This revision will directly impact candidates’ raw scores, percentile calculation, and potentially their All India Rank (AIR). Here’s a complete breakdown of what this means for you.
What Does “Dropped Question” Mean in JEE Main?
When a question is dropped:
- It is removed from evaluation.
- All candidates in that specific shift receive full +4 marks, irrespective of whether they attempted it or not.
- Negative marking does not apply.
⚠ Important: Bonus marks are applicable only for candidates who appeared in that specific shift where the question was dropped.
Total Questions Dropped in JEE Main 2026
According to the revised final answer key: Calculating your score accurately requires both the JEE Main final answer key and your response sheet.
- Total Questions Dropped: 9
- Subjects affected: Physics and Mathematics
- Bonus marks: +4 per dropped question
This means some candidates may receive up to 36 bonus marks (9 × 4) depending on their shift.
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Shift-Wise List of Dropped Questions (India Centres)
List of Questions Dropped from JEE Main 2026 Final Answer Key (For Exam Held at India Centres)
Check below the subject and shift-wise list of question IDs that have been dropped from the JEE Main final key. Candidates in these shifts will receive bonus marks irrespective of whether they attempted that particular question.
| Date & Shift | Subject | Dropped Question ID |
| January 22 Shift 1 | Physics | 444792191 |
| January 22 Shift 2 | Maths | 860654995 |
| Physics | 8606541010
8606541017 |
|
| January 23 Shift 1 | Physics | 8606541395 |
| January 23 Shift 2 | Physics | 444792476
444792479 |
| January 24 Shift 2 | Physics | 444792647 |
| January 28 – Shift 1 | Maths | 444792698 |
List of Questions Dropped from JEE Main 2026 Final Answer Key (For Exam Held at Centers Outside India)
For the centres outside of India, the following question Ids have been dropped from the final keys:
| Date & Shift | Subject | Dropped Question ID |
|---|---|---|
| January 22 – Shift 1 | Physics | 44479294 |
| January 22 – Shift 1 | Maths | 8606541895 |
| January 22 – Shift 2 | Physics | 8606541910
8606541917 |
| January 23 – Shift 1 | Physics | 8606541995 |
| January 23 – Shift 2 | Physics | 4447921151
4447921154 |
| January 24 – Shift 1 | Physics | 4447921322 |
| January 28 – Shift 1 | Maths | 4447921829 |
Dropped Questions (Centres Outside India)
Additional dropped question IDs were announced for international centres as well. Candidates who appeared outside India should carefully check the official PDF to verify whether their shift includes bonus marks.
How Dropped Questions Affect Your JEE Main Score
Official Marking Scheme:
- Correct Answer: +4
- Incorrect Answer: –1
- Unattempted: 0
- Dropped Question: +4 (for all candidates of that shift)
Example:
If:
- You scored 180 raw marks
- 2 questions were dropped in your shift
New Score = 180 + (2 × 4) = 188 marks
This increase can significantly improve:
- Your percentile
- Your shift normalization
- Your potential AIR
Will Percentile Change Due to Dropped Questions?
Yes, Since percentile is calculated using normalized scores across shifts, bonus marks may:
- Improve your raw score
- Slightly impact normalization
- Affect rank movement depending on competition in your shift
However, since all candidates of that shift get equal bonus, percentile shifts may be moderate rather than drastic.
Impact on JEE Advanced Eligibility
Eligibility for JEE Advanced 2026 depends on the cutoff percentile.
If your percentile improves due to bonus marks:
- You may cross the cutoff
- You may become eligible for JEE Advanced
Even a 4–8 mark jump can push borderline candidates above the qualifying threshold.
What Should You Do Now?
- Download the final answer key from the official website.
- Recalculate your raw score including bonus marks.
- Estimate your expected percentile.
- Keep login credentials ready to download the result scorecard.
- Start planning for:
- JEE Advanced preparation
- Session 2 improvement (if applicable)
- JoSAA counselling strategy
- JEE Advanced preparation
Final Words
The release of the final answer key marks the final evaluation stage before the Session 1 result declaration. Candidates are advised to:
- Stay calm
- Verify their shift-wise dropped questions
- Recalculate scores accurately
- Prepare for the next academic decision
The result is expected to be available soon on the official portal, and scorecards can be accessed through candidate login.
