What is a Good Score in NIFT 2026?
The official NIFT 2026 cutoff is expected after the results in March/April 2026. It will provide the opening and closing ranks for every NIFT campus and course, helping aspirants assess if their score is sufficient for securing admission to their desired programme.
What is a Good Score in NIFT 2026?If you are preparing for the NIFT 2026 exam, you must be wondering what is a good score in NIFT 2026 to secure a good rank. Being one of the most competitive examinations in the country for admission to theBFTech courseandBDes course. You can estimate the opening and closing ranks for 2026 admissions by reviewing past NIFT cutoff trends. The official cutoff will be released soon after theNIFT 2026 results, it is expected that the cutoff for the open category can range between 30 and 50 for top colleges. Read below to know in detail about a good score in NIFT 2026.
Also Read:What is NIFT Common Merit Rank (CMR) & How it Impacts Your Admission?
What is a Good NIFT Score?
A good NIFT score is higher than the median result of all applicants and is acceptable to meet the minimum criteria of the institutions that participate in NIFT and the courses that they provide in any given year. It is wise to aim for a score that will improve your probability of getting into the programme or school of your preference in advance. To obtain a sense of what a good NIFT score would be, you can look atNIFT 2026 cutofffor previous years as well as the results attained by students who were admitted into respected design institutes.
A strong performance on the NIFT 2026 entrance exam depends on many variables, such as the course of study, seat availability, the category to which a student belongs, the selected NIFT campus, etc. Generally speaking, a lower rank increases one's chances of getting into the desired college and specialised programme. Therefore, these aspects need to be taken into account when discussing what constitutes a good NIFT score in 2026. However, there is no fixed cutoff rank for NIFT admission; instead, it varies every year based on the number of applicants, the difficulty of the test, the number of seats available, etc.
How to Achieve a NIFT Good Score?
To secure a top rank in NIFT 2026, you need to shift from general exam preparation to a high-impact strategy. Here is the condensed, high-value roadmap:
1. Prioritise CAT (Creative Ability Test, 50% Weightage):To maximise your score, spend the first 10 minutes brainstorming unique metaphors since examiners reward original concepts over perfect shading, and ensure you master technically accurate 2-point and 3-point perspectives as they are non-negotiable for scene-based questions.
2. Strategically plan GAT (General Ability Test, 30% Weightage):Prioritize the English section as its 40-50 questions provide the fastest way to gain marks, focus your GK preparation on Art & Craft heritage, famous designers, and textile movements rather than general news, and ensure mathematical speed by sticking to 10th-grade topics while skipping any problem that exceeds one minute to preserve time for higher-yield sections.
3. Practice making 3D structures (20% Weightage):Practice 3D modelling with paper and wire, ensuring your write-up is as strong as the model by using design terms like ergonomics to explain your choices.
4. Program-specific preparation plan:B.Des success depends on bold CAT creativity, while B.FTech is entirely GAT-based, requiring high accuracy in math and logic.
NIFT 2026 Cutoff (Expected)
The lowest score needed to be admitted to any of the 18 NIFT campuses is the NIFT cutoff. The official announcement of the NIFT 2026 results for the written exam is predicted to correspond with the release of the NIFT cutoff in March 2026. The Closing Merit Rank (CMR) list, which shows the opening and closing ranks for every course and college, will be released together with the NIFT cutoff. The exam's difficulty level and the volume of applicants can affect the NIFT cutoff scores annually. The cutoff scores from previous years can help applicants better grasp what constitutes a good score in NIFT.
NIFT Campuses | Branch (for B.Des) | Opening Rank (Expected) | Closing Rank (Expected) |
|---|---|---|---|
Fashion Design | 15-16 | 158-161 | |
Textile Design | 38-40 | 383-285 | |
Accessory Design | 7-9 | 221-224 | |
Fashion Communication | 3-5 | 47-49 | |
Leather Design | 266-268 | 513-115 | |
Fashion Design | 2-4 | 207-209 | |
Textile Design | 300-302 | 575-577 | |
Accessory Design | 62-64 | 271-273 | |
Fashion Communication | 4-6 | 60-62 | |
Fashion Design | 310-312 | 492-494 | |
Textile Design | 486-489 | 1145-1147 | |
Accessory Design | 276-278 | 523-525 | |
Fashion Communication | 95-97 | 163-166 | |
Fashion Design | 213-215 | 526-528 | |
Textile Design | 625-627 | 1132-1134 | |
Accessory Design | 91-93 | 402-404 | |
Fashion Communication | 70-82 | 329-331 | |
Leather Design | 918-920 | 1664-1466 |
NIFT Cutoff Rank 2026 (Expected)
It is expected that NIFT cutoff ranks will be released on the official website of the conducting body in April 2026. A list of the NIFT 2026 rank range is listed below based on data from the previous year, that students can use as a reference.
Course Programme | NIFT Common Merit Rank (CMR) - Range | Shortlisted Candidates |
|---|---|---|
MF Tech | 88-100 | 3 |
Master of Design (M Des) | 24-525 | 91 |
B F Tech- Apparel Production | 11-275 | 40 |
276-929 | 89 | |
Master of Fashion Management (MFM) | 24-352 | 80 |
353-814 | 90 | |
816-1310 | 81 |
Factors Determining NIFT Cutoff 2026
The NIFT 2026 cutoff will be determined by taking into account the following factors:
Total number of applicants taking the NIFT entrance exam in a given year.
The number of applicants participating in theNIFT 2026 counselling process.
A candidate's NIFT 2026 merit rank.
The exam's degree of difficulty.
The BDes and BFTech seat matrix for each of the 18 NIFT campuses across the country.
The category in which admission requests are made by applicants.
Applicant's performance in the entrance exam.
The NIFT cutoff trends from previous years.
Preparation Tips for Good NIFT Scores
Following an analysis of "what is a good score in NIFT", students should prepare a study plan about maximising their score. The NIFT exam is tough and competitive, necessitating a thorough and strict preparation plan from applicants. The following are some best preparation tips to achieve a good NIFT score:
Provide unique and inventive answers, and support them with reasoning and examples.
Adhere to a regular and systematic study schedule.
Gain more insight into current events and general knowledge, particularly concerning art, design, fashion, and culture.
Understand the NIFT syllabus and pattern for the next rounds.
Regularly practise drawing and sketching for at least three to four hours using a variety of tools and materials.
Solve theNIFT previous year's question papers.
- Maintain your positive attitude and trustworthiness while also caring for your health and happiness.
NIFT 2026 Final Result
The final NIFT 2026 results will tentatively be released online in May 2026. When preparing the final NIFT merit list (GAT and CAT), the admissions panel will consider how well the applicant performed on the Situation Test/PI and written exams. The final merit list will be considered in the NIFT 2026 seat allocation process.
In 2026, there will be 5,215 combined seats available across 18 NIFT campuses in India. These consist of 405 state domicile seats, 470 NRI seats, and 4,324 All-India seats. The number of seats accepted for each course and NIFT campus may change based on availability and requirements for reservations. Candidates who have taken the NIFT 2026 entrance exam can visit this page often to keep themselves updated with NIFT-related announcements.
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