As the JEE Main 2026 January session will start from tomorrow, i.e., January 21, 2026. Around 14 Lakh students are likely to appear for this session. The session will commence on 6 days with 2 shifts per day.
Unlike traditional exams, JEE Main follows a percentile-based normalisation process to ensure fairness and equity across multiple shifts and sessions. In this article, we will discuss the intricate relationship between marks and percentiles.
Understanding the marks Vs percentile is the most critical aspect, as the All India Ranks will be determined by NTA based on the percentile score rather than the raw marks.
In 2025, 20+ students secured a perfect 100th percentile, up from 15 in 2024. In 2026, as the competition and availability of resources have increased, such as AI, the 100th percentiles are likely to exceed 2025’s number.
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Key Summary
- In 2025, due to normalization, 148 marks yielded the 99th percentile in the toughest shift vs 203 in the easiest shift.
- For 2026, experts predict around 260+ marks for the 99.99th percentile.
- Around 140 marks were required in 2025 for the 94th-97th percentile.
- Last year, Chemistry was the easiest as it required 65-71 marks for a 99+ subject percentile, as compared to Mathematics, which required 50-60 marks for the same percentile.
- In 2025, many candidates improved by around 10-20+ percentile points due to the “best of two rule”.
JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Marks vs Percentile
The experts of Sri Chaitanya Academy JEE have provided the detailed analysis of JEE Main 2026 session 1 Marks vs Percentile shift wise.
- It has been observed that 28 Jan Shift 1 and Shift 2 was the toughest papers, where scoring the 99 percentile will require 200+ and ~195 marks.
- Where, 23 Jan Shift 2 and 21 Jan Shift 1 were relatively tougher,to achieve the 99 percentile around 145 - 155 marks are required.
- Most moderate level shifts like 22–24 Jan, where 99 percentile will need a score ranging between 150–170 marks.
| Shift | 99 Percentile Marks | 98 Percentile Marks | 97 Percentile Marks | 96 Percentile Marks | 95 Percentile Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jan Shift 1 | ~155 | 140–145 | 125–130 | 110–115 | 100–105 |
| 21 Jan Shift 2 | ~175 | 155–160 | 140–145 | ~124 | 115–118 |
| 22 Jan Shift 1 | ~168 | 150–155 | 135–140 | 120–125 | ~112 |
| 22 Jan Shift 2 | ~162 | 145–150 | 130–135 | ~117 | 108–110 |
| 23 Jan Shift 1 | ~170 | 150–155 | 135–140 | ~120 | ~112 |
| 23 Jan Shift 2 | 145–148 | 130–135 | 115–120 | ~105 | ~95 |
| 24 Jan Shift 1 | ~155 | 140–145 | 125–130 | 112–115 | ~105 |
| 24 Jan Shift 2 | ~150 | 135–140 | 120–125 | ~110 | ~100 |
| 28 Jan Shift 1 | 200+ | 175–180 | 160–165 | 145–150 | ~135 |
| 28 Jan Shift 2 | ~195 | 170–175 | 155–160 | 140–145 | ~132 |
JEE Main 202 January 21 Shift 1 (One of the Toughest)
| Percentile | Expected Marks |
|---|---|
| 99+ | ~155 |
| 98 | 140–145 |
| 97 | 125–130 |
| 96 | 110–115 |
| 95 | 100–105 |
JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 2 (Easiest / Most Balanced)
| Percentile | Expected Marks |
|---|---|
| 99+ | ~175 |
| 98 | 155–160 |
| 97 | 140–145 |
| 96 | ~124 |
| 95 | 115–118 |
JEE Main 2026 January 22 Shift 1
| Percentile | Expected Marks |
|---|---|
| 99+ | ~168 |
| 98 | 150–155 |
| 97 | 135–140 |
| 96 | 120–125 |
| 95 | ~112 |
JEE Main 2026 January 22 Shift 2 (Underrated but Tough)
| Percentile | Expected Marks |
|---|---|
| 99+ | ~162 |
| 98 | 145–150 |
| 97 | 130–135 |
| 96 | ~117 |
| 95 | 108–110 |
JEE Main 2026 January 23 Shift 1
| Percentile | Expected Marks |
|---|---|
| 99+ | ~170 |
| 98 | 150–155 |
| 97 | 135–140 |
| 96 | ~120 |
| 95 | ~112 |
JEE Main 2026 23 January Shift 2 (Among the Toughest)
