What is a Good Score in NID DAT 2026?
National Institute of Design Entrance Exam 2026 ( NID Entrance Exam )
Registration - 11 Sep '25 - 1 Dec '25
While admission to the National Institute of Design 2026 participating institutes is based on NID scores, do you know what a good score is to get admission to your dream institute? If not, then this article is for you, as we bring category-wise scores required for admission to NID-participating colleges.
The National Institute of Design conducts the NID DAT entrance exam for admission to the B.Des and M.Des courses offered by participating colleges. To get admission, especially to one of the top NIDs, one needs to secure a good NID DAT 2026 score or merit rank.
But the TRICKY question is what is a good score (or rank)?
It is because what we call a good rank may vary depending on the category of the candidate, as well as the institute applied for admission. So, to cut the confusion, here we bring you the category-wise minimum marks you need to secure to have a chance of admission at each of the NID DAT 2026 participating institutes.
The application form for NID DAT 2026 is expected to be available from the first week of September. The NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) exam is expected to be conducted in the first week of January 2026. The scores of the DAT Prelims will be used to shortlist candidates for the DAT Mains. The FINAL results of NID DAT 2026 will be prepared by giving weightage to DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.
It is not mandatory to take coaching to get a good rank in NID DAT. It is because the entrance exam will test the creative, drawing, and innovative skills of the candidate. Now, a coaching institute cannot exactly teach you to be creative or become innovative. Instead, with a little effort these skills can learn these skills yourself. Also, a major thrust of the design aptitude test is to evaluate the drawing skills of the candidate. So, make it a point to work on your design skills, including learning how to draw lines, shadow, figure, gesture, cartoon drawing, etc. When practicing drawing, also keep a tab on the drawing speed, as it will help you complete the paper in the allotted time.
The NID Entrance Exam is considered to be one of the toughest design entrance exam conducted in the country. In NID DAT, more weightage is given to subjective, drawing related questions. Thus, candidates need to be extremely creative and have a clear understanding of their concepts when appearing for the NID exam.
For preparing the final results for the B. Des program, the DAT Prelims will be allocated 40% weightage, while DAT Mains will be given 60%.
During the DAT Mains, which comprises a Studio Test, the candidate is tested hands-on and have to show their drawing abilities, creativity, innovativeness, and material-handling ability.
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- NID DAT 2026 Qualifying Marks
- What is the NID DAT 2026 Score?
- NID DAT 2026 - Good Score
- NID DAT Cut-off 2026
NID DAT 2026 Qualifying Marks
The qualifying marks are the minimum marks a candidate needs to secure in their respective category to qualify for the exam. In other words, only such candidates who qualify in the exam will be considered for the NID DAT 2026 seat allotment.
The following are the Qualifying marks for NID DAT 2025, NID 2026 aspirants can have an idea about the 2026 NID DAT Qualifying Marks.
| Category |
Open |
OBC-NCL |
SC/ST |
PwD |
EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Marks |
50 |
45 |
40 |
40 |
50 |
What is the NID DAT 2026 Score?
The NID DAT 2026 scorecard will contain the total score, which will be prepared by giving weightage to the DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. The total score will be used to prepare the merit rank, which will be the basis of the NID DAT 2026 seat allotment.
NID DAT 2026 - Good Score
Listed below are the scores a candidate is expected to secure in order to have a good chance of admission to the B.Des program in one of the top NIDs.
| Category |
Good Score |
|---|---|
| Open |
90+ |
| Gen-EWS |
60+ |
| OBC-NCL |
70+ |
| SC |
65+ |
| ST |
50+ |
| PwD |
50+ |
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NID DAT Cut-off 2026
The cut-off is the minimum mark a candidate needs to secure in their category to get admission to a participating institute (NID institutes). The cut-off for a participating institute will be prepared by considering a host of parameters, including the following:
- The NID DAT 2026 merit rank of the candidate
- The seat intake in the participating institute
- The category under which admission is sought
- The number of applications received by the participating institute
- Previous years’ cut-off trends.
Admission to the NIDs is conducted through the NID Entrance Examination. The NID exam has two stages - the candidate first appears in the that Prelims. Scores of the that Prelims are used to then shortlist candidates for that Mains. The final merit list for NID DAT 2026 will be prepared by giving weightage to that Prelims and that Mains. Note that the National Institute of Design hasn't yet released the weightage for the that Prelims and that Mains.
The NID DAT 2026 (Prelims) exam will be on December 21, 2025. Meanwhile, the DAT exams for the M.Des programme will be conducted tentatively in March, whereas DAT Mains for the B. Des programme will be conducted in April 2026.
