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The JEE Main Marks vs Percentile 2026 is a crucial reference for aspirants to understand how their raw scores correspond to percentile ranks through the JEE Main normalisation procedure. Since the examination is conducted in multiple shifts with varying difficulty levels, the National Testing Agency (NTA) implements a percentile-based normalization process to ensure fairness, comparing students’ performance relative to others in the same shift. This method allows candidates to know their relative ranking accurately despite potential variations in question paper difficulty.
Understanding the JEE Main 2026 marks vs percentile helps students predict their expected ranks and admission prospects in top colleges. For instance, scoring between 250 and 279 marks typically translates into a percentile range of 97 to 98.9, which is considered a good score for admissions into prestigious NITs and IIITs, especially for high-demand branches. After this, JEE Main 2026 cutoff will be list based on that candidates can take admission to the colleges allotted to them through JoSAA Counselling.
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JEE Main Marks Vs Percentile 2026 Analysis (Expected)
JEE Main Marks vs Percentile 2026 analysis helps students understand how their expected scores translate into percentiles in the NTA evaluation system. This data-driven guide on JEE Main Marks vs Percentile 2026 gives an estimated comparison based on previous year trends, students’ performance levels, and exam difficulty.
Knowing the expected JEE Main 2026 marks vs percentile range is essential for predicting college admissions, cutoffs, and eligibility for JEE Advanced.
You can also check your expected JEE Main 2026 Rank Predictor and decide about the choice of your college beforehand.
| Marks Range | Expected Percentile |
| 280 – 300 | 99 – 100 |
| 250 – 279 | 97 – 98.9 |
| 200 – 249 | 90 – 96.9 |
| 150 – 199 | 82 – 89.9 |
| 100 – 149 | 70 – 81.9 |
| 50 – 99 | 50 – 69.9 |
| 0 – 49 | Below 50 |
What is a Good Score in JEE Main 2026?
Candidates often wonder about what is the “Good Score” in JEE Main which can get them to the top Institutions of India. Generally, a score in the range of 250 to 279 marks is considered as Good Score for candidates targeting top NITs and IIITs, especially in competitive subjects like Computer Science, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering. This range usually translates to a percentile of around 97 to 98.9, placing candidates approximately between the 1,000 and 4,000 rank bracket.
Check the JEE Main 2026 Good Score with the expected Percentile after Normalization along with the admission opportunities in the below table.
| Marks Range | Expected Percentile | Expected Rank Range | Admission Opportunities |
| 280 – 300 | 99 – 100 | 1 to 1,000 | Top IITs and NITs (CS, Electronics, Mechanical, etc.) |
| 250 – 279 | 97 – 98.9 | 1,000 to 4,000 | High-demand branches in NITs, IIITs, top private universities |
| 200 – 249 | 90 – 96.9 | 4,000 to 10,000 | Popular branches in NITs, IIITs, state colleges |
| 150 – 199 | 82 – 89.9 | 10,000 to 30,000 | State colleges, lower-demand branches in NITs, GFTIs |
| 100 – 149 | 70 – 81.9 | 30,000 to 50,000 | State colleges, less competitive branches in NITs |
| 50 – 99 | 50 – 69.9 | 50,000 to 80,000 | Limited opportunities in private and state colleges |
| Below 50 | Below 50 | Above 80,000 | Very limited options, mainly private universities |
Also Check: JEE Main 2026 Registration Started
Normalization Procedure Based on Percentile Score
The normalization process is a standardized method used to compare the performance of candidates who appear for exams held in multiple shifts. This approach aligns with the methods followed in other major educational selection tests in India. For shift-wise normalization, the NTA applies the percentile equivalence method.
NTA usually conducts JEE Main 2026 exam in different shifts. Its quiet possible that, a set of student will get a tougher question paper in a particular shift than the other one. So, NTA uses “Normalization procedure based on Percentile Score” to ensure that candidates are neither benefitted nor disadvantaged due to the difficulty level of the Examination.
JEE Main Raw Score
Percentile Scores represent a candidate’s performance compared to others who appeared in the same exam shift. The raw marks obtained by each candidate are converted into a scale ranging from 0 to 100 for every shift.
A Percentile Score shows the percentage of candidates who scored equal to or below the marks of a particular student in that specific shift. Hence, the highest scorer of each shift always secures a Percentile Score of 100. Scores between the highest and lowest marks are proportionately assigned appropriate percentile values.
The final merit list is prepared after these percentile scores are treated as the normalized scores of the examination. Percentile scores are calculated up to seven decimal places to minimize tie situations and ensure accuracy.
