What is a Good Score in GATE 2026? is one of the most asked questions by candidates of GATE 2026. A good score in GATE 2026 depends on cut off released by the respective institutes and also on your taget institute. For example, 800+ score in GATE is an exceptional score for a dream institute. After analyzing previous year GATE scores and cut off, we can determine that anything above 750 is considered a very good score in GATE exam.
The GATE 2026 Score Benchmarks for top universities like IISc Bangalore and top-tier IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Roorkee, Guwahati) are:
- Top IITs/IISc (Direct Admissions): 70–85+ Marks (Score: 750–900+)
- Top PSUs (IOCL, NTPC, etc.): 65–80+ Marks (Score: 750+)
- Mid-tier IITs/Top NITs: 50–60+ Marks
Branch-Wise Considerations for 2026:
- Computer Science (CSE): 80–85+ for top 50 rank
- Electrical/Electronics (EE/EC): 91+ for top 10 rank
- Civil/Mechanical (CE/ME): 64-70+ marks for a 500-1000 rank range
Students getting 850+ out of 1000 are expected to get some popular courses like Computer Science Engineering (CSE), Civil Engineering (CE), Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering (EE) at IITs. Scoring 550+ can be a good score in GATE 2026 while a score above 400 can be taken as an average score in GATE 2026.
Ques: Is 700 a good score in GATE?
Ans: Yes, 700 is a good score in GATE exam. With 700 score you can get IIT Bombay, IIT Madras or IISc Bangalore. In fact, with 700 score in GATE, you can get into disciplines like Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Biotechnology, etc.
Ques. Is 850 a good score in GATE?
Ans. 850 is an exceptional score in GATE exam. With this score, you can easily get into your desired course and institute.
Ques. What is the difference between marks and score in GATE?
Ans. GATE score is calculated out of 1000; whereas GATE marks are calculated out of 100.
What is a Good Score in GATE 2026 Exam?
| Category | Marks Out of 100 | GATE Score out of 1000 |
|---|---|---|
| Very Good Score | 85+ | 750+ |
| Good Score | 75+ | 550+ |
| Average Score | 65+ | 400 |
| Low Score | Below 40 | Below 300 |
If you want to know the GATE 2026 Safe Marks For IIT / NIT / IISC / PSUs Recruitment, the video will provide the safe marks, expected cutoffs, and ranks required for admission into top institutes like IIT / NIT / IISC / PSUs Recruitment.
What is a good rank in GATE 2026?
In GATE 2025, maximum GATE score for mechanical engineering was 95.33, and for civil engineering, GATE score was 89.2.
- GATE rank will be determined by GATE cutoff scores or qualifying mark, number of appeared candidates, raw scores, etc.
- Candidates can check last year's cutoff rank below
| GATE Paper Code | GATE Test Paper | GATE Cut-off (GEN) |
GATE Cut-off (OBC-NCL/EWS) |
GATE Cut-off (SC/ST/PwD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AE | Aerospace Engineering | 28.9 | 26 | 19.2 |
| AG | Agricultural Engineering | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 |
| AR | Architecture and Planning | 40 | 36 | 26.6 |
| BM | Biomedical Engineering | 29.2 | 26.2 | 19.4 |
| BT | Biotechnology | 28 | 25.2 | 18.6 |
| CE | Civil Engineering | 29.2 | 26.2 | 19.4 |
| CH | Chemical Engineering | 27.7 | 24.9 | 18.4 |
| CS | Computer Science and Information Technology | 29.2 | 26.2 | 19.4 |
| CY | Chemistry | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 |
| DA | Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | 29 | 26.1 | 19.3 |
| EC | Electronics and Communication Engineering | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 |
| EE | Electrical Engineering | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 |
| ES | Environmental Science and Engineering | 26.1 | 23.4 | 17.4 |
| EY | Ecology and Evolution | 39.5 | 35.5 | 26.3 |
