The JEE Main final answer key 2026 is uploaded on the official website; it is considered to be the final answer key. This means that there are no more challenges permitted.
JEE Main Final Answer Key 2026 OUT Now
Candidates who were eagerly waiting for the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Final Answer Key can now check the official portal and download the JEE Main final answer key for session 1 in PDF format.
The emphasis at Aakash is on helping the JEE Main 2026 aspirants transform uncertainty to clarity. With score analysis and examination trend analysis carried out by experts through guidance, the next step to be taken by the student becomes clearer, particularly for Session 2 and beyond.
JEE Main 2026 Final Answer Key Overview:
- The JEE Main final answer key is out and can be downloaded in PDF format from the official NTA portal.
- It incorporates all changes after objections were reviewed.
- This JEE Main final key answer key will be used to prepare the JEE Main result 2026.
Key Dates And Timeline for JEE Main 2026
| Event | Dates |
| Session 1 Exam (Paper 1) | 21-24, 28 Jan, 2026 |
| Session 1 Exam (Paper 2) | 29 Jan, 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key Released | 4 Feb, 2026 |
| Final Answer Key Released | 16 Feb, 2026 (Live Now) |
How to Download JEE Main Final Answer Key 2026:
- Access the Official Portal: Navigate to jeemain.nta.nic.in
- Locate the Answer Key Link: Look for “JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Final Answer Key” on the homepage
- Download the JEE Main final answer key PDF.
- Identify Your Shift: Download the PDF corresponding to your specific exam date and shift
- Save for Reference: Store the PDF for future score verification and counseling processes
How to Calculate Your Score From the JEE Main Answer Key:
Calculating your score accurately requires both the JEE Main final answer key and your response sheet.
Official Marking Scheme:
| Correct Answer | +4 marks |
| Incorrect Answer | -1 mark (negative marking) |
| Unanswered Question | 0 marks |
- Download your JEE Main response sheet 2026
- Match your answers with the JEE Main final answer key
- Count total correct responses × 4
- Count total incorrect responses × 1
- Subtract negative marks from the total correct marks
Formula:
Probable JEE Main Score = (Correct Answers × 4) – (Incorrect Answers × 1)
This gives your JEE Main raw score as 2026.
Many students search for “JEE Main score vs percentile 2026” right after calculating the marks, but remember, percentile depends on overall performance across shifts.
How to Calculate Percentile Using JEE Answer Key 2026?
Once you get your raw marks, the next major task is to estimate the NTA percentile. Percentile calculation is a must-know because colleges do not consider marks. They consider percentiles and ranks.
What is NTA Percentile?
NTA Percentile – A normalized score that shows what percentage of people scored the same as or lower than you. For example:
Why NTA Uses Percentile Instead of Raw Marks:
Multiple Shifts: JEE Main 2026 was conducted on multiple dates with multiple shifts (21-24, 28-29 Jan)
Difficulty Variation: The question papers were different for different shifts. The difficulty levels of the question papers were also different.
Fair Comparison: Percentile Normalization Guarantees Fairness Across All Shifts
Equating Process: Statistical Normalization is used by NTA for score comparison
Official NTA Percentile Formula:
Percentile Score = (Number of candidates with raw score ≤ your score / Total number of candidates appeared) * 100
For Example:
- Total candidates appeared in Session 1: 13,00,368
- Candidates who scored ≤ 250 marks: 12,50,000
- Your score: 250 marks
Your Percentile = (12,50,000 / 13,00,368) x 100 = 96.13 percentile
What the Final Answer Key Has to Do with Your JEE Journey
- Accurate Score Estimation: The final answer key enables the computation of exact raw scores before the NTA releases the percentiles. It would be extremely useful in realistically judging the results.
- Second Session Decision: If your Session 1 performance does not match your expectations, then you still have time to register for Session 2. It has happened to many successful JEE aspirants to improve their scores substantially in Stage 2.
- JEE Advanced Eligibility: The students who clear the predetermined cut-off percentile in Session 1 become qualified to take JEE Advanced 2026. The final answer key will enable you to ascertain whether you have managed to cross this cutoff percentile or not.
- College Preference Planning: Further, your approximate percentile rank would enable you to use college predictor tools and start researching NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs within your range.
What After the JEE Main Final Answer Key?
