Students who scored 120 marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1 can expect a percentile between 75 and 80, based on 2025 trends, a score that opens doors to mid-tier government colleges and several reputed private B.Arch institutions across India.
NATA 2026 Phase 1 was conducted from April 4 to June 13, 2026, with the total paper carrying 200 marks. Your raw score of 120 equals 60% of the maximum. The Council of Architecture normalises scores across all Phase 1 test sessions and converts them to a percentile. Since no minimum qualifying raw score is prescribed for NATA 2026, any non-zero percentile on your final scorecard is valid for B.Arch admission counselling.
- NATA 2026 total marks: 200 (Part A Drawing: 80 marks + Part B Aptitude: 120 marks)
- 120 marks = 60% of the total
- Expected percentile for 120 marks: 75 to 80 percentile (based on 2025 Phase 1 trends)
- No minimum raw score to qualify — any non-zero percentile on the scorecard is valid
- 120 marks is competitive for mid-tier government and reputed private B.Arch colleges
| Direct Link to NATA 2026 Phase 1 Scorecard (OUT) — Download at nata.in |
NATA 2026 Phase 1 Score at a Glance
NATA 2026 carries a total of 200 marks split across two parts. Part A is the offline Drawing and Composition test worth 80 marks and Part B is the online Aptitude section worth 120 marks. The table below puts your score of 120 in context.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Marks | 200 |
| Part A (Drawing and Composition, Offline) | 80 marks |
| Part B (Aptitude Test, Online) | 120 marks |
| Your Score | 120 marks |
| Percentage Scored | 60% |
| Scoring System | Percentile-based (normalised across all Phase 1 sessions) |
| Negative Marking | None |
| Qualifying Condition | Any non-zero percentile (no minimum raw score prescribed) |
Expected Percentile for 120 Marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1
A score of 120 marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1 is expected to place you between the 75th and 80th percentile, based on score distribution trends from NATA 2025. This means you performed better than roughly 75 to 80 percent of all Phase 1 test-takers. The percentile on your official NATA 2026 scorecard is the figure that counts during state and college-level counselling, not your raw marks.
The table below shows the estimated score-to-percentile mapping for NATA 2026 Phase 1. All figures are expected values based on 2025 trends and the actual percentile may vary.
| Score Range (out of 200) | Expected Percentile | Approximate Rank Range |
|---|---|---|
| 165–200 | 96–99 | Top 600–2,400 |
| 150–164 | 90–96 | 2,400–6,000 |
| 140–149 | 85–90 | 6,000–9,000 |
| 130–139 | 82–85 | 9,000–10,800 |
| 120–129 | 75–82 | 10,800–15,000 |
| 110–119 | 65–75 | 15,000–21,000 |
| 100–109 | 50–65 | 21,000–30,000 |
| 90–99 | 35–50 | 30,000–39,000 |
| 70–89 | 15–35 | 39,000–51,000 |
Download your NATA 2026 Phase 1 scorecard from nata.in and check the percentile column — that is the figure colleges use during counselling.
B.Arch Colleges You Can Target with 120 Marks in NATA 2026
With 120 marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1, you have a strong chance at mid-tier government architecture colleges and many reputed private B.Arch institutions. The expected cutoffs below are based on 2025 closing scores. Actual 2026 cutoffs will be published by individual colleges or state counselling authorities after final results are processed.
| College | Type | State | Expected NATA Cutoff (Based on 2025 Trends) | Chances at 120 Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir J.J. College of Architecture, Mumbai | Government | Maharashtra | 105–115 | Good |
| Government College of Architecture, Lucknow | Government | Uttar Pradesh | 110–120 | Good to Moderate |
| Faculty of Architecture, MS University Baroda | Government | Gujarat | 110–120 | Good to Moderate |
| Chandigarh College of Architecture | Government | Punjab | 112–122 | Moderate |
| School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada | Government Autonomous | Andhra Pradesh | 118–128 | Borderline |
| Manipal School of Architecture and Planning, Manipal | Deemed University | Karnataka | 100–115 | Good |
| BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore | Private | Karnataka | 100–118 | Good |
| R.V. College of Architecture, Bangalore | Private | Karnataka | 115–125 | Moderate |
| Amity School of Architecture and Planning, Noida | Deemed University | Uttar Pradesh | 90–110 | Good |
| Lovely Professional University, Phagwara | Deemed University | Punjab | 85–100 | Very Good |
Your Class 12 marks and state domicile also influence your final merit position in state-level B.Arch counselling. Check the specific eligibility criteria and counselling schedule published by each state’s concerned authority before applying.
