JEE Main Marks Vs Percentile 2026: Check Expected Marks vs Percentile Analysis, Normalisation & Safe Score

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Shivam Yadav

Updated on - Dec 9, 2025

The JEE Main Marks vs Percentile will help you get an estimation of your performance before the results are released.  The Marks will be the raw score of the exam, the percentile is the number of candidates who score equal to or less than you, and the rank will be your position among all the candidates.

  • As per the previous year's trends, with 280+ marks, you can get more than the 99.99th percentile, and with 200-250 marks, you can fall in the category of the 99th to 99.8th percentile.
  • By 150 marks, one can get a percentile of 97 to 99, which is enough for a lot of NITs.
  • With 90 to 100 marks, you can get the 95th percentile, which makes you eligible for JEE Advanced in some cases.

As the competition is increasing, mainly for CSE in the top NITS, you should now score at least 250+ marks or 99.4+ percentile for seats in the top colleges.

The Admissions are based on the percentiles, not direct marks, and it can also help you predict your college before the results are declared.

JEE Main Marks vs Percentile

JoSAA 2025 Opening and Closing Ranks

Key Summary

In this Article, we have discussed about JEE Main Marks vs Percentile, including the Expected Marks vs Percentile Analysis, Normalisation & Safe Score.

  • As per the expected JEE Main marks vs percentile trend for 2026, JEE Main marks of 200–300 are likely to translate to a 90–100 percentile.
  • Previous years’ JEE Main marks vs rank analysis indicates that scores of 250–300 are expected to translate to a rank range of 1 to 4,000.
  • January session scores generally receive higher percentiles for the same marks due to tougher question papers compared to the April session.
  • Aspirants aiming for 99 percentile typically need to score around 180–220 marks, depending on shift difficulty and normalisation.
  • For top NITs like Trichy, Warangal, and Surathkal, JEE Main percentile requirements are expected to be around 99.3–99.7 percentiles, equivalent to 200+ marks.
  • IIITs such as Hyderabad, Delhi, and Allahabad are expected to have cutoffs ranging from 99 to 99.9 percentile, depending on the branch, especially for CSE.
  • GFTIs may accept candidates with a percentile range of 95–98 percentiles, achievable with scores around 140–170 marks.

What are JEE Main Marks vs Percentile?

The JEE Main Marks vs Percentile helps candidates understand how their raw marks will be converted into the percentile score for ranking and admission.

As around lakhs of candidates appear in multiple shifts, the percentile will give a fair comparison by showing the percentage of students who scored less than or equal to in that session.

JEE Main Marks

  • The Marks will be based on the raw score of the candidate, +4 for each correct answer and -1 for incorrect answers in MCQs and no negative marks for numerical answers.
  • The Same marks may not show the same quality of performance; it depends on the tougher or easier shift.
  • Marks will help you predict an achievable percentile, which has targets like 150+ for NIT Eligibility and 250+ for top NIT CSE Competitiveness.

JEE Main Percentile

  • The JEE Main follows the normalisation 99th percentile methods, which calculate percentile according to the shift difficulty, and will ensure fairness in all exam sessions.
  • The Percentile will show your position among all candidates. At the 98th percentile, you will be among the top 2% of students.
  • The Percentile will decide your rank and JoSAA Counselling eligibility, not the raw marks.

Check this video by collegedunia to know about the complete marks vs rank analysis for JEE Main, including the safe score and normalisation analysis.

JEE Main Shift-Wise Marks Vs Percentile

As JEE Main is conducted in different shifts, the difficulty level of each exam is different. To maintain proper fairness, the NTA uses a normalisation method, in which raw marks of each shift will be converted into a percentile.

  • This means that with the same raw marks, in different shifts, one can get different percentiles.
  • To get more than 99.8 percentile, target 250+ marks in each shift.
  • A difference of 10-15 marks can change your percentile by 10 to 15 marks.

