NID Cut-Off Trends: Previous Year Analysis & Expected Cut-Off for 2026

Posted On: 24 November 2025 | 09:38:pm

If you’re preparing for the NID Entrance Exam (Design Aptitude Test or DAT) and considering joining with the help of NID Online Coaching, one of the most important pieces of the puzzle is understanding cut-off trends. The NID cut-off determines whether you move from prelims to mains (or studio test), and ultimately, your admission to B.Des or M.Des programs at NID. In this guide, we analyze previous years’ trends, explore the factors that impact cut-off, and project the expected NID cut-off for 2026 — along with how the right NID Study Material and coaching strategy can make a difference.

What Is the NID Cut-Off & Why It Matters

To begin, let’s clarify the role of cut-offs in the NID Entrance Exam:

1. Qualifying Cut-Off (Prelims)
   • This is the minimum score candidates must achieve in the DAT Prelims to be shortlisted for the next phase.

2. Final / Admission Cut-Off (Mains + Studio Test / Interview)
   • For B.Des and M.Des, NID applies a combined evaluation: Prelims + Studio Test (and Interview, for M.Des).

3. Discipline- or Campus-wise Cut-Off (for M.Des)
   • Different specializations (e.g., Product Design, Animation Film Design) or campuses (Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, etc.) often have their own closing scores.

Having clarity on cutoff trends helps you set realistic goals during your NID Entrance Exam preparation, decide how intensively you should use NID Study Material, and whether you might need NID Online Coaching to bridge the gap.

Historical Trends: NID Cut-Offs in Recent Years

Let’s examine what the past few years have looked like for NID cut-offs — for both Prelims and final admission — to better understand how they may trend for 2026.

NID DAT Prelims Cut-Off Trends

• According to multiple sources, for B.Des, the NID DAT Prelims cut-off for 2024 (Open / General category) was 58.50 marks.

• For 2025, the expected NID DAT Prelims cut-off for the General category was in the range of 55–60 marks, per admissions forecasts.

• Based on analysis by careers360 and design careers sites, the qualifying marks historically ranged between roughly 45 to 60, depending on category and year.

Observation: The cut-off for prelims has shown some stability around the high-50s for General category, with slight variations year to year based on the difficulty of the exam and applicant pool.

NID Final Admission Cut-Off / Studio Test Trends (Mains)

• According to Shiksha, for M.Des admissions in 2025, the last candidate’s score (Open) for various disciplines ranged from 55.10 (Animation Film) to around 72.95 (Toy & Game Design).

• For NID Ahmedabad, a popular campus, the closing mark for M.Des (General) in 2025 was 50.15, while in 2024, it was very close at 50.10.

• In the M.Des Admissions Handbook 2025-26, NID lists minimum qualifying criteria: for Open / Gen-EWS categories, candidates must meet at least 50% mark requirement, while OBC-NCL is 45%, and SC/ST/PwD are 40%.

These trends highlight that for M.Des, while the prelims are important, the cut-off for final admission is strongly influenced by the Studio Test and Interview, especially in specialized design disciplines.

Factors Influencing NID Cut-Offs

To make sense of cut-off fluctuations, here are the key factors that typically influence how high or low cut-offs go:

1. Difficulty Level of the NID Entrance Exam (DAT)
   • If prelims or mains are more challenging in a given year, cut-offs may drop slightly. Conversely, easier papers often push cut-offs higher.

2. Number of Applicants
   • Higher competition (more aspirants) usually translates to higher cut-offs, especially in popular categories or campuses.

3. Number of Seats & Reservation Policy
   • Total seats at different NID campuses and reservation quotas (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS, PwD) directly influence category-wise cut-offs.

4. Performance in Studio Test / Interview
   • For M.Des, since the Studio Test and Interview hold significant weight, a surge in quality of applicants or tougher judging can push up admission cut-offs.

5. Category-Wise Trends
   • Reserved categories (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, etc.) will have their own cut-off behaviors.

6. Applicant Strategy & Preparation
   • Aspirants who take help from NID Online Coaching, or use quality NID Study Material, may perform better, indirectly influencing cut-off because of higher-quality candidate pool.

Projected / Expected NID Cut-Off for 2026

Based on the historical data and influencing factors, we can make a few educated projections about the expected NID cut-off for 2026 for both prelims and final admission.

