GATE 2026 EE Expected Cut Off: Category-Wise Cut Off, Paper Analysis & Safe Score

GATE 2026 EE Expected Cut Off: The GATE 2026 Electrical Engineering (EE) exam has generated strong curiosity among aspirants who are now searching for the GATE 2026 EE Expected Cut Off, safe score range, and rank prediction.

Based on the latest paper review and difficulty analysis, this article explains the expected cutoff marks, subject-wise difficulty, and score interpretation in a clear and student-friendly tone.

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering this year is being conducted by IIT Guwahati, and the EE paper showed a balanced mix of conceptual and scoring questions.

GATE 2026 EE Expected Cut Off (Predicted)

According to expert analysis and previous year trends:

• Expected qualifying cutoff: 25–27 marks

• Safe score for good rank: 55–70 marks

• Score above 60: Strong chances for PSU interview or top M.Tech institutes

• Below 50 marks: Heavy competition zone with rank fluctuation

These predictions may slightly change after normalisation and official result release, but the overall cutoff movement is expected to remain stable.

Overall Difficulty Level of GATE 2026 EE Paper

The GATE 2026 EE paper maintained a moderate difficulty:

• General Aptitude and Network Theory → Easy to moderate

• Engineering Mathematics and Signals → Moderate but lengthy

• Core subjects (Machines, Power Systems, EMFT) → Conceptual and rank-deciding

Because of this balanced difficulty, the cutoff is unlikely to rise sharply.

Subject-Wise Analysis Affecting Cut Off

General Aptitude

• Mostly quantitative number-based questions

• One basic triangle geometry question

•  Overall easy to moderate, helping students score marks quickly.

Engineering Mathematics

• Questions were lengthy rather than difficult

• Linear Algebra MSQs dominated

• Differential equations, probability, complex analysis required 2–3 minutes each

•  Time consumption slightly reduced attempts, keeping cutoff stable.

Measurements

• Very easy and predictable

• Wheatstone bridge balance condition

• Average power and power factor questions

• Helped improve overall scoring average.

Signals & Systems

• Three questions, two from DSP

• Sampling PYQ and Z-transform from notes

• Moderate level; reinforced importance of cross-branch PYQs.

Analog Electronics

• Simple op-amp, diode, BJT-Zener, amplifier questions

• Nearly 6–7 easy marks available

• Major score booster, preventing cutoff drop.

Digital Electronics

• Only two questions in EE

• Logic family power + logic gate basics

• Limited weightage but easy scoring.

Network Theory

• Basic conceptual questions

• Thevenin resistance, AC circuit, independent source

• Easier than expected → supports moderate cutoff.

Control Systems

• Mostly easy questions

• Rise time, settling time, Bode plot

• One state-space transformation tricky question

• Balanced difficulty → neutral cutoff impact.

Electrical Machines (Rank-Deciding)

• High weightage

• Easy autotransformer

• Tricky DD10 transformer connection

• Induction motor PYQ

• Synchronous excitation concept

• Strong conceptual focus → major cutoff determinant.

Power Systems & Power Electronics

• Mix of direct formula + conceptual traps

• Jacobian order and boost converter simple

• Moderate contribution to final score.

EMFT – Game Changer

• Around 4–5 questions

• Divergence, electrostatics ring → easy

• Work-done, magnetostatics → moderate

• Faraday law → lengthy

• Rank-deciding subject, keeping cutoff around mid-20s.

Score vs Rank Insight for GATE 2026 EE

Key Trends From GATE 2026 EE Paper

• Paper was balanced, not extreme

• Core subjects decided merit

• Lengthy maths reduced attempts

• Easy analog and measurements increased scoring

• Final cutoff expected stable near previous years