Engineering aspirants who have a question, such as 'How many times can I appear for JEE Main?', must go through this article. NTA conducts the JEE Mains exam twice a year, giving students an extra chance to improve their scores. But did you know you can appear for JEE Mains a total of 6 times? Let’s understand the exact guidelines and conditions on the JEE Main attempt limit.
How Many Attempts for JEE Mains 2026? - The National Testing Agency has specified the number of attempts for JEE Main 2026. Although the JEE Main exam is conducted twice a year, a student can take the exam 6 times. This is possible within 3 years of passing class 12th. To say how many attempts for JEE Mains 2026, is 6 times only if you are appearing for class 12th in 2026.
In other words, the attempt limit criteria of JEE Main are twice in three consecutive years of qualifying class 12th. This provision gives flexibility and opportunity to every aspirant, including droppers. It should be noted by the students that there is no age criterion for attempting JEE Mains.
- Number of Attempts in JEE Main 2026
- JEE Main 2026 Attempt Limit Category-wise
- What is Considered an Attempt?
- Eligibility based on Class 12 passing year
- Benefits of Multiple Attempts in JEE Mains
- How NTA Calculates Percentile For Multiple Sessions
Number of Attempts in JEE Main 2026
The JEE Main 2026 exam will be held for two sessions. The session 1 exam will be held in January and the session 2 in April. Candidates can appear in one or both sessions. Each of these sessions becomes an attempt despite being for the same academic year. NTA allows students to appear for JEE Main in three consecutive years from the year of passing Class 12. So, a student who passes Class 12 in 2026 can appear in JEE Main 2026, 2027, and 2028. Twice each year, making the total attempts 6. Students who passed class 12th in 2024 can apply for the JEE Mains 2026 exam.
Commonly asked questions
Criteria | Decription |
|---|---|
Age limit | There is no age limit to appear in JEE Main. |
Year of passing qualifying exam | The candidates who have passed the class 12 / equivalent examination in 2024, 2025 or are appearing in 2026, irrespective of their age, can appear in JEE Mains 2026. |
Nationality | Candidates must be Indian citizens. Foreign Nationals, NRIs, PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin), and OCIs (Overseas Citizens of India) can also apply. |
Both JEE Main ranks are used for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. While allocating the seats the institute will take into consideration the category ranks first for the candidates who belong to any category.
The cutoff for IIITs vary for various branches and also category of students. Specialised branches like computer Science and electronics engineering has higher cutoff in comparison to other branches. Similarly, JEE Main cutoff for general category candidates is higher in comparison to OBC-NCL and SC/ST candidates.
The qualifying marks in JEE Main mean the minimum percentile needed to qualify for JEE Advanced exam. Check JEE Mains 2026 cutoff below:
Category | Cutoff 2026 |
|---|---|
Unreserved (UR) | 93.4123549 |
Gen-EWS | 82.4164528 |
OBC-NCL | 80.9232583 |
SC | 63.9172792 |
ST | 52.0174712 |
UR-PwD | 0.0023186 |
JEE Main 2026 Attempt Limit Category-wise
Since there is relaxation for the JEE Mains 75% criteria for SC/ST/OBC, it is a valid doubt whether there is any relaxation to the JEE Main 2026 attempt limit for SC/ST/OBC category. However, students must note that the JEE Main attempt limit for the general category and reserved categories is the same. JEE Main attempt limit for OBC or other categories is also 6 times in total.
What is Considered an Attempt?
Students must understand what is considered an attempt since we have discussed about 6 attempts for JEE Mains. Each session of the JEE Mains exam is considered for attempt counting. If in a year, the candidate appears for both January and April sessions, then they have attempted the exam twice. There is no provision on skipping a session to save on the attempts. This is the case because the attempt limit has been calculated keeping in mind the year of passing. Even if a candidate skips a session, the eligibility will expire on the completion of three years from passing class 12th.
Commonly asked questions
As per the JEE Main cutoff data released by the NTA, PwD category has the lowest cutoff.
Candidates need not have 75 percent marks in class 12 for appearing in JEE Main. As per the official brochure released by the NTA, there is no minimum percentage required for appearing in the JEE Main. The requirement of 75 percent marks need not be associated with appearing in the JEE Main exam.
