TNEA (Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions) is conducted by Anna University every year for admission to 420+ engineering colleges across Tamil Nadu. Your rank in TNEA is based on a cutoff mark calculated from your Class 12 (HSC) marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics — not your total score.
The key thing to note is that Mathematics carries double the weightage of Physics and Chemistry. A student scoring 100/100 in Maths, 100/100 in Physics, and 100/100 in Chemistry will have a cutoff of 100 + 50 + 50 = 200 — the maximum possible.
Marks (each out of 100): Maths = 98, Physics = 96, Chemistry = 94
Calculation: 98 + (96 ÷ 2) + (94 ÷ 2)
= 98 + 48 + 47 = 193
This student is likely eligible for Anna University Chennai, PSG Tech, and other top colleges for OC community.
Marks (each out of 100): Maths = 80, Physics = 75, Chemistry = 72
Calculation: 80 + (75 ÷ 2) + (72 ÷ 2)
= 80 + 37.5 + 36 = 153.5
A cutoff in this range is typically enough for a wide range of self-financing colleges, though not the most competitive government campuses.
| Marks (each out of 100) | Maths | Physics | Chemistry | Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100, 100, 100 | 100 | 50 | 50 | 200 |
| 95, 95, 95 | 95 | 47.5 | 47.5 | 190 |
| 90, 88, 85 | 90 | 44 | 42.5 | 176.5 |
| 85, 80, 78 | 85 | 40 | 39 | 164 |
| 75, 70, 65 | 75 | 35 | 32.5 | 142.5 |
The table below shows approximate average closing ranks for consistently top-ranked colleges under OC community, based on recent counselling years. Lower rank = more competitive college. Always check our Cutoff Comparison tool for the latest year-by-year figures.
| # | College | District | Type | Approx. Avg Closing Rank (OC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anna University, CEG Campus, Chennai | Chennai | Anna University | ~5,073 |
| 2 | SSN College of Engineering | Chengalpattu | Private | ~4,249 |
| 3 | Coimbatore Institute of Technology | Coimbatore | Govt Aided | ~7,756 |
| 4 | Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai | Madurai | Govt Aided | ~9,526 |
| 5 | Government College of Technology, Coimbatore | Coimbatore | Government | ~11,660 |
| 6 | PSG College of Technology | Coimbatore | Govt Aided | ~12,406 |
| 7 | Government College of Engineering, Salem | Salem | Government | ~18,658 |
| 8 | Kumaraguru College of Technology | Coimbatore | Private | ~18,664 |
TNEA has 7 community categories. Each community has a separate rank list. The same cutoff mark leads to a better rank in reserved categories.
| Community | Abbreviation | Reservation % | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Category | OC | 31% | All communities compete |
| Backward Class | BC | 26.5% | Notified Backward Classes |
| BC Muslim | BCM | 3.5% | Muslim Backward Classes |
| Most Backward Class | MBC | 20% | Most Backward & Denotified Communities |
| Scheduled Caste | SC | 15% | Scheduled Castes |
| SC Arunthathiyar | SCA | 3% | Arunthathiyar sub-community |
| Scheduled Tribe | ST | 1% | Scheduled Tribes |
Since Maths carries the most weight in TNEA cutoff:
Selva
TNEA Counselling Advisor, ChooseMyCollege
Selva guides students and parents through Tamil Nadu engineering admissions every counselling season, working with TNEA cutoff data covering 470+ colleges. Have a question about your rank or choices? Get in touch.
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