GATE 2026 branch-wise cutoff and passing marks released: check qualifying and admission scores

IIT Guwahati today, 31 October 2026, released the GATE 2026 branch-wise cutoff and passing marks online at gate2026.iitg.ac.in. Candidates can access their score status through the GOAPS login using their enrollment ID and password. The institute also published the GATE topper’s list, including raw marks and scores.

This release is crucial for candidates aspiring for MTech admission or PSU recruitment, as the cutoff marks determine eligibility for the GATE counselling process. The cutoff values vary annually based on factors such as the number of qualified students, the difficulty of the exam paper, and past trends.

Understanding GATE Qualifying and Admission Cutoffs

The GATE cutoff is categorised into two types: qualifying cutoff and admission cutoff. The GATE qualifying cutoff 2026 represents the minimum mark required to pass the examination and receive a scorecard. A valid GATE scorecard makes candidates eligible for admission, recruitment, and GATE scholarships.

Conversely, the GATE admission cutoff is the score or marks typically needed to secure admission to specific institutions, such as IITs, NITs, and IIITs. This admission cutoff is consistently higher than the qualifying mark. For OBC-NCL and EWS categories, the cutoff is generally 90% of the general marks, while for SC/ST and PwD categories, it is approximately 67% of the general marks.

Admission Cutoff Expectations for Top Institutions

For admission to IITs, a GATE cutoff score of 700 to 800, corresponding to 65 to 75 raw marks, is generally required. NIT admissions through GATE typically consider scores between 600 and 750 marks as safe. IISc Bangalore MTech admission through GATE usually requires a score of 900 or higher. GATE marks are raw scores out of 100, while GATE scores are normalized values out of 1000. For instance, a GATE CSE raw mark of 65 or more translates to a GATE score above 800.

Exam Difficulty and Candidate Participation

Approximately 2 lakh students appeared for the Computer Science (CSE) paper in GATE 2026. The difficulty level for the CS paper was moderate, with an increase in numerical aptitude and problem-based questions. For Mechanical Engineering (ME), around 1.2 lakh students appeared, and the overall difficulty was moderately difficult, with higher weightage given to Manufacturing Engineering and Thermodynamics.

The GATE exam consists of 65 questions, totaling 100 marks. This includes 10 questions from General Aptitude and 55 questions from the chosen subject paper. The syllabus encompasses General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, and core subject topics specific to each paper. For CSE, the syllabus covers General Aptitude, Engineering Mathematics, Algorithms, Data Structures, Operating Systems, DBMS, Computer Networks, Theory of Computation, Compiler Design, and Digital Logic.

Next Steps for Eligible Candidates

Candidates who have secured marks equal to or above the qualifying cutoff are eligible for the GATE counselling process. This process will be conducted by COAP for admissions to IITs and IISc Bangalore, and by CCMT for NITs, IIITs, and other centrally funded institutions. Candidates are advised to keep their enrollment ID and password ready and apply to multiple institutes through COAP and CCMT.

Further reading

• GATE 2027: Apply for BARC by January 30, and other PSUs from December 31
• GATE 2026 marks vs rank: expected AIR for 50, 40, 30 marks after result
• NTA revised exam calendar 2026-27 out: check new JEE Main, UGC NET, CUET PG dates
• NIFT 2027 lateral entry admission registration open; apply by November 16
• BTech CSE 2026: Apply now; meet 10+2 (60% Gen/55% Other) & JEE Main/UU exam Applications open
• Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering: complete exam guide

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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