| Percentile | Expected Marks |
|---|---|
| 99+ | 145–148 |
| 98 | 130–135 |
| 97 | 115–120 |
| 96 | ~105 |
| 95 | ~95 |
JEE Main 2026 January 24 Shift 1
| Percentile | Expected Marks |
|---|---|
| 99+ | ~155 |
| 98 | 140–145 |
| 97 | 125–130 |
| 96 | 112–115 |
| 95 | ~105 |
JEE Main 2026 January 24 Shift 2
| Percentile | Expected Marks |
|---|---|
| 99+ | ~150 |
| 98 | 135–140 |
| 97 | 120–125 |
| 96 | ~110 |
| 95 | ~100 |
JEE Main 2026 January 28 Shift 1
| Percentile | Expected Marks |
|---|---|
| 99+ | 200+ |
| 98 | 175–180 |
| 97 | 160–165 |
| 96 | 145–150 |
| 95 | ~135 |
JEE Main 2026 January 28 Shift 2
| Percentile | Expected Marks |
|---|---|
| 99+ | ~195 |
| 98 | 170–175 |
| 97 | 155–160 |
| 96 | 140–145 |
| 95 | ~132 |
JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Qualifying Cutoff
The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 qualifying cutoff shows your eligibility for JEE Advanced 2026
- The analysis shows that in the moderate to easy shift, a higher cutoff around 95 – 96th percentile will be required.
- While candidates who attempted the very tough shift will have to score in the 85-90th percentile or lower.
| Shift | Overall Difficulty | JEE Advanced Cutoff (Percentile) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Jan Shift 1 | Difficult, lengthy & tricky | ~93.5 percentile |
| 21 Jan Shift 2 | Moderate & doable | ~96 percentile |
| 22 Jan Shift 1 | Moderate–tough | ~94–95 percentile |
| 22 Jan Shift 2 | Tough & time-consuming | ~92–94 percentile |
| 23 Jan Shift 1 | Moderate | ~95 percentile |
| 23 Jan Shift 2 | Very tough | Below 85 percentile |
| 24 Jan Shift 1 | Tough & calculative | ~88–94 percentile |
| 24 Jan Shift 2 | Very tough | ~85–90 percentile |
| 28 Jan Shift 1 | Moderate but lengthy | ~96 percentile |
| 28 Jan Shift 2 | Slightly easier than Shift 1 | ~95–96 percentile |
What is JEE Main 2026 Marks, Percentile, and Normalization Process?
JEE Main uses normalization across multiple shifts to ensure a fair examination for all candidates. The raw scores out of 300 are converted to a percentile score to make the merit list. The All India Rank will be determined based on the best percentile score.
Marks: Marks are the raw score achieved by a candidate based on the marking scheme of the examination, i.e. students will get four marks for every correct answer and minus one for incorrect answers.
The merit list will not be based on the raw marks, as it will be based on the percentile score or the normalized score.
Percentile: Percentile scores are scores based on the Shift-wise relative performance of all those who appear for the examination. The marks obtained are transformed into a scale ranging from 100 to 0 for each Shift of examinees.
- The Percentile Score indicates the percentage of candidates that have scored equal to or below that particular Candidate in that Shift.
- The topper (highest score) of each Shift will get the same Percentile of 100, which is desirable.
- The marks obtained between the highest and lowest scores are also converted to appropriate Percentiles.
- The Percentile score will be the Normalized Score and shall be used for the preparation of the merit lists.
- The Percentile Scores will be calculated up to 7 decimal places to avoid the bunching effect and reduce ties
Normalization: As the NTA will conduct the JEE Main on multiple shifts, despite all the efforts to maintain the equivalence among various papers, the difficulty level may not be the same for all the question papers. Hence, the process of Normalization will be used to calculate the scores.
Normalization is an established practice for comparing candidate scores across multiple-shift papers. For normalization across Shifts, NTA shall use the percentile equivalence.