Along with following the official NID DAT 2025 exam pattern and syllabus, do these tasks to prepare for NID DAT exam:
- Solve sample papers - You can starting solving sample papers very early on in your preparation, for instnce after completing a chapter.
- Solve previous years’ papers - This exercise will help you get an idea about the nature and structure of the exam, including difficulty level, types of questions asked, marking scheme, and much more.
- Take mock tests - Mocks are usually taken closer to the exam date. It will help you fine tune your preparation and fix the mental aspect of taking an entrance exam.
- Take notes during study - This exericise will not only help you stay focused, but also help you jot down important and difficult points. This in turn will make revision easier and quicker.
A candidate would ideally need around 6 months or so to prepare for the NID DAT exam. He can take up to 3 months if his fundamentals are strong.
NID B.Des 2026 Rank and Score
The NID B.Des Admissions 2025-26: Rank and Score of the Last Candidate Allotted a Seat (as on 12 June 2025) are:
1. NID B.Des 2025 Rank and Score for Open Rank
| Campus | Open Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| NID Ahmedabad | 48 | 59.60 |
| NID Andhra Pradesh | 200 | 54.10 |
| NID Assam | 247 | 53.00 |
| NID Madhya Pradesh | 166 | 55.00 |
| NID Haryana | 193 | 54.30 |
2. NID B.Des 2025 Rank and Score for GEN-EWS Rank
| Campus | GEN-EWS Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| NID Ahmedabad | 16 | 50.90 |
| NID Andhra Pradesh | 20 | 50.40 |
| NID Assam | NE | NE |
| NID Madhya Pradesh | 17 | 50.80 |
| NID Haryana | 21 | 50.30 |
3. NID B.Des 2025 Rank and Score for OBC-NCL Rank are
| Campus | OBC-NCL Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| NID Ahmedabad | 40 | 53.70 |
| NID Andhra Pradesh | 119 | 48.50 |
| NID Assam | 130 | 47.90 |
| NID Madhya Pradesh | 102 | 49.30 |
| NID Haryana | 100 | 49.40 |
4. NID B.Des 2025 Rank and Score for SC Rank are:
| Campus | SC Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| NID Ahmedabad | 24 | 51.70 |
| NID Andhra Pradesh | 66 | 45.60 |
| NID Assam | 74 | 44.80 |
| NID Madhya Pradesh | 44 | 48.20 |
| NID Haryana | 56 | 46.60 |
5. NID B.Des 2025 Rank and Score for ST Rank are:
| Campus | ST Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| NID Ahmedabad | 11 | 47.80 |
| NID Andhra Pradesh | 27 | 42.50 |
| NID Assam | 39 | 40.20 |
| NID Madhya Pradesh | 22 | 43.50 |
| NID Haryana | 29 | 42.20 |
6. NID B.Des 2025 Rank and Score for PwD Rank are:
| Campus | PwD Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| NID Ahmedabad | 7 | 40.60 |
| NID Andhra Pradesh | NE | NE |
| NID Assam | NE | NE |
| NID Madhya Pradesh | NE | NE |
| NID Haryana | 9 | 40.00 |
7. NID B.Des 2025 Rank and Score for Overseas Rank are:
| Campus | Overseas Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| NID Ahmedabad | 10 | 52.50 |
| NID Andhra Pradesh | NE | NE |
| NID Assam | NE | NE |
| NID Madhya Pradesh | NE | NE |
| NID Haryana | NE | NE |
NID M.Des 2025 Rank and Score
The NID M.Des 2025 Rank and Score of the Last Candidate Allotted a Seat as on 18 June 2025 (Round 03) are as follows:
| Discipline | Open Rank | Score | GEN-EWS Rank | Score | OBC-NCL Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animation Film Design | 12 | 55.10 | NE | NE | 6 | 46.65 |
| Ceramic & Glass Design | 6 | 58.10 | NA | NA | 6 | 49.95 |
| Furniture & Interior Design | 10 | 55.90 | 2 | 50.25 | 7 | 47.45 |
| Film & Video Communication | 10 | 67.35 | 2 | 54.20 | 7 | 62.65 |
| Graphic Design | 8 | 62.25 | NE | NE | 9 | 53.90 |
| Product Design | 10 | 59.30 | NE | NE | 14 | 49.60 |
| Textile Design | 8 | 59.25 | NE | NE | 5 | 47.20 |
| Apparel Design | 9 | 54.15 | NE | NE | 6 | 47.95 |
| Lifestyle Accessory Design | 10 | 59.30 | NE | NE | 9 | 48.60 |
| New Media Design | 8 | 57.70 | NE | NE | 8 | 46.55 |
| Photography Design | 16 | 50.15 | NE | NE | 1 | 46.50 |
| Strategic Design Management | 11 | 61.40 | 1 | 50.50 | 5 | 47.35 |
| Transportation & Automobile | 10 | 55.60 | NE | NE | 5 | 47.25 |
| Toy & Game Design | 6 | 72.95 | NA | NA | 6 | 48.70 |
| Digital Game Design | 7 | 66.65 | 2 | 60.00 | 6 | 54.85 |
| Design for Retail Experience | 7 | 59.30 | NE | NE | 8 | 47.60 |
| Information Design | 8 | 67.70 | 3 | 52.10 | 8 | 49.95 |
| Interaction Design | 11 | 57.50 | NE | NE | 7 | 50.35 |
| Universal Design | 14 | 60.55 | 2 | 57.00 | 11 | 48.80 |