| GE | Geomatics Engineering | 25.7 | 23.1 | 17.1 |
| GG1 | Geology and Geophysics (Geology) | 38.4 | 34.5 | 25.5 |
| GG2 | Geology and Geophysics (Geophysics) | 40 | 36 | 26.6 |
| IN | Instrumentation Engineering | 25.6 | 23 | 17 |
| MA | Mathematics | 25 | 22.5 | 16.6 |
| ME | Mechanical Engineering | 35.8 | 32.2 | 23.8 |
| MN | Mining Engineering | 30.6 | 27.5 | 20.4 |
| MT | Metallurgical Engineering | 40 | 36 | 26.6 |
| NM | Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering | 25.1 | 22.5 | 16.7 |
| PE | Petroleum Engineering | 31.1 | 27.9 | 20.7 |
| PH | Physics | 26.8 | 24.1 | 17.8 |
| PI | Production and Industrial Engineering | 35.6 | 32 | 23.7 |
| ST | Statistics | 30.2 | 27.1 | 20.1 |
| TF | Textile Engineering and Fibre Science | 34.7 | 31.2 | 23.1 |
| XE | Engineering Sciences | 35.4 | 31.8 | 23.5 |
| XH-C1 | Humanities and Social Sciences (Economics) | 40 | 36 | 26.6 |
| XH-C2 | Humanities and Social Sciences (English) | 40 | 36 | 26.6 |
| XH-C3 | Humanities and Social Sciences (Linguistics) | 40 | 36 | 26.6 |
| XH-C4 | Humanities and Social Sciences (Philosophy) | 40 | 36 | 26.6 |
| XH-C5 | Humanities and Social Sciences (Psychology) | 40 | 36 | 26.6 |
| XH-C6 | Humanities and Social Sciences (Sociology) | 40 | 36 | 26.6 |
| XL | Life Sciences | 31.3 | 28.1 | 20.8 |
Also Check: GATE Cut Off: Category-wise Cut off for IIT, NIT, IIIT and PSU
What is Good Score in GATE CSE?
Computer Science Engineering is in-demand course and the cut off is usually high for this course. 90+ is a safe score in GATE CSE to get into top IITs.
| Category | Marks Out of 100 |
|---|---|
| Very Good Score | 90+ |
| Good Score | 80+ |
| Average Score | 65+ |
| Low Score | Below 40 |
What is Good Score in GATE CE?
Scoring between 80-90 is considered a very good score in GAT CE. GATE score for this marks range can be 1000 and students with this GATE score can get into IITs like IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, etc.
Check GATE CE Syllabus
| Category | Marks Out of 100 |
|---|---|
| Very Good Score | 80-90 |
| Good Score | 70+ |
| Average Score | 60+ |
| Low Score | Below 40 |
What is Good Score in GATE ECE?
For Electronic and Communication Engineering course, students must score above 85.
| Category | Marks Out of 100 |
|---|---|
| Very Good Score | 85+ |
| Good Score | 70+ |
| Average Score | 60+ |
| Low Score | Below 40 |
What is Good Score in GATE EE?
The following marks are obtained by GAT EE toppers. Students preparing for the upcoming GATE exam should aim to score above 85. However, in 2023, the topper has scored 66 out of 100. Usually, 80+ is scored by a topper in GATE EE.
| Category | Marks Out of 100 |
|---|---|
| Very Good Score | 85+ |
| Good Score | 75+ |
| Average Score | 65+ |
| Low Score | Below 40 |
What is Good Score in GATE Mechanical?
As per previous years’ trend, scoring above 85 is a very good score for GATE Mechanical. Institutes that accept 85+ marks in GATE are IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, and IIT Kanpur.
| Category | Marks Out of 100 |
|---|---|
| Very Good Score | 85+ |
| Good Score | 75+ |
| Average Score | 65+ |
| Low Score | Below 40 |
Quick Links:
Ques. Is 600 a Good Score in GATE 2026?
Ans. A GATE 2026 score of 600 is average and may assist in getting admission to mid-tier NITs and some of the newer IITs, depending on the branch. Nonetheless, it may not be adequate to secure admission to the top IITs or PSUs in competitive branches.
Ques. Is it possible to secure IIT with a 500 GATE score?
Ans. Top IITs normally require scores higher than 500. However, there are newer IITs and interdisciplinary programs that may take such scores into consideration. A 500 score is still regarded as a middle-range score.
