What is a good score in JEE Main 2026: Marks Vs Percentile, JEE Main Score for IITs and NITs

What is a good score in JEE Main 2026? With fierce competition and a total of 12,58136 in JEE-Main 2025 session 1, and 9,92,350 aspirants in session 2, knowing what constitutes a "good score in JEE Mains 2026" can make all the difference between your dream college and missed opportunities. Let’s decode the numbers and help you set realistic yet ambitious goals for the JEE Main 2026 exam. Read below for more. 

Good score in JEE Main: Looking for what a good score in JEE Main implies? Well, to be precise, a good score in the JEE Mains 2026 exam is essential to grab a seat in IITs or NITs. According to the past year's cutoff and the JEE Main topper's score analysis, a JEE Main score of 250 or above is considered excellent to get admission to top colleges. 

What Exactly Makes a Score "Good" in JEE Main 2026?

A “good score in JEE Main” boosts your chances of qualifying for JEE Advanced and securing admission into popular branches like CSE/ECE at top NITs, IIITs, or even IITs via JEE Advanced. Other than that, a good rank in JEE Main 2026 also depends on several factors, such as the number of students who appeared, the difficulty level of the JEE Main question paper, cutoff marks, etc. Here's how one can segregate based on the JEE Main 2026 ranks -

What is a good rank in JEE Main 2026?

Candidates securing a rank under the following range can be categorised as follows -

NTA JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Predictions: Expected Percentile and What Does It Mean?

Based on the past cutoff trends, analysis and JEE Mains marks vs percentile, here is an estimated percentile and where you stand in the JEE Main 2026 admissions -

NOTE:

• A candidate securing a JEE Main 2026 score of 280 or above can expect a percentile ranging from 100 to 99.99989145. 
• A JEE Main score of 250+ is considered a good score, as it opens doors to top-tier IITs and NITs, placing you among the top 15000 to 30000 aspirants. 

Also read:

• How to achieve 100 percentile in JEE Main as a repeater?
• Intelligent guessing tricks for JEE Mains 2026: how to spot the right option wisely
• JEE Mains 2026 preparation tips and hacks for repeaters and droppers: a practical roadmap to secure a seat in IITs and NITs

JEE Mains Marks Vs Percentile

Candidates can refer to the JEE Main marks vs percentile (as per the last year) to tally and understand where they stand with their JEE Main scores -

Why This Matters: JEE Main Cutoffs for NITs & IIITs

The JEE Main cutoff to secure a seat in NITs can vary due to several factors, such as the percentile obtained, branch popularity, total number of candidates falling under the same bracket. 

• For NITs, a JEE Main percentile ranging from 85 to 93 is mainly required, which is equivalent to a candidate's rank less than 10000. However, for newer NITs, candidates with a rank greater than 70000 are accepted.
• On the other hand, for IITs, a percentile of 95 and above is required (depending on the branch/category). 

Qualifying for JEE Advanced: What’s Required?

General category candidates typically must achieve between the 90th to 95th percentile to become eligible for JEE Advanced 2026. Candidates can check the last year's cutoff eligibility for JEE Advanced below. 

Category-Wise Cutoff of NTA score eligible for JEE Advanced 2025 - Paper 1 (B.E/BTech)

Also read:

• Minimum JEE Main marks required to qualify for JEE Advanced
• JEE Main 2026 exam predictions: Will JEE Main 2026 be tougher than 2025?

Tips to Improve your JEE Main Score

Here are some tips and important suggestions that one can implement in their JEE Mains 2026 preparation -

Focus on the core concepts and fundamentals

JEE Main 2025 topper Manomay, who secured a percentile of 99.98 and AIR 306, prioritised standard books, followed by mock tests and JEE Main previous question papers, as it help in enhancing time management and accuracy. Read here.

His mantra? Stick to basics, stay consistent, work hard, and stay mentally and emotionally resilient. 

Practice Realistically

Regular mock tests and solving JEE Main question papers using the actual marking scheme (4 for correct, -1 for wrong). This will help in improving time management and building accuracy to attempting questions.

Get tips on how to review JEE Main mock tests like PRO

Revise Smartly

Strengthen core concepts, solve past year papers and analyse every mistake. 

If you're targeting a good score in JEE Main 2026, start by aiming for 230+ marks to secure a place in the 99th percentile and JEE Advanced eligibility. Push further to 250+ for access to top-tier NITs and IIITs, and strive for 280+ to dream even bigger. Take inspiration from successful peers, adhere to smart strategies, and remain dedicated and motivated throughout your JEE Main 2026 preparation journey.