JEE Mains Result 2026: Check Dates, Percentile, and How to Access

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) twice a year—Session 1 in January-February and Session 2 in April. The exam tests candidates on Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Results are released on the official NTA website and include normalised percentile scores, subject-wise raw marks, and All India Ranks (AIR). These scores determine eligibility for NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and JEE Advanced.

This article covers everything you need to know about the JEE Main 2026 result—release dates, how to check your scorecard, what the scorecard contains, normalisation explained, cut-offs, and what to do after results are announced.

NTA announces the result dates after the exam concludes. Based on previous years' patterns:

Note: These dates are based on previous patterns and official announcements. Always check jeemain.nta.nic.in for confirmed dates.

NTA declared the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) result on 13 February 2026. Key highlights:

• Total candidates who appeared: approximately 13.1 lakh
• Candidates who scored 100 percentile: 14 (across all sessions)
• Cut-off for JEE Advanced 2026 (General category): 89.1 percentile (tentative)

The Paper 2 (B.Arch/B.Planning) Session 1 result was declared on 24 February 2026.

Follow these steps to download your JEE Main 2026 scorecard:

1. Visit the official website: jeemain.nta.nic.in
2. Click on the result/scorecard link on the homepage
3. Enter your Application Number and Date of Birth (or Password)
4. Click Submit
5. Your scorecard will appear on screen
6. Download and save the PDF for future reference

Keep your application number and login credentials ready before checking results.

The JEE Main scorecard is an official document that includes:

The JEE Main result shows both raw marks and NTA percentile score. Here is the difference:

• Raw Marks: Actual marks scored based on correct and incorrect answers
• Percentile Score: Percentage of candidates who scored equal to or below you in that session

Percentile = (Number of candidates who scored equal to or below you / Total candidates in session) × 100

A percentile of 95 means you scored better than 95% of candidates in your session.

Why Percentile Instead of Raw Marks?

JEE Main is conducted in multiple shifts across multiple days. The difficulty level may vary between shifts. NTA uses percentile normalisation to ensure fairness across all sessions.

NTA applies normalisation when the exam is conducted in multiple sessions. Here is how it works:

1. Raw scores are calculated for each candidate based on the marking scheme
2. Percentile scores are computed for each session separately
3. The percentile scores from all sessions are then merged to prepare the final merit list
4. If a candidate appears in both sessions, the better of the two NTA scores is considered

Normalisation does not change your marks—it only adjusts rankings to account for varying paper difficulty across sessions.

The relationship between marks and percentile changes every year based on exam difficulty and the number of candidates. Below is a reference table from previous years to give you an idea:

These are approximate values. Actual percentiles will depend on 2026 exam difficulty and total candidates.

To qualify for JEE Advanced 2026, candidates must meet the cut-off percentile set by NTA. The cut-off varies by category:

Only the top 2,50,000 candidates (across all categories) qualify for JEE Advanced. Candidates must also meet the class 12 eligibility criteria.

For admission to NITs, IIITs, and Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs) through JoSAA counselling, there is no single percentile cut-off. Admission depends on:

• Your JEE Main percentile/rank
• Your class 12 marks (minimum 75% aggregate, or top 20 percentile in your board)
• Category and home state
• Specific course and institute preference

Opening and closing ranks vary for each institute, branch, and category every year. Check the JoSAA official website for previous year cut-offs.

Each year, a small number of candidates achieve a perfect 100 NTA score. In 2025, 14 candidates achieved 100 percentile in Session 1. These candidates are ranked 1 in their respective categories under the All India Rank list.

Achieving 100 percentile does not necessarily mean scoring 300/300. It means no other candidate in your session scored higher than you, making you the topper of that session.

When two or more candidates have the same NTA score, the following tie-breaking order is applied:

1. Higher NTA score in Mathematics
2. Higher NTA score in Physics
3. Higher NTA score in Chemistry
4. Candidate older in age gets higher rank

This policy ensures that every candidate receives a unique rank in the final merit list.

Before the final result, NTA releases a provisional answer key. Candidates can challenge incorrect answers within the given window:

• Provisional Answer Key: Released a few days after each session's exam concludes
• Challenge Fee: ₹200 per question challenged (refunded if challenge is accepted)
• Final Answer Key: Released after processing all valid challenges
• Result: Prepared based on the final answer key

Challenges must be submitted online on the NTA portal with supporting evidence from authoritative textbooks or sources.

If You Qualify for JEE Advanced

• Register for JEE Advanced 2026 on jeeadv.ac.in within the registration window
• Pay the registration fee
• Download your JEE Advanced admit card
• Appear for JEE Advanced (Paper 1 and Paper 2)

If You Are Eligible for JoSAA Counselling

• Register on josaa.nic.in after JEE Advanced results
• Fill in college and branch preferences
• Participate in seat allotment rounds
• Complete document verification and fee payment to confirm your seat

If You Want to Improve Your Score

• If you appeared in Session 1 and are not satisfied, appear in Session 2
• Your best score across both sessions will be considered
• You can also consider state-level counselling based on JEE Main scores (e.g., MHT CET states, AP EAMCET states may have separate processes)

JEE Main Paper 2 is for candidates seeking admission to B.Arch and B.Planning courses. The result format is similar to Paper 1 but includes separate scores for:

• Mathematics
• Aptitude Test
• Drawing Test (for B.Arch)
• Planning-Based Questions (for B.Planning)

Admission to B.Arch and B.Planning programmes at NITs and other institutions is based on Paper 2 scores through JoSAA and other counselling bodies.

The JEE Main scorecard is valid for the current academic year only. Key points:

• It is used for JoSAA counselling for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs
• Many state universities and private colleges also accept JEE Main scores
• Some institutions have their own cut-offs based on JEE Main ranks
• NTA does not send scorecards by post—candidates must download them online

• Not downloading the scorecard: Always save a PDF copy for document submissions
• Missing counselling deadlines: JoSAA and state counselling have strict timelines
• Ignoring class 12 eligibility: A qualifying JEE Main score is not enough—class 12 criteria must also be met
• Not exploring all options: Check state board counselling, private university admissions, and other engineering entrance exams
• Assuming rank = seat: Getting a rank does not guarantee your preferred college or branch—choice filling strategy matters

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You can apply online and get approval within days of your JEE Main result and counselling allotment.

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