IISER IAT 2026 Round 1 cutoff ranks are expected to range from approximately 195 to 215 for General/EWS students at IISER Pune and up to 750 for IISER Berhampur, based on closing rank trends observed in 2024 and 2025.
The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Aptitude Test (IISER IAT) 2026 is scheduled for June 23, 2026. After results are declared, the joint seat allocation process begins and institute-wise, category-wise closing ranks are published for each allotment round. Analysing previous year cutoff data from 2024 and 2025 gives you a reliable planning benchmark well before Round 1 results are announced.
- IISER Pune is the most competitive institute — its Round 1 General/EWS closing rank has been around 210–220 in recent years.
- Cutoffs have tightened by approximately 10–30 ranks per year across most IISERs from 2024 to 2025.
- OBC-NCL closing ranks in Round 1 range from approximately 460 (IISER Pune) to 1320 (IISER Berhampur), based on 2025 trends.
- SC and ST category closing ranks extend to 2600+ on the overall merit list for newer IISERs.
- All predicted 2026 figures below are based on previous year trends and are indicative until official allotment data is published.
What Is the IISER IAT Cutoff?
The IISER IAT cutoff is the closing rank in the overall IAT merit list at which the last seat in a given allotment round is filled. It is not a minimum score threshold — your IAT score (out of 180 marks) determines your rank on the combined merit list, and that rank is compared against the closing rank for each institute and category.
Round 1 cutoffs are always the tightest because all seats are open simultaneously. In later rounds, students who withdraw or upgrade seats create vacancies, which relaxes the cutoff. For reserved categories (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD), the closing rank is drawn from the same overall merit list but applies to reserved seats, so the rank numbers are higher — a higher rank number corresponds to a lower score.
IISER IAT 2025 Round 1 Closing Ranks (Previous Year)
The table below shows approximate Round 1 closing ranks from IISER IAT 2025 across all seven institutes and four major admission categories. These figures are the primary benchmark for estimating 2026 allotment outcomes.
| IISER | General / EWS | OBC-NCL | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IISER Pune | ~210 | ~460 | ~830 | ~1180 |
| IISER Kolkata | ~310 | ~660 | ~1080 | ~1550 |
| IISER Mohali | ~410 | ~800 | ~1300 | ~1850 |
| IISER Bhopal | ~500 | ~950 | ~1500 | ~2050 |
| IISER Thiruvananthapuram | ~570 | ~1020 | ~1620 | ~2150 |
| IISER Tirupati | ~640 | ~1120 | ~1760 | ~2350 |
| IISER Berhampur | ~730 | ~1320 | ~1980 | ~2600 |
Figures are approximate closing ranks based on 2025 allotment trend data. Official records are available at iiseradmission.in.
Year-on-Year Comparison: 2024 vs 2025 Round 1 Cutoffs
Cutoffs for IISER IAT have shown a consistent inward shift of 10–30 ranks per year for the General/EWS category across most institutes. This reflects growing applicant volume and awareness of the IAT admission channel.
| IISER | 2024 Round 1 (Gen/EWS) | 2025 Round 1 (Gen/EWS) | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| IISER Pune | ~220 | ~210 | Tighter (~10 ranks) |
| IISER Kolkata | ~330 | ~310 | Tighter (~20 ranks) |
| IISER Mohali | ~430 | ~410 | Tighter (~20 ranks) |
| IISER Bhopal | ~520 | ~500 | Tighter (~20 ranks) |
| IISER Thiruvananthapuram | ~590 | ~570 | Tighter (~20 ranks) |
| IISER Tirupati | ~660 | ~640 | Tighter (~20 ranks) |
| IISER Berhampur | ~760 | ~730 | Tighter (~30 ranks) |
Both columns show approximate closing ranks based on published trend data and are not official allotment records.
Expected IISER IAT 2026 Round 1 Cutoff Trends
Extending the 2024–2025 trend, the expected 2026 Round 1 closing ranks are projected to shift inward by approximately 10–20 ranks for General/EWS students. The ranges below should be treated as planning estimates; actual cutoffs depend on paper difficulty, total qualifiers, and the 2026 seat matrix.
| IISER | Expected 2026 Gen/EWS | Expected 2026 OBC-NCL | Expected 2026 SC |
|---|---|---|---|
| IISER Pune | 195–215 | 435–475 | 800–860 |
| IISER Kolkata | 285–320 | 630–680 | 1040–1110 |
| IISER Mohali | 385–425 | 770–830 | 1260–1340 |
| IISER Bhopal | 475–515 | 915–970 | 1450–1540 |
| IISER Thiruvananthapuram | 545–590 | 985–1050 | 1570–1660 |
| IISER Tirupati | 610–655 | 1080–1150 | 1710–1800 |
| IISER Berhampur | 695–750 | 1270–1360 | 1920–2020 |
All ranges are expected estimates based on 2025 trends. These are not official IISER IAT 2026 cutoffs.
Factors That Affect IISER IAT 2026 Cutoffs
Several variables can push 2026 cutoffs tighter or more relaxed than the projected range:
- Total qualifier count: A larger pool of students above the qualifying threshold raises competition and compresses cutoff ranks toward lower numbers.
- Seat matrix changes: Any expansion in intake at a particular IISER or in a particular category can relax that institute’s closing rank for 2026.
- Paper difficulty level: A tougher IAT compresses top-end scores and can shift rank boundaries across all categories.
- Round 1 acceptance rate: If more top-ranked students accept in Round 1, fewer vacancies flow into Round 2 — making the first round the decisive one for most students.
- Student preference patterns: High demand concentration at IISER Pune or Kolkata accelerates cutoff tightening at those institutes specifically, while newer IISERs see more gradual shifts.
IISER IAT 2026 Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected Round 1 cutoff for IISER Pune for General category students in 2026?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, the expected Round 1 closing rank at IISER Pune for General/EWS students is approximately 195 to 215 on the IAT overall merit list. This is an estimate and may shift once the June 23, 2026 exam results and seat matrix are officially published.
Ques. Is the IISER IAT cutoff a minimum score or a merit rank?
Ans. The cutoff is a merit list rank, not a score threshold. Your IAT score out of 180 marks determines your position on the combined merit list. The closing rank published after each allotment round is the cutoff — students at or above that rank receive a seat in that round.
Ques. How many allotment rounds does IISER IAT typically conduct?
Ans. IISER IAT usually conducts three to four rounds of seat allotment. Round 1 has the tightest cutoffs. Cutoffs relax in later rounds as students upgrade or withdraw, so students just outside the Round 1 threshold often receive allotments in Round 2 or 3.
Ques. Do IISER IAT cutoffs vary by subject stream within an institute?
Ans. No. IISER IAT allotment cutoffs are published at the institute level, not stream level. Students choose their major subject — Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Earth and Environmental Sciences, or others — after joining, following a common foundation programme. The published cutoff applies to institute-level entry.
Ques. Where can students check official IISER IAT 2026 cutoffs once they are published?
Ans. Official closing ranks for each allotment round will be published on the IISER admissions portal at iiseradmission.in after the June 23, 2026 exam and result declaration. Students can log in with their application credentials to view allotment status and round-wise closing ranks.
Ques. Are EWS and General category cutoffs the same in IISER IAT?
Ans. EWS seats are carved from the unreserved quota and carry a separate closing rank. EWS closing ranks are typically slightly higher numerically than the open General closing rank because EWS seats form a smaller subset of total open seats. Students must provide a valid EWS certificate issued in the current financial year to be considered under this category.
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