Students preparing for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 must understand past cutoff trends. These scores are crucial for predicting eligibility for the highly competitive JEE Advanced exam. The National Testing Agency (NTA) releases the official JEE Main qualifying cutoffs only after the second session results are declared, typically providing clarity for thousands of engineering aspirants.
It is important to differentiate between two types of JEE Main cutoffs: qualifying and admission. The qualifying cutoff establishes eligibility for JEE Advanced, acting as a gateway to the IITs. Conversely, admission cutoffs are released round-wise during JoSAA counselling. These determine entry into National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and other government-funded technical institutions that accept JEE Main scores.
Past Five Years’ JEE Main Qualifying Cutoffs
The table below details the category-wise qualifying cutoffs for JEE Main over the last five years. These percentiles are critical for students aiming for JEE Advanced. Observing these figures provides insight into the increasing competition and benchmark scores.
| Year | General | OBC-NCL | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 93.1023262 | 79.4313582 | 61.1526933 | 47.9026465 |
| 2024 | 93.2362181 | 79.6757881 | 60.0923182 | 46.6975840 |
| 2023 | 90.7788642 | 73.6114227 | 51.9776027 | 37.2348772 |
| 2022 | 88.4121383 | 67.0090297 | 43.0820954 | 26.7771328 |
| 2021 | 87.8992241 | 68.0234447 | 46.8825338 | 34.6728999 |
The data reveals a consistent trend for the General category, with qualifying cutoffs generally increasing from 87.89 percentile in 2021 to 93.10 percentile in 2025. Similar fluctuations are visible across other categories, underscoring the dynamic nature of JEE Main cutoffs driven by various factors each year.
Targeting a Safe Score for JEE Main 2026
Based on historical trends, students should aim for a percentile above 90 in JEE Main 2026. Specifically, a target of 93+ percentile for the General category is advisable. This target typically corresponds to approximately 140-150 marks out of 300. Achieving this score significantly increases the chances of qualifying for JEE Advanced, providing a strong foundation for future applications.
Key Factors Influencing JEE Main Cutoffs
Several critical elements contribute to determining the final JEE Main cutoff scores each year. Understanding these factors helps students comprehend the competitive landscape. These include:
- The overall difficulty level of the examination paper directly affects average candidate performance.
- The total number of students taking the examination impacts the percentile calculations and ranking distribution.
- Government-mandated category-specific reservation policies also play a significant role in setting distinct cutoffs for various groups.
JEE Advanced Qualification: Candidate Numbers
The National Testing Agency (NTA) guidelines strictly adhere to a quota for JEE Advanced eligibility. It states that the top 2,50,000 JEE Main rank holders become eligible for the JEE Advanced examination. The NTA authorities meticulously adjust the JEE Main cutoff percentile to ensure the number of qualifiers stays precisely within this specified range. For instance, in JEE Advanced 2025, a total of 2,50,243 candidates successfully qualified across various categories, reflecting the NTA’s adherence to these guidelines.
Students must review these historical trends and understand the influencing factors. This knowledge allows for more informed preparation strategies and realistic goal setting for the upcoming JEE Main exams.