- No candidate will benefit due to the difficulty of the paper, nor will any candidate face a disadvantage.
- To ensure fairness among various shifts of the exam.
- To identify the true merit of a candidate.
- To create a level playing field
Source: JEE Main Official Information Bulletin
What is Raw Marks vs Percentile in JEE Main?
Raw marks Vs percentiles in JEE Main refer to the basis on which students’ performance is measured.
- The raw marks are given to candidates based on their performance in the exam, and these are given according to the marking scheme of the examination.
- Percentile scores are the raw scores converted based on the process of normalization to ensure a level playing field and fairness in the exam.
How Does NTA Normalization Work?
NTA conduct the JEE Main paper across multiple shifts due to a large number of candidates. To ensure fairness in the exam, percentile-based normalization is used by NTA.
- At first, raw marks are calculated per shift.
- Then these raw marks are converted to percentile scores for that shift.
- All shift percentiles are then merged to create the final NTA score.
- All India Rank will be based on the best percentile from the January or April session (if you appear in both).
Why Shift-Wise Variation Occurs in JEE Main Percentile
The shift-wise variation in JEE Main percentiles occurs due to the differences in the difficulty level of the shifts. The same raw scores can translate to different percentiles depending on the shift you have appeared in the exam.
The variation in percentile is caused by the process of normalization used by NTA to ensure fairness across multiple shifts without benefiting or disadvantaging any candidate.
JEE Main April Session 2026 – Expected Shift-Wise Trends
| Date (Expected) | Shift (Time) | Expected Difficulty | Marks for 99.9+ % | Marks for 99.5 % | Marks for 99 % | Marks for 98 % | Marks for 97 % | Marks for 95 % | Marks for 90 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1/2 | Shift 1 (Morning) | Moderate-Easy | 255–275 | 225–245 | 195–215 | 175–195 | 155–175 | 135–155 | 105–125 |
| Apr 1/2 | Shift 2 (Afternoon) | Moderate-Tough | 240–260 | 210–230 | 180–200 | 160–180 | 140–160 | 120–140 | 90–110 |
| Apr 3 | Shift 1 (Morning) | Moderate | 250–270 | 220–240 | 190–210 | 170–190 | 150–170 | 130–150 | 100–120 |
| Apr 3 | Shift 2 (Afternoon) | Moderate | 245–265 | 215–235 | 185–205 | 165–185 | 145–165 | 125–145 | 95–115 |
| Apr 4 | Shift 1 (Morning) | Easy-Moderate | 260–280 | 230–250 | 200–220 | 180–200 | 160–180 | 140–160 | 110–130 |
| Apr 4 | Shift 2 (Afternoon) | Moderate | 250–270 | 220–240 | 190–210 | 170–190 | 150–170 | 130–150 | 100–120 |
| Apr 7/8 | Shift 1 (Morning) | Moderate-Tough | 235–255 | 205–225 | 175–195 | 155–175 | 135–155 | 115–135 | 85–105 |
| Apr 7/8 | Shift 2 (Afternoon) | Easy | 265–285 | 235–255 | 205–225 | 185–205 | 165–185 | 145–165 | 115–135 |
| Apr 9/10 | Shift 1 (Morning) – Possible Paper 1/2 | Moderate (if Paper 1) | 245–265 | 215–235 | 185–205 | 165–185 | 145–165 | 125–145 | 95–115 |
| Apr 9/10 | Shift 2 (Afternoon) – Possible Paper 1/2 | Moderate | 240–260 | 210–230 | 180–200 | 160–180 | 140–160 | 120–140 | 90–110 |
How Difficulty Level Affects Marks Required for Same Percentile
In JEE Main, your percentile is not directly tied to your raw marks. The difficulty of the shift plays a crucial role in determining the marks you require for the same percentile.
- In easier shifts, more students score high marks, so you will require more marks to reach the same percentile.
- Similarly, in tougher shifts, few people will score high marks, so you will require fewer marks to reach the same percentile.
