
JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Rank (Session 2 Update):JEE Main 2026 Session 1 has successfully concluded, with exams held from January 21 to January 29, 2026. As students receive their initial responses, the focus has shifted to the Session 2 exams scheduled from April 1 to April 10, 2026. Aspirants are now using the trends from the January shifts to understand how their raw scores will impact their final standing.
Questions about shift-wise difficulty, normalization, and the variations seen in Session 1 are common, as these factors are crucial for planning the final attempt. This guide helps candidates estimate approximate ranks based on expected marks out of 300 for the April session.
Using NTA’s normalization process, raw scores from both sessions are converted into percentile scores. Since normalization is session-wise and shift-wise, the best of the two NTA scores will be used to determine the final All India Rank (AIR). Understanding this process allows aspirants to assess their January performance and refine their strategy to achieve a higher percentile in the upcoming Session 2 exams.
Based on previous years’ JEE Mains marks vs rank trends, expected paper difficulty, and the normalisation system, the following table gives an approximate idea of how marks may translate into ranks in JEE Main 2026. Actual marks vs rank JEE Mains may vary depending on shift-wise performance and the total number of candidates.
|
Expected JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Rank |
|
|
Marks out of 300 (JEE Main expected score) |
Rank (JEE Main expected rank)
|
|
300 – 294 |
1-10 |
|
288- 294 |
20-11 |
|
280-284 |
44-22 |
|
270- 279 |
107-63 |
|
252- 268 |
522-106 |
|
231-249 |
1385-546 |
|
215-230 |
2798-1421 |
|
202-214 |
4666-2862 |
|
190-200 |
6664- 4830 |
|
175-189 |
10746-7151 |
|
161-174 |
16163-11018 |
|
149-159 |
21145-16495 |
|
132-148 |
32826-22238 |
|
120-131 |
43174-33636 |
|
110-119 |
54293-44115 |
|
102-109 |
65758-55269 |
|
95-101 |
76260-66999 |
|
89-94 |
87219-78111 |
|
79-88 |
109329-90144 |
|
64-87 |
169542-92303 |
|
44-62 |
326517-173239 |
The percentile reflects how a candidate has performed relative to others. A higher percentile indicates better performance compared to the overall candidate pool. At higher scores, percentile values rise sharply, while at mid and lower ranges, a small change in marks may not cause a large percentile shift.
For example, 99 percentile means you scored better than 99% of all test-takers. Ranks in JEE Main are prepared only using percentile, which is why understanding marks vs percentile is crucial.
Understanding JEE Main marks vs percentile is important because ranks are prepared directly from percentile scores, not raw marks.
|
JEE Main Percentile vs Marks 2026 (Trends) |
|
|
Marks |
Approximate Percentile |
|
120+ |
99+ |
|
90 – 120 |
95 – 99 |
|
60 – 90 |
80 – 95 |
|
30 – 60 |
50 – 80 |
|
Below 30 |
Below 50 |
Many students specifically search 99 percentile in JEE Mains means how many marks, but it is important to understand that 99 percentile does not correspond to a fixed score. The marks required for 99 percentile in JEE Mains 2026 vary every year due to differences in paper difficulty, number of candidates, and score distribution across shifts.
Based on recent trends, the marks for 99 percentile in JEE Mains are generally expected to fall within a range rather than a single value.
The marks required for 99 percentile in JEE Mains 2026 may lie between 115 to 135 marks.
The exact score depends on the difficulty level of the shift and the overall performance of the candidates.
In comparatively easier shifts, higher marks are usually needed to achieve the same percentile.
This variation exists because the percentile reflects a candidate’s relative performance within a session before the final rank list is prepared.
Many candidates search for specific mark-based outcomes to understand where they may stand in the competition. The following breakdown explains the expected percentile and rank range for 140, 150, and 160 marks, keeping shift-wise normalisation variations in mind.
Scoring around 140 marks places many candidates in a competitive range where small differences in shift difficulty can impact the final percentile. The estimates below reflect expected trends after normalisation and may vary across exam sessions.
| 140 marks in JEE Mains percentile | |
| Aspect | Expected Range |
| Percentile | 97 – 99 |
| Rank | 2000 – 12000 |
At 140 marks, candidates generally fall in a strong percentile range, though exact rank depends on shift-wise normalisation.
A score of around 150 marks generally reflects a strong overall performance in JEE Main. However, the final percentile and rank for this score can vary depending on shift-wise difficulty and the normalisation process applied across sessions.
| 150 marks in JEE Mains percentile | |
| Aspect | Expected Range |
| Percentile | 98 – 99.3 |
| Rank | 1000 – 8000 |
With 150 marks, candidates are closer to the upper percentile range, but results still vary across sessions.
Scoring close to 160 marks usually places candidates in a higher percentile bracket, especially in moderately difficult shifts. Even at this score level, normalisation plays a key role in determining the final percentile and rank.
| 160 marks in JEE Mains percentile | |
| Aspect | Expected Range |
| Percentile | 99 – 99.6 |
| Rank | 500 – 5000 |
Higher marks improve percentile significantly, especially near the top end of the score range.
The JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Percentile vs Rank are interconnected but not interchangeable. Marks indicate raw performance, percentile shows relative standing, and rank is the final position among all candidates.
| JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Percentile vs Rank | ||
| Marks | Percentile | Approximate Rank |
| 115-120 | 99 – 100 | 1 – 200 |
| 90–115 | 95 – 99 | 201 – 2000 |
| 60–89 | 80 – 95 | 2001 – 15000 |
| Below 60 | Below 80 | 15001 and above |
This combined analysis supports students searching for JEE Mains 2026 marks vs percentile and JEE Main 2026 rank vs percentile.
Subject-wise performance also influences overall percentile due to differences in score distribution.
Higher scores in Physics often push percentiles quickly due to clustered marks at the top.
| JEE Main Marks vs Percentile for Physics | |
| Marks in Physics | Percentile |
| 30+ | 95 – 100 |
| 20 – 29 | 80 – 95 |
| 10 – 19 | 50 – 79 |
| Below 10 | Below 50 |
Also Check: JEE Main Physics Chapter Wise Weightage 2026
Chemistry usually has similar trends as Physics in marks vs percentiles. Here is an example:
| JEE Main Marks vs Percentile for Chemistry | |
| Marks in Chemistry | Percentile |
| 30+ | 95 – 100 |
| 20 – 29 | 80 – 95 |
| 10 – 19 | 50 – 79 |
| Below 10 | Below 50 |
Also Check: JEE Main Chemistry Chapter-Wise Weightage 2026
Mathematics tends to be more challenging, affecting percentile scores for marks:
| JEE Main Marks vs Percentile for Mathematics | |
| Marks in Mathematics | Percentile |
| 35+ | 98 – 100 |
| 25 – 34 | 85 – 97 |
| 15 – 24 | 60 – 84 |
| Below 15 | Below 60 |
These subject-wise percentiles help estimate overall percentile score.
The JEE Main rank calculation process follows a structured and standardized approach to ensure fairness across multiple exam shifts.
Raw marks obtained by a candidate are first converted into percentile scores for each session using the normalization process.
Percentiles from all sessions are then combined to form the final percentile score.
Candidates are ranked in descending order of percentile, and not by raw marks.
Tie-breaking rules are applied where two or more candidates secure the same percentile.
In JEE Main, marks and percentile are different measures. Marks indicate the score obtained out of the total marks in a particular shift, while percentile reflects a candidate’s relative performance compared to others who appeared in the same session. Due to variation in paper difficulty across shifts, the same marks can lead to different percentiles, which is why percentile is used instead of raw marks for ranking.
The JEE Main rank is directly based on the final percentile, not on raw marks. After compiling percentile scores from all sessions, candidates are arranged in descending order to prepare the rank list. A higher percentile always corresponds to a better rank, regardless of the marks scored in an individual shift.
This process ensures comparability across different shifts and maintains consistency in the final ranking system.
Also Check: JEE Main Mathematics Chapter-wise Weightage 2026
The normalization process balances different exam sessions with this formula:
Example: If a session has higher average scores due to an easier paper, percentiles are adjusted so that no candidate gains an unfair advantage. This balances performance across all sessions.
If two students get the same normalized marks, the JEE Main tie breaker decides the rank by:
Higher score in Mathematics
Higher score in Physics
Fewer incorrect answers overall
Older age candidate gets priority
This order is followed to finalize ranks.
Looking at past trends in 2025 can help predict 2026. Generally, higher marks led to similar rank ranges as expected for 2026. Reviewing last year’s marks vs rank can be useful.
| JEE Main Marks Vs Rank 2025 (Expected) | |
| Marks out of 300 | Rank |
| 288- 294 | 20-11 |
| 280-284 | 44-22 |
| 270- 279 | 107-63 |
| 252- 268 | 522-106 |
| 231-249 | 1385-546 |
| 215-230 | 2798-1421 |
| 202-214 | 4666-2862 |
| 190-200 | 6664- 4830 |
| 175-189 | 10746-7151 |
| 161-174 | 16163-11018 |
| 149-159 | 21145-16495 |
| 132-148 | 32826-22238 |
| 120-131 | 43174-33636 |
| 110-119 | 54293-44115 |
| 102-109 | 65758-55269 |
| 95-101 | 76260-66999 |
| 89-94 | 87219-78111 |
| 79-88 | 109329-90144 |
| 64-87 | 169542-92303 |
| 44-62 | 326517-173239 |
| 1-42 | 1025009-334080 |
The JEE Main cut-off varies every year depending on exam difficulty, the number of candidates, and normalization. This year-wise cut-off trend from 2020 to 2025 helps students understand how qualifying scores change for each category, making it easier to estimate the expected cut-off for 2026.
| JEE Main Cut-off Trends (2020-2025) | |||||
| Year | ST | SC | OBC-NCL | GENERAL | PWD |
| 2025 | 47.9026465 | 61.1526933 | 79.4313582 | 93.1023262 | 0.0079349 |
| 2024 | 46.69 | 60.09 | 79.67 | 93.23 | 0.0018 |
| 2023 | 37.23 | 51.97 | 73.61 | 90.77 | 0.0013 |
| 2022 | 26.77 | 43.08 | 67.00 | 88.41 | 0.0031 |
| 2021 | 34.67 | 46.88 | 68.02 | 87.89 | 0.0096 |
| 2020 | 39.06 | 50.17 | 72.88 | 70.24 | 0.0618 |
These trends help estimate expected marks vs percentile JEE 2026 accurately.