120 Marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1: Expected Percentile and College Chances

Scoring 120 marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1 is expected to place you in the 75th to 82nd percentile range, based on 2024–2025 NATA trends.

The Council of Architecture (CoA) has declared the NATA 2026 Phase 1 result, covering the exam conducted from April 4 to June 13, 2026. Students who scored 120 out of 200 are eager to know their percentile standing and which architecture colleges they can realistically target. A score of 120 marks equals 60 per cent of the total, placing you in the mid-to-good performance band. This article breaks down the expected percentile, rank range, and college admission prospects for 120 marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1.

• NATA 2026 Phase 1 total marks: 200 — Part A Drawing Test carries 80 marks and Part B PCM and General Aptitude carries 120 marks.
• 120 marks equals 60% of the total, placing you in the mid-to-good performance band.
• Expected percentile for 120 marks: approximately 75th to 82nd percentile (based on 2024–2025 NATA trends).
• This score can qualify you for good private architecture colleges and mid-tier government colleges, especially for reserved-category students.
• Top institutions such as SPA Delhi, CEPT Ahmedabad, and SPA Bhopal typically see closing scores above 140 marks.
• No minimum qualifying marks are prescribed by CoA — any non-zero percentile is a valid NATA 2026 score for college applications.

NATA 2026 Phase 1 Exam Pattern and Total Marks

NATA 2026 Phase 1 carries a total of 200 marks. The exam is divided into two parts — a Drawing Test and a Computer-Based Test covering Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and General Aptitude. Your score of 120 must be read against this total of 200 marks.

CoA uses a percentile-based scoring system after Phase 1. Your percentile reflects your performance relative to all students who appeared in the same phase. The Phase 1 result includes both a raw score and a percentile score — the percentile is the primary metric used by architecture colleges and state counselling authorities for admissions. Importantly, NATA 2026 does not prescribe a minimum qualifying score; any non-zero percentile is a valid qualifying result.

Expected Percentile for 120 Marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1

Based on NATA 2024–2025 trends, a score of 120 out of 200 in NATA 2026 Phase 1 is expected to correspond to approximately the 75th to 82nd percentile, placing you in roughly the top 18–25 per cent of all Phase 1 test-takers.

These are expected figures based on 2024–2025 NATA Phase 1 trends. The actual percentile is published by CoA in your official NATA 2026 scorecard available on nata.in.

The percentile for 120 marks can shift slightly depending on the number of students who appeared in Phase 1 and the overall difficulty of the paper. A tougher paper (lower average scores) benefits students with 120 marks by pushing the percentile higher, while a comparatively easier paper may bring it slightly lower within this range.

NATA 2026 Phase 1 Marks vs Percentile — Score Band Table

The table below shows the expected NATA 2026 Phase 1 marks vs percentile across score bands, based on 2024–2025 trends. The row highlighted in bold shows where 120 marks falls.

All figures are expected based on 2024–2025 NATA trends. Actual 2026 data will be confirmed by CoA after result declaration.

Category-wise Analysis at 120 Marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1

CoA calculates a single NATA percentile across all students, regardless of category. However, individual colleges and state counselling authorities set category-specific NATA cutoffs for seat allocation. Here is how 120 marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1 is likely to translate for students in different categories.

SC and ST students with 120 marks typically have significantly better government college admission prospects than General category students at the same score. Many state-level architecture programs have reserved-category NATA cutoffs that fall well below 120 marks, based on 2025 trends.

Architecture College Chances with 120 Marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1

With an expected percentile of 75th to 82nd, a score of 120 marks puts you in a range where good private architecture colleges are your most accessible route and mid-tier government colleges are reachable for reserved-category students. Top government institutions generally require scores above 140 marks for General category admission.

Students should note that college-specific cutoffs change from year to year and depend on the number of applicants and available seats. Always verify directly with the institution or the relevant state counselling authority. State-level B.Arch counselling processes in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Telangana, and other states publish their own NATA-based merit lists.

What to Do After Scoring 120 Marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1

Here is a practical action plan for students who have scored 120 marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1:

• Download your official NATA 2026 scorecard from nata.in — this document is required for all college applications and state counselling registrations.
• Appear for NATA 2026 Phase 2 — CoA uses the best percentile score across phases. Improving your score to 135 or above can significantly widen your government college options and strengthen private college applications.
• Register for state-level B.Arch counselling — States including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and West Bengal conduct their own admission processes using NATA scores. Category-specific cutoffs often work in your favour at 120 marks.
• Shortlist and apply to private architecture colleges — More than 500 AICTE-approved private colleges across India accept NATA scores in the 100–130 range. Apply to multiple colleges early, as seats fill up during counselling rounds.
• Check category-specific cutoffs of your target colleges — If you belong to OBC, SC, ST, or EWS category, refer to the previous year’s category-wise NATA cutoff for each shortlisted college to gauge your realistic chances.