Tough Shift vs Easy Shift – Real Examples from Past Years
JEE Main 2025 January Session
| Percentile | Tough/Easiest Shift Example | Date & Shift | Raw Marks Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | Toughest Shift (Lowest marks needed) | 28 January Morning (Shift 1) | 148 marks |
| 99 | Another Tough Shift (Low marks) | 22 January Morning (Shift 1) | 158 marks |
| 99 | Easiest/Highest Marks Shift (Highest marks needed) | 24 January Evening (Shift 2) | 200 marks |
| 99 | Another Easy/High Marks Shift | 22 January Evening (Shift 2) | 186 marks |
| 98.5 | Toughest Shift | 28 January Morning (Shift 1) | 136 marks |
| 98.5 | Easiest Shift | 24 January Evening (Shift 2) | 186 marks |
JEE Main 2025 April Session
| Percentile | Tough/Easiest Shift Example | Date & Shift | Raw Marks Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | Toughest Shift (Lowest marks needed) | 9 April Morning (Shift 1) | 186 marks |
| 99 | Another Tough Shift (Low marks) | 5 April Morning (Shift 1) | 187 marks |
| 99 | Easiest/Highest Marks Shift (Highest marks needed) | 6 April Morning (Shift 1) | 215 marks |
| 99 | Another Easy/High Marks Shift | 8 April Evening (Shift 2) | 208 marks |
| 98.5 | Toughest Shift | 9 April Morning (Shift 1) | 164 marks |
| 98.5 | Easiest Shift | 6 April Morning (Shift 1) | 194 marks |
Subject-Wise Impact on Percentile in JEE Main 2026
JEE Main consists of three subjects: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, each worth 100 marks. The overall percentile is calculated based on the total raw score in all subjects. To score a high overall percentile, candidates should score well in all the subjects.
NTA also computes subject-wise percentiles for each subject, showing the relative performance of candidates in that subject compared to others during that shift.
JEE Main Physics Marks vs Percentile Trends
| Expected Physics Percentile | Marks Range (Out of 100) |
|---|---|
| 99.5+ | 87+ |
| 99+ | 82–87 |
| 98+ | 76–82 |
| 97+ | 71–76 |
| 96+ | 67–71 |
| 95+ | 64–67 |
| 94+ | 60–64 |
| 93+ | 57–60 |
| 92+ | 55–57 |
| 91+ | 52–55 |
| 90+ | 49–52 |
JEE Main Chemistry Marks vs Percentile Trends
| Expected Chemistry Percentile | Marks Range (Out of 100) |
|---|---|
| 99.5+ | 71+ |
| 99+ | 65–71 |
| 98+ | 58–65 |
| 97+ | 54–58 |
| 96+ | 50–54 |
| 95+ | 47–50 |
| 94+ | 44–47 |
| 93+ | 42–44 |
| 92+ | 40–42 |
| 91+ | 38–40 |
| 90+ | 36–38 |
JEE Main Mathematics Marks vs Percentile Trends
| Expected Mathematics Percentile | Marks Range (Out of 100) |
|---|---|
| 99.5+ | 60+ |
| 99+ | 50–60 |
| 98+ | 41–50 |
| 97+ | 35–41 |
| 96+ | 32–35 |
| 95+ | 28–32 |
| 94+ | 26–28 |
| 93+ | 25–26 |
| 92+ | 23–25 |
| 91+ | 21–23 |
| 90+ | 20–21 |
How to Predict Your Percentile and Rank After the Exam
After the exam is concluded, you can estimate your percentile and All India Rank using your raw marks and reliable predictors available online. You can also use Collegedunia’s college predictor for JEE Main 2026.
- Calculate your raw marks based on unofficial answer keys.
- Use JEE Main rank/percentile predictor tools.
- Manual estimation using marks vs percentile tables
- Manually calculate your rank from the percentile using the formula
Factors That Influence Final Percentile & Rank
In the JEE Main, the final percentile and rank determined by NTA are influenced by certain external and performance-related factors. The key factors that influence the final percentile are given below:
- Shift and session difficulty level
- Total number of candidates appearing
- Overall performance of candidates in your shift or session
- NTA normalization process and formula
- Candidates' raw marks and performance
- Category reservations and tie-breaking rules for the percentile
- Number of attempts and best score rule
What to Do If You Appear in Both Sessions
If a student appears in both sessions of JEE Main, their final NTA score will be based on the better percentile from the two sessions, known as the “best of two” rule.
