NTA has released the official provisional answer key on 11th April, 2026 on their official website, now every candidate's first priority is to know how to calculate JEE Mains Marks from answer key quickly.
Candidates can calculate JEE Main Mark by comparing their response sheet to the official answer key and applying the marking scheme to come up with their final score.
- To do so, first candidate need to download the response sheet and answer key by using their application ID and password.
- Match their recorded answers (Question ID + Option ID) with the correct option ID provided in the answer key.
- Applying +4 for each correct answer, -1 for each incorrect answer, and 0 for unattempted questions.
- Total Score are calculated out of 300 by using formula:
| Total Marks = ( Correct x 4) - ( Incorrect x 1) |
Note: Negative marking only applies to MCQs. No negative marking for Numerical Value Questions (NVTs).
Related Links:
- Check JEE Mains Session 2 Result Date and Time 2026
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- How Many Candidates applied for the JEE Mains 2026 Session 2 Exam

How to Download JEE Main Answer Key 2026
The official answer key for JEE Main 2026 will be available only on the portal of the NTA. To download it immediately after its release, follow the following steps:
- Open NTA JEE Main home page:jeemain.nta.ac.in.
- Click on the link on the home page that is named JEE Main 2026 Answer Key.
- Type in your Number of Application and Date of Birth.
- Select your shift (Session 1 or session 2).
- Get the PDF answer key of the three subjects: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
- You can also download your Response Sheet on the same portal to compare the answers you have marked.
The response sheet and provisional answer key are both available at the same time. Do not wait till the final answer key, start your calculation with a provisional version and re-calculate in case of any challenges that are accepted by the NTA.
Check: JEE Main 2026 Dropped Questions List Out: Check Full Details Shift-Wise and Reddit Discussions
Ques. When will JEE Main 2026 answer key be released?
Ans. The tentative answer key will be made available on April 11 according to latest news. It will be published on the official NTA site where it would be accessed by the candidates.
Ques. Where can I download the JEE Main answer key 2026?
Ans. After logging in to jeemain.nta.nic.In, you can download it. The candidates will require their application number and date of birth to access it.
Ques. Is login required to access the answer key?
Ans. Yes, application number and passwords are required to access the answer key. To see the response sheet, the same login is needed as well.
Also Read: JEE Main 2026 Official vs Coaching Answer Key Comparison
What is JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme?
- To know how to calculate JEE Mains marks from answer key with accuracy. You have to be made aware of the very marking scheme, outlined by NTA.
- It is subject and section-wise and is applied in the same manner in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
| Question Type | Correct | Incorrect | Unattempted | Max Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCQ (Single Correct) | +4 | –1 | 0 | 4 |
| Numerical Value (Section B) | +4 | 0 (No negative marking) | 0 | 4 |
| Total Questions (Sec A + B) | 25 MCQ | 10 Numerical | (5 attempted) | 300 per subject |
Note: There are 300 marks in the exam (100 marks each) on the three subjects: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Both subjects are assessed individually by the same marking scheme.
Ques. Is there negative marking in JEE Main 2026?
Ans. Yes, there is a deduction of 1 mark per mismatched MCQ answer. Numerical questions are not marked negatively.
Ques. Do numerical questions have negative marking?
Ans. No, numerical value questions do not have negative marking. The MCQs are only negatively marked.
Ques. How many marks are awarded for a correct answer?
Ans. Any right response is given +4 marks. This is both in MCQs and numerical questions.
What is JEE Main Response Sheet 2026?
Response sheet is a formal document showing answers that have been marked by candidates in the exam. Those trying to understand how to calculate JEE Mains marks from answer key, must know this necessary requirement so that none of the answers is missed.
Details Available in Response Sheet
- Marked responses
- Question IDs
- Attempt status
- Exam shift details
Check: Download Your JEE Main 2026 Response Sheet Here
Ques. What is JEE Main response sheet?
Ans. It is a document indicating all the answers the candidate marks in the exam. It is used along with the answer key to calculate scores.
Ques. When will response sheet be released?
Ans. Response sheet is normally published with or before the answer key. After logging in, one can find it on the official site.
How to Calculate JEE Main Marks Using JEE Main 2026 Answer Key?
After getting the answer key PDF and your response sheet, you can directly calculate the JEE Main 2026 score using the following formula:
| Total score = (Number of correct answers × 4) − (Number of incorrect MCQ answers × 1) + (Number of correct numerical answers × 4) |
Step-by-Step Calculation Process

Check:
Here is an example to illustrate how to calculate JEE Mains marks from the answer key for a single subject:
Example Calculation
| Type | Count | Marks per Q | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Correct Answers | 60 | +4 | 240 |
| Incorrect Answers | 10 | -1 | -10 |
| Final Score | — | 230 Marks |
Note: In case NTA considers any challenge and updates an answer key, all candidates who have chosen it will be awarded 4 extra marks. In case a question is dropped, all the candidates get the full mark irrespective of their answer.
Check: JEE Main 2026 Marks Vs Percentile for all Session 2 Apr Shifts
Ques. How to calculate JEE Mains marks from answer key?
Ans. Match your responses with the official answer key and count correct and incorrect answers. Apply +4 for correct and -1 for incorrect responses to get your score.
Ques. What is the formula to calculate JEE Main score?
Ans. The formula is Score = (Correct Answers × 4) – (Incorrect Answers × 1). This gives your raw score out of 300.
Ques. Can I calculate my score before official answer key release?
Ans. Yes, you can use memory-based answer keys for rough estimation. However, final accuracy comes only after the official key is released.
JEE Main 2026 Score Calculator (Session 2) – Check Your Score Instantly
- Applicants do not need to manually calculate scores as they can use the JEE Main 2026 Score Calculator (Session 2) tool.
- It gives immediate results with the official marking scheme, and it becomes easy to know how to calculate JEE Mains marks from the answer key without mistakes.
How to Challenge Provisional JEE Main Answer Key 2026?
- In case you think that any of the answers in the provisional answer key are not correct, NTA will give you a chance to make an official objection within a short period (typically 2-3 days after the publication of the key).
- The challenge fee is ₹200 per question.
- The refund of the fee is purely based on whether the challenge is accepted by the NTA or not; forfeiting is based on the rejection of the challenge.
The following is the detailed procedure:
| Step | Action | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visit NTA Portal | jeemain.nta.ac.in |
| 2 | Login with Credentials | Application No. + Date of Birth |
| 3 | Click Challenge Link | Find the 'Answer Key Challenge' tab |
| 4 | Select Question(s) to Challenge | Enter Question ID and your answer with proof |
| 5 | Pay Fee | ₹200 per question via credit/debit card or net banking |
| 6 | Submit & Save Confirmation | Take a screenshot of successful submission for records |
Ques. Can I challenge the JEE Main answer key 2026?
Ans. Yes, candidates can challenge the provisional answer key online. This facility is available for a limited time after release.
Ques. What is the fee for challenging answer key?
Ans. The fee is ₹200 per question challenged. It is to be paid online during the challenge process.
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