The Percentile score of a Candidate is calculated as follows:
Step-By-Step JEE Main Normalisation Procedure And Preparation Of Result
Normalization is a statistical process used in competitive exams conducted in multiple shifts to ensure fairness across sessions that may have varying difficulty levels. The step-wise method below outlines how candidates are distributed across shifts and how their results are processed and normalized to maintain equality in evaluation.
Step 1: Allocation of Examinees into Shifts
The JEE Main 2026 exam will be held in two shifts: Day 1 Shift 1 and Day 1 Shift 2. Candidates are assigned to different shifts randomly to ensure that each shift includes nearly the same number of participants
This randomized allocation prevents bias and ensures a fair representation of candidates from across the country.
Step 2: Result Compilation for Each Shift
For every shift, results are generated in two forms:
- Raw scores obtained by candidates
- Percentile scores based on these raw scores
The percentile score for each examinee in a particular shift, denoted as TP1, is calculated using the total raw marks of that candidate in relation to the overall performance of all candidates in that shift.
Step 3: Compilation of NTA Score and Result Preparation
The percentile scores obtained for each shift are combined to create the NTA scores. These scores serve as the basis for preparing the final results and determining further processes such as merit ranking and seat allocation.
If the percentile values corresponding to the qualifying (cut-off) marks vary across different shifts, the lowest percentile among them will be taken as the qualifying benchmark for that particular category across all shifts.
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JEE Main 2026 Tie Breaking Criteria
In cases where two or more candidates secure identical total NTA scores, the tie will be settled using the following sequence of criteria:
- Higher NTA score in Mathematics.
- If still tied, higher NTA score in Physics.
- If the tie persists, higher NTA score in Chemistry.
- Candidate with a lower ratio of incorrect to correct responses across all subjects.
- If required, candidate with a lower ratio of incorrect to correct answers in Mathematics.
- Next, candidate with a lower ratio of incorrect to correct responses in Physics.
- Thereafter, candidate with a lower ratio of incorrect to correct answers in Chemistry.
JEE Main Cutoff 2026 (Expected)
The JEE Main 2026 cutoff is one of the most anticipated updates for engineering aspirants across India. TheJEE Main 2026 cutoff marks will determine candidates’ eligibility for admissions into top NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, as well as their qualification for JEE Advanced. Based on previous year trends and exam difficulty, the JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff may vary across categories.
| Category | Expected JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Marks (out of 300) |
| General (UR) | 91 – 95 |
| EWS | 79 – 83 |
| OBC-NCL | 77 – 81 |
| SC | 58 – 62 |
| ST | 44 – 48 |
JEE Main Cutoff Past 3 Years Trend Analysis
Analyzing the JEE Main cutoff trends over the past three years, helps candidates understand the benchmarks required to qualify for JEE Advanced and secure admissions to premier institutes.
| Years | General (UR) | EWS | OBC-NCL | SC | ST | PwD (UR-PwD) |
| 2025 | 93.1023262 | 80.3830119 | 79.4313582 | 61.1526933 | 47.9026465 | 0.0079349 |
| 2024 | 93.2362181 | 81.3266412 | 79.6757881 | 60.0923182 | 46.6975840 | 0.0018700 |
| 2023 | 90.7788642 | 75.6229025 | 73.6114227 | 51.9776027 | 37.2348772 | 0.0013527 |
JEE Main Marks vs Percentile 2025
Understanding marks vs percentile JEE Mains 2025 is key for predicting your All India Rank and college admission chances. The JEE Main 2025 Marks vs Percentile analysis reveals that even minor variations in marks have caused major percentile fluctuations.
A score range of 281–300 corresponds to the 99.98–100 percentile, giving candidates a strong chance to enter top NITs with their desired branches. However, those scoring between 150 and 200 usually fall within the 99–99.8 percentile band, indicating intense competition among high performers. For candidates obtaining 61–100 marks, the percentile lies roughly between 87 and 96, showing that moderate scores can still give good ranks.
