GATE Mechanical Engineering (ME) Marks vs Rank vs Score Analysis 2026

1-10

85+

10-50

80-85

50-100

75-80

100-200

70-75

200-500

65-70

500-1000

60-65

1000-2000

55-60

2000-5000

50-55

5000-10000

40-50

1

1000

90+ to 100 marks

1

80+ to 90 marks

2 to 12

70+ to 80 marks

13 to 77

60+ to 70 marks

78 to 452

50+ to 60 marks

453 to 1571

40+ to 50 marks

1572 to 3749

30+ to 40 marks

3750 to 7662

20+ to 30 marks

7663 to 11027

10+ to 20 marks

11028 to 11401

Less than 10 marks

N/A - Not Qualified

List of NIT Colleges Accepting GATE 2026 Score 500-600

90+ to 100 marks

1

80+ to 90 marks

2 to 16

70+ to 80 marks

17 to 191

60+ to 70 marks

192 to 922

50+ to 60 marks

923 to 2762

40+ to 50 marks

2763 to 5827

30+ to 40 marks

5828 to 10834

20+ to 30 marks

10835 to 14922

10+ to 20 marks

14923 to 15282

Less than 10 marks

N/A - Not Qualified

General

28.4

28.1

33

34

34.1

34.7

32.87

29.6

32.73

28.86

25

OBC

25.5

25.2

29.7

30.6

30.7

31.2

29

26.6

29.46

25.97

22.25

SC/ST/PH

18.9

18.7

22

22.6

22.7

23.1

21

19.7

21.82

19.24

16.67

GATE Marks (Out of 100)

Raw marks obtained by a candidate in the GATE paper

Immediately after result declaration

GATE marks give a direct measure of performance and help candidates evaluate strengths and weaknesses. Marks are crucial for self-analysis, comparing performance across subjects, and understanding how well concepts were applied. However, marks alone should not be used to predict admissions because normalization across sessions and papers affects final outcomes.

GATE Normalized Marks

Adjusted marks accounting for multiple sessions

During score calculation stage

Normalized marks ensure fairness across different exam sessions with varying difficulty levels. Candidates should rely on normalized marks (rather than raw marks) when comparing performance with peers. This becomes particularly important in multi-session papers where raw marks can be misleading.

GATE Score (Out of 1000)

Standardized score derived from normalized marks

Used during counseling and PSU shortlisting

The GATE score is the most important metric for admissions and PSU recruitment. Institutes use score cutoffs rather than marks because scores are comparable across years and sessions. Aspirants should track historical score cutoffs of IITs, NITs, and PSUs to shortlist realistic options.

GATE Rank (All India Rank)

Relative position among all test-takers

After result announcement

Rank indicates competitive standing and is mainly used for personal benchmarking. While some institutes mention rank ranges informally, most admissions are not rank-based but score-based. Rank is useful to assess competition level but should not be the sole decision factor.

Use in IIT & IISc Admissions

Selection for Corses

During COAP and institute-level counseling

IITs and IISc primarily rely on GATE score cutoffs, sometimes followed by interviews or written tests. Rank plays a secondary role. Candidates should monitor institute-wise score trends rather than focusing excessively on rank. Admission processes are coordinated by institutes like IIT Guwahati and other IITs.

Use in NIT & IIIT Admissions

Centralized admissions

During CCMT counseling

NITs and IIITs use GATE score as the main criterion. Marks and rank are not directly considered. Candidates should use their score to estimate branch-wise and category-wise chances during choice filling.

Use in PSU Recruitment

Shortlisting for interviews

After PSU notifications

PSUs exclusively use GATE score, often with high cutoffs. Rank and marks are irrelevant once the score is generated. Aspirants aiming for PSUs must target a strong score rather than focusing on rank alone.

Use for Self-Improvement

Performance evaluation

After result and before next attempt

Marks help diagnose conceptual gaps, rank reflects competition, and score shows real-world eligibility. Serious aspirants planning a reattempt should analyze all three collectively to redesign preparation strategies.