- NTA will take your higher percentile automatically.
- If your better percentile meets the cutoff, you qualify even if your percentile was low in another session.
- You can increase your percentiles drastically, as it gives you a second chance to qualify for the exam.
- In counselling, JoSAA will use your best percentile for the final rank list.
Expected Cutoffs and Admission Implications
For JEE Main 2026, the qualifying cutoff for top NITs typically requires around 99-99.6+ percentiles with closing ranks of around 1,000-5,000, while mid-tier NITs and good IIITs require around 96.5-98.5 percentiles.
For JEE Advanced, the qualifying cutoff is expected to remain around the 93-95 percentile for the general category similar to that of 2025 (93.10), with reserved categories such as OBC ~79-82, SC ~60-62, and ST ~47-50.
Percentile Required for JEE Advanced 2026
The qualifying criteria for inclusion in the JEE Advanced rank list are given below:
| Rank List Category | Minimum % Marks in Each Subject | Minimum Aggregate % Marks (out of 360) | Expected Minimum Marks (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Rank List (CRL/General) | ~8–10% | ~30–35% | ~110–125 marks |
| GEN-EWS / OBC-NCL | ~7.5–9% | ~27–31.5% | ~100–110 marks |
| SC / ST / PwD (any category) | ~4–5% | ~15–17.5% | ~55–70 marks |
| Preparatory Course (if seats remain) | ~2.5% | ~8–9% | ~30–40 marks |
The top 2.5 lakh candidates are selected for JEE Advanced based on the JEE Main by the NTA. The percentile required to qualify for JEE Advanced varies every year depending on the number of candidates, exam difficulty, reservation, etc.
| Category | Expected Qualifying Percentile Range (2026) |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | 93 – 95 |
| Gen-EWS | 80 – 82 |
| OBC-NCL | 79 – 82 |
| SC | 60 – 62 |
| ST | 47 – 50 |
| PwD (across categories) | 0.001 – 60 (varies) |
Safe Percentile for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs
| Institute / Tier | Branch / Type | Safe Percentile (to have very high chance) | Realistic Closing Percentile Range (last 2 years trend) | Expected Closing Rank Range (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top NITs (Trichy, Surathkal, Warangal, Calicut, Rourkela, Allahabad) | CSE / CSE (AI & DS) / ECE | 98.8 – 99.5+ | 98.5 – 99.4 | 8,000 – 18,000 |
| Top NITs – Other core branches | Mechanical / Electrical / Civil / etc. | 97.5 – 98.8 | 96.5 – 98.5 | 20,000 – 40,000 |
| Mid-tier NITs (MNIT Jaipur, VNIT Nagpur, NIT Kurukshetra, NIT Jalandhar, etc.) | CSE / IT / ECE | 97.0 – 98.5 | 96.0 – 98.0 | 25,000 – 50,000 |
| Lower-mid NITs (newer / less preferred) | CSE / ECE | 94.0 – 97.0 | 92.0 – 96.5 | 50,000 – 1,00,000 |
| Top IIITs ( Hyderabad, Bangalore, Allahabad, Delhi, ABV-IIITM Gwalior) | CSE / IT / ECE | 98.5 – 99.5+ | 97.8 – 99.2 | 10,000 – 25,000 |
| Other good IIITs ( Lucknow, Pune, Kottayam, Surat, etc.) | CSE / IT | 96.0 – 98.5 | 94.5 – 97.5 | 30,000 – 70,000 |
| Newer / Lower IIITs | CSE / ECE / IT | 92.0 – 96.0 | 90.0 – 95.0 | 70,000 – 1,50,000 |
| Top GFTIs (BIT Mesra, Assam Univ, IIEST Shibpur, SPA Delhi/Vijayawada, PEC Chandigarh) | CSE / ECE / core branches | 95.0 – 98.0 | 93.0 – 97.0 | 40,000 – 80,000 |
| Other good GFTIs (NIT-like GFTIs, newer SPAs, etc.) | CSE / IT | 90.0 – 95.0 | 88.0 – 94.0 | 1,00,000 – 2,00,000 |
Top College Predictions Based on Percentile
Top NITs
| College Name | Branch (Most Competitive) | Expected Closing Rank (Gen, AI Quota) | Safe Percentile Target (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIT Tiruchirappalli (NIT Trichy) | Computer Science & Engg. | 1,000 – 5,000 | 99.0 – 99.6+ |