Ques. What is a Safe Score for GATE 2026?
Ans. A safe score varies by target. For IITs, 750+ is considered safe. For NITs, 600+ is generally good. For PSUs, 750+ is usually required. Therefore, a safe score should be viewed in line with your career objectives.
GATE Marks vs GATE Raw Scores
Candidates appearing for GATE 2026 must note that there is a difference between GATE score and GATE marks. GATE marks mean the total marks of each GATE paper, i.e., out of 100 and GATE score is the normalized score out of 1000. Check GATE Score Calculation: How are marks and score calculated?
Here is a brief synopsis of GATE scores vs raw scores secured by toppers -
| GATE Test Paper | GATE topper | GATE marks | GATE score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering | Deepak and Bhanu Pratap Singh | 87.33 | 989 |
| Computer Science and Engineering | Piyush Kumar | 90 | 1000 |
| Electrical Engineering | Manoj, Shivam, and Sai Kiran Adelly | 77 | 1000 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering | Raja Majhi | 84.67 | 1000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | Suraj Kumar Samal | 84.67 | 1000 |
GATE Marks vs Rank 2026
Students appearing for GATE 2026 must check out the GATE marks vs rank as tabulated below.
| Rank | Marks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | CSE | Civil | Electrical | |
| 1-10 | 92+ | 80+ | 90+ | 91+ |
| 10-50 | 87-92 | 75-80 | 85-90 | 87-91 |
| 50-100 | 85-87 | 72-75 | 78-85 | 84-87 |
| 100-200 | 82-85 | 68-72 | 74-78 | 81-84 |
| 200-500 | 79-82 | 62-68 | 70-74 | 77-81 |
| 500-1000 | 75-79 | 56-62 | 64-70 | 72-77 |
| 1000-2000 | 71-75 | 50-56 | 57-64 | 66-72 |
| 2000-5000 | 63-71 | 40-50 | 50-57 | 57-66 |
| 5000-10000 | 51-63 | 32-40 | 40-50 | 46-57 |
What is GATE Good Scores for IIT Admissions?
|
IIT Tier |
GATE Score Range (Good Score) |
Remarks |
|
Top IITs (IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur) |
750 – 900+ |
For core branches like CS, ME, EE, CE, EC |
|
Mid-Tier IITs (IIT Hyderabad, IIT Roorkee, IIT Guwahati) |
650 – 750 |
Good chance of admission in popular branches |
|
Newer IITs (IIT Ropar, IIT Bhubaneswar, IIT Indore) |
550 – 650 |
Admission possible in specialized fields |
What is a Good GATE Score for PSU?
Many PSUs consider GATE score for recruitment. IOCL, ONGC, NTPC are some PSUs that recruit candidates through GATE score. As per the vacant positions, the PSUs release the cut off list. Given below shows what constitutes a good GATE score for PSU and how much one needs to score to qualify the cut off:
| PSU | Good GATE Score for PSU | Discipline |
|---|---|---|
| NTPC | 70+ | Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics |
| IOCL | 65+ | Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation Engineering, Computer Science & IT Engineering |
| BARC | 80+ | Mechanical, Civil, Electrical, Electronics |
| BHEL | 70+ | HR, Electrical, Civil |
| ONGC | 80+ | Civil, Electronics, Mechanical, Electrical |
| DRDO | 75+ | Civil, Electronics, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation |
What is a Good Rank in GATE 2026 for NIT Admissions?
The GATE good rank for NIT admissions to top branches like CSE, EE and many more are provided below:
- Top NITs (Trichy, Warangal, Surathkal): A GATE rank under 500 gives you your dream branch. In GATE 2025, the maximum score for the round 1 cutoff for CSE was 892 (GATE rank under 50), and the minimum was 777.
- Other NITs: Even a GATE rank of 5000 to 6000 can land you a seat, depending on the branch you want to apply for. New NITs generally accept mid-GATE ranks for admission.
- Less competitive branches (like Metallurgy, Chemical): Students have been admitted even with ranks around 7000 to 8000.
