
The JEE Main 2026 Session 2 examination will be conducted from 1 April to 10 April 2026 in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode across various exam centres in India. With multiple shifts scheduled each day, candidates appearing in the April attempt are keen to understand the paper pattern, difficulty level, and expected scoring trends.
As the April session approaches, aspirants are actively searching for clarity on JEE Main marks vs percentile vs rank 2026 (Session 2). Since the exam is held in multiple shifts and the difficulty level may vary from shift to shift, the NTA normalisation process plays a vital role in determining the final percentile. A detailed marks vs percentile vs rank analysis helps candidates estimate their performance, understand cut-off trends, predict NIT/IIIT admission chances, and assess their eligibility for JEE Advanced 2026.
JEE Main follows a three-step performance measurement system: Marks → Percentile → Rank. Each step serves a different purpose and plays a crucial role in determining a candidate’s position in the final merit list.
JEE Main marks refer to the raw score obtained by a candidate in the examination.
The total marks for JEE Main B.E./B.Tech paper are 300
Each correct answer carries +4 marks
Each incorrect answer results in a −1 mark
Unattempted questions carry no penalty
These raw marks represent a student’s direct performance in a particular exam shift. However, raw marks alone do not decide the final outcome because JEE Main is conducted across multiple sessions with varying difficulty levels.
The JEE Main percentile, also known as the NTA Score, indicates how a candidate performed relative to others in the same session.
In simple terms, a percentile shows the percentage of candidates who scored equal to or less than a particular score.
Example: If a student scores a 95 percentile, it means the student performed better than 95% of candidates in that session.
Key points about JEE Percentile:
It is not the same as a percentage
It is calculated after normalisation
It ensures fairness across different shifts
Because of this system, two students with the same marks may have different percentiles if their shifts had different difficulty levels.
The All India Rank (AIR) is derived from the final percentile score.
NTA prepares a combined merit list using percentile scores
A higher percentile always results in a better JEE Rank
Rank determines:
Eligibility for JEE Advanced
Admission through JoSAA counselling
This is why percentile is considered more important than raw marks when evaluating overall performance.
Also Check: JEE Main January 2026 Expected Percentile Score
JEE Main Marks Vs Percentile Vs Rank predicted table is based on recent trends and helps understand jee mains marks percentile 2026 expectations.
| JEE Main Marks Vs Percentile Vs Rank: Comparison | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspect | Marks (Raw Score) | Percentile | Rank |
| Meaning | Actual score out of 300 | Relative performance vs others | Position in merit list |
| Basis of Calculation | Correct & incorrect answers | Normalization formula | Derived from percentile |
| Session Impact | Varies with paper difficulty | Adjusted for fairness | Used in final list |
| Used For | Understanding raw performance | Equalizing difficulty levels | Admission & counseling |
Therefore, since JEE Main is normalized across multiple sessions, percentile—not raw marks accurately reflects a student’s relative performance and determines rank, making it the most important metric to focus on.
This is why Students should focus more on improving their percentile rather than chasing a fixed marks target.
JEE Main is conducted in multiple shifts to accommodate a large number of candidates. Since each shift may vary in difficulty, comparing raw marks directly would be unfair in Mark vs Percentile JEE main Shift wise.
Normalisation solves this issue by:
Adjusting scores based on session difficulty
Converting raw marks into percentiles
Ensuring equal comparison across all shifts
This is why:
Same marks ≠ same percentile
Slightly lower marks in a tougher shift may result in a higher percentile
Understanding this concept is essential when analysing JEE Main shift-wise marks vs percentile.
This table presents predicted JEE Main marks vs percentile vs rank for 2026, based on past trends. Students can use this to estimate their performance.
| Expected JEE Main Marks Vs Percentile Vs Rank 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Marks (Out of 300) | Percentile | Expected Overall Rank |
| 290 – 280 | 99.9989 – 99.9974 | 1 – 36 |
| 280 – 260 | 99.9947 – 99.9758 | 36 – 428 |
| 260 – 240 | 99.9657 – 99.8450 | 428 – 755 |
| 240 – 220 | 99.8450 – 99.6510 | 755 – 1189 |
| 220 – 210 | 99.6510 – 99.4566 | 1189 – 1893 |
| 210 – 200 | 99.4566 – 99.0777 | 1893 – 2720 |
| 200 – 190 | 99.0777 – 98.9036 | 2720 – 3803 |
| 190 – 180 | 98.9036 – 98.5640 | 3803 – 5320 |
| 180 – 170 | 98.5640 – 98.4036 | 5320 – 7564 |
| 170 – 160 | 98.4036 – 98.2064 | 7564 – 9564 |
| 160 – 150 | 98.2064 – 98.0785 | 9564 – 13163 |
| 150 – 140 | 98.0785 – 97.8778 | 13163 – 17223 |
| 140 – 130 | 97.8778 – 97.4488 | 17223 – 23133 |
| 130 – 120 | 97.4488 – 97.3542 | 23133 – 29340 |
| 120 – 110 | 97.3542 – 96.0649 | 29340 – 37440 |
| 110 – 100 | 96.0649 – 95.6348 | 37440 – 47979 |
| 100 – 90 | 95.6348 – 94.9645 | 47979 – 61621 |
| 90 – 80 | 94.9645 – 92.7234 | 61621 – 76271 |
| 80 – 70 | 92.7234 – 90.4108 | 76271 – 102421 |
| 70 – 60 | 90.4108 – 87.0670 | 102421 – 136085 |
This section breaks down how specific score ranges in JEE Main 2026 translate into expected percentile values. Many students search for 120 marks in JEE Mains percentile, 130 marks in JEE Mains percentile, and scores like 80, 100, or 60 marks in JEE Mains percentile to understand their relative position in the exam.
A score of 120 marks in JEE Main 2026 may correspond to a percentile range of approximately 96 to 97.5, depending on shift difficulty. In moderately difficult shifts, the percentile tends to be higher for this marks range, while easier shifts may result in slightly lower percentile values.
Students scoring 130 marks can expect a percentile range of around 97.4 to 98, based on previous trends. This score generally places candidates in a competitive range, though final results still depend heavily on normalisation.
100 marks may result in a percentile between 95 and 96
80 marks usually fall within the 92 to 94 percentile range
60 marks often correspond to a percentile between 87 and 90
These ranges are indicative and may vary across shifts.
In JEE Main, the percentile can vary significantly based on performance in individual subjects. Understanding Maths, Physics, and Chemistry marks vs percentile helps students identify which sections impact their overall percentile the most.
Mathematics is generally considered the most challenging section. Even moderate marks in Maths can significantly influence the overall percentile, especially in tougher shifts.
Physics scores often show less variation across shifts. Consistent performance in this section can help stabilise overall percentile, particularly when combined with strong Chemistry scores.
Chemistry is usually more scoring. Higher accuracy in this section can positively impact the percentile, especially for students aiming to cross key percentile thresholds.
JEE Main percentile predictor helps students estimate their probable percentile based on expected marks. These tools use historical data and trend analysis. Important points:
Predictions are approximate
Actual percentile depends on shift difficulty
Use predictors only for rough planning, not final conclusions
Also Check: JEE Main 2026 99 Percentile in 35 Days
When multiple applicants have the same overall score in JEE Main, NTA follows a specific tie-breaking procedure:
Mathematics Marks: Higher marks in Mathematics receive a better rank.
Physics Marks: If a tie remains, Physics marks are then considered.
Chemistry Marks: If the tie still exists, Chemistry marks are used.
Age Preference: If the tie persists after all subject marks, the older applicant gets a higher rank.