For candidates aspiring to join IIT, the eligibility criteria is one of the very few things to be kept in mind while preparing for the entrance examination, JEE Advanced. There’s always a problem with the score of 75% in 12th class. Has the criterion of 75% eliminated from JEE Advanced 2025 or not? Check what lies ahead regarding eligibility.
JEE Advanced 2025 Eligibility Criteria
The JEE Advanced is one of the most competitive exams in India and is viewed as a portal to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). The eligibility criteria set each year keep renewing yearly according to the education standard. Candidates should know what has changed this year before preparing and filing their applications.
Is the 75% Criteria Still Required for JEE Advanced?
Perhaps the most notable change in JEE Advanced 2025 is that candidates will not be considered under the 75% criterion of Class 12 examinations, if the candidates fall in any other criteria. But candidates are advised to take high marks so that they can compete with others as well as they should also satisfy the minimum percentage based on their category group.
| Criterion | JEE Advanced 2024 | JEE Advanced 2025 |
| Minimum Percentage | 75% for General/OBC, 65% for SC/ST |
No specific percentage requirement
|
| Top 20 Percentile | Required | Required |
| Exam Attempts | Two | Three |
Why 75% Criteria Was Introduced in the First Place
The 75 percent criteria were intended to ensure high academic standards among the admitted students at entry points into IITs. So, the idea was that the students should be brilliant not only in entrance exams but also have a proper base of foundational subjects. However, with new changes brought on board, it is expected that more students will compete more.
Detailed Eligibility Criteria for JEE Advanced 2025
Here is a detailed description of each eligibility criteria for JEE Advanced 2025:
Performance in JEE Main 2025
Candidates must qualify in JEE Main 2025 and must be in the top 2,50,000 candidates. The percentage break-up as per categories is as under:
| Category | Percentage Reservation |
Approximate Number of Candidates
|
| GEN-EWS | 10% | 23,750 |
| OBC-NCL | 27% | 64,125 |
| SC | 15% | 35,625 |
| ST | 7.50% | 17,812 |
| OPEN | 40.50% | 96,187 |
| PwD | 5% (horizontal) |
Applicable across all categories
|
JEE Advanced 2025 Age Limit
Candidates must be born on or after October 1, 1999. However, the SC/ST/PwD candidates have an age relaxation of 5 years; that makes their birth cutoff October 1, 1994.
Number of Attempts Allowed in JEE 2025
Candidates are allowed three consecutive attempts at qualifying for JEE Advanced. This is an increase from two in the past years.
Appearance in Class 12 (or Equivalent) Examination
The candidates must have appeared for Class 12 (or equivalent) examination, and their subjects have to be Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. That is, it has to be one of the two years: that of 2023 or 2024; in one of the following ways:
| Criteria | Eligibility |
| Eligible Exam Years | Candidates passing in 2023 or 2024 |
| Ineligible Exam Years |
Candidates who passed before 2023
|
| Special Case (2022) |
Candidates who passed after September 21, 2022, are eligible
|
| Ineligible Exception |
Results declared before September 21, 2021, are not eligible
|
Successfully registered candidates who withdrew from an IIT seat before last round or whose seat was canceled can re-apply. A candidate registered or appearing in a prep course at an IIT during 2024 can also attempt JEE Advanced 2025.
JEE Advanced Foreign Nationals in Eligibility Criteria
International students, including OCI/PIO, who have passed 12th standard or equivalent in 2024-25 can apply for JEE Advanced. International candidates qualify under less than 10 percent of the Supernumerary Quota (SNQ) seats.
Calculation of 12th Standard Marks of JEE Advanced
Marks in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Language, and any other subject are considered for determining the 12th grade score. Here’s a summary of marks calculation criteria:
| Situation | Calculation Approach |
| Marks not out of 100 | Scaled to 100 |
| Letter grades only |
Board-issued equivalent marks required
|
| Exam scores from prior years | Previous scores used |
| Reattempt in 2024 after first in 2023 | Best performance considered |
| Diploma holders | Only final-year marks used |
| Semester system | Last two semesters considered |
How to Get the JEE Advanced Cutoff?
The JEE Advanced cutoff is determined by factors such as cutoff of the previous year, number of applicants, and difficulty level of the exam, and performance of the candidates. Every year different factors impact flexibility in the level of the cutoff. Hence, to remain in sync with the times, you must keep a watch on the trends.
The recent changes in the JEE Advanced 2025 eligibility criteria have done away with the 75% cut-off, which indeed means that more candidates are going to get a chance to apply for the prestigious IITs. Meanwhile, other eligibility and exam performance criteria would still be applicable to get selected for IITs.
This update will make sure that all deserving candidates who do good in JEE Main get a fair chance to appear for the JEE Advanced level, irrespective of their board exam percentages. Therefore, be thoroughly vigilant and make sure you check all your eligibility criteria before going for the right preparations. Stay focused, work diligently, and get good results in one of the toughest entrance exams in India.
Is the 75% Criteria Still Required for JEE Advanced? FAQs
1: Is the 75% eligibility criteria officially removed for JEE Advanced 2025?
Answer: Yes, the 75% eligibility criterion for JEE Advanced 2025 has been adjusted in recent years. The rule previously required candidates in the general category to score at least 75% in their 12th-grade board exams and SC/ST candidates to achieve 65%. However, due to recent decisions, students meeting the top 20 percentile of their respective boards are also considered eligible, even if their percentage is below 75%. It is important to keep checking official announcements, as these policies are subject to change.
2: What if I score below 75% but am in the top 20 percentile of my board? Will I still be eligible?
Answer: Yes, if you fall below the 75% threshold but are among the top 20 percentile of students in your board's 12th standard exams, you are eligible for JEE Advanced 2025. This alternative criterion is designed to ensure students with high relative performance, even if their absolute percentage is slightly lower, can still participate.
3: How do the eligibility criteria for JEE Main and JEE Advanced differ in terms of percentage requirements?
Answer: For JEE Main, there is currently no minimum percentage requirement for appearing in the exam. However, to qualify for JEE Advanced, candidates must meet the 75% criteria in the 12th grade (or 65% for SC/ST) or be in the top 20 percentile of their board's exam results. The 75% rule mainly impacts candidates aiming to qualify for JEE Advanced and apply for IIT admissions.
4: Are there any exemptions to the 75% criterion due to special circumstances like the COVID-19 pandemic?
Answer: During the pandemic years, the 75% criterion was waived to accommodate students whose education was disrupted. For JEE Advanced 2025, the criterion has been updated, but certain flexibility remains through the top 20 percentile alternative. If there are significant disruptions or changes, authorities might issue temporary adjustments, so candidates should keep an eye on official updates.
5: Does the 75% requirement apply to international students taking the JEE Advanced exam?
Answer: International candidates must meet similar academic performance standards, but specific rules may vary. Generally, international students need to meet an equivalent standard to the 75% or top 20 percentile requirements in their country’s education system. The exact eligibility requirements for international students are outlined in the official JEE Advanced guidelines each year, so they should refer to those for precise criteria.