GATE Cut off Marks Comparison
| GATE Paper | GATE CutOff 2022 | GATE Cutoff 2021 | GATE Cutoff 2020 | GATE Cutoff 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering (CE) | 30.4 | 29.2 | 32.9 | 28.2 |
| Computer Science & Information Technology (CS) | 25 | 26.1 | 28.5 | 29.5 |
| Mechanical Engineering (ME) | 28.1 | 33 | 34 | 34.1 |
| Electrical Engineering (EE) | 30.4 | 30.3 | 33.4 | 39.6 |
| Electronics Communication Engineering (EC) | 25 | 25 | 28.8 | 26.7 |
| Aerospace Engineering (AE) | 29.8 | 26.3 | 27.2 | 33.5 |
| Agriculture Engineering (AG) | 26.3 | 25 | 26.3 | 28.3 |
| Architecture and Planning (AR) | 37.3 | 40.9 | 34.8 | 41 |
| Biomedical Engineering (BM) | 25 | 25 | 25 | – |
| Biotechnology (BT) | 35.5 | 30 | 30.7 | 35.9 |
| Chemical Engineering (CH) | 25.3 | 35.1 | 35.7 | 34.8 |
| Chemistry (CY) | 27.5 | 36.2 | 26.7 | 32 |
| Environmental Science & Engineering (ES) | 25.9 | 39.6 | — | — |
| Ecology Evolution (EY) | 33.4 | 35.7 | 42.2 | 37.1 |
| Geology | 48.7 | 38.9 | 38.4 | 44.5 |
| Geophysics | 54.8 | 44.8 | 51.9 | 44.5 |
| Instrumentation Engineering (IN) | 42.4 | 36 | 34.6 | 31.9 |
| Mathematics (MA) | 27.3 | 29 | 25 | 25 |
| Mining Engineering (MN) | 25.5 | 31 | 32.7 | 31.5 |
| Metallurgical Engineering (MT) | 46.2 | 48.5 | 49.2 | 53.5 |
| Petroleum Engineering (PE) | 37.8 | 51.4 | 39.8 | 49.9 |
| Physics (PH) | 26.5 | 32.8 | 37.2 | 25.2 |
| Production & Industrial Engineering (PI) | 43.6 | 35.7 | 36.6 | 32.2 |
| Statistics (ST) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 32.5 |
| Textile Engineering & Fiber Science (TF) | 38.8 | 41.8 | 37.1 | 40.1 |
| Engineering Sciences (XE) | 40.3 | 37 | 26 | 26.7 |
| Life Sciences (XL) | 33.9 | 36 | 31.7 | 36.7 |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (XH-C1 (Economics)) | 55.5 | 29.4 | — | — |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (XH-C2 (English)) | 51.9 | 41.7 | — | — |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (XH-C3 (Linguistics)) | 53.1 | 35.3 | — | — |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (XH-C4 (Philosophy)) | 50.7 | 37.9 | — | — |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (XH-C5 (Psychology)) | 62.1 | 48.5 | — | — |
| Humanities and Social Sciences (XH-C6 (Sociology)) | 59.7 | 34.3 | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques: What is the rank for 80 marks in GATE?
Ans: The rank in GATE for 80 marks can vary depending on the papers. The expected rank for 80 marks in GATE can by between 1 to 100.
Ques: Is GATE score of 500 good?
Ans: Yes, 500 score in GATE is a good score. With this score, one can get disciplines like Metallurgical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Earth Science, etc. However, the cut offs vary from one institute to another.
Ques: Is 300 a good score in GATE?
Ans: GATE score of 300 is considered good to qualify the exam. But for admission to top IITs like Madras, IIT Kharagpur, etc., students must score above 700 out of 1000. Scoring 750+ can be a very good score in GATE 2026.
Ques: Is GATE rank 1000 good?
Ans: GATE rank 1000 can be taken as a good rank. Candidates are expected to get their desired IITs or NITs with such rank. But to enter PUs, students must work hard to get a rank under 200.
Ques: What is the rank of 40 marks in GATE?
Ans: Rank of 40 marks in GATE is different in all courses or disciplines. The expected rank of 40 marks in GATE can be anywhere from 2000-10,000.
Comments