A score of 120 marks in JEE Mains can be expected to translate to around 93 and 97 percentiles.
According to experts, for tougher shifts, the percentile range can go up to 97%ile. While for easier shifts, students can expect around 93–94%ile for 120 marks.
- Overall, 120 out of 300 Marks is a good score, and this can place you among the top 93% of 2.5 lakh students.
- With a 93–97%ile in JEE Main, you will become eligible for the JEE Advanced 2026 exam.
- Students get branches like Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering in NITs (NIT Sikkim, NIT Agartala, NIT Meghalaya, NIT Nagaland) with 120 marks in JEE Main.
In this article, we have provided data for 120 marks in the JEE Mains percentile for 2026 based on the 2024 and 2025 analyses.
Also Read:
- Check Expected JEE Main Marks vs Percentile Analysis, Normalisation & Safe Score
- JoSAA Opening & Closing Rank 2025 for IITs, NITs, and GFTIs
Key Summary
- As per past years' analysis, expect the All India Rank (AIR) of 30,000 to 91,500 for 120 marks in JEE Main.
- The opening and closing ranks for the SC category may fall between 15,00 and 3,000 for the same marks.
- With 120 marks in JEE Main, students become eligible for JEE Advanced.
Expected Percentile Range for 120 Marks in JEE Main 2026
Below, we have provided the data based on last year's exam trends and projections for 2026.
A Quora user predicted the percentile range for 120 marks in JEE Main: “If your paper is easy, then you will get a percentile of 92–93; moderate 95–96; hard 97–98.5.”-Quora
| Marks Range | Expected Percentile (2026 Prediction) |
|---|---|
| 300-290 | 100 - 99.99+ |
| 280-260 | 99.99+ - 99.9+ |
| 260-250 | 99.9+ - 99.85+ |
| 250-240 | 99.85+ - 99.5+ |
| 240-220 | 99.5+ -99.2+ |
| 220-200 | 99.2+ -98.5+ |
| 200-180 | 98.5+ - 97,5+ |
| 180–130 | 97.5+- 95+ |
| 130–120 | 95+-93+ |
Also Read:
- What is the top 20 Percentile in JEE Main 2025?
- List of colleges accepting 90+ percentile in JEE Main
Subject-wise Breakdown for 120 Marks in JEE Main Percentile
The JEE Main 2026 exam, conducted by NTA, consists of three papers: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. As per the exam pattern, the total marks for JEE Main are 300.
- To secure an overall 120 marks in JEE Main, you need to maintain a balanced approach across all three subjects.
- As per normalisation rules, the percentile calculation is done separately for all three sections.
- This means excellent performance in one and moderate in the other two can place you under the 99+ percentile in JEE Main 2026.
The subject-wise approach for scoring 120 marks in JEE Main is given below:
| Subject | Typical Marks for 120 Total | Expected Subject Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 35–45 | 94–97+ |
| Chemistry | 45–55 | 96–98+ |
| Mathematics | 25–40 | 92–96+ |
Ques: What percentile can I expect for 120 marks in JEE Main 2026 across easy, moderate, and tough shifts?
Ans: The JEE Main percentile 2026 may vary across different shifts. Based on 2024 and 2025 analyses, the projections for 2026 are:
- Easy Shift: 94–95%ile
- Moderate Shift: 92–94%ile
- Difficult Shift: 90–92%ile
Expected NITs with 120 Marks in JEE Mains Percentile
With a 93–97 percentile in JEE Main, you can expect calls from newer NIT colleges such as NIT Sikkim, NIT Agartala, and NIT Meghalaya under the HS (Home-state) and reserved category quota.
| NIT | Branches | Quota Type | Expected Percentile Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIT Raipur | Mining, Civil, Metallurgy | Home State | 94.5 – 96.5 |
| NIT Srinagar | ECE, Mechanical, Civil | Home State | 94 – 96.5 |
| NIT Mizoram | Mechanical, Civil | Home & Other | 93 – 96 |
| NIT Nagaland | ECE, CSE (later rounds) | Home & Other | 93 – 96.5 |
| NIT Meghalaya | ECE, Civil, Mechanical | Home & Other | 94 – 97 |
| NIT Arunachal Pradesh | Civil, Electrical, Mechanical | Home & Other | 93 – 96 |
| NIT Manipur | Mechanical, Civil, ECE | Home & Other | 94 – 96.5 |
| NIT Puducherry | EEE, Civil, Mechanical | Home State | 95 – 97 |
| NIT Sikkim | Civil, EEE, Mechanical | Home & Other | 94.5 – 96.5 |
| NIT Hamirpur | Civil, ECE, Electrical (later rounds) | Home State | 95 – 97 |
Also Read:
- Expected Rank and Percentile for 190 Marks in JEE Main 2026
- Expected NITs for 100 marks in JEE Main 2026
- JEE Main 2025: NIT with Lowest Cutoff for CSE
Ques: Does category affect admission into NITs?
Ans: Yes, category impacts the admission into NITs greatly. With 120 marks in JEE Main 2026, reserved category students (EWS, OBC, SC& ST) may get good branches like CSE and ECE.
120 Marks in JEE Main Percentile: Shift-wise Variation 2025
The JEE Main percentile for 2025 showed variation across different shifts. For a tougher shift, 120 marks in JEE Main translated to around 96.4–96.6 percentiles. While in the easier shifts, the same marks translated into 95.8%ile in JEE Main 2025.
| Shift/Day | Raw Marks (Example) | No. of Students in Session | Relative Difficulty | Approx. Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1, Shift 1 | 120 | 70,000 | Moderate | 96.1 |
| Day 1, Shift 2 | 120 | 75,000 | Tougher | 96.4 |
| Day 2, Shift 1 | 120 | 72,000 | Easier | 95.8 |
| Day 2, Shift 2 | 120 | 68,000 | Moderate | 96.2 |
| Day 3, Shift 1 | 120 | 73,000 | Very Tough | 96.6 |
Also Read:
120 Marks in JEE Mains Percentile FAQs
Ques: Can I get CSE or IT at any NIT with 120 marks?
Ans: Securing a CSE or IT branch at any NIT with 120 marks in JEE Main seems difficult for general category candidates. However, it might be possible if there are vacant seats or during the last rounds of counselling.
Ques: How important is the Home State quota at 120 marks in JEE Main?
Ans: The HS quota at 120 marks is very important if you want to take admission into NITs through JEE Main. A very few NITs (especially newer NITs like NIT Agartala) are available under 95–97%ile. Usually, the HS quota has lower cutoffs than the OS (Other State) quota.
Ques: Can I apply for JEE Advanced with 120 marks in JEE Main?
Ans: Yes, you can apply for JEE Advanced with 120 marks. The qualifying marks for the JEE Advanced exam across different categories are:
| Category | Qualifying Percentile |
|---|---|
| General | ~88–90 |
| EWS | ~75–80 |
| OBC | ~73–78 |
| SC | ~50–55 |
| ST | ~40–45 |
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