What is a good rank in GATE 2026: Check marks vs rank, good rank for IITs, NITs, and PSUs

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Assistant Manager- Editorial

Updated on Sep 30, 2026 15:03 IST

Every GATE aspirant asks this one golden question: “What is a good rank in GATE?” The tricky part? A good rank in GATE doesn’t mean the same thing for everyone. For one student, a rank of 200 might feel like a jackpot, while for another, even a 2000 rank could open great opportunities. Let’s break it down in a simple, interactive way here.

What is a good rank in GATE is an important question and doubt that every aspirant have. A good rank in GATE 2026 determines qualifying status and probability of getting into IITs and NITs or PSU recruitment. Candidates can check best GATE rank to get admission to IITs, IISc, NITs, IIITs, or PSUs below. For GATE, an AIR under 100- 300 is mainly safe for IITs and IISc admission. For NITs, a GATE rank within 1000 is safe. Read below for more.

If a candidate's GATE rank is under 1000, then it is considered a good rank. However, a GATE rank under 200 is excellent and opens opportunities to PSUs and top IITs and IISc. To secure a good rank in GATE, preparing early is essential. IIT Guwahati completed conducting GATE exam, and the result was announced on March 19, 2026. The official website to check is gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

IIT Guwahati also released the GATE statistical report comprising the total number of qualified students. Candidates who have appeared or will be appearing in the upcoming years can check the GATE qualifying marks of 30 subjects.

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What is a good rank in GATE 2026?

A GATE AIR under 200 is considered a good rank for IITs, IISc, and PSU jobs. For top NITs, a GATE rank under 1000 is good. However, the rank and its demand is varies for different papers and colleges. Therefore, candidates must always review last five year's trends to understand the popularity of the GATE cutoff and subject.

GATE scorecard is now available for free download at GOAPS portal. Then, from June 1 to December 31, candidates can download their GATE scorecard by paying a fee of INR 500. IIT Guwahati has released the raw marks and scores of GATE toppers.

Candidates can also check qualified GATE candidate's list to understand GATE top scorers and the marks to obtain for a desired branch. In short, GATE rank will be determined by GATE cutoff scores or qualifying mark, number of appeared candidates, raw scores, etc. Candidates can check GATE 2026 passing marks below -

Commonly asked questions

Q: Can we give GATE exam two times in a year?

No, the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering examination takes place once a year. Every year, different IITs and IISc conduct exam on rotational basis. GATE is conducted online for three hours for 30 branch papers.

Q: What are the benefits of qualifying GATE exam?

Qualifying GATE offers the following benefits to the students -

Admission to the master's programmes in top institutes like IITs, NITs, IIITs, etc.
Jobs at PSUs like AAI, NHAI, GRID-India, ONGC, BHEL, etc. with high salary and perks
Stipend of INR 12,400 monthly to adjust expenses.
Research fellowships at top government organisations.

Q: For how many subjects is the GATE exam conducted?

The GATE exam is conducted for 30 subject papers. Each subject or branch is determined by a paper code which applicant must note carefully.

Q: What is the importance of GATE paper code?

GATE paper code is engineering branch code. Candidates must check paper code carefully while filling application form. The details are available at GATE's official website- gate2026.iitg.ac.in.

