How Many Marks are Required for 96 Percentile in JEE Main 2025? : Many aspirants preparing for the highly competitive Joint Entrance Examination (Main) wonder, “How many marks are required for 96 percentile in JEE Main 2025? Since JEE Main follows a percentile-based ranking system, the marks corresponding to a specific percentile vary each year based on several factors like exam difficulty and the number of test takers. While checking the past year's trend, a 96 percentile in JEE Main generally falls within the range of 133 to 144 marks. However, this is only an estimate, and the exact marks for this percentile in JEE Main 2025 will be confirmed once NTA releases the official results.
JEE Main is one of the most competitive engineering entrance exams in India, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The exam evaluates applicants based on their performance in science-related subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, and the results are released in the form of percentiles and scores. Many aspirants often wonder how many marks are required for a 96 percentile in JEE Main 2025. Based on previous trends, in order to achieve the 96 percentile in JEE Main, applicants are expected to get scores between 140 and 141 marks. Those securing this percentile generally get a rank of 46,801 to 48,000. However, the exact JEE Main marks vs. percentile data may vary depending on factors like the difficulty level of the exam and the number of test-takers.
The marks required to achieve 96 percentile or higher in JEE Main 2025 depend on the overall difficulty level of the paper. Based on previous years’ data, the expected marks range for different percentiles is as follows:
96 percentile: Applicants securing 164+ marks in an easy paper, 133+ marks in a moderate paper, and 115+ marks in a tough paper are expected to achieve this percentile.
96.1 percentile: The estimated marks range is 165+ for an easy paper, 134+ for a moderate paper, and 116+ for a tough paper.
96.2 percentile: Applicants may require around 167+ marks if the paper is easy, 135+ for a moderate paper, and 117+ for a tough one.
96.3 percentile: The expected marks fall within 168+ for an easy paper, 136+ for a moderate one, and 118+ for a tough paper.
96.4 percentile: Aspirants securing 169+ marks in an easy paper, 137+ in a moderate paper, and 119+ in a tough paper are likely to achieve this percentile.
96.5 percentile: The expected marks are 170+ in easy paper, 138+ in moderate paper, and 120+ in tough paper.
96.6 percentile: Applicants can expect to score 171+ in an easy paper, 139+ in a moderate paper, and 121+ in a tough paper to secure this percentile.
96.7 percentile: The estimated marks range is 172+ for an easy paper, 141+ for a moderate paper, and 122+ for a tough paper.
96.8 percentile: Aspirants may need 173+ marks in an easy paper, 142+ in a moderate paper, and 123+ in a tough paper.
96.9 percentile: The highest in this range, applicants securing 175+ marks in an easy paper, 143+ in a moderate paper, and 124+ in a tough paper may reach this percentile.
Scoring a percentile of 96 and above in JEE Main 2025 depends on marks obtained in each subject. Based on previous trends, the expected subject-wise JEE Main 2025 marks required for 96 percentile for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics are as follows:
Physics : A score of 73+ marks is expected for 96 percentile, while 75+ marks may be needed for 96.5 percentile. Conceptual clarity and problem-solving speed can help in achieving this score.
Chemistry : To reach 96 percentile, around 54+ marks may be required, whereas 57+ marks could be needed for 96.5 percentile. A good understanding of theoretical concepts and formulas is important for securing these marks.
Mathematics: Applicants should aim for 45+ marks for 96 percentile, while 47+ marks may be required for 96.5 percentile. Since the section is usually lengthy, strong calculation skills and time management are key factors.
An applicant's rank in JEE Main 2025 depends on their percentile score and the total number of applicants taking the exam. For those securing a 96 percentile, the expected rank generally falls between 30,000 and 45,000. However, this range is not fixed and may change based on factors like the number of students appearing in a given session. If the total number of applicants is higher, the rank for the 96 percentile may go beyond 45,000, possibly reaching 50,000. Since JEE Main is conducted in multiple shifts, rank calculation follows a normalization process to account for variations in difficulty levels across different sessions.