| Discipline | SC Rank | Score | ST Rank | Score | PwD Rank | Score | Overseas Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animation Film Design | 5 | 46.30 | 1 | 52.15 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Ceramic & Glass Design | 3 | 50.50 | NE | NE | NA | NA | 1 | 57.80 |
| Furniture & Interior Design | 4 | 44.85 | 2 | 50.40 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Film & Video Communication | 6 | 56.35 | 1 | 63.45 | NA | NA | 1 | 66.00 |
| Graphic Design | 4 | 55.65 | 1 | 59.80 | 1 | 51.20 | NE | NE |
| Product Design | 3 | 50.70 | 1 | 46.05 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Textile Design | 6 | 40.20 | 1 | 48.40 | NA | NA | NE | NE |
| Apparel Design | 3 | 40.65 | 1 | 43.35 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Lifestyle Accessory Design | 7 | 43.95 | 2 | 46.25 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| New Media Design | 4 | 43.00 | 1 | 52.50 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Photography Design | 5 | 43.50 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Strategic Design Management | 4 | 43.90 | 2 | 55.25 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Transportation & Automobile | 4 | 45.35 | NE | NE | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Toy & Game Design | 2 | 45.40 | NE | NE | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Digital Game Design | 4 | 54.45 | 1 | 53.15 | 1 | 42.15 | NA | NA |
| Design for Retail Experience | 3 | 55.10 | NA | NA | 1 | 44.95 | NA | NA |
| Information Design | 3 | 53.45 | NE | NE | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Interaction Design | 5 | 52.80 | 1 | 41.80 | NE | NE | NE | NE |
| Universal Design | 5 | 51.25 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 5 days ago
The result for NID DAT Prelims 2026 will be announced on April 07, 2026 around 4 PM.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
The details that cannot be modified in NID DAT 2026 Application window are programs applied, name of the candidate, date of birth, registered mobile number and registered email address.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
NID DAT 2026 Application edit window will open from December 02, 2025 to December 04, 2025.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
The last date to fill the application form for NID DAT 2026 for B.Des and M.Des programme is December 01, 2025.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The NID DAT 2026 notification will provide information about eligibility, application process, fees, exam dates, exam pattern, and selection process. The notification provides details of seat capacity at each NID campus for both B.Des and M.Des.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
NID DAT 2026 notifications will be available on the official website of NID at admissions.nid.edu. Official notification of the NID entrance exam is all set to be out by the first week of September 2025. The notifications will be out for UG and PG programmes.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
National Institute of Design released the NID DAT 2026 Applications on September 11, 2025 for B.Des and M.Des programmes. The registration for NID DAT 2026 will be on the official website of NID. Candidates can fill out the application form by registering, filling in information, submitting document
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
One can follow these tips for NID 2026 preparations:
- Know your NID Syllabus.
- Understand the exam pattern of NID DAT.
- Make the NID DAT 2026 preparation plan.
- Books to refer.
- Practice till you are perfect using mock tests and previous year's papers.
- NID DAT Exam Day Strategy.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, there are placements in NID campuses. NID has separate Placement cells for the placement process. Placement in NID completely depends on the performance of the student during the selection interview. Some of the top recruiters of NID are:
- Malabar Gold & Diamonds
- J.P.Morgan
- Tcs
- The Asian Heritage F
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
NID Ahmedabad has a good record of placements. NID Ahmedabad consistently leads in placement outcomes among NID campuses. In 2025, the average package was around ?21.3 LPA and the highest package was around ?30 LPA. The Total offers made were 620.
S
Contributor-Level 10