Shift-Wise Marks VS Percentile

Marks Range Morning Shift Percentile (Expected) Afternoon Shift Percentile (Expected) Variation Insight
280+ 99.98 – 100 99.97 – 100 Minimal variation—both highly competitive
250–270 99.8 – 99.95 99.7 – 99.9 Afternoon slightly easier
200–240 99–99.7 98.5 – 99.5 Moderate variation due to the difficulty gap
160–190 98–99 96.5 – 98.5 High competition range = dynamic conversion
120–150 95 – 97.5 92–96 Most percentile fluctuations are seen here
90–110 85–92 80–88 The lower range is more shift-sensitive
Below 70 <75 <70 Variation remains, but doesn’t affect top cutoffs

As per the Reddit discussion forum @r/JEENEETards, check JEE Main 2025 Shift-Wise Marks vs Percentile to have a better understanding of shift-wise analysis.

JEE Main Marks vs Percentile Analysis 2026

By understanding the JEE Main Marks vs Percentile, you can have an estimation of your performance before the result is declared. As the percentile is based on the normalisation of all shifts with the same marks, you can get different percentiles as per the difficulty level, total number of candidates, and performance distribution.

JEE Main 2026 Expected Marks vs Percentile

Marks Range Expected Percentile Performance Interpretation Admission Implications
280+ 99.99–100 Top 200–500 ranks Strong chance for Top NITs CSE
250–270 99.8 – 99.95 Top 1,500–5,000 ranks Top NIT core branches are possible
200 – 240 99 – 99.7 Top 10,000–20,000 NIT eligibility assured, good branches
160 – 190 98 – 99 Competitive performance NITs with non-core branches are viable
120 – 150 95 – 97.5 Above-average score IIIT/GFTI + state colleges
90 – 110 85 – 92 Moderate performance JEE Advanced qualification is likely
70 – 85 70 – 80 Needs improvement Limited state-level options
Below 70 <70 Low rank range Focus on reevaluation & April session

Ques. How much is 50 marks in percentiles?

Ans. A score of 50 marks in JEE Main will place you in the 60–75 percentile range, depending heavily on the difficulty of the shift and normalisation.

Ques. What Percentile is 70 Marks?

Ans. The 70 marks in JEE Main mean you will get your percentile in the range of 70-80, and the estimated rank is 30,000 to 50,000, generally placing candidates in the middle of the rank distribution, with access to Private Engineering Colleges with Civil, Mechanical branches.

Ques. How much percentile is 95 marks in JEE Mains?

Ans. A score of 95 marks likely places you in the 90 to 93 percentile range. A candidate with 95 marks can expect an AIR within the 20,000 to 40,000 range.

Check:

JEE Main Marks vs Rank 2026

If you appear for JEE Main, your raw marks will be converted by the normalization into a percentile. The JEE Main Percentile is similar for all the candidates, which will also determine your AIR.

JEE Main Expected Marks vs Rank

  • With 280+ marks, you will be assured of a top 20 AIR, which is good for top branches in NITs/IIITs/GFTIs.
  • By 250 to 279 marks, you can secure a position in the top 500, which is good for competitive branches and can be a good chance in high-demand streams.
  • With 200 to 230 marks, you will be under the top 5,000 rank, which is enough for good branches as per the seat demand and category.
  • With a mid-range of 140 to 180, you will get an AIR of 15,000 to 40,000, with good chances for mid-tier NIT/IIIT or good state-level colleges.
Raw Marks (out of 300) Approx. Percentile Approx. All-India Rank (AIR)
280 – 300 99.99 – 100 1 – 20
250 – 279 99.8 – 99.95 20 – 500
230 – 249 99.5 – 99.8 500 – 1,500
200 – 229 99 – 99.4 1,500 – 5,000
170 – 199 98 – 99 5,000 – 15,000
140 – 169 95 – 98 15,000 – 40,000
100 – 139 90 – 95 40,000 – 100,000
Below 100 < 90 Typically > 100,000 (varies widely)

Ques. What rank is 100 marks in JEE?

Ans. A score of 100 marks in JEE Main is expected to place the candidate in the 93rd percentile, with an estimated rank of around 35,000 to 50,000 in the General category.

Ques. What rank is 150 marks in JEE Mains?

Ans. A score of 150 marks in JEE Main will place the candidate in the percentile range of 98-98.9 with an estimated rank ranging between 16,500 and 21,000. This marks range is expected to place the candidate in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.

Ques. What rank is 250 marks in JEE Mains?

Ans. As per the JEE Main 2025 analysis, scoring 250-262 marks will give you a percentile in the range of 99.977–99.989 with an estimated AIR between 108 and ~524.