| JEE Main 2025 Score | JEE Main 2025 Percentile |
| 300 – 281 | 100 – 99.9894845 |
| 271 – 280 | 99.994681 – 99.997394 |
| 263 – 270 | 99.990990 – 99.994029 |
| 250 – 262 | 99.977205 – 99.988819 |
| 241 – 250 | 99.960163 – 99.974950 |
| 231 – 240 | 99.934980 – 99.956364 |
| 221 – 230 | 99.901113 – 99.928901 |
| 211 – 220 | 99.851616 – 99.893732 |
| 201 – 210 | 99.795063 – 99.845212 |
| 191 – 200 | 99.710831 – 99.782472 |
| 181 – 190 | 99.597399 – 99.688579 |
| 171 – 180 | 99.456939 – 99.573193 |
| 161 – 170 | 99.272084 – 99.431214 |
| 151 – 160 | 99.028614 – 99.239737 |
| 141 – 150 | 98.732389 – 98.990296 |
| 131 – 140 | 98.317414 – 98.666935 |
| 121 – 130 | 97.811260 – 98.254132 |
| 111 – 120 | 97.142937 – 97.685672 |
| 101 – 110 | 96.204502 – 96.978272 |
| 91 – 100 | 94.998594 – 96.064850 |
| 81 – 90 | 93.471231 – 94.749479 |
| 71 – 80 | 91.072128 – 93.152971 |
| 61 – 70 | 87.512225 – 90.702200 |
| 51 – 60 | 82.016062 – 86.907944 |
| 41 – 50 | 73.287808 – 80.982153 |
| 31 – 40 | 58.151490 – 71.302052 |
| 21 – 30 | 37.694529 – 56.569310 |
| 20 – 11 | 13.495849 – 33.229128 |
| 0 – 10 | 0.8435177 – 9.6954066 |
List of Colleges for Low Ranks in JEE Main 2026
Even if a candidate secures a lower rank in JEE Main 2026, it does not prevent them from pursuing an engineering degree in India Several government and private institutions accept students with higher ranks, particularly in core engineering branches such as Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Information Technology. Many colleges offer admission opportunities to candidates with lower JEE Main scores.
NITs Accepting Low JEE Main Score
| NIT Name | Possible Branches | Admission Mode | Category |
| NIT Mizoram | Civil, ME, EEE | JoSAA/CSAB | OBC/SC/ST |
| NIT Sikkim | Civil, Mechanical | CSAB special round | SC/ST |
| NIT Nagaland | EEE, ME | JoSAA last round | OBC/SC |
| NIT Arunachal Pradesh | Mechanical, Civil | JoSAA/CSAB | SC/ST |
| NIT Manipur | ECE, Mechanical | CSAB | OBC/SC/ST |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is JEE Main Marks vs Percentile 2026?
JEE Main Marks vs Percentile 2026 represents the relationship between candidates’ raw marks and their percentile scores after normalization. It helps students estimate their rank and admission chances in top engineering colleges like NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
2. How is the JEE Main Normalisation Procedure takes place?
The JEE Main normalisation procedure is used by the NTA to adjust scores across multiple shifts of the exam. It ensures fairness by converting raw marks into percentile scores, comparing a candidate’s performance relative to others in the same shift.
3. What is the JEE Main Normalisation Formula?
The JEE Main normalisation formula calculates the percentile score as:
Percentile = (100 × Number of candidates who scored equal to or below a candidate in a shift) ÷ Total candidates in that shift. This helps in preparing the final NTA score accurately.
4. Why is normalization important in JEE Main 2026?
Since JEE Main 2026 is conducted in multiple shifts with varying difficulty levels, normalization ensures no student is advantaged or disadvantaged based on the paper’s difficulty. It provides a fair comparison across all shifts.
5. What is a good score in JEE Main 2026?
A good score in JEE Main 2026 is generally between 250 and 279 marks, which corresponds to a 97–98.9 percentile. Such scores usually qualify for top NITs and IIITs, especially in competitive branches like Computer Science or Mechanical Engineering.
6. How many marks are needed for 99 percentile in JEE Main 2026?
To score around the 99 percentile, candidates should aim for 280-300 marks in JEE Main 2026. This range places students in the top 1,000 ranks, making them eligible for admission to top NITs and some IITs through JEE Advanced.
7. What is the difference between JEE Main Marks and Percentile?
Marks are the actual raw scores obtained by candidates.
Percentile reflects how a candidate performed relative to others in their shift after normalization.
A higher percentile means better performance even if raw marks differ across shifts.
8. How does NTA prepare the JEE Main result using percentile scores?
NTA compiles percentile scores from all shifts and combines them to create the final NTA score. These normalized scores are used to determine ranks, merit lists, and eligibility for JEE Advanced or college admissions.
9. Can I get admission with a low percentile in JEE Main 2026?
Yes. Even with a lower JEE Main percentile, students can secure seats in several NITs with lower cutoffs, state government colleges, and private universities through CSAB and JoSAA counselling rounds.
10. When is JEE Mains 2026 start?
The JEE Main 2026 registration process began on 21st October 2025 and will continue until 27th November 2025. Candidates can register online at the official NTA website.