Colleges That Need More Than 120 Marks in NATA 2026
Students targeting premier institutions such as SPA Delhi, CEPT University or SPA Bhopal will need a higher score than 120 marks in NATA 2026. Based on 2025 trends, closing NATA scores at these colleges were well above 130 for general category students. The table below shows the approximate gap.
| College | State | Expected Cutoff (Based on 2025 Trends) | Marks Needed Beyond 120 |
|---|---|---|---|
| School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi (SPA Delhi) | Delhi | 140–155 | 20–35 marks more |
| CEPT University, Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 130–145 | 10–25 marks more |
| School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal (SPA Bhopal) | Madhya Pradesh | 130–145 | 10–25 marks more |
| Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi | Delhi | 128–140 | 8–20 marks more |
These colleges are within reach if you appear for NATA 2026 Phase 2 and improve your score by 15 or more marks.
Should You Appear for NATA 2026 Phase 2 After Scoring 120 Marks?
Yes — if you scored 120 marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1 and want to target top architecture schools, appearing for Phase 2 is the right move. The Council of Architecture counts your best raw score across both phases, so your Phase 1 score of 120 is protected and cannot be replaced by a lower Phase 2 attempt.
- Practise Part A Drawing sections (Composition and Colour, Sketching and 3D Composition) — these 80 marks are where top scorers pull ahead.
- Focus on visual perception, spatial reasoning and architectural awareness in Part B to push your score above 130.
- A jump of 15 to 25 marks in Phase 2 can open doors to Jamia Millia Islamia, SPA Bhopal or CEPT University.
- Check Phase 2 exam dates and registration details on nata.in.
NATA 2026 120 Marks FAQs
Ques. Is 120 a good score in NATA 2026 Phase 1?
Ans. Yes, 120 out of 200 is a good score in NATA 2026 Phase 1. Based on 2025 trends it is expected to correspond to a percentile of 75 to 80, making you eligible for mid-tier government colleges and reputed private B.Arch institutions. For premier colleges like SPA Delhi or CEPT University, a score above 130 to 140 marks is generally needed.
Ques. What percentile is 120 marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1?
Ans. Based on 2025 score distribution trends, 120 marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1 is expected to correspond to a percentile between 75 and 80. The exact figure will appear on your official scorecard on nata.in once Phase 1 results are declared, as the percentile is calculated after normalising scores across all test sessions.
Ques. Which B.Arch colleges accept 120 marks in NATA 2026?
Ans. Colleges expected to be accessible with a NATA 2026 score of 120 marks include Sir J.J. College of Architecture Mumbai, Government College of Architecture Lucknow, Faculty of Architecture MS University Baroda, Manipal School of Architecture and Planning, BMS College of Engineering Bangalore, Amity School of Architecture Noida and Lovely Professional University. Admission also depends on your Class 12 marks and state domicile.
Ques. Can I get into SPA Delhi with 120 marks in NATA 2026?
Ans. Getting into SPA Delhi with 120 marks in NATA 2026 is unlikely for general category students. Based on 2025 trends, SPA Delhi’s expected closing NATA score is in the 140 to 155 range. Attempting NATA 2026 Phase 2 to improve your score by at least 20 marks is the recommended approach.
Ques. What is the qualifying cutoff for NATA 2026?
Ans. NATA 2026 does not prescribe a minimum qualifying raw score. Any non-zero percentile on the final NATA scorecard is considered valid for B.Arch admission counselling. Individual colleges and state bodies typically set their own minimum NATA score requirements, which range from 70 to 100 marks for general category students.
Ques. Should I appear for NATA 2026 Phase 2 after scoring 120 in Phase 1?
Ans. Yes, appearing for NATA 2026 Phase 2 is strongly recommended if you want to widen your college options. NATA 2026 considers your best raw score across all phases so your Phase 1 score of 120 is safe. A score improvement of 15 to 25 marks in Phase 2 can make schools like SPA Bhopal or CEPT University accessible.
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