Knowing the expected cut off JEE Main 2026 helps you to keep a clear target score. You can understand your chances of qualifying for JEE Advanced.
Let’s understand the JEE Main 2026 expected cut off. Let’s see the category-wise predictions, past trends and the factors that decide your final JEE Main cut off.
What Is JEE Main Cut Off
The cut-off mark is the minimum percentile or marks that you must score to:
- Qualify for JEE Advanced 2026
- Become eligible for counselling through the JoSAA Counselling 2026
It is important for you to understand that the qualifying cut-off and admission cut-off are different.
- The qualifying cut-off allows you to appear for JEE Advanced
- The admission cut-off depends on your rank, branch choice and institute
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JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff (Qualifying)
Based on previous year trends and exam patterns, here is the expected qualifying cut-off for JEE Main 2026:
| Category | Percentile |
| General (UR) | 93.0 to 95.0 |
| EWS | 80 to 82 |
| OBC-NCL | 79 to 81.5 |
| SC | 60 to 62 |
| ST | 47 to 51 |
| PwD | 0.001 to 0.02 |
These numbers are predictions. You can find the final cut-off when it will be declared after the JEE Main 2026 Result by NTA.
JEE Main 2026 General Category Cutoff Prediction
The general category cutoff is expected to be between 93 and 95 percentile for qualifying. General category students face the highest competition. To get into top NITs, students often need a 98 to 99 percentile. Or even higher scores are needed.
So, if you belong to the General category, do not aim just for 95 percentile. Try to score higher to get into the best colleges.
Category-Wise Expected Cutoff Marks for JEE Main 2026
Here is a simple breakdown:
General (UR)
- Expected cut-off: 93.0 to 95.0 percentile
- Highest competition
- High rank needed for top branches
OBC-NCL
- Expected cut-off: 79 to 81.5 percentile
- Good chances in NITs with a higher percentile
SC
- Expected cut-off: 60 to 62 percentile
- Reserved seats available
- Lower percentile needed compared to the general
ST
- Expected cut-off: 47 to 51 percentile
- Seats are reserved in all institutions
EWS
- Expected cut-off: 80 to 82 percentile
- Slightly lower than the general category
PwD
- Expected cut-off: Very low percentile
- Admission depends on category rank
JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Trends and Comparison with Previous Years
Let us look at previous years’ qualifying percentiles:
| Year | General | OBC | SC | ST | EWS | PwD |
| 2021 | 87.89 | 68.02 | 46 | 34 | 66.22 | 0.06 |
| 2022 | 88.41 | 67 | 43.08 | 26.7 | 63.11 | 0.003 |
| 2023 | 90.77 | 73.61 | 51.97 | 37.23 | 75.62 | 0.001 |
| 2024 | 90+ | 74+ | 52+ | 39+ | 76+ | 0.1+ |
| 2025 | 90+ | 73+ | 51+ | 37+ | 75+ | 0.1+ |
The cut-off has slowly gone up. So, the JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff may stay almost the same or go a little higher.
Factors Influencing the JEE Main 2026 Cutoff
The JEE Main cut off depends on many factors. They are:
- Number of students appearing: More students mean more competition.
- Difficulty level of the paper:
- If the paper is tough, the cutoff may go down
- If the paper is easy, the cutoff may go up
- Number of seats available: Seats in NITs, IIITs and GFTIs affect the admission cutoff
- Overall student performance: If most students score high, the cutoff increases
- Normalisation process: Since the exam happens in multiple shifts, the percentile is calculated after normalisation
All these points together decide the final JEE Main cut off 2026 marks.
How to Calculate Your JEE Main 2026 Rank from Cutoff
Knowing how to calculate your cutoff can help you find your percentile. You can find this by using tools or with previous year data.
Here is a simple explanation:
- A percentile is not a percentage
- 98 percentile means you scored better than 98 per cent of students
- Use a JEE Main Rank Predictor tool to find your rank
- Category rank is important for your seat allotment
Expected Changes in JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Based on Exam Difficulty
The expected changes are easy for you to understand:
- Easy paper: Cutoff may rise
- Tough paper: Cutoff may drop
- Moderate paper: Cutoff may remain similar
If the number of applicants increases in JEE Main 2026, then the JEE Main cut off 2026 percentile may increase by 1 to 2 percentiles.
Summing Up
The JEE Main 2026 expected cutoff is likely to remain close to previous years. It might have slight changes depending on exam difficulty and competition. You should always aim for a higher percentile to get a good rank in your JEE Main Exam 2026.
Follow a good plan and practise regularly. You can clear the cut off JEE Main and move one step closer to your dream college.
FAQs
1. What is the cut off for JEE Main 2026?
There is no exact answer for this yet. But the expected cutoff for the general category is around 93 to 95 percentile.
2. Will the JEE Main 2026 cutoff increase?
If the exam is easy, then more students will score high. So the cutoff may increase slightly. So there is a chance that the JEE Main cutoff will increase.
3. Is the qualifying cutoff enough for NIT admission?
No. Qualifying cutoff only makes you eligible for counselling. Admission depends on your rank and branch.
4. What are the JEE Main cut off 2026 marks?
The qualifying cutoff is given in percentiles. It is not in exact marks. Marks change every year depending on difficulty. So you should check them to know the cutoff marks.
5. How can I improve my chances?
To improve, you need to:
- Focus on completing the JEE Main 2026 syllabus
- Practise mock tests
- Analyse your mistakes