GATE 2026 Cutoff Marks

Paper Code	Test Paper	No. of Candidates Registered	No. of Candidates Appeared	Cut-off (GEN)	Cut-off (OBC-NCL/ EWS)	Cut-Off (SC/ST/PwD)
AE	Aerospace Engineering	8444	6591	25	22.5	16.6
AG	Agricultural Engineering	2985	2545	25	22.5	16.6
AR	Architecture and Planning	10673	8415	40	36	26.6
BM	Biomedical Engineering	3756	3041	25	22.5	16.6
BT	Biotechnology	26808	21513	25.8	23.2	17.2
CE	Civil Engineering	97486	76385	28.7	25.8	19.1
CH	Chemical Engineering	17416	14077	25	22.5	16.6
CS	Computer Science and Information Technology	259922	211020	30	27	20
CY	Chemistry	30775	22457	25	22.5	16.6
DA	Data Science and Artificial Intelligence	91764	69242	26.4	23.7	17.5
EC	Electronics and Communication Engineering	115448	95752	26.4	23.7	17.5
EE	Electrical Engineering	81947	65801	27.7	24.9	18.4
ES	Environmental Science and Engineering	7341	5107	30	27	20
EY	Ecology and Evolution	3659	2601	40	36	26.6
GE	Geomatics Engineering	3582	2592	25	22.5	16.6
GG-1	Geology and Geophysics (Geology)	5647	4336	39.3	35.3	26.1
GG-2	Geology and Geophysics (Geophysics)	668	519	37.1	33.3	24.7
IN	Instrumentation Engineering	15608	12424	39.8	35.8	26.5
MA	Mathematics	16272	11561	34.7	31.2	23.1
ME	Mechanical Engineering	76823	59612	25.2	22.6	16.7
MN	Mining Engineering	8415	6732	29.5	26.5	19.6
MT	Metallurgical Engineering	4794	3908	40	36	26.6
NM	Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering	548	419	33.7	30.3	22.4
PE	Petroleum Engineering	1428	1137	40	36	26.6
PH	Physics	24225	18055	25.5	22.9	17
PI	Production and Industrial Engineering	4849	3673	36	32.4	24
ST	Statistics	3333	2087	30.4	27.3	20.2
TF	Textile Engineering and Fibre Science	1549	1183	31.5	28.3	21
XE	Engineering Sciences	12622	9099	35.2	31.6	23.4
XH-C1	Humanities and Social Sciences (Economics)	4166	2952	35.7	32.1	23.8
XH-C2	Humanities and Social Sciences (English)	5350	3711	40	36	26.6
XH-C3	Humanities and Social Sciences (Linguistics)	383	285	37.4	33.6	24.9
XH-C4	Humanities and Social Sciences (Philosophy)	800	570	38.3	34.4	25.5
XH-C5	Humanities and Social Sciences (Psychology)	8858	6178	39.3	35.3	26.1
XH-C6	Humanities and Social Sciences (Sociology)	2643	1819	40	36	26.6
XL	Life Sciences	50732	40035	36.3	32.6	24.1
Total		10,11,719	797434

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GATE 2026 Marks Vs Rank (based on the last year's result analysis)

Candidates can check GATE 2026 marks vs rank below based on last year's result analysis -

GATE marks out of 100	GATE rank range
85 to 90	1 to 10
82 to 87	10 to 50
80 to 85	50 to 100
78 to 84	100 to 200
76 to 81	200 to 500
74 to 79	500 to 1000
72 to 77	1000 to 2000
70 to 75	2000 to 5000
60 to 65	5000 to 10000

Commonly asked questions

Q: What is the difference between a GATE score and GATE marks?

The difference between a GATE score and GATE marks: 1- The difference between GATE marks and GATE scores is that GATE marks are calculated on a scale of 100, whereas GATE scores are calculated on a scale of 1000. The GATE Score is calculated on the basis of normalized marks and taking actual marks. 2- The GATE Score is widely accepted by the Public Sector Undertaking bodies as well as the Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institute of Science, and National Indian Institutes of Technology at the time of admission into higher studies. Moreover, some foreign universities accept GATE scores as well. 3- The GATE marks are calculated on the basis of weightage on each ques and the number of ques. The total number of ques asked in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering Written test is 65. There are 3 types of ques that are MCQs, Multiple Selected Questions, and NAT ques. 4- There is a total of 100 marks. The negative marks are only applicable to Multiple Choice Questions. One-third of the marks allocated to each MCQ will be deducted. GATE marks are the raw or actual marks that students received in the examination based on their performance.

Q: What is the GATE qualification rate?

GATE qualification is relatively low compared to other postgraduate engineering entrance exams. On average, acceptance rate falls between 15 - 20%.

Last year, as per statistical report, out of 936019 registered candidates, 747319 candidates appeared, and 8761 students qualified.

Overall, general cutoff usually remains around 25 -30 marks out of 100 marks. However, for PSUs 75 to 85 marks are considered as a safe qualifying rate.

Q: What is the GATE paper code of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence?

