NID DAT · Cutoff
NID DAT cutoff: expected score and rank bands
No official NID DAT cutoff is published on Shishya yet — the score bands below are indicative, not official. Official cutoffs are published at nid.edu.
AI-curated from historic cutoff patterns. Indicative, not official. Always verify with the latest official notification.
Category-wise expected cutoff (indicative)
| Category | Expected cutoff (indicative) |
|---|---|
| General | 68-78% (68-78 marks) |
| EWS | 63-73% (63-73 marks) |
| OBC-NCL | 61-71% (61-71 marks) |
| SC | 55-65% (55-65 marks) |
| ST | 52-62% (52-62 marks) |
| PwD | 48-58% (48-58 marks) |
- Category differential: General-to-OBC gap typically 7-10%, General-to-SC gap around 13-15%, and General-to-ST gap approximately 16-18%. EWS cutoffs track 5-7% below General.
- Year-on-year shifts: Cutoffs fluctuate based on seat availability across NIDs (Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, newer campuses), difficulty of spatial/design problems, and applicant pool quality. Premium programs at flagship NIDs may require 10-15% above baseline category cutoffs.
- Studio Test importance: Crossing DAT cutoff (even at lower ranges 55-68%) grants Studio Test access where portfolio and hands-on tasks carry substantial weightage—final selection depends heavily on Stage 2 performance, not DAT alone.
What does your score in NID Design Aptitude Test actually get you? These bands map a mock or exam percentage to the rank window and the outcomes that score range has typically achieved.
Not sure if your score is safe for your category?
Score → rank → outcome bands (indicative)
Top 80 — Premium choice guaranteed
95–100%rank ~1–80
- NID Ahmedabad — Any discipline including most competitive like Transportation Design (top 50 ranks)
- NID Ahmedabad — Industrial Design, Film & Video Communication (rank 30-80 typical)
- Virtually guaranteed admission to preferred campus and discipline
- Studio Test mainly formality with this score range
- Four-year B.Des program, strong placement record in design industry
- Alumni network includes leading designers across automotive, UX, film sectors
Top 250 — Elite discipline choice
90–95%rank ~80–250
- NID Ahmedabad — Transportation & Automobile Design (rank ~100-200 General)
- NID Ahmedabad — Furniture & Interior Design, Ceramic & Glass Design (rank 150-250)
- NID Gandhinagar — Animation Film Design (rank approximately 120-220)
- Near-certain admission with competent Studio Test performance
- Choice of preferred specialisation likely
Strong contender — Tier 1 & 2 campuses
72–82%rank ~600–1,500
- NID Gandhinagar — Textile Design, Graphic Design, Exhibition Design (approximately rank 800-1500 depending on discipline)
- NID Bangalore — Information & Interface Design, IT Integrated Design
- NID Vijaywada — Animation Film Design (rank ~1200 General)
- Multiple campus and discipline options available
- Portfolio quality will determine final placement
Studio Test likely — Tier 2 campuses
60–72%rank ~1,500–4,000
- NID Vijayawada — Textile & Apparel Design, Ceramic & Glass Design
- NID Jorhat — Bamboo & Cane Design, Apparel Design (approximately rank 2500-4000)
- NID Kurukshetra — Furniture & Interior Design, Graphic Design
- Studio Test performance critical for final admission
- Need strong portfolio presentation skills
Borderline — Studio Test possible
45–60%rank ~4,000–8,000
- May receive Studio Test call from newer NID campuses (Jorhat, Kurukshetra, Haryana)
- Limited discipline options, typically Foundation or other programs
- Competition intense at Studio Test stage
- Backup options recommended
Below cut-off range
0–45%
- Unlikely to receive Studio Test call from any NID campus
- Score typically below minimum qualifying marks
- Consider strengthening portfolio and design fundamentals
- Explore private design colleges or reappear next cycle
NID DAT on Shishya
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