It is to be understood that 75 percent marks is required for admission to institutes which include NITs, IIITs, GFTIs and IITs. Many institutes offer admission at 60% and even less, along with JEE Main. Candidates must clearly understand that the requirement of 75 percent marks in class 12 is only for taking admission in the institutes.
| Year | General (UR) Percentile |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 93.4123549 |
| 2025 | 93.1023262 |
| 2024 | 93.2362181 |
| 2023 | 90.7788642 |
| 2022 | 88.4121383 |
| 2021 | 87.8992241 |
| 2020 | 90.3765335 |
| 2019 | 89.7548849 |
Candidates who do not score above JEE Main cutoff marks are eligible to take admissions in NITs, IIITs and GFTIs but not IITs. To appear in the admission process for IITs, candidates need to get marks above than the JEE Main cutoff and appear in JEE Advanced exam.
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Eligibility based on Class 12 passing year
To appear in JEE Main 2026, an applicant must have passed class 12 or equivalent in 2024 or 2025, or should appear for the same in 2026. Anyone who passed before 2024 cannot apply for the JEE Mains exam this year.
Benefits of Multiple Attempts in JEE Mains
Multiple attempts in JEE Mains have the following benefits for students.
- Improve your performance without wasting a year.
- Become familiar with the exam environment that will help reduce stress.
- Target a better percentile and rank in the second session.
- In case you are unable to attempt the exam for any reason, you still get another shot at it, in the same academic year.
Commonly asked questions
The JEE Main cutoff for GFTIs is released by the JoSAA after the counselling is over. Candidates can check previous year JEE Main cutoff for GFTIs from the Shiksha page. The cutoff for GFTIs vary for various branches and also category of students.
The cutoff for NITs vary for various branches and also category of students. Specialised branches like computer Science and electronics engineering has higher cutoff in comparison to other branches. Similarly, JEE Main cutoff for general category candidates is higher in comparison to OBC-NCL and SC, ST candidates. Candidates can check the previous year JEE Main cutoff below for some top NITs and branches. For detailed cutoff report, candidates can check Shiksha page.
- MNNIT Allahabad CSE Closing Rank Open Category: 5627 (Home State)
- MNNIT Allahabad CSE Closing Rank Open Category: 4254 (Open)
- MNIT Jaipur CSE Closing Rank Open Category: 5610 (Home State)
- MNIT Jaipur CSE Closing Rank Open Category: 4631 (Open)
The JEE Main ranks have been released with the JEE Main session 2 result. The ranks are released on an All India basis and also category-wise.
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How NTA Calculates Percentile For Multiple Sessions
If a candidate appears in both sessions, the higher NTA score from either session is considered for the final merit list and JoSAA counselling. The JEE Mains result validity is one year only. So the best of the two attempts for a single year will be considered.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 6 hours ago
A JEE Main rank of 2000 will get you admission at this institute in the first round if you belong to the General AI category. For this category, the highest round 1 closing rank was 163769. So, admission with a rank of 2000 is possible. Check the table below to know the branch-wise cutoff 2026 for r
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
Yes, students can get admission at Shivalik University with JEE Main scores. To get admission in engineering courses at Shivalik University, students must have 65% in Class 12 with valid subjects. The final selection is base don JEE Main/ UKSEE. To get admission, students must fulfil the eligibility
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
No, JEE Main is not compulsory to get admission in BTech at Chanakya University. The university considers valid score of entrance exams such as: JEE, KCET, COMEDK or any other state entrance exam.
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Contributor-Level 10
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Yes, candidates can apply for BTech admission at Manav Rachna University, Faridabad without appearing in JEE Main. Aside from this entrance exam, MRU also accepts scores of SAT, MRNAT, MRSAT and CUET-UG for BTech admissions.
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Yes, the university opens distinct institutional counseling phases based on individual exam score availability for BTech admissions at KIET University. JEE Main high-rankers generally get priority seating selections during the initial registration weeks of the academic cycle. CUET applicants and mer
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Contributor-Level 9
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You can access official, free mock tests directly on the National Testing Agency (NTA) Mock Test Portal.
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Yes, JEE Main is required for admission to IIT Bombay's BTech programmes. It is an eligibility requirement for JEE Advanced. Students cannot get admission to IIT Bombay using only the JEE Main score. Aspirants must appear for JEE Advanced and participate in JoSAA counselling for final seat allotment
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You can apply to the state counselling by Veer Madho Singh Bhandari Uttarakhand Technical University, formerly Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU), via JEE scores.
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