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November 25, 2025
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Overview
The JEE Main 2026 examination is nearing completion, and candidates are now keen to understand the expected cutoff percentile required to qualify for JEE Advanced 2026. This comprehensive analysis provides detailed insights into expected cutoffs, previous year trends, and factors influencing the qualifying criteria.
~2.5L
Top Candidates Qualify
For JEE Advanced 2026
93.2%
General Cutoff 2025
Previous Year Benchmark
100%
Percentile Based
Not Raw Marks
4+ Years
Trend Analysis
2023-2026 Data
What is JEE Main Cutoff?
Understanding the different types of cutoffs and how they work is crucial for JEE aspirants.
1. Qualifying Cutoff
- Released by: NTA (National Testing Agency)
- Purpose: Required to appear in JEE Advanced
- Basis: Percentile score
- Type: Category-wise cutoff
- Announced: Along with JEE Main results
2. Admission Cutoff
- Used for: Admission into NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs
- Released during: JoSAA counselling
- Basis: All India Rank (AIR)
- Variation: By institute, branch, and category
- Note: This article focuses on Qualifying Cutoff for JEE Advanced
Expected JEE Main Cutoff 2026
Based on previous year trends, expected difficulty level, number of candidates, and normalization process.
| Category | Expected Percentile 2026 | Expected Range | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 92.5 – 93.3 | High Competition Zone | Stable |
| EWS | 81.1 – 81.7 | Moderate Competition | Slight increase |
| OBC-NCL | 77.5 – 79.8 | Competitive Range | Gradual increase |
| SC | 59.0 – 60.5 | Moderate Range | Similar |
| ST | 47.0 – 48.0 | Lower Competition | Slight increase |
| PwD | 0.001 – 0.01 | Minimal Cutoff | Consistently minimal |
Note: These are expected values based on analysis of previous trends. The final cutoff will be officially released by NTA along with the JEE Main 2026 results.
JEE Main Previous Year Cutoff Trends
Analysis of cutoff percentiles from 2023 to 2025 to identify patterns.
JEE Main Cutoff 2025
| Category | Percentile | Trend vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| General | 93.23 | Stable |
| EWS | 81.32 | Stable |
| OBC-NCL | 79.67 | Stable |
| SC | 60.09 | Stable |
| ST | 46.69 | Stable |
| PwD | 0.001 | Stable |
JEE Main Cutoff 2024
| Category | Percentile | Trend vs 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| General | 93.23 | Increased |
| EWS | 81.32 | Increased |
| OBC-NCL | 79.67 | Increased |
| SC | 60.09 | Increased |
| ST | 46.69 | Increased |
| PwD | 0.001 | Stable |
JEE Main Cutoff 2023
| Category | Percentile | Base Year |
|---|---|---|
| General | 90.77 | Reference Point |
| EWS | 75.62 | Reference Point |
| OBC-NCL | 73.61 | Reference Point |
| SC | 51.97 | Reference Point |
| ST | 37.23 | Reference Point |
| PwD | 0.001 | Reference Point |
Cutoff Trend Analysis (2023-2025)
Trend Analysis
From 2023 to 2025, the cutoff increased significantly for most categories. This indicates higher competition and better student performance.
If JEE Main 2026 paper difficulty remains similar, the cutoff is expected to stay around 92–93 percentile for General category.
Factors Affecting JEE Main Cutoff 2026
Key factors that determine the final cutoff each year.
Candidate & Competition Factors
- Total number of candidates appearing
- Overall performance of students
- Category-wise reservation policy
- Availability of seats in IITs
Examination Factors
- Difficulty level of the exam
- Number of exam shifts
- Normalization process used by NTA
- Question paper pattern
Percentile vs Marks – Important Clarification
Percentile Calculation
Percentile shows how you performed compared to all candidates, not just your raw marks.
Example: 93 percentile means you performed better than 93% of all candidates.
The cutoff is decided only on percentile, not raw marks, due to multiple shifts with varying difficulty.
Key Differences
| Aspect | Percentile | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Basis | Relative performance | Absolute performance |
| Depends on | All candidates' scores | Your performance only |
| Shift variation | Normalized across shifts | Varies with shift difficulty |
| Cutoff basis | Yes, official cutoff | No, not used directly |
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Common questions asked by students about JEE Main cutoff and qualification.
What is JEE Main cutoff 2026?
JEE Main cutoff 2026 is the minimum percentile required to qualify for JEE Advanced 2026. It is released category-wise by NTA along with the results.
Is the cutoff same for all categories?
No. Each category (General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST, PwD) has a different cutoff percentile. Reserved categories typically have lower cutoff percentiles compared to the General category.
Is JEE Main cutoff based on marks or percentile?
The cutoff is based only on percentile, not raw marks. This is because JEE Main is conducted in multiple shifts with varying difficulty, and percentile normalization ensures fairness across all shifts.
Can I qualify JEE Advanced with 85 percentile?
For the General category, 85 percentile is usually below the cutoff (which has been around 93 percentile in recent years). However, reserved category candidates (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) may still qualify with 85 percentile depending on the final cutoff.
Does JEE Main cutoff change every year?
Yes, the cutoff changes every year based on various factors like exam difficulty, number of candidates, overall performance trends, and normalization process. It has generally shown an upward trend in recent years.
When will NTA release the official cutoff?
The official cutoff will be released along with the JEE Main 2026 result. NTA typically announces results within a few weeks after the completion of all exam sessions.
Important Points to Remember
- The expected cutoffs provided here are based on analysis of previous trends and are not official NTA figures.
- Final cutoffs may vary based on actual exam difficulty and candidate performance in 2026.
- Only the top ~2.5 lakh candidates across all categories qualify for JEE Advanced.
- Regularly check the official NTA website for the latest updates and official announcements.