The GATE paper code of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence is DA. Here are the eligible paper combinations for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence -

Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence (CS)
Electronics and Communication Engineering (EC)
Electrical Engineering (EE)
Mathematics (MA)
Mechanical Engineering (ME)
Physics (PH)
Statistics (ST)
Engineering Sciences (XE)

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GATE 2025 Cutoff Marks

Paper Code	Test Paper	Cut-off (GEN)	Cut-off (OBC-NCL/EWS)	Cut-off (SC/ST/PwD)
AE	Aerospace Engineering	28.9	26	19.2
AG	Agricultural Engineering	25	22.5	16.6
AR	Architecture and Planning	40	36	26.6
BM	Biomedical Engineering	29.2	26.2	19.4
BT	Biotechnology	28	25.2	18.6
CE	Civil Engineering	29.2	26.2	19.4
CH	Chemical Engineering	27.7	24.9	18.4
CS	Computer Science and Information Technology	29.2	26.2	19.4
CY	Chemistry	25	22.5	16.6
DA	Data Science and Artificial Intelligence	29	26.1	19.3
EC	Electronics and Communication Engineering	25	22.5	16.6
EE	Electrical Engineering	25	22.5	16.6
ES	Environmental Science and Engineering	26.1	23.4	17.4
EY	Ecology and Evolution	39.5	35.5	26.3
GE	Geomatics Engineering	25.7	23.1	17.1
GG1	Geology and Geophysics (Geology)	38.4	34.5	25.5
GG2	Geology and Geophysics (Geophysics)	40	36	26.6
IN	Instrumentation Engineering	25.6	23	17
MA	Mathematics	25	22.5	16.6
ME	Mechanical Engineering	35.8	32.2	23.8
MN	Mining Engineering	30.6	27.5	20.4
MT	Metallurgical Engineering	40	36	26.6
NM	Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering	25.1	22.5	16.7
PE	Petroleum Engineering	31.1	27.9	20.7
PH	Physics	26.8	24.1	17.8
PI	Production and Industrial Engineering	35.6	32	23.7
ST	Statistics	30.2	27.1	20.1
TF	Textile Engineering and Fibre Science	34.7	31.2	23.1
XE	Engineering Sciences	35.4	31.8	23.5
XH-C1	Humanities and Social Sciences (Economics)	40	36	26.6
XH-C2	Humanities and Social Sciences (English)	40	36	26.6
XH-C3	Humanities and Social Sciences (Linguistics)	40	36	26.6
XH-C4	Humanities and Social Sciences (Philosophy)	40	36	26.6
XH-C5	Humanities and Social Sciences (Psychology)	40	36	26.6
XH-C6	Humanities and Social Sciences (Sociology)	40	36	26.6
XL	Life Sciences	31.3	28.1	20.8

Read here: GATE IIT Bombay Cutoff: check past year cutoff, analysis, and more

Here is a brief synopsis of GATE scores vs raw scores secured by toppers -

GATE Test Paper	GATE topper 2024	GATE marks	GATE score
Civil Engineering	Deepak Bhanu Pratap Singh	87.33	989
Computer Science and Engineering	Piyush Kumar	90	1000
Electrical Engineering	Manoj, Shivam, and Sai Kiran Adelly	77	1000
Electronics and Communication Engineering	Raja Majhi	84.67	1000
Mechanical Engineering	Suraj Kumar Samal	84.67	1000

The GATE rank is determined by normalising the scores in the exam. The GATE qualifying list has been prepared for each branch. Candidates can also check the GATE marks vs rank in the scorecard.

Also read:

GATE cutoff for Engineering Sciences (XE)	GATE Life Sciences (XL) cutoff	GATE CSE cutoff scores
GATE exam Electrical Engineering (EE) cutoff	GATE IIT Cutoff Marks	GATE ECE safe score
GATE CE cutoff mark	IITG GATE ME cutoff mark	GATE ECE cutoff scores

Good GATE 2026 rank and score for Top Branches (Based on the past year trends)

Rank	Marks
Rank	Mechanical	CSE	Civil	Electronics	Electrical
1-10	92	80	90	73	91
10-50	87-92	75-80	85-90	67-73	87-91
50-100	85-87	72-75	78-85	63-67	84-87
100-200	82-85	68-72	74-78	60-63	81-84
200-500	79-82	62-68	70-74	56-60	77-81
500-1000	75-79	56-62	64-70	50-56	72-77
1000-2000	71-75	50-56	57-64	45-50	66-72
2000-5000	63-71	40-50	50-57	38-45	57-66
5000-10000	51-63	32-40	40-50	28-38	46-57

What is a Good Rank in GATE for IIT Admissions?