Also Check:

JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Percentile vs Rank

As per Prabhat Ranjan, B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from NIT Jamshedpur, the JEE Main marks variation can drastically affect the percentile and rank, as well as the college opportunities.

  • Scores above 230 secure top NITs with CS/ECE, while 200–230 still ensures strong chances in good NITs and IIITs.
  • The 170–200 range becomes the cut-off zone for average NITs and mid-level IIITs, and 150–170 mostly leads to non-CS branches in lower NITs/GFTIs.
  • Scores below 140 generally translate to state colleges and lower-competition branches.
Marks (Expected 2026) Percentile Rank Approx. Expected Colleges / Branch Level
230 – 260+ 99.5 – 100 1 – 2,000 Top NITs (CS / ECE) — NIT Trichy, Surathkal, Warangal, Allahabad
200 – 230 99 – 99.5 4,000 – 10,000 Good NITs + Top IIITs (CS / ECE)
170 – 200 98 – 99 10,000 – 25,000 Average NITs, Middle IIITs — All branches incl. CS for home state
150 – 170 97 – 98 25,000 – 45,000 Lower NITs, IIITs (ECE/EEE/ME/Civil), Top GFTIs
120 – 140 95 – 96 60,000 – 80,000 GFTIs + NE NITs (lower branches)
90 – 100 90 – 92 1.3 – 1.6 Lakh State Engineering Colleges / Low-competition branches

Check:

Expected JEE Main Percentile and Rank for Different Scores

The JEE Main marks vs percentile vs rank analysis shows how small changes in the marks can have a huge impact on the JEE Main percentile and JEE Main Rank.

Marks (Out of 300) Expected Percentile Range Expected Rank Range
20 Marks 30 – 40 80,000 – 1,20,000
40 Marks 50 – 55 50,000 – 80,000
70 Marks 70 – 80 30,000 – 50,000
80 Marks 60 – 70 40,000 – 60,000
100 Marks 95 – 95.5 20,000 – 40,000
120 Marks ~96 – 97 (expected) ~15,000 – 25,000

40 Marks in JEE Main Percentile

40 marks in JEE Main 2026 are expected to help students get a JEE Main percentile score of 50-55. Candidates are expected to get JEE Main rank of 50,000 and 80,000 for scoring 50-55 marks.

20 Marks in JEE Main Percentile

20 marks in JEE Main 2026 are expected to translate to JEE Main percentile score of around 30-40. Students with JEE Main score of 20 marks willget a JEE Main rank of around 80,000 and 1,20,000.

70 Marks in JEE Main Percentile

70 marks in JEE Main 2026 can help aspirants to get 70-80 percentile in JEE Main 2026. Moreover, students are expected to get a JEE Main rank of around 30,000-50,000.

100 Marks in JEE Main Percentile

With a score of 100 marks in JEE Main 2026, candidates can expect 95-95 percentile in JEE Main 2026. 20,000 to 40,000 is the expected JEE Main rank for scoring 100 marks in JEE Main 2026.

80 Marks in JEE Main Percentile

80 marks in JEE Main 2026 are expected to translate to approximately 60-70 percentile. The expected rank for JEE Main score of 80 marks is 40,000-60,000.

120 Marks in JEE Main Percentile

With JEE Main score of 120 marks, aspirants are expected to get 90-95 percentile. The expected rank for scoring 120 marks in JEE Main 2026 is around 15,000 to 30,000.

Marks vs Percentile JEE Main 2025 Shift wise

If you understand JEE Main 2025 shift-wise variations, then it will help you to set your expectations for the JEE Main 2026 Exam.. Here's the complete breakdown:

JEE Main 2025 January Session (Shift-wise)

  • Morning shifts generally had 10-15 marks less cutoffs than evening shifts
  • January 22 Morning was 42 marks easier than January 24 Evening
  • Consistency matters: Mid-week shifts (28 Jan Morning) were surprisingly easier

Reddit Users feedback: "Got 165 in Jan 22 evening = 98.5%ile; friend got same 165 in Jan 24 morning = 98%ile"

