But beyond this exam lies your dream college, and all of it lies behind you scoring 150 on this. But there’s a lot of commotion around this:
- “Only toppers can score 150”
- “You need 12–14 hours of study daily”
But the reality is, while 150 is obviously tough, with the right approach, you can easily get that score. In this article, we will cover strategies that will make this endeavour achievable.
What Does a 150 Score Mean in JEE Main?
If you’re new to the JEE prep, you must be wondering, Why is 150 specifically such a big deal? Well, there’s a big reason why. JEE Mains mainly ranks based on percentile, and while the full marks of the paper are 300, the number 150 can get you a 98 percentile, which opens the gateway for some of the biggest institutes in India, like:
- NITs (mid branches)
- IIITs
- State government colleges
The table below explodes the percentile in a much better way:
| JEE Main Marks | JEE Main Percentile |
| 300 | 100 |
| 299 – 280 | 99.9999803 – 99.997394 |
| 271 – 263 | 99.994681 – 99.990990 |
| 250 – 262 | 99.977205 – 99.988819 |
| 240 – 249 | 99.956364 – 99.975028 |
| 221 – 239 | 99.901113 – 99.956340 |
| 201 – 220 | 99.795063 – 99.893732 |
| 181 – 200 | 99.373990 – 99.782472 |
| 161 – 180 | 99.272084 – 99.573193 |
| 151 – 160 | 98.999945 – 99.239737 |
| 141 – 150 | 98.732389 – 98.994228 |
| 121 – 140 | 97.811260 – 98.666935 |
| 81 – 120 | 93.471231 – 96.978272 |
| 51 – 80 | 78.0 – 93.2 |
| 21 – 45 | 32.0 – 68.9 |
| 0 – 20 | 0.8435177 – 31.9 |
Why Students Find 150 Marks Difficult to Achieve
But why do so many students find the whole 150 marks thing so daunting? Well, there are a couple of reasons why this is the case:
- Vast Syllabus: The syllabus of JEE isn’t small; you have to cover 3 sections, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics depth while also managing the pressure of boards, which can be overwhelming for a lot of students.
- Time Management Issues: You need to solve the whole paper in a fixed time, while simultaneously having to be accurate; this is just more overwhelming than normal.
- Weak Conceptual Foundation: Throughout school life, we tend to focus on Rote learning, which is against the very fundamentals of JEE mains, which focuses on application-based questions, and as a result, these patterns become a hindrance.
- Negative Marking Fear: Indian children, in particular, are raised to be risk-averse, and as a result, fear negative marking.
Is 150 Easier Than You Think? Reality Check
The reality is, the 150 you’re scared of so much might not even be so difficult. And you do not need to be this perfect person to get this score either, you can easily do that with scoring 50-55 correct answers, without any form of negative marking, and toppers play it smart.
Bruce Lee once said, “I fear not the man who has practised 10,000 kicks, but I fear the man who has practised one kick 10,000 times”, and toppers follow this exact principle. Select the chapters with the most marks coverage each year, and master them by heart instead of mugging up the whole syllabus and hoping for the best.
Subject-Wise Strategy to Score 150 in JEE Main
Now, each subject has a different approach that you need to take if you’re serious about scoring that 150 in JEE Mains. They are:
Physics
Physics is one of the most crucial subjects in JEE, as it can be the most scoring. To do this, focus on conceptual understanding and numerical problem-solving and give special attention to Mechanics, Electromagnetism, and Modern Physics.
Chemistry
Chemistry has 3 sections, each of which has a different approach:
- For Physical Chemistry, focus on learning formulas and practising numerical problems.
- In the case of Organic Chemistry, master reaction mechanisms and named reactions.
- For Inorganic Chemistry, stick to NCERT for theory and practice, and previous years’ questions.
Mathematics
There are no shortcuts when it comes to maths. Practice rigorously as much as you can, and focus on Calculus, Algebra, and Coordinate Geometry. Also, solve different types of problems to build speed and accuracy.
How Many Questions Do You Actually Need Right?
Let’s say you attempt 60 questions. If you get 50 right and 10 wrong, you can easily get a score of 150. There are some example scenarios in the table below:
| Correct Answers | Wrong Answers | Marks from Correct (+4) | Negative Marks (−1) | Final Score |
| 50 | 10 | 200 | −10 | 190 |
| 45 | 5 | 180 | −5 | 175 |
| 45 | 10 | 180 | −10 | 170 |
| 40 | 10 | 160 | −10 | 150 |
| 38 | 8 | 152 | −8 | 144 |
| 35 | 5 | 140 | −5 | 135 |
Remember, you don’t need to attempt all 75 questions to reach 150. Accuracy matters more than volume; 40 correct answers with controlled negatives can already touch 150 marks easily.
Common Mistakes That Stop Students at 120–130 Marks
There are some common mistakes that students make that have them stop at 120-130 marks, they are:
- Not paying attention to Chemistry NCERT
- Taking too long to answer hard maths problems
- Not going over formulas on a regular basis
- Giving too many mocks without looking at them
- Changing strategies too close to the test
Can an Average Student Score 150 in JEE Main?
Here at Aakash, we believe there’s a thing called a “bad” or ‘average’ student; every student has what it takes to score that 150 in JEE Mains. All you need to do is have structured planning, focus on consistent revision, and with the right mentorship, any student can get their dream marks, rank, and college.
Conclusion
There’s not a single student who doesn’t have the potential to score a 150 in JEE mains; all it needs is a structured approach and right guidance along with these strategies to achieve it. Here at Aakash, we have helped a lot of students score 150 and even higher. If you’re seeking the correct guidance, choose Aakash today!
FAQs
Q1. How many months are enough to score 150 in JEE Main?
Ans. 3–6 months of focused preparation is sufficient with a clear plan.
Q2. Is 150 enough for NIT?
Ans. Yes, depending on the branch, category, and home state quota.
Q3. Which subject matters most for 150 marks?
Ans. Chemistry and Physics are easier to score compared to Maths.