Next, after publishing the JEE Main final answer key, the next big announcement is the JEE Main Result 2026. Based on the results, the following can be performed:
- Check eligibility for JEE Advanced 2026
- Preparation for JoSAA counselling
- Plans to improve strategies for JEE Main Session 2
- This phase is an important one for decision-making.
What is JEE Main 2026 Passing Marks out of 300?
There are no passing marks out of 300 in JEE Mains. The results of all candidates who have appeared for the JEE Main 2026 session 1 will be available. However, note that there is a minimum percentile mark needed to qualify for JEE Advanced for IIT admission. These cutoff marks will be announced with the session 2 result and not with the session 1 scores.
Therefore, note that all candidates will be issued their JEE Mains scorecard who have taken the session 1 exam. Once the result is out, visit the official website to check the scores.
JEE Main Marks vs Percentile 2026: Calculate Percentile and Rank Using Marks
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- 96 Marks in JEE Main 2026 — Expected Percentile & Rank
- JEE Main Expected Percentile 2026 for 140–180 Marks
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- JEE Main Expected Percentile 2026 for 270–300 Marks
JEE Main Cutoff 2026 Percentile for JEE Advanced
The minimum score required in JEE Main to qualify for JEE Advanced is known as the cutoff percentile. It will be announced by NTA along with the session 2 results in April. Candidates can check here the expected cutoff percentile scores.
| Category | JEE Main Cutoff 2026 (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 93.3045326 |
| Gen-EWS | 81.4387917 |
| OBC-NCL | 80.7456432 |
| SC | 61.3526948 |
| ST | 48.2456783 |
| UR-PwD | 0.0082349 |
Free JEE Prediction & Counselling Tools by Aakash
Choosing the right engineering college is one of the most critical decisions for JEE aspirants. To help students make informed choices, Aakash provides a range of free JEE Main and JEE Advanced prediction tools designed to estimate ranks, calculate marks, and predict colleges based on previous year trends.
These tools are trusted by lakhs of students every year and are built using official exam patterns, normalization rules, and historical cut-off data.
| JEE Main Tool Name | Best For | Try Tool |
|---|---|---|
| JEE Main Rank Predictor | Predict your JEE Main Rank using expected marks | Use Free Tool |
| JEE Main College Predictor | Find colleges based on JEE Main Rank | Use Free Tool |
| JEE Advanced Rank Predictor | Estimate AIR in JEE Advanced | Use Free Tool |
| JEE Advanced College Predictor | Predict IITs & top colleges | Use Free Tool |
| JEE Main Marks Calculator | Calculate JEE Main Score from response sheet | Use Free Tool |
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Using the JEE Main Answer Key
- Matching answers without checking Question IDs and Answer IDs: Always verify both the question number as well as the question ID/answer option IDs from your response sheet.
- Failure to award bonus points for unattempted questions: Carefully examine the final answer key for any dropped or bonus questions.
- Calculating Percentile Directly from Marks: Use official rank predictor tools that take into consideration shift-wise difficulty normalization.
- Comparing your score with the provisional answer key calculations: The entire calculation must be made again by making use of the JEE Main final answer key because changes may have occurred.
FAQ
1. I want to know about the date for the JEE Main 2026 final answer key release.
The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 final answer key was officially released on February 16, 2026. You can find the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 final answer key on the NTA portal, which is jeemain.nta.nic.in. The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 results are also available on this website.
2. I want to know if I can dispute the answer key. Can I really challenge the answer key that they have provided?
No. Once the final answer key is released, NTA does not accept any challenges. NTA only looks at all the objections people have during the time when the provisional answer key is available, which was closed on February 6, 2026.
3. Do I need to have a username and password to get the answer key?
No. It is available to download as a PDF file. You do not need to log in to get it. The final answer key is there for anyone to download.
4. I want to know if my Session 1 result will have my All India Rank?
A: No. The results of Session 1 will only show your National Testing Agency scores. These scores are for each subject and for your performance. You will find out your All India Rank after Session 2 is finished.
5. If I take the test during Session 2, which score will they consider for the Session 2 test?
The National Testing Agency considers the better of your two scores, either from Session 1 or Session 2, when they calculate your final rank and decide if you are eligible for counseling.
6. What is the difference between a provisional and a final answer key?
The people in charge first put out a temporary answer key. This temporary answer key is open for people to say they do not agree with it. The National Testing Agency looks at all the reasons people give for why they do not agree. Then National Testing Agency releases the answer key, with any changes that need to be made. The final answer key is what really matters. It is used to calculate the results of the National Testing Agency test.
