• Updated on 22 Sept, 2025 by Ankita Banerjee
NATA 2026 Cutoff will be released by the Council of Architecture (CoA) and will serve as the minimum score required to qualify for BArch admissions in participating institutes. To be considered eligible, candidates will need to score at least 70 marks out of 200, which is the official qualifying cutoff. This cutoff for NATA 2026 Exam will be determined based on various factors related to the entrance exam, such as overall performance, difficulty level, and number of test-takers. However, since there is no centralised counselling process for NATA, each institute participating in BArch admissions will set its own individual admission cutoff. This means candidates will need to check the cutoff separately for each college or university they are interested in. It's important to understand that meeting the admission cutoff doesn’t guarantee a seat, but it does improve a candidate's chances of being shortlisted for admission.
The cutoff will vary based on the college, category, and state counselling process. For top B.Arch colleges like CEPT University, Sir J.J. College of Architecture, and R.V. College of Architecture, closing scores are generally between 120 and 145 out of 200, depending on the board and category. In high-demand colleges such as Manipal, MSU Baroda, and LPU, the competition remains tough, so cutoffs are also on the higher side. On the other hand, newer colleges or those with lower demand are expected to have closing scores as low as 75 to 90 in some categories.
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How to Check NATA 2026 Cutoff?
The admission cutoffs for NATA 2026 are released by individual colleges and state counselling authorities, not by the Council of Architecture (CoA). These cutoffs represent the opening and closing scores or ranks required by each institute for different categories. Here's how students can check them:
- Visit the official website of the respective college or state counselling body.
- Look for link labels such as “B.Arch Admission Cutoff” within the admissions section.
- Select the admission round.
- Choose your college name and B.Arch course to view cutoff details relevant to your category.
- A webpage will display the opening and closing scores or ranks for each category.
- Download or save the cutoff document for reference during counselling and choice filling.
Check: NATA 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Factors Affecting NATA 2026 Cutoff
NATA 2026 cutoffs change annually due to various reasons. If the paper is tough, the cutoff usually drops. If more students apply or fewer seats are available, the ranks go higher. Things like how many students choose a college or branch also affect the opening and closing ranks for each round.
- If more students apply for NATA and B.Arch admissions, the competition becomes tough, and cutoffs go higher.
- If the NATA paper is easy, more students get good marks, so colleges set higher cutoffs. If the paper is hard, lower scores are accepted.
- Colleges with fewer B.Arch seats, especially top colleges or those in big cities, usually have higher closing scores.
- Students from SC, ST, OBC, or EWS categories often have lower cutoffs because of reservation rules.
- The scores needed in 2026 may be similar to what was seen in 2024, especially in well-known colleges.
- If many students choose the same college and course as their first choice, the cutoff score goes up for that option.
NATA 2026 Qualifying Marks for All Categories
To apply for B.Arch admission through NATA 2026, students must have a certain minimum mark in their Class 12 exams. General category students need at least 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) and also 50% overall. For SC, ST, and OBC-NCL students, the required marks are 45% in PCM and 45% overall.
Note: These are the basic eligibility marks. Actual admission depends on your NATA 2026 score and the college-wise cutoffs published during counselling.
Check: NATA 2026 Syllabus
NATA 2026 Category-wise Expected Cutoff
NATA 2026 is conducted in three sessions i.e., Test 1, Test 2, and Test 3. Looking at the past trends and the difficulty level of the tests, the expected cutoff marks (out of 200) for each category are given below. These marks can change depending on the paper's difficulty, the number of students, and the available seats.
NATA Institute-wise Previous Year Cutoff
The following table presents NATA 2024 cutoffs across top architecture colleges, categorised by student category and education board. This layout helps students quickly locate cutoff marks based on their background.
NATA 2026 Top Architecture Colleges
Many top architecture colleges in India accept NATA scores for admission to B.Arch programs. These colleges are known for good teaching, strong placements, and well-equipped design studios. Some of them also offer internships, international exposure, and strong alumni networks.
NATA 2026 Cutoff FAQs
How can students check the NATA 2026 cutoff?
Students need to visit the official website of the college or counselling body, go to the admissions section, and check for links like “B.Arch Cutoff” or “Opening & Closing Ranks.” The cutoff document is shared there.
What factors affected the NATA 2026 cutoff?
The cutoff depends on paper difficulty, number of applicants, available seats, and popularity of the college. If the paper was easy or more students applied, the cutoff usually goes higher.
Were NATA cutoffs different for each category?
Yes, NATA cutoffs are different for General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS students. Reserved category students had lower cutoffs due to seat reservation policies in most colleges.
What was the expected NATA 2026 cutoff for the General category?
Based on the first two tests, General category students were expected to score between 120 to 160 out of 200 to stay in the safe range for top colleges.
Did Gujarat Board students have separate cutoffs?
Yes, some colleges in Gujarat list different cutoffs for the Gujarat Board, CBSE, and other boards. This happened mostly under the state counselling system (ACPC).
Is NATA only for Gujarat students?
No, NATA is a national-level entrance exam. Students from any state can apply. Gujarat is highlighted more because its colleges published detailed board-wise cutoffs.
How much did students need in the 12th class to be eligible for B.Arch?
General category students needed at least 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Math, and also 50% overall. SC, ST, and OBC-NCL students needed 45% in both.
Were all the top colleges accepting NATA scores?
Most top colleges like CEPT University, Sir J. J. College, SPA Vijayawada, and RV College accepted NATA scores. Some others, like SPA Delhi, only accepted JEE Paper 2.
Were NATA cutoffs always shown in marks?
Not always. Some colleges showed cutoffs in marks (like 82 out of 200), while others, especially in Maharashtra, used closing ranks based on combined merit scores.
Did students need the same NATA score for all colleges?
No, each college has its own cutoff based on its rank, location, and number of seats. Top colleges usually had higher cutoffs, while others had more flexible score ranges.