JEE Main 2026 Session 1 vs Session 2: Which Score Counts for Final Rank?

As the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 results were officially declared on February 16, 2026, over 13 lakh aspirants are now pivotally positioned between their initial performance and the upcoming April attempt. With the National Testing Agency (NTA) adopting a multi-session format, many candidates are navigating the complexities of the "Best of Two" rule and how it influences their final All India Rank (AIR). Understanding the nuances of normalization and percentile calculation is essential for students to strategically decide whether to settle for their January score or push for a higher percentile in Session 2.

JEE Main 2026 Session 1 vs Session 2: Which Score Counts for Final Rank?

The National Testing Agency (NTA) provides a dual-session format for JEE Main 2026 to ensure that students have a fair chance to improve their scores without the risk of a single "bad day" ruining their year. If you appear for both the January and April sessions, the NTA employs a "Best of Two" policy, where only your highest total NTA percentile score from either session is utilized to determine your final All India Rank (AIR). This means your rank isn't averaged; rather, it's calculated based on your peak performance, providing a safety net for those balancing board exams with entrance preparation.

Understanding NTA Percentile vs. Raw Marks

It is crucial to understand that your rank is based on Percentile Scores (NTA Scores), not your raw marks out of 300.Since the exam is conducted in multiple shifts with varying difficulty levels, the NTA uses a Normalization Process.

• Raw Score: The actual marks you calculate based on the answer key (+4 for correct, -1 for incorrect).

• Percentile Score: A relative score indicating how many candidates scored equal to or less than you in that specific shift.

The normalization ensures that a student in a "tough" shift is not at a disadvantage compared to a student in an "easy" shift. The final AIR is prepared by merging the "Best of Two" percentiles of all candidates onto a single common scale.

Tie-Breaking Criteria for JEE Main 2026

In an exam with over 13 lakh aspirants, many students often end up with the exact same percentile. To assign unique ranks, the NTA follows a strict subject-wise hierarchy:

1. Mathematics NTA Score: The candidate with the higher percentile in Math gets a better rank.

2. Physics NTA Score: If the Math score is tied, Physics is compared.

3. Chemistry NTA Score: If both above are tied, Chemistry is the decider.

4. Accuracy Ratio: Candidates with a lower ratio of incorrect to correct answers across all subjects are prioritized.

5. Same Rank: If all criteria are identical, the NTA now awards the same rank to both candidates (the age-based tie-breaker has been removed in recent years).

Why Appearing in Both Sessions is Often Recommended

Even if you performed well in Session 1, appearing in Session 2 is strategically sound. It serves as a "no-risk" trial; you can only improve your score, never lower it in the eyes of the NTA. Additionally, Session 2 allows you to experience the updated competition level, as the total number of unique candidates usually increases after the April session, which ultimately determines the final cutoffs for JEE Advance.