Aspiring engineering students in Tamil Nadu may see a decrease in cut-off marks for the 2025-26 academic year due to the difficulty level of key Class 12 subjects, including mathematics. The Class 12 public examinations concluded on March 25, and results are set to be announced on May 9.The Directorate of Technical Education (DOTE), under the Higher Education Department, will release a detailed notification for engineering admissions post-result declaration. T. Purushothaman, in charge of the 2024-25 TNEA admission process, stated that the merit list would be prepared after student enrollment and other formalities. As per the ranking formula, 50% of mathematics marks and 25% each of chemistry and physics marks will be considered.
Students and educators have reported that this year’s mathematics, chemistry, and physics papers were tougher than previous years, which could lead to a decline in high scores. “This year’s mathematics paper was moderately tough, and we expect fewer centum scores compared to last year,” said a coaching center operator in Chennai.
While the cut-off reduction is anticipated, S. Natarajan, a consultant for higher education, cautioned that an accurate prediction could only be made after the results are announced. “The impact on cut-offs will be clearer once we analyze the overall performance of students in the board exams,” he added.
With expectations of lower cut-offs, many students are hopeful about securing seats in top engineering colleges across the state.