


The CMAT 2021 cutoff for PGDM in Business Analytics shows the opening and closing percentiles for top colleges under the All India quota. PGDM in Business Analytics remains highly competitive, with relatively lower closing percentiles in top institutes.

CollegeAll
OpeningClosing
XIME Bangalore7575

All India Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) Cutoff 2021 – Opening & Closing Percentiles


The CMAT 2021 cutoff for Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) shows the opening and closing percentiles for top colleges under the All India quota. Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) remains highly competitive, with relatively lower closing percentiles in top institutes.

CollegeAll
OpeningClosing
Welingkar Bangalore7580

Course-wise Cutoff Range (All India) 2021 — General

CourseGeneral
Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM)75 - 80
PGDM in Business Analytics75
Diploma in Production and Operations Management75
MBA (Analytics)60
MBA in E Business75 - 80
MBA in Finance60
MBA in Human Resource Management60
MBA in Marketing60
MBA in Operations Management60
PG Diploma in Information Technology and Management65 - 75

College Wise Cutoff 2021

Explore college-wise cutoff pages for 2021 to check detailed branch-wise opening & closing percentiles and admission trends.

NameCutoff Links
XIME BangaloreView Cutoff
Welingkar BangaloreView Cutoff
Thiagarajar School of ManagementView Cutoff

CMAT 2021 Cutoff FAQs

What is the cutoff for CMAT 2021?
The cutoff for CMAT 2021 is expected to be around 60-80 percentile for General category, while reserved categories may have lower cutoffs based on previous year trends and exam difficulty.
What is the expected cutoff for CMAT 2021 (category-wise)?
The expected cutoff for CMAT 2021 is:
  • General: 60-80 percentile
  • OBC: data not available yet
  • SC: data not available yet
  • ST: data not available yet
These values are based on trend analysis and difficulty level.
What was the cutoff for CMAT 2020?
In 2020, the cutoff for CMAT was:
  • General: 45-100 percentile
  • OBC: data not available yet
  • SC: data not available yet
This helps estimate the expected cutoff for 2021.
What marks are required for top percentile in CMAT 2021?
To achieve 99 percentile in CMAT 2021, candidates typically need around 270-270 marks, depending on exam difficulty and normalization.
What marks are required for 90 percentile in CMAT 2021?
Candidates scoring around 205-205 marks can expect approximately 90 percentile in CMAT 2021, based on previous session data.
Is 95 percentile good in CMAT 2021?
Yes, 95 percentile in CMAT 2021 is considered good, and may allow admission to good to excellent colleges, depending on category and branch preference.
What percentile is required for top colleges through CMAT 2021?
For top colleges accepting CMAT 2021:
  • Top tier colleges: Percentile under 75
  • Mid-tier colleges: Percentile under 75
Admission depends on branch and category.
What is a safe score for CMAT 2021?
A safe score for CMAT 2021 is typically 205-205 to 245-245, which increases the chances of admission to top colleges based on previous year trends.
Will the cutoff for CMAT 2021 increase or decrease?
The cutoff for CMAT 2021 is expected to stable due to factors like similar difficulty level, candidate participation, and seat availability.
What factors affect the cutoff for CMAT 2021?
The cutoff for CMAT 2021 is influenced by:
  • Difficulty level: similar difficulty level
  • Total seats: 3+ participating college options
Can I get a top college with my percentile in CMAT 2021?
With a good percentile, candidates may get into XIME Bangalore and Welingkar Bangalore, depending on branch preference and category cutoff trends.
What is the difference between qualifying and admission cutoff in CMAT 2021?
The qualifying cutoff for CMAT 2021 is 60-80 percentile, while admission cutoffs vary by college and can go much higher depending on demand and seat availability.
Where can I check college-wise cutoff for CMAT 2021?
Candidates can check detailed college-wise and branch-wise cutoff for CMAT 2021 on KollegeApply, including opening and closing percentiles for top institutes.

Related Cutoff Links