JEE Main 2026 Passing Marks: Expected Category-wise Cutoff & 75% Criteria Explained

As the National Testing Agency (NTA) prepares to conduct the JEE Main 2026 from January 21 to 30, 2026, students are focused on the "magic number" needed to qualify. To move to the next stage—JEE Advanced—you must cross the minimum percentile threshold.

Expected Qualifying Marks for JEE Main 2026

While the NTA uses a percentile system, based on the difficulty trends, here is the estimated raw score (out of 300) required to qualify:

The Dual Criteria: Qualifying vs. Eligibility

One of the most searched queries on GT is the "75% rule." It is vital to distinguish between passing the exam and being eligible for a college seat.

1. Qualifying for JEE Advanced

This is based solely on your performance in the entrance test. If you score above the cutoffs mentioned in the table above, you are eligible to sit for the JEE Advanced exam.

2. The 12th Board Eligibility (Admission Criteria)

To gain admission into NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, the NTA mandates specific Class 12 percentages:

• General/EWS/OBC: Minimum 75% aggregate.

• SC/ST/PwD: Minimum 65% aggregate.

• Alternative: Candidates must be in the Top 20 Percentile of their respective board.

Benchmarking: Previous Year (2025) Official Cutoffs

To understand the competition level, we can look at the official 2025 data. These figures represent the minimum percentile required to qualify for JEE Advanced.

Why do Passing Marks Change Every Year?

Several dynamic factors determine whether the cutoff goes up or down. Search intent shows users are often curious why a 90-mark score qualifies one year but not the next.

• Candidate Volume: If more than 12 lakh students appear (as expected in 2026), the percentile competition tightens.

• Exam Difficulty: A tougher Physics or Math paper generally lowers the raw marks needed to achieve a high percentile.

• Seat Availability: Changes in the number of seats across IITs and NITs influence the final counseling cutoffs.

• Normalization: Since the exam is held in multiple shifts, the NTA uses a complex formula to ensure no student is at a disadvantage due to a harder paper.