A low score in GATE 2026 is usually considered below 300-350 or under 30-35 marks. But you can take admission to lower-ranked NITs, IIITs, state universities or private universities.
The GATE 2026 result has been declared and is now available on the official GOAPS portal, and If you have a low score in GATE 2026, then you need to focus on counselling rounds like CCMT, private university entrance exams.
- Candidates under SC/ST catagories with low scores in GATE 2026 can seats in less popular departments at NITs like NIT Calicut, NIT Surathkal, and NIT Hamipur.
- Many Reddit users suggest settling for state colleges and preparing well for the GATE exam next year in the meantime.
- Several universities (e.g., VIT, BITS) hold their own entrance exams for postgraduate admissions
- Many reputable private universities offer direct admission or have low cutoffs for their M.Tech programs
- Some other users on Reddit suggested taking other entrance exams like BITS HD, IIITH PGEE, and PGCET to explore other colleges.
Also Read:
- Check Branch-wise GATE cutoff for IITs and NITs
- GATE 2026 Low Marks 35-45 in EC/EE? Check the Expected Rank and Guidance for SC and OBC candidates?
Key Summary
- Many Reddit users suggest taking a drop year before giving GATE again next year, with better preparation
- Reserved category students can still secure NIT seats in low-competitive branches with low GATE scores around 200-340.
- State colleges might be great options for candidates with low GATE scores.
- One of the most common suggestions among Reddit users is to get a job or join any college you can; in the meantime, prepare for GATE again, this time with better preparation.
Low Score in GATE 2026: Live Updates 19th March
- Result is Out: The GATE 2026 result has been declared on 19th March’26.
- Target Colleges: Focus on CS/EE branches at newly established or lower-tier NITs and IIITs.
- Category Benefit: The cutoff difference for SC/ST is usually 30-35% lower than General, while OBC-NCL is 10-12% lower.
- Strategy: In counseling (CCMT), participate in special rounds where cutoff often drops.
- Alternative Options: Consider state-level engineering colleges.
Reddit Advice for SC/ST/OBC Candidates with Low Score in GATE 2026
Reddit users on r/GATEtard discuss whether candidates with low scores have any chance at MTech. Especially SC/ST/OBC candidates often have this question. Many Reddit users say that many NITs accept Low GATE scores.
One user on r/GATEtard said, “There are multiple lower nit's which you can get with lower GATE marks. Though there will be a minimum to no placements in there.”
Reddit users also suggest candidates with low GATE scores to attempt other entrance exams for M.E or M.Tech.
One Reddit user suggested, “You should try for BITS through the BITS HD exam”.
| Reddit Tip | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Apply for NITs & IIITs | Lower NITs accept scores 350-500 with reservations |
| Check spot rounds & state colleges | Vacant seats can be opportunities for low GATE scorers |
| Retake GATE in 2027 while working | One-year job with better preparation |
| Explore PSUs with Category Cutoffs | Some PSUs call at 500 GATE score |
| Try for State Colleges | Many state colleges take low GATE scores. |
| Try other Entrance Exams for M.E or M.Tech | With the preparation for GATE, you can easily score in other entrance exams |
Also Read:
Ques. Is qualifying in the GATE enough for IITs or NITs?
Ans. No, qualifying in GATE is not enough for top IITs and NITs, especially if you want competitive courses like CS, EC, or EE. You can still get lower NITs with low competitive branches like manufacturing, water resources, and thermal engineering.
A user in r/GATEtard Reddit thread suggested taking a drop year and taking the exam well prepared next year.
Check Out:
NIT Chances with Low Score in GATE 2026 for Reserved Categories
Even with low GATE scores, you can get into many NITs. However, you should settle for low NITs and low-competitive branches.
- The most likely branches for low GATE scores are Manufacturing Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Renewable Engineering, or Thermal Engineering.
- Most of these programs have a cutoff score of 300-330 for OBC and 200-270 for SC/ST candidates.
- Candidates with low GATE scores might have to wait till the 4th or 5th rounds of counselling for seats at NITs.
A Reddit user suggested, “Please look out for seats in NIT Kurukshetra. It's good for placements.”
| NIT Name | Possible Departments | Expected OBC Cutoff | Expected SC-ST Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIT Warangal |
|
310-330 | 250-270 |
| NIT Surathkal |
|
310-320 | 250-280 |
| NIT Calicut |
|
310-320 | 200-220 |
| NIT Hamirpur |
|
300-320 | 190-220 |
| NIT Durgapur |
|
310-320 | 230-240 |
| NIT Kurukshetra |
|
310-320 | 210-260 |
| NIT Silchar |
|
310-320 | 240-260 |
| NIT Srinagar |
|
320-330 | 250-290 |
| NIT Jalandhar |
|
290-320 | 200-250 |
| NIT Kurukshetra |
|
310-340 | 210-270 |
Also Read:
If you are looking for a private college with low GATE scores, NITs with self-sponsored programs are for you. A Reddit user suggested IIITH, Jammu, and Jodhpur NITs offer self-sponsored programs.
PSU Chances with Low Score in GATE 2026 for SC, ST, and OBC Candidates
Check out the number of marks needed for PSU chances for all categories in this video by GATE Wallah
Ques. Is there any PSU that takes SC/ST candidates with low GATE scores?
Ans. PSUs like ONGC, NPCIL, and NTPC have significantly lower cutoff scores for SC and ST. In 2024, NPCIL cutoff scores for SC were 262 for the chemical engineering discipline. Most PSUs conduct their own interviews, and the interview weightage will be highest.
Other Entrance Exams for Candidates with Low Score in GATE 2026
If you qualified with a low score in GATE 2026, you can score well on these other entrance exams. These exams are relatively easier than GATE.
Many Reddit users suggest BITS HD, PGEE, and ISI exams for low GATE scorers.
One Reddit user suggested, “PGEE/ ISI / TIFR / BITS HD Options available from GATE.”
| Exam Name | Participating Colleges |
|---|---|
| CUET PG | JNU, BHU, and many central/state universities |
| BITS HD | BITS Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad |
| IIITH PGEE | IIIT Hyderabad |
| VITMEE | VIT Vellore, Chennai, Bhopal, AP |
| TS PGECET | Telangana State Colleges |
| Karnataka PGCET | Karnataka State Colleges |
A Reddit user suggests trying the IIITH PGEE exam for IITH. They suggest a low GATE scorer to try for IIIT Bangalore and IITs for their MS programs.
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