| NIT Karnataka, Surathkal (NITK) | Computer Science & Engg. | 1,000 – 3,500 | 99.0 – 99.6+ |
| NIT Warangal | Computer Science & Engg. | 1,500 – 4,000 | 98.8 – 99.5 |
| NIT Calicut | Computer Science & Engg. | 3,000 – 9,000 | 98.5 – 99.2 |
| NIT Rourkela | Computer Science & Engg. | 3,000 – 8,000 | 98.5 – 99.2 |
| Motilal Nehru NIT Allahabad (MNNIT) | Computer Science & Engg. | 4,000 – 10,000 | 98.0 – 99.0 |
| MNIT Jaipur | Computer Science & Engg. | 5,000 – 12,000 | 97.5 – 98.8 |
| VNIT Nagpur | Computer Science & Engg. | 6,000 – 15,000 | 97.0 – 98.5 |
Top IIITs
| College Name | Branch (Most Competitive) | Expected Closing Rank (Gen, AI Quota) | Safe Percentile Target (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIIT Hyderabad | Computer Science & Engg. | 500 – 2,000 | 99.5 – 99.9+ |
| IIIT Delhi | Computer Science & Engg. | 1,000 – 5,000 | 99.0 – 99.7 |
| IIIT Allahabad | Information Technology | 2,000 – 8,000 | 98.5 – 99.2 |
| ABV-IIITM Gwalior | Computer Science & Engg. | 5,000 – 12,000 | 97.8 – 98.8 |
| IIIT Bangalore | Computer Science & Engg. | 2,000 – 6,000 | 98.8 – 99.4 |
| IIIT Lucknow | Computer Science & Engg. | 8,000 – 15,000 | 97.0 – 98.5 |
| IIIT Pune | Computer Science & Engg. | 10,000 – 20,000 | 96.0 – 98.0 |
Top GFTIs
| College Name | Branch (Most Competitive) | Expected Closing Rank (Gen, AI Quota) | Safe Percentile Target (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIT Mesra (Ranchi) | Computer Science & Engg. | 8,000 – 15,000 | 97.5 – 98.8 |
| PEC Chandigarh | Computer Science & Engg. | 10,000 – 20,000 | 96.5 – 98.0 |
| IIEST Shibpur | Computer Science & Engg. | 15,000 – 25,000 | 95.5 – 97.5 |
| SPA Delhi / Vijayawada | Planning / Architecture (but B.Tech related) | 20,000 – 40,000 | 94.0 – 96.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General FAQs on Marks vs Percentile
Ques. What is the difference between raw marks and percentile in JEE Main 2026?
Ans. Raw Marks: These are the actual marks out of 300. These are calculated based on your performance in the exam, and the scores are given based on the marking scheme.
Percentile: This is the normalized score that shows how well you have performed compared to others in your shift. The raw marks are normalized to get the percentile.
Ques. How is percentile calculated shift-wise by NTA?
Ans. NTA uses a percentile-based normalisation to ensure fairness and a level playing field. The normalization is applied separately for all subjects and overall.
- Raw marks are calculated for each candidate in a specific shift/session.
- The percentile is calculated shift-wise first (separately for each shift on each day).
- This gives us a session percentile for every candidate.
- All percentiles from all the shifts/sessions are then merged together.
- If a candidate has appeared in both sessions, the higher percentile is considered for the final rank.
Ques. Do the same marks give different percentiles in different shifts?
Ans. Yes, absolutely, the same marks give different percentiles in different shifts due to some external and performance-related factors given below:
- In easier shift more candidates score high so you will require high score for same percentile.
- In tougher shifts fewer candidates score high so you will require fewer scores for teh same percentile.
- Normalization adjust the marks based on the difficulty level of the shifts.
- The performance of the candidates also influences the marks and percentiles.