Percentile 22 Jan Morning 22 Jan Evening 23 Jan Morning 23 Jan Evening 24 Jan Morning 24 Jan Evening 28 Jan Morning 28 Jan Evening 29 Jan Morning 29 Jan Evening
99 158 186 178 187 181 200 148 171 174 176
98.5 144 173 165 175 168 186 136 159 162 165
98 135 163 154 165 158 177 127 149 153 156
97 120 149 140 152 143 162 114 136 140 144
96 110 138 129 141 131 151 105 126 130 134
95 101 129 120 132 121 142 96 118 123 127
90 74 98 90 101 86 110 72 90 94 101

Easiest Shift | Toughest Shift

JEE Main 2025 April Session (Shift-wise)

  • April 2 Evening was the toughest shift across both sessions
  • April 2 Morning was 31 marks easier than the same-day evening shift
  • Evening shifts consistently harder: Average 8-12 marks higher cutoff

As per Reddit’s user experience: "April shifts felt harder overall; even 'easy' April = tough January" – 98.9%ile scorer

Percentile 2 Apr Morning 2 Apr Evening 3 Apr Morning 3 Apr Evening 4 Apr Morning 4 Apr Evening 7 Apr Morning 7 Apr Evening 8 Apr Evening
99 172 203 174 200 176 177 179 185 185
98.5 159 190 162 186 165 165 169 173 172
98 150 182 152 176 155 156 161 165 164
97 137 167 141 162 143 143 147 151 150
96 126 157 133 151 133 133 138 142 140
95 118 148 126 142 126 125 130 134 132
90 91 117 102 110 102 98 102 108 104

Easiest Shift | Toughest Shift

Topper Tip: "I chose January because historical data shows a 5-10 mark advantage. Got 168 = 99.2%ile; would've been 98.8%ile in April." – AIR 87

So, based on the above previous year analysis, here is the Shift-wise JEE Main Marks vs Percentile 2026 ( Expected)

Check:

JEE Main Morning Shift

JEE Main evening Shift

Good Score vs Safe Score Analysis

A good score in JEE Main ( around 250-279) is considered a strong performance helps students to secure a top NIT or IIIT, while a safe score (around 280+) helps to get into a top-tier NIT with a good branch or to an IIT through JEE Advanced.

JEE Main Safe score vs Good score

Topper Tip: "A Good score gets you admission. Safe score gets you a choice. I scored 268 (good score) and got NIT Surathkal ECE, happy but not my first choice. Friend scored 287 (safe score) and picked NIT Trichy CSE without stress." – Reddit user, r/JEENEETards

Also Read:

JEE Main Score Calculator 2026

The JEE Main 2026 Score Calculator is a tool designed to help candidates estimate their score and percentile based on their exam performance. While the official score is calculated by the NTA, using the JEE Main Score Calculator provides candidates with a clear idea of their expected score, which can help in making informed decisions during the counseling and seat allocation process.

JEE Main Raw Score

JEE Main Raw Score 2026

JEE Main Normalization Process

JEE Main is conducted in multiple shifts across several days, and the difficulty level may vary. To ensure fairness, NTA uses a normalization process to adjust for these variations.

The percentile score is calculated through this normalization process, and it is based on the candidate’s performance relative to others who appeared in the same shift and overall.

JEE Main Normalization process

Check:

JEE Main Top NITs Cutoff

Check here to know the IIIT JEE Main Cut off 2026

JEE Main Top IIITs Cutoff

Check: JEE Main 2026 GFTIs Cut off

JEE Main top GFTIs Cutoff

JEE Main Marks vs Percentile 2026 FAQs

Ques. What marks correspond to 95 percentile, and is 130 marks enough?

Ans. As per the user from Quora, 120-130 marks could land 94+ percentile in average shifts, but for 2026, factor in more competition, you should aim for 140 if OBC-NCL.

Ques. How does shift difficulty affect marks vs percentile in 2026?

Ans. If your shift is like 22 Jan or 28 Jan (tough), 134 marks got ~95%ile in 2025—expect similar for 2026, but raw marks don't matter, percentile does.

Ques. What's a good score (marks/percentile) for NITs/IIITs in 2026, especially for categories like OBC-NCL?

Ans. As per the previous years' analysis (2025-2019), marks around 200 are considered for the OBC-NCL category, which can get the rank 5200 and around the 99.1 percentile. In 2026, you might need 205+ with rising cutoffs." Another: "250+ marks (97-98.9%ile) for top NITs, enough for CSE in decent branches.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

JEE Main 2026 : 8 Answered Questions

Ques. What is the expected rank (AIR) for Sastra University Thanjavur for Biotechnology?

