Based on 2025 trends, the JEPBN 2026 expected cutoff for SC category is 45 to 50 marks out of 100, with an expected merit rank between 350 and 700.
JEPBN (Joint Entrance for Post Basic Nursing) is conducted by the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board (WBJEEB) for admission to Post Basic BSc Nursing programs across government and self-financed institutions in West Bengal. The 2026 exam was held on July 6, 2026. SC students benefit from a lower cutoff compared to General category students due to West Bengal’s reservation policy, under which 22% of total JEPBN seats are reserved for Scheduled Caste students.
- JEPBN 2026 has 100 questions worth 100 marks in total with a 0.25 mark deduction per wrong answer.
- The expected SC category cutoff is 45 to 50 marks based on 2025 JEPBN trends.
- General category students need 60+ marks, roughly 10 to 15 marks more than SC students.
- SC students in West Bengal receive 22% reservation in total JEPBN seat allotment.
- Official merit list and rank cards are published on the WBJEEB portal after counselling is complete.
JEPBN 2026 SC Category Expected Cutoff
WBJEEB has not released the official JEPBN 2026 cutoff yet. The table below presents expected SC category cutoff figures based on 2025 trends. All values are indicative and subject to change once the official merit list is published.
| Parameter | Expected Details for 2026 |
|---|---|
| SC Category Expected Cutoff Marks | 45 – 50 out of 100 |
| SC Category Expected Merit Rank | 350 – 700 |
| Total Exam Marks | 100 |
| SC Seat Reservation in West Bengal | 22% of total seats |
| Exam Mode | OMR-based (offline) |
| Cutoff Determination Basis | Merit rank derived from JEPBN score |
The official JEPBN 2026 cutoff and category-wise merit ranks will be available on wbjeeb.nic.in once WBJEEB publishes results and initiates counselling.
Minimum Qualifying Marks for SC Category
JEPBN carries 100 total marks split across two parts. Part A (40 marks) covers General Science subjects including Physiology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Nutrition and Pathology. Part B (60 marks) covers Nursing subjects including Medical-Surgical Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Pediatric Nursing and Obstetrical Nursing. Each correct answer earns 1 mark and each wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks. The estimated score bands and admission prospects for SC students in 2026 are shown below based on 2025 patterns:
| Score Range (out of 100) | Expected SC Category Admission Chances |
|---|---|
| 55 and above | Good chances at government nursing colleges |
| 50 – 54 | Moderate chances; self-financed colleges more likely |
| 45 – 49 | Borderline; admission depends on total SC seat availability |
| Below 45 | Low chances; seat allotment unlikely |
SC students targeting government Post Basic BSc Nursing colleges should aim for 55 marks or above to stay comfortably above the expected 2026 SC cutoff threshold and improve their rank standing.
Category-wise Cutoff Comparison
JEPBN cutoff differs across reservation categories. SC students consistently receive a lower score threshold compared to General and EWS students due to the state’s reservation mandate. The table below shows the expected category-wise cutoff for JEPBN 2026 based on 2025 trends:
| Category | Expected Cutoff Marks (2026) | Expected Merit Rank (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| General (Unreserved) | 60+ | 1 – 300 |
| EWS | 52+ | 280 – 420 |
| OBC-A (More Backward) | 52+ | 280 – 450 |
| OBC-B (Backward) | 50+ | 300 – 500 |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 45 – 50 | 350 – 700 |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 37+ | 500 – 900 |
All figures in the table above are expected estimates based on previous year trends. These will be confirmed only after WBJEEB publishes the official JEPBN 2026 merit list and cutoff data.
Factors Affecting JEPBN 2026 SC Category Cutoff
The final SC category cutoff for JEPBN 2026 will be shaped by several variables. Understanding these factors can help SC students gauge where they stand before results are declared:
- Total SC applicants: A higher SC applicant count competing for the same reserved seats pushes the cutoff marks upward.
- Exam difficulty level: A tougher paper lowers average scores across all students, which typically brings down cutoff marks.
- Number of SC seats available: West Bengal reserves 22% of total JEPBN seats for SC students. A larger overall intake directly increases the number of SC seats, which can ease the closing rank.
- Score distribution: If a large share of SC students cluster in the 40 to 50 mark range, competition for borderline seats intensifies significantly.
- Tie-breaking rules: WBJEEB applies age-based tie-breaking when two students score identically, which can shift rank positions within the SC merit pool.
- Participating institutions: More colleges joining the JEPBN counselling process means additional SC seats and potentially lower closing ranks.
Expected Rank Range for SC Students
WBJEEB publishes a combined merit list where students are ranked based on their JEPBN scores. SC students compete within the reserved seat pool during counselling. The marks-to-rank mapping below is estimated for SC students in JEPBN 2026 based on 2025 patterns:
| Score (out of 100) | Expected Overall Rank | Expected SC Category Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 60 and above | 1 – 250 | 1 – 60 |
| 55 – 59 | 250 – 400 | 60 – 120 |
| 50 – 54 | 400 – 550 | 120 – 200 |
| 45 – 49 | 550 – 700 | 200 – 300 |
| 40 – 44 | 700 – 950 | 300 – 420 |
| Below 40 | 950+ | 420+ |
The rank estimates above are based on 2025 JEPBN patterns and serve as a reference only. SC students who score 50 marks or above out of 100 are expected to have a strong chance of securing a seat under the reserved category during JEPBN 2026 counselling rounds.
JEPBN 2026 SC Category Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the expected JEPBN 2026 cutoff for SC category?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, the expected JEPBN 2026 cutoff for SC category is approximately 45 to 50 marks out of 100. This is lower than the General category expected cutoff of 60+ marks due to the 22% SC seat reservation in West Bengal.
Ques. What is the total marks in the JEPBN 2026 exam?
Ans. JEPBN 2026 carries 100 total marks across 100 questions. Part A has 40 marks covering General Science and Part B has 60 marks covering Nursing subjects. Each correct answer gives 1 mark and each wrong answer deducts 0.25 marks. The exam duration is 90 minutes.
Ques. How many seats are reserved for SC category in JEPBN 2026?
Ans. West Bengal reserves 22% of total JEPBN seats for Scheduled Caste students. The exact count of SC seats depends on the total seat matrix released by WBJEEB for the 2026-27 academic session across participating government and self-financed nursing colleges.
Ques. When will the official JEPBN 2026 cutoff be released?
Ans. WBJEEB releases the JEPBN official cutoff marks along with the merit list and rank cards after the counselling process. Students can check the official cutoff on the WBJEEB website at wbjeeb.nic.in once it is published.
Ques. What rank should SC students target in JEPBN 2026 for admission?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, SC students with an expected overall merit rank between 350 and 700 are likely to be considered for seat allotment under the SC reserved category in JEPBN 2026. Scoring 50 or above out of 100 is advisable to improve chances at preferred government nursing colleges.
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