For top IITs like IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, and IIT Delhi, GATE rank under 500 gives you admission in your desired branch.
For new IITs or not so popular branches, a GATE rank under 1200 can get you seats.

Check: GATE College Predictor

For IIT Bombay, last year the GATE cutoff for MTech admission in CSE was 750 (General Category), which is roughly 75+ marks in Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering.

What is a Good Rank in GATE 2026 for NIT Admissions?

Top NITs (Trichy, Warangal, Surathkal): A GATE rank under 500 gives you your dream branch. In GATE 2025, the maximum score for the round 1 cutoff for CSE was 892 (GATE rank under 50), and the minimum was 777. Check the CCMT counselling cutoff
Other NITs: Even a GATE rank of 5000 to 6000 can land you a seat, depending on the branch you want to apply for. New NITs generally accept mid-GATE ranks for admission.
Less competitive branches (like Metallurgy, Chemical): Students have been admitted even with ranks around 7000 to 8000.

What is a Good Rank in GATE for PSUs?

To get PSU jobs through GATE, here are some criteria that students can check and get an idea -

For top PSUs: They usually take students with ranks GATE under 200 to 300.
Other PSUs: GATE rank under 800 usually works for recruitment.

Also check:

GATE cutoff analysis for popular engineering branches

Top GATE branches' cutoff trends: check past years' cutoff insights

Is AIR 5000 a Good Rank in GATE?

A candidate securing GATE AIR 5000 is like coming in the top 5% of runners: not bad at all! You might miss IITs, but you can still target:

Mid-tier NITs
IIITs and state universities
Research fellowships (some accept GATE scores)

You can get into good NITs if you fall under any quota.

Why “Good Rank” in GATE Depends on Branch and Category?

Branch Matters - CSE and Mechanical are popular, thus getting a seat is tough. Metallurgy or Instrumentation are like the less crowded ones; you can find space even with higher ranks. Read- Most underrated GATE branches that can lead to high-paying careers
Category Matters: Reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) have relaxed cutoffs. A student from General category might need an AIR 500 for IIT Delhi, while an OBC candidate might get it at AIR 1000.
GATE Year/Session Matters: If paper is tough, cutoffs drop. That means even higher ranks in GATE can get into good colleges.

How much GATE score is required for MTech admission?

Candidates can check a brief overview of the career opportunities they can get with the following GATE scores -

GATE Score Range	Career Options
30 to 40 marks (approx GATE score of 300 to 400)	MTech in any state government college. Also, aspirants can apply for other exams.
40 to 50 marks (approx GATE score of 500 to 600)	The maximum chances of getting into a state government college. Few new NITs options (specific branches or category)
50 to 60 marks (approx GATE score of 600 to 700)	Top NITs (in-demand branches) and few new IITs
60 to 70 marks (approx GATE score 700 to 800)	Top NITs, IITs, and IISc, High chances for PSU recruitment
70 to 80 marks (approx GATE score 800 to 900)	MTech or MSc in Top IITs (core branches), top PSUs recruitment like ISRO, BARC, and DRDO
For 80+ marks (approx GATE score 900+)	Top IITs, NITs, IISc, and PSU recruitment. Aspirants can also opt for research work.

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Tips to Secure a Good GATE Rank in GATE 2026

Here are some tips that can help you in getting good rank in GATE exam -

Make your concepts and fundamentals strong: Don’t just memorise also understand the concepts.
GATE Previous Year Papers: Do not skip them practice as many times you can.
Mock Tests: Test yourself under exam pressure. Get GATE mock test PDF here.
Smart Strategy: Try scoring well in general aptitude and engineering mathematics sections. Scoring well in this section can easily fetch you 30 to 40 marks in GATE.
Consistency: Keep at least one hour a day for revision and self-discussion purposes.

Also read: How to score 40+ marks in GATE?

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About the Author

UPASANA PRADHAN

Assistant Manager- Editorial

Upasana Pradhan is an Mtech graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from DTU who specialises in curating postgraduate and undergraduate engineering entrance exam content, such as GATE, TS PGECET, KCET,

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