AUCET 2026 expected cutoff for SC and ST categories is 45 marks (45%) — consistent with the qualifying threshold maintained from 2021 through 2025.

Andhra University Common Entrance Test (AUCET) 2026 is conducted by Andhra University, Visakhapatnam for admission to PG programmes including MSc, MCom, and MA courses. Reserved category students benefit from a lower qualifying threshold and dedicated seats under Andhra Pradesh Government reservation norms. Based on previous year trends, this article covers the expected AUCET 2026 cutoff for SC and ST students across popular courses.

  • Minimum qualifying marks for SC/ST: 45 out of 100 (45%)
  • Minimum qualifying marks for General: 50 out of 100 (50%)
  • AUCET 2026 has 100 objective questions with no negative marking
  • SC students compete for 15% reserved seats; ST students for 6% reserved seats as per AP Government norms
  • AUCET 2026 results and cutoff are expected around June 25, 2026
Direct Link to AUCET 2026 Official Website — audoa.andhrauniversity.edu.in

Table of Contents

  1. AUCET 2026 SC and ST Cutoff Overview
  2. Previous Year Qualifying Cutoff Trends
  3. Course-Wise Expected Cutoff for SC and ST
  4. Factors Affecting AUCET 2026 SC and ST Cutoff
  5. How AUCET Cutoff is Calculated
  6. FAQs

AUCET 2026 SC and ST Cutoff Overview

AUCET is a paper-based entrance exam with 100 objective-type questions carrying 1 mark each, totalling 100 marks. There is no negative marking, so SC and ST students can attempt all questions safely. The University releases course-wise cutoff ranks after result declaration, typically in May or June of the exam year.

The Andhra Pradesh Government reservation policy entitles SC students to 15% of seats and ST students to 6% of seats in every PG course at Andhra University. This means SC and ST students compete only among themselves for reserved seats, which lowers the effective admission score needed compared to the open category.

Category Minimum Qualifying Marks (out of 100) Qualifying Percentage Seats Reserved (AP Norms)
General (OC) 50 50% Open competition
OBC / BC 45 45% 29%
SC 45 45% 15%
ST 45 45% 6%
PwD 40 40% As per government norms

AUCET Previous Year Qualifying Cutoff Trends for SC and ST

The minimum qualifying cutoff for SC and ST in AUCET has remained at 45 marks (45%) consistently from 2021 to 2025. Andhra University has not revised this threshold in recent years, and based on this trend, the qualifying cutoff for AUCET 2026 is expected to remain unchanged.

Year SC/ST Qualifying Marks (out of 100) SC/ST Qualifying Percentage General Qualifying Marks
2021 45 45% 50
2022 45 45% 50
2023 45 45% 50
2024 45 45% 50
2025 45 45% 50
2026 (Expected) 45 45% 50

The stable pattern across five years shows that scoring 45 or more marks is sufficient to qualify for the AUCET merit list in the SC/ST category. The actual admission cutoff — the closing rank that receives the last reserved seat in a course — is separately determined through counselling rounds.

Course-Wise Expected Cutoff for SC and ST Categories in AUCET 2026

Beyond the qualifying threshold, the admission cutoff for each course depends on the number of applicants and available reserved seats. Based on previous year difficulty levels and applicant patterns, the table below shows expected admission score ranges for SC and ST students in AUCET 2026.

Course SC Expected Cutoff (out of 100) ST Expected Cutoff (out of 100)
MSc Chemistry 45–55 40–50
MSc Physics 45–55 40–50
MSc Mathematics 47–57 42–52
MSc Statistics 45–53 40–48
MSc Computer Science 48–58 43–53
MSc Biotechnology 45–55 40–50
MSc Life Sciences 40–50 35–45
MCom 45–53 40–48
MA English 45–52 40–47

These figures are expected ranges based on previous year trends. MSc Computer Science and MSc Mathematics attract stronger competition, pushing the admission cutoff higher even within the reserved quota. MSc Life Sciences allows SC and ST students to qualify at 40%, making entry more accessible for those courses.

Factors Affecting AUCET 2026 Cutoff for SC and ST

The final AUCET 2026 cutoff for SC and ST will depend on a mix of exam and admission-related elements. Knowing these helps you assess how competitive your preferred course will be.

  • Applicant volume: A higher number of SC/ST students applying for a course raises competition within reserved seats and pushes the effective admission cutoff upward.
  • Exam difficulty: A harder paper lowers average scores across all categories, which can reduce the actual admission cutoff for that year.
  • Available seats per course: Courses with fewer SC/ST-reserved seats see sharper rank-based competition at the cutoff boundary.
  • Previous year trends: Cutoffs in any year rarely deviate by more than 3–5 marks from the prior year without a major shift in applicant numbers or paper difficulty.
  • AP Government reservation policy: Any revision to reservation norms directly changes the number of seats available for SC and ST students in each course.

How AUCET Cutoff is Calculated for SC and ST Students

AUCET cutoff for SC and ST follows a two-stage process that separates qualification from admission.

  • Stage 1 — Minimum qualifying marks: SC/ST students must score at least 45 out of 100 (40 for Life Sciences) to appear on the category merit list. Students scoring below this threshold are not eligible for counselling regardless of rank.
  • Stage 2 — Rank-based admission cutoff: Qualifying students are ranked separately within SC and ST categories per course. The closing rank that fills the last reserved seat defines the admission cutoff for that counselling round.
  • Since there is no negative marking, every correctly answered question improves your rank directly.
  • In case of equal marks, Andhra University applies standard tiebreaker criteria to determine final rank order.

Scoring 55 marks or more significantly improves your chances of securing a preferred course even within the SC or ST reserved quota.

AUCET 2026 SC and ST Cutoff FAQs

Ques. What is the expected minimum qualifying cutoff for SC and ST students in AUCET 2026?

Ans. Based on 2021–2025 trends, the expected minimum qualifying cutoff for SC and ST students in AUCET 2026 is 45 marks out of 100 (45%). No change to this threshold has been announced by Andhra University.

Ques. Is the AUCET 2026 qualifying cutoff different for SC and ST compared to the General category?

Ans. Yes. General category students must score at least 50 marks (50%), while SC and ST students need only 45 marks (45%). This 5-mark relaxation has been consistent in every AUCET cycle from 2021 to 2025.

Ques. Does AUCET 2026 have negative marking that could affect SC and ST students?

Ans. No. AUCET does not have negative marking. All 100 questions carry 1 mark each, and no marks are deducted for wrong answers. SC and ST students can attempt every question, making it easier to cross the 45-mark qualifying threshold.

Ques. Which AUCET course has the lowest expected cutoff for SC and ST categories?

Ans. Based on previous year trends, MSc Life Sciences has the lowest qualifying cutoff for SC and ST students at 40 marks (40%). For most other AUCET courses, the qualifying cutoff for SC/ST is 45 marks.

Ques. When will the official AUCET 2026 SC and ST cutoff be released?

Ans. The official AUCET 2026 SC and ST cutoff is expected to be released alongside the result and merit list around June 25, 2026. Check the official portal at audoa.andhrauniversity.edu.in for the latest updates.

Ques. How many AUCET seats are reserved for SC and ST students?

Ans. As per Andhra Pradesh Government reservation norms, 15% of seats are reserved for SC students and 6% of seats are reserved for ST students in AUCET-based PG admissions at Andhra University.