CUET UG 2026 percentile calculation explained: How to calculate your score, marks vs percentile and what counts as a good percentile

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced the results of the Common University Entrance Test Undergraduate (CUET UG) 2026 for more than 15.68 lakh registered candidates.

Candidates can download their scorecards from the NTA portal by logging in with their application number and password or date of birth.

With the results now available, understanding the percentile calculation process has become crucial for students seeking admission to universities through CUET.


Also Read: CUET UG Result 2026 Out: Download scorecard PDF at cuet.nta.nic.in, check direct link and next steps

Percentile used to standardise scores across sessions

NTA uses percentile scores rather than raw marks to ensure a fair comparison among candidates who appeared in different examination sessions and shifts.

The percentile reflects a candidate's relative performance compared with other test-takers and ranges from 0 to 100. A higher percentile indicates stronger performance relative to peers in the same examination session.

According to NTA, percentile scores are calculated using candidates' raw marks from each session and help account for variations in paper difficulty across shifts.

How CUET percentile is calculated

The percentile score represents the percentage of candidates who scored equal to or lower than a particular candidate's raw score.

To calculate the percentile, NTA first determines the total number of candidates who appeared in a specific session. Candidates' raw scores are then arranged in descending order.

For each candidate, the agency identifies the number of candidates whose scores are equal to or less than that candidate's score and applies the percentile formula.

CUET percentile calculation formula

The formula used by NTA is:

P = (M × 100) / N

Where:

P = Percentile score

M = Number of candidates in the session who obtained a raw score equal to or lower than the candidate's score

N = Total number of candidates who appeared in that session

The percentile scores generated through this method are displayed subject-wise on the CUET scorecard.

Difference between marks and percentile

NTA distinguishes between raw marks and percentile scores.

Raw marks represent the actual score obtained by a candidate in a subject based on correct and incorrect responses. Percentile scores, on the other hand, indicate a candidate's position relative to other test-takers.

While raw marks can be difficult to compare across different shifts, percentile scores provide a standardised measure that enables fair comparison among candidates.

Marks reflect individual performance, whereas percentiles indicate overall standing within the candidate pool.

Expected CUET marks and percentile range

The expected percentile corresponding to various score ranges is as follows:

CUET Marks Range	Expected Percentile
250 - 235	100
234 - 213	99
212 - 188	98 - 97
187 - 163	96 - 95
162 - 138	94 - 93
137 - 113	92 - 90
112 - 100	89 - 84
99 - 88	83 - 80
87 - 75	79 - 75
74 - 63	74 - 70
62 - 50	69 - 55
49 - 25	54 - 30

Process designed to ensure fairness

NTA said the percentile-based approach helps normalise scores across multiple examination shifts and varying difficulty levels.

By converting raw scores into percentiles, the agency aims to provide a uniform and equitable assessment system for candidates competing for university admissions through CUET UG 2026.