The final JEE Main 2025 rank is decided by comparing an applicant's performance with all test-takers. Check out the expected JEE Main 2025 Marks vs. Rank analysis based on the previous year's trend below:
Applicants with a 96.9 percentile or above can expect their rank to be between 36,001 and 37,200.
Those scoring 96.8 percentile may fall in the range of 37,201 to 38,400, while a 96.7 percentile is likely to correspond to a rank between 38,401 and 39,600.
For applicants scoring 96.6 percentile, the expected rank may be between 39,601 and 40,800.
A 96.5 percentile could place them in the range of 40,801 to 42,000.
Those with a 96.4 percentile can expect a rank between 42,001 and 43,200.
Aspirants achieving the 96.3 percentile can anticipate a rank in the range of 43,201 to 44,400.
While a 96.2 percentile is likely to correspond to ranks between 44,401 and 45,600.
Applicants with a 96.1 percentile can expect their rank to be between 45,601 and 46,800, whereas a 96 percentile generally places applicants in the range of 46,801 to 48,000.
Scoring 96 percentile in JEE Main 2025 opens up several good opportunities for engineering aspirants. While admission to IITs can be challenging with this score, students can secure seats in well-reputed institutions such as NITs, IIITs, Government-Funded Technical Institutions (GFTIs), and private engineering colleges.
1. NITs (National Institutes of Technology): With a 96 percentile, students may get admission into mid-tier NITs for certain branches. Highly competitive branches like Computer Science and Electronics might have higher cut-offs, but options in Civil, Mechanical, Chemical, and Biotechnology engineering are more accessible. Some NITs that may offer admission include NIT Silchar, NIT Raipur, and NIT Goa, depending on the seat availability and home-state quota.
2. IIITs (Indian Institutes of Information Technology): IIITs are well-known for their focus on IT and Computer Science. While top IIITs have higher cut-offs for CS, students with a 96 percentile might get branches like Electronics and Communication Engineering in institutes such as IIIT Pune, IIIT Bhagalpur, and IIIT Bhopal.
3. Admission to GFTIs (Government-Funded Technical Institutions): GFTIs are another great option for students with a 96 percentile. These institutions offer quality education with lower cut-offs compared to NITs and IIITs. Colleges like Assam University, Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, and Mizoram University offer various engineering programs in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, and Chemical Engineering. GFTIs also provide affordable education with government-backed funding.
4. Admission to Private Engineering Colleges: Several well-established private universities accept JEE Main scores and offer scholarships to high-performing students. Some institutions that may admit students with a 96 percentile include:
VIT University, Vellore: Known for its infrastructure and academic excellence, VIT offers merit-based scholarships.
Shiv Nadar University: A reputed university that provides scholarships and financial aid based on JEE Main performance.
Other Private Colleges: SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Amity University, and BML Munjal University also accept JEE Main scores and may offer fee waivers or scholarships for students in this percentile range.
With a 96 percentile in JEE Main 2025, aspirants have access to multiple good options for pursuing engineering in government and private institutions. However, the actual percentile required for admissions will depend on seat availability, cut-off trends, and category reservations.
Scoring 96 percentile in JEE Main is a good achievement, but pushing it further to 98 or 99 requires a well-planned strategy. A focused approach with the right preparation methods can help improve accuracy and overall performance. Here are five key tips to enhance the JEE Main 2025 percentile beyond 96:
Strengthen Accuracy and Speed: At higher percentiles, every mark counts. Focus on improving accuracy by minimizing careless mistakes and revising key formulas. Practicing time-bound mock tests helps in increasing speed while maintaining precision.
Analyze Weak Areas and Improve Them: Identifying weak topics and working on them can significantly boost scores. Reviewing incorrect answers from previous tests and clearing conceptual doubts ensures steady improvement.
Optimize Problem-Solving Techniques: Using shortcut methods, tricks, and alternative approaches for solving problems can save time during the exam. Practicing JEE Main previous years’ questions helps in understanding the best techniques to approach different question types.
Focus on High-Weightage Topics: Prioritizing topics that carry more weightage in the exam helps maximize marks. Subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics have certain high-weightage topics for JEE Main that frequently appear. Strengthening these areas can make achieving a higher percentile possible.