What is a Good Score in NID DAT 2026?
National Institute of Design Entrance Exam 2026 ( NID Entrance Exam )
Exam On - 8 Mar '26
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.
NID M.Des Prelims result was out at admission.nid.edu. The rechecking window closed on February 14, 2026.
Latest Update:
The application form for NID DAT 2026 is closed now. The NID DAT Entrance Test was conducted on December 21, 2025 for B.Des and M.Des. 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.
- NID DAT 2026 Qualifying Marks
- What is the NID DAT 2026 Score?
- NID DAT 2026 - Good Score
- NID DAT Cut-off 2026
- NID B.Des 2026 Rank and Score
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 |
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.
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+ |
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.
As per NID DAT exam pattern, the design entrance test is conducted in two stages: NID Prelims and NID Mains.
To prepare for the B. Des and M.Des programme, candidates need to follow these tips.
- Follow NID syllabus
- Get familiar with the exam pattern, including the types of questions asked, section-wise and topic-wise weightage, mode of exam, marking scheme, etc.
- Prepare a study plan taking into account time left for the exam.
- Practice mock tests and solve previous year's papers.
If you want to get a good rank in NID DAT, sketching is very important. Practice live sketching daily. Sketch daily objects. Sketch from the previous year question paper.
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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.
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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 |
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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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Sayeba Naushad is a commerce postgraduate from Banaras Hindu University. She has over five years of experience in content writing and editing. She has a nose for current events in design field. At Shiksha.com, she s
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
If there were any clashes of the interview dates with the college/ university exam, then candidates could inform the NID before February 23, 2026. Candidates needed to attach a copy of the timetable attested by the principal and a letter from the principal confirming that the examination dates clash
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
NID will not release any Answer Key for B.Des or M.Des programme. It opens a rechecking window with the result.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, NID has a rechecking Window for the NID Result. This window will check whether all answers are checked or not, and whether the total is correct.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
NID will release the result for B.Des on April 07, 2026. The result be released on the website of NID.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
NID Studio Test for M.Des carries 40% of wieghtage and Interview carries 60% wieghtage. More emphasis is given on the interview by NID.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
No, there is no negative marking in the NID Studio Test. Candidates will be evaluated based on their thinking and creative skills. Studio Test will carry 40% of the total Marks for the NID Mains Exam.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, NID Studio Exam is a bit tough because it will check your creativity and imagination. You can learn some formulas here and apply them to get the answer. The main objective is to evaluate technical skills and critical thinking skills. So, it is said to be a bit tough.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
It is not at all necessary to take coaching to get a good rank in NID Entrance Exam. It is because the entrance exam will test creative, drawing, and innovative skills of the candidate. Now, a coaching institute can't teach you to be creative or become innovative. But you can take coaching classes f
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
National Institute of Design (NID) will release the NID DAT 2026 admission cut-off for the B.Des and M.Des programmes at the time of seat allotment, around May-June 2026. The cut-off will be released as the rank and score of the last candidate admitted to the M.Des program.
NID DAT cut-off for B.Des
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
NID DAT, along with NIFT and UCEED are among the most competitive national-level entrance exams in the country. The fact that there are only 425 seats for the B. Des and 347 seats for the M.Des programme makes it very competitive. But that being said, if the candidate prepares well and with the corr
S
Contributor-Level 10
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.