How Many Attempts for JEE Advanced? Complete Eligibility Rules Explained

• How many attempts for JEE Advanced are allowed?
• How many attempts for JEE Advanced after 12th?
• Is there a third attempt?

You’re asking the right questions and you deserve to know the JEE Advanced attempt limit. So, let’s answer them properly.

How Many Attempts in JEE Advanced Are Allowed?

Let’s start with the most searched question.

A candidate can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of two times in two consecutive years.

That is the official JEE Advanced attempt limit.

• No gaps.
• No skipping years.
• No unlimited retries.

If you attempt JEE Advanced once, you only get one more chance, and it has to be the very next year.

How Many Attempts for JEE Advanced After 12th?

This depends on when you passed Class 12, not when you feel “ready”. For JEE Advanced 2026, the rule is clear:

• You must have appeared for Class XII for the first time in either 2025 or 2026
• Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics must be compulsory subjects

If you first appeared for Class 12 in:

• 2024 or earlier → Not eligible
• 2025 or 2026 → Eligible (subject to other conditions)

Important clarification: “Appearance” means the board declared results, even if your personal result was withheld.

Special Case: Boards Declaring Results Late

There is one exception students often miss. If your board:

Declared Class XII results for 2023–24 on or after June 18, 2024, then candidates who appeared in 2024 may still be eligible for JEE Advanced 2026.

However:

If the board declared results before June 18, 2024, and your result was withheld → You are not eligible.

Therefore, dates matter a lot.

When is JEE Advanced 2026?

The official exam date will be announced later. But eligibility rules already apply. Before worrying about JEE Advanced 2026 is, make sure:

• You are allowed to attempt it
• You have not exhausted your attempts
• You meet age and academic criteria

Timing is useless if eligibility fails.

JEE Advanced Attempt Limit: Can Anyone Attempt 3 Times?

This is where confusion spreads fast.

So, you need to bear in mind the standard rule: Only two attempts in two consecutive years.

However, there was a temporary exception.

Third Attempt Clarification

• A third attempt was allowed earlier due to a Supreme Court order
• It applied only to specific candidates who dropped out of college during certain dates in November 2025
• This was a one-time relief

As of now, the JEE Advanced attempt limit is back to two attempts only. No general third attempt exists.

JEE Advanced Eligibility: JEE Main Requirement

Attempting JEE Advanced isn’t automatic. You must be:

• Among the top 2,50,000 candidates
• From the B.E./B.Tech paper of JEE Main 2026
• Across all categories combined

This makes JEE Main a screening test.

Category-Wise Distribution of Top 2.5 Lakh Candidates

Here’s how the 2,50,000 slots are divided:

Note: Total may slightly exceed 2.5 lakh due to tied ranks.

Reservation Rules for OCI/PIO Candidates

OCI/PIO (I) candidates:

• Do not get reservation benefits
• Cannot claim GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, or ST
• Are only considered under:
  • OPEN
  • OPEN-PwD (if applicable)

This affects ranking and qualification.

Age Limit for JEE Advanced 2026

Age criteria are strict.

• General category candidates must be born on or after October 1, 2001
• SC, ST, and PwD candidates get 5 years of relaxation (born on or after October 1, 1996)

No age relaxation beyond this.

IIT Admission Rule: Who is NOT Eligible?

You cannot appear for JEE Advanced 2026 if:

• You were admitted to an IIT under any JoSAA-listed program
• Even if you:
  • Left the course
  • Didn’t continue
  • Accepted seat online only
• Even if your admission was later cancelled

Once admitted to an IIT, the door closes.

Who Still Remains Eligible?

You are eligible if:

• You were admitted to an IIT preparatory course in 2025
• You were allotted an IIT seat in JoSAA 2025, but:
  • Did not report
  • Withdrew before the final round
  • Had the seat been cancelled before the last round

These candidates can still attempt JEE Advanced 2026.

Conclusion

So, how many attempts for JEE Advanced? The answer is firm:

• Maximum two attempts
• Only in two consecutive years
• No general third attempt anymore

Your eligibility depends on your class 12 appearance year, age criteria, along with JEE Main performance. Your IIT admission history is also important. JEE Advanced doesn’t reward shortcuts. It rewards timing, planning, and precision. Know the rules early. Plan your attempts wisely.

FAQs

How many attempts in JEE Advanced are allowed?

A candidate can attempt JEE Advanced only two times, in two consecutive years.

How many attempts for JEE Advanced after 12th?

You get a maximum of two attempts, starting from the year you first appear for Class 12 (if eligible).

Is a third attempt allowed for JEE Advanced?

No. The attempt limit has been reverted to two attempts only. Third attempts were allowed only in special court-approved cases earlier.

When is JEE Advanced 2026?

The official date will be announced later, but eligibility rules already apply for 2026.

Can I attempt JEE Advanced if I left an IIT seat?

You can only attempt again if you withdrew or had your seat cancelled before the final JoSAA round. Otherwise, you are not eligible.