Shift-Wise & Normalization FAQs
Ques. Which shift is usually tougher in JEE Main – Shift 1 or Shift 2?
Ans. There is no hard and fast rule to determine the toughness of a shift in JEE Main. However based on the previous years trend and observations shift 1 is reported as slightly easier or more balanced. Whereas shift 2 is often reported as tougher or lengthier.
Ques. How much can percentile vary for the same marks across shifts?
Ans. For the same marks a percentile can vary significantly as the same raw marks can produce a difference of 3-12 percentile points. The real observed ranges are given below:
| Raw Marks (out of 300) | Lowest Observed Percentile (toughest shift) | Highest Observed Percentile (easiest shift) | Typical Percentile Variation Range | Extreme Difference Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ~180 | ~97.5 – 98.0 | ~99.0 – 99.3 | 1.0 – 2.5 percentile | Up to ~2.8 percentile |
| ~160 | ~96.0 – 97.0 | ~98.5 – 99.0 | 1.5 – 3.5 percentile | Up to ~4.0 percentile |
| ~140 | ~94.0 – 95.5 | ~97.5 – 98.5 | 2.0 – 4.5 percentile | Up to ~5.5 percentile |
| ~120 | ~91.0 – 93.0 | ~96.0 – 97.5 | 3.0 – 6.0 percentile | Up to ~7.0 percentile |
| 99+ percentile zone | ~148–165 marks | ~195–205+ marks | 4.0 – 10+ percentile | Up to 12+ percentile |
Ques. Is January session easier than April session in JEE Main?
Ans. There is no consistent pattern to tell which of the sessions is easier. Both sessions have easy, moderate and difficult shifts. However, based on the average cutoff, you can say that the January session is slightly easier compared to the April session.
Prediction & Rank FAQs
Ques. What percentile is safe for top NITs in 2026?
Ans. For top NITs like NIT Trichy, Surathkal, Warangal, Calicut, etc., the safe percentile for the most competitive branches, such as CSE, AI/DS, IT, is 98.8-99.5+ in 2026.
Ques. How accurate are expected marks vs percentile tables?
Ans. The expected marks vs percentiles table is highly accurate as it is based on previous year data and trends. The table provides 80-90% accuracy for mid-high percentiles and around 70-85% for top-end. The exact numbers cannot be predicted due to the shift-wise differences and yearly variations.
Ques. Can I use previous year's data to predict 2026 percentile?
Ans. Yes, definitely, the previous year's data are helpful to predict the 2026 percentile, as most of the rank/percentile predictors also take reference from these data. The cutoffs follow a predictable pattern, and the percentiles also rise slowly due to the increasing difficulty of the exam.
Result & Counselling FAQs
Ques. When will JEE Main 2026 Session 1 results be declared?
Ans. The JEE Main 2026 session 1 results are expected to be declared by February 12, 2026, by NTA on its official website as per past years trend and experts analysis.
Ques.How to use best percentile if I appear in both sessions?
Ans. If you have appeared in both the sessions, NTA will automatically consideres the higer or the best percentile from the two sessions for your fnal NTA score and All India Rank. Students do not have to choose or apply for the best percentiles to be considered by NTA. You can qualify the cutoff with your best score, even if your other session score is less than the cutoff.
Ques. What rank is needed for CSE in top NITs?
Ans. To get admission into the CSE branch in the top NITs the expected closing rank needed as per the previous year's pattern is as follows:
| NIT Name | Expected Closing Rank Range for CSE (2026) | Typical Closing Rank (2025 Reference) | Safe Percentile Target (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIT Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) | 1,000 – 5,000 | ~4,000 – 5,000 | 99.0 – 99.6+ |
| NIT Karnataka, Surathkal | 1,000 – 3,500 | ~2,800 – 3,100 | 99.0 – 99.6+ |
| NIT Warangal | 1,500 – 4,000 | ~2,900 – 3,500 | 98.8 – 99.5 |
| NIT Calicut | 3,000 – 9,000 | ~7,000 – 9,000 | 98.5 – 99.2 |
| NIT Rourkela | 3,000 – 9,000 | ~7,000 – 9,000 | 98.5 – 99.2 |
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