140 marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1 is expected to fetch a percentile in the range of 85 to 92, placing you well above the majority of students who appeared for the test.

NATA 2026 Phase 1 was conducted by the Council of Architecture (COA) for a total of 200 marks. A score of 140 represents 70% of the maximum and is a strong result in an exam where tens of thousands of students compete for limited B.Arch seats. This score makes you eligible and competitive for several government-aided and private architecture colleges across India.

  • NATA 2026 Phase 1 total marks: 200
  • 140 marks = 70% of the maximum score — a solid performance.
  • Expected percentile for 140 marks: 85 to 92 percentile (based on 2024–25 trends).
  • COA considers your best score across all phases for B.Arch admissions.
  • NATA scores remain valid for 2 years from the date of result declaration.
Direct Link to NATA 2026 Phase 1 Result (OUT)www.nata.in

NATA 2026 Phase 1 Marking Scheme and Total Marks

NATA 2026 Phase 1 is a 3-hour test with a total of 200 marks. The exam is divided into two parts — Part A is a Drawing Test and Part B covers General Aptitude, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.

Section Type of Questions Total Marks
Part A — Drawing Test 2 drawing questions evaluated by assessors 70
Part B — General Aptitude and PCM MCQ, MSQ, NAT, and preferential choice questions 130
Total 200

Your score of 140 out of 200 is 70% of the maximum. The COA-prescribed minimum qualifying marks are typically 30% of the total (60 marks overall) with section-wise minimums. At 140, you are significantly above the qualifying threshold.


Expected Percentile for 140 Marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1

Your NATA percentile shows what percentage of students scored equal to or less than your marks. With around 80,000 to 1,00,000 students typically appearing per phase, the table below gives the expected marks-to-percentile mapping based on NATA 2024–25 trends.

Marks Range (out of 200) Expected Percentile Performance Band
160–200 97–99.9 Excellent
150–159 93–97 Very Good
140–149 85–92 Good
130–139 75–85 Above Average
120–129 62–75 Average
110–119 50–62 Below Average
Below 110 Below 50 Needs Improvement

The figures above are expected estimates based on NATA 2024–25 data and are indicative. Your actual percentile depends on the total number of students who appeared for NATA 2026 Phase 1 and the final score distribution released by COA.


What 140 Marks in NATA 2026 Phase 1 Means for Admission

A score of 140 in NATA 2026 Phase 1 is a genuinely competitive result. Here is what it means in practice for your B.Arch admission journey.

  • Comfortably above the qualifying cut-off: The minimum qualifying marks in NATA are typically around 60 out of 200. At 140, you clear this bar by a wide margin.
  • In range for most state-level B.Arch counselling: Expected closing NATA scores at government architecture colleges in most states fall between 110 and 145. Your score of 140 keeps you in contention for several rounds.
  • Favourable for merit-list based admissions: Private colleges that form merit lists using NATA score alone — or NATA score combined with Class 12 PCM percentage — will consider 140 marks a strong application.
  • Phase 2 as a score-improvement opportunity: COA uses your best score across phases. Appearing for NATA 2026 Phase 2 and improving to 150+ would open admissions at a broader set of colleges.

B.Arch Colleges You Can Target with 140 Marks in NATA 2026

The colleges below are expected to be within reach with 140 marks, based on NATA 2024–25 closing score trends. Actual 2026 cut-offs will depend on seat intake, number of applicants, and state counselling norms.

College State Expected NATA Closing Score (General)
SPA Bhopal Madhya Pradesh 135–155
SPA Vijayawada Andhra Pradesh 130–150
Chandigarh College of Architecture Chandigarh 130–145
Faculty of Architecture, MS University of Baroda Gujarat 125–145
Manipal School of Architecture and Planning Karnataka 130–150
BMS College of Engineering — Architecture Karnataka 125–145
Rizvi College of Architecture Maharashtra 120–142
Thiagarajar College of Engineering — Architecture Tamil Nadu 120–140
VIT School of Architecture Tamil Nadu 120–140
KIIT School of Architecture Odisha 115–135

Note: SPA Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, and other IITs with B.Arch programmes admit students through JEE Main Paper 2 — not NATA. CEPT University, Ahmedabad uses its own entrance. The colleges above primarily rely on NATA scores for B.Arch admissions.

Students from reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC) may find the closing NATA score at these colleges 10 to 20 marks lower than the general category figures above, based on historical trends. Many state universities in Telangana, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and other states conduct centralised NATA-based counselling where your score of 140 will be competitive across multiple rounds.


Tips to Strengthen Your B.Arch Admission Chances with 140 Marks

Your NATA score is one part of the picture. These steps can help you convert a 140 into a confirmed B.Arch seat.

  • Pair NATA score with strong Class 12 marks: Many colleges compute admission merit as NATA score + Class 12 PCM percentage. A 70%+ score in your 12th board significantly strengthens your composite rank.
  • Apply across multiple states: NATA closing scores vary widely by state. Applying to states with relatively lower thresholds — such as Odisha, Assam, or North-East states — meaningfully expands your options.
  • Appear for NATA 2026 Phase 2: Improving from 140 to 150+ can unlock admissions at more selective colleges. COA always takes your best score, so there is no downside to attempting Phase 2.
  • Register on time for state counselling: State-level B.Arch counselling portals open within weeks of the result. Missing a registration deadline means missing that round of seat allotment entirely.
  • Know your NATA score’s validity: Your NATA 2026 score is valid for 2 years. If you choose to take a gap year, this score remains usable for 2027 admissions as well.

NATA 2026 Phase 1 — 140 Marks FAQs

Ques. Is 140 marks a good score in NATA 2026 Phase 1?

Ans. Yes, 140 out of 200 is a good score in NATA 2026 Phase 1. It is expected to correspond to approximately the 85th to 92nd percentile based on previous year trends, making you eligible and competitive for multiple government-aided and private B.Arch colleges across India.

Ques. What percentile can I expect for 140 marks in NATA 2026?

Ans. Based on NATA 2024–25 data, a score of 140 in Phase 1 is expected to place you in the 85 to 92 percentile range. The actual percentile depends on the total number of students who appeared for NATA 2026 Phase 1 and the difficulty of the paper.

Ques. What is the total marks for NATA 2026 Phase 1?

Ans. NATA 2026 Phase 1 is conducted for a total of 200 marks. Part A (Drawing Test) carries 70 marks and Part B (General Aptitude and PCM) carries 130 marks, making the combined total 200.

Ques. Which B.Arch colleges can I get with 140 marks in NATA 2026?

Ans. With 140 marks in NATA 2026, you can target colleges such as SPA Bhopal, SPA Vijayawada, Chandigarh College of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture at MS University of Baroda, Manipal School of Architecture and Planning, BMS College of Engineering (Architecture), and many state university-affiliated architecture colleges that run NATA-based counselling.

Ques. Can I improve my NATA score by appearing for Phase 2?

Ans. Yes. The Council of Architecture allows students to appear for multiple phases of NATA in the same cycle. COA considers your best score across all phases for admission purposes. If you are not satisfied with your Phase 1 result, appearing for NATA 2026 Phase 2 is a recommended option.

Ques. Do NITs and IITs accept NATA scores for B.Arch admissions?

Ans. No. NITs, IITs, and SPA Delhi admit B.Arch students based on JEE Main Paper 2 (Architecture) scores, not NATA. NATA scores are accepted by private colleges, state technical universities, and certain government architecture colleges. Check individual college admission criteria before applying.