🧮 Expected Prelims Cut-Off (2026)

These projections align with several forecasts from cut-off trackers and industry sources. 

💼 Expected Final (Admission) Cut-Off for M.Des / Studio Test (2026)

For final admission (M.Des), the cut-off is more variable because of design disciplines and campus-specific popularity. Here’s a projected estimate:

• Open / General M.Des (popular disciplines): 55 – 65
  • For example, some past closing scores for Animation, Product Design, etc., ranged in this zone.

• Reserved Categories (OBC-NCL, SC, ST, EWS):
  • OBC-NCL: ~ 50 – 60

  • SC / ST / PwD: ~ 45 – 55, depending on discipline and number of applicants

• Campus Variations:
  • In more competitive campuses (like NID Ahmedabad), top disciplines may go even higher; for less competitive campuses or niche specializations, expected cut-off may be slightly lower.

These projections are reasonable given past data, but it’s important to remember that actual cut-off will depend on NID’s final applicant pool in 2026, exam difficulty, and studio test performance.

How NID Online Coaching & Quality NID Study Material Can Help You Beat the Cut-Off

Understanding cut-off trends is one thing — surpassing them is another. Here’s how leveraging NID Online Coaching and using strong NID Study Material can significantly boost your chances of clearing both prelims and final cut-offs:

1. Structured Curriculum & Mock Tests
   • Good NID Online Coaching platforms design their courses around the test structure: DAT prelims, Studio Test, Interview. They also conduct timed mock exams that simulate real cut-off pressures.

2. Focused Practice for Studio Test
   • Since final admission involves a Studio Test, coaching programs train you in model-making, clay work, sketching, observation, and conceptualization — skills that directly impact Studio Test scores, thereby influencing admission cut-off potential.

3. High-Quality Study Material
   • The right NID Study Material includes previous-year papers, sample prelims questions, writing prompts, design problem statements, and portfolio-building guides. These improve your readiness and help you target cut-off strategically.

4. Feedback from Experts
   • Mentors of coaching platforms provide feedback on your mock test performance, model designs, and interview readiness. This iterative feedback loop can drastically improve your performance where cut-off matters the most — final admission.

5. Time Management & Exam Strategy
   • Coaching helps aspirants develop strategies for the DAT Prelims (time-bound questions), and for Studio Test / Interview, helps in managing ideation, execution, and presentation — all critical to clearing cut-offs.

Key Takeaways & Strategy for NID 2026 Aspirants

Here are the actionable insights you should take into account if you’re aiming for NID admission in 2026:

1. Set Realistic Target Score
   • Based on expected prelim cut-offs (56–60 for General), plan your preparation to aim slightly above that for safety.

2. Use Data-Driven Strategy
   • Study previous year cut-off data (2023–2025) to understand scoring trends — plus factor in possible upward movement.

3. Enroll in NID Online Coaching (if possible)
   • The structured support, mock tests, expert feedback, and idea-workshops can significantly raise your chances.

4. Invest in Good NID Study Material
   • Get materials that cover both Prelims and Studio Test; practice sample DAT papers and studio prompts.

5. Focus on Studio Test / Interview
   • Do not neglect studio test practice: model making, sketching, writing — these rounds can make or break admission and affect final cut-off success.

6. Regularly Evaluate
   • Take mock exams under real-exam conditions; if your percentile or score is consistently below cut-off projections, revise strategy, improve weaker areas.

7. Backup Plan
   • Recognize that even if you target top NID campuses, cut-off may vary; have backup campuses or specializations in mind.

Conclusion

The NID cut-off is a critical threshold in your design entrance journey — whether for B.Des or M.Des. By analyzing previous-year trends, understanding influencing factors, and preparing smartly with NID Online Coaching and NID Study Material, you can give yourself a strong shot at not just qualifying but excelling in the NID Admission process.

For 2026, the projected Prelims cut-off is likely to hover around 56–60 for General, while the final admission cut-offs for M.Des (via Studio Test) may vary by discipline but could fall in the 55–65 range for competitive streams. These are estimates, of course — but they give you a realistic benchmark to plan your preparation.

If you structure your study, mock-test regimen, and studio test practice strategically, you won’t just be guessing the cut-off — you’ll aim to beat it.