If you are targeting B.Tech in Biotechnology at SASTRA University, Thanjavur , a JEE Main All India Rank of 9,000 to 13,000 (General category) would typically be safe based on past trends and anticipated cutoffs. Quick Details: Criteria Details Expected JEE Main Rank (Gen) 9,000 – 13,000 Eligibility 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry & Maths/Bio Admission Mode Based on JEE Main + Class 12 marks Seat Distribution 70% seats through JEE Main stream Branch Expected Rank Range CSE (Computer Science) 1,500 – 5,000 IT (Information Technology) 3,000 – 7,000 ECE (Electronics & Communication) 4,000 – 8,000 Biotechnology 9,000 – 13,000 So, if your JEE Main ranking is close to 9,000 to 13,000, you have a highly likely chance of securing a seat in Biotech in SASTRA. Ensure your 12th board marks are also good as they're taken into account as well....Read More
Answer By Muskan Agrahari 27 Jun 25
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Ques. Can I get any good college with 48 percentile in jee mains?

Honestly speaking, the 48 percentile in JEE Mains is not a good score and won't fetch you any offers from government engineering colleges. Even if you belong to a reserved category, the chances of getting admission to a good college with such a low percentile are rare. That being said, I have 2 suggestions for you. Look for a private engineering college if money is not a constraint. Take a drop year, study hard, and target better colleges next year. In my opinion, it's better to take a drop year than to join a private college....Read More
Answer By Aditi Banerjee 24 May 23
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Ques. What is the difficulty level of the JEE paper set by IIT Roorkee? Which subjects can be expected to come tough and easy?

I had the opportunity to ask a professor about the setting of the JEE paper. The answer he gave me has been summed up below: The question paper is not set by a single IIT rather it is a joint process with the contribution of every IIT. The organizing institute forms a team of professors who are highly experienced in their respective fields. The entire team is made to stay at a single place for some days. All the professors are required to assemble in a single room and everything they ask for is provided. The professors are made to stay for a week and whenever any professor comes up with a question they go to the common room which is highly secured and then jot down the question. The entire process is repeated several times and the finalized physics, chemistry, and math papers are given to the leader of the organizing institute who later decides which set to go for. The setting and pattern of JEE paper are highly unpredictable as it is the joint work of many professors. The last time IIT Roorkee set the paper, there was a lot of logical reasoning and assertions, but still, no one can be sure....Read More
Answer By Ashish Gupta 12 Apr 23
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Ques. I got 281441 rank in JEE Mains. Can I take admission to MNIT Jaipur

You are not eligible to enroll at MNIT Jaipur under the general All India quota in B.Tech because of your JEE Main rank of 281,441. For this reason, depending on the branch, the lowest rank in the General category (AI quota) at MNIT Jaipur in 2025 was approximately 38,000. Metallurgy and civil engineering, two even less competitive fields, close below 80,000–90,000. Your rank is far beyond this range. Here is what can you do: – Search other NITs or GFTIs: Lower cutoffs will be there in New NITs or Government Funded Technical Institutes. If you belong to SC/ST/OBC/EWS, there is hope.  – State-Level Colleges: Apply to state engineering colleges or private universities with higher cutoffs that take JEE Main scores. Examples: RTU, LNCT, VIT, etc.  – Management Quota / Direct Admission Private colleges permit students to accept admissions on the basis of their 12th-grade marks or low JEE ranks.  – Take a Gap Year If you wish to enter NITs or top colleges, take a gap to prepare for JEE Main 2026. For details of different colleges, check out Collegedunia Page...Read More
Answer By Muskan Agrahari 26 Jun 25
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Ques. Is there any college I can get into if my JEE Main CRL is 112660 in the Gen category??

You can have a college of this standard, but the best NITs and core branches such as CSE or ECE might not be available in the open category. But the newer NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs with less competitive streams such as civil, metallurgy, or production provide opportunities, particularly in spot or special rounds. Attempt home state counseling with better cutoffs. State and private engineering colleges consider this rank. Complete a few options in JoSAA and remain flexible. You can get into a good college but may not get the top branch. For detail of different colleges, you can check out Collegedunia’s Page...Read More
Answer By Muskan Agrahari 26 Jun 25
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