NTA's Tie-Breaking Rule for CMAT 2025: What Happens When Scores Are Tied?

NTA's Tie-Breaking Rule for CMAT 2025: What Happens When Scores Are Tied?

Edited By Sundararajan | Updated on Feb 12, 2025 12:01 PM IST | #CMAT

CMAT 2025 was successfully conducted by NTA on January 25, 2025. The CMAT 2025 provisional answer key has been released, and the objection window is also closed. Next, the NTA is expected to announce the CMAT final answer key and result. Around 74,012 students are eagerly waiting to know their CMAT 2025 results. In case of a tie in the CMAT score, NTA follows a specific tie-breaking rule to decide the rank of candidates. Read this article to know further about the NTA’s tie-breaking rules for candidates with the same scores.

This Story also Contains
  1. NTA's Tie-Breaking Rule for CMAT 2025
  2. Expected Tie-Breaking Rule for CMAT 2025
  3. How is CMAT Rank Assigned?
  4. Why the Tie-Breaking Rule Matters?
  5. CMAT 2025: Marking Scheme
NTA's Tie-Breaking Rule for CMAT 2025: What Happens When Scores Are Tied?
NTA's Tie-Breaking Rule for CMAT 2025: What Happens When Scores Are Tied?

NTA's Tie-Breaking Rule for CMAT 2025

NTA will prepare a National Merit Ranking (All India Rank-AIR) list based on candidates' CMAT scores. As of now, the NTA has not officially announced the tie-breaking rule for CMAT 2025. However, based on the rules followed in previous years, the expected tie-breaking criteria for CMAT 2025 are given below.

Expected Tie-Breaking Rule for CMAT 2025

If two or more candidates score identically in the CMAT exam, NTA will follow the tie-break rule and decide the rank using the following hierarchical criteria:

  1. Higher Marks in QT&DI: The students with the highest marks in the Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation section will get a higher rank in CMAT.
  2. Higher Marks in LR: In case of a tie, preference will be given to the person who scored higher in the Logical Reasoning section.
  3. Higher Marks in LC: If the tie is still not resolved, the student with the highest score in the Language Comprehension section will be ranked higher.
  4. Higher Marks in GA: If the tie persists, the student who scores higher in the general awareness section will get the higher rank.
  5. Older in Age: If the tie is not resolved after consideration of sectional marks, preference will be given to the older candidate (based on date of birth).
  6. Alphabetical Order of Names: If all the above criteria fail to break the tie, then the student who appears first in alphabetical order gets the highest rank.
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How is CMAT Rank Assigned?

Candidates with the same CMAT 2025 score will be given the same merit, and the merit number will be increased. This means if two candidates are in 3rd rank, both will get 3rd rank, and the next student will not be given 4th rank. Instead, she/he will get 5th position.

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Why the Tie-Breaking Rule Matters?

The tie-breaking rule is important for determining the final rank of candidates, especially in competitive exams like CMAT, where even a slight difference in rank can affect MBA admission chances. Understanding this CMAT’s tie-breaking rule helps candidates focus on important sections during preparation to increase their chances of getting a better rank.

CMAT 2025: Marking Scheme

The CMAT exam has a total of 100 questions, with a total of 400 marks. Here's a detailed breakdown of the CMAT marking scheme as per the latest guidelines:

  • Each correct answer is given +4 marks.
  • There is a negative marking of -1 mark for every incorrect answer.
  • No marks are deducted for unanswered/ un-attempted questions.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the criteria for passing the CMAT exam?

Although there is no passing criteria set by the NTA for CMAT, a score of 120 is considered safe to pass CMAT. However, candidates must score 250 or more to get admission to top MBA institutes.

2. What is a good score in CMAT?

good score in CMAT would be 250-300 out of 400. If you score within this range, you can get a CMAT percentile of 85 to 95.

3. What is a good rank in CMAT exam?

90-99 percentile is considered a good score in CMAT. All the popular colleges accepting CMAT, such as GIM GoaKJ SomaiyaPUMBASIMSREEJBIMSGLIM Chennai, and XISS Ranchi, choose students having 90-95 percentile in CMAT 2025.

4. How many students sit for CMAT?

According to the official report, a total of 74,012 students appeared for CMAT 2025.

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Questions related to CMAT

Have a question related to CMAT ?

Hii,

No, not all MBA programs require these tests. These are merely entrance exams that are accepted by a lot of universities. Depending on the college you wish to attend, you can take any of them (such as MAH CET, MAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT, or ATMA).

Additionally, some universities have entrance exams of their own. Therefore, for the majority of MBA admissions, you only need to take one appropriate exam. To find out which tests the college accepts, always visit their website.

Hii,

It may be challenging to gain admission to an MBA program through common entrance based on rank if you have not taken the CMAT. Don't worry, though! Additionally, a lot of colleges offer direct admission based on your graduation grades or through state-level exams, MAT, or XAT.

For information on each college's admissions procedure, visit their websites. Certain private universities also allow management quota admissions or have their own exams. You can still enroll in an MBA program even if you don't have a CMAT. Continue your exploration!

Hii,

It is possible to gain admission to certain MBA programs without taking the CMAT exam. Based on your prior grades or interviews, a lot of private colleges grant direct admission. Other tests, such as the CAT, MAT, or GMAT, are accepted by some universities.

However, CMAT or other tests are typically required for government or elite colleges. It is best to inquire about the rules of the college you wish to attend. Therefore, you still have some options even if you don't have CMAT!

Hello aspirant,

MBA candidates are not required to take entrance examinations like the CMAT in order to get admitted.  While CAT is a requirement for admission to IIM MBA programs, several Tier-2 and Tier-3 MBA colleges have adopted alternative admissions methods.  A lot of MBA schools use entrance tests to choose their students.  Colleges administer the XAT and NMAT as MBA entry exams.

Thank you

Hope it helps you

if you belong to general category, the requisite is to get 85 percentiles. it would be quite difficult to get your desirable college. but if that's not the case then, you have chances as the cut offs drops to lower. the admission criteria vary annually based on factors like the number of applicants, seat availability, and category-specific reservations. so, keep checking the official ACPC Gujarat (https://acpc.gujarat.gov.in/) website or contact BKSBM directly for the most accurate and updated information regarding admission eligibility and cutoff

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