Aspirants preparing for JEE Main 2026 often ask about previous year cutoffs to estimate a safe score. While there are no official passing marks, the minimum qualifying cutoff determines eligibility for JEE Advanced, and admission cutoffs decide entry into NITs, IIITs, and other colleges accepting JEE Main scores.
Past 5 Years’ JEE Main Qualifying Cutoff
The National Testing Agency (NTA) releases the JEE Main qualifying cutoff after the Session 2 results. The table below shows category-wise cutoff percentiles for the last five years:
These percentiles indicate the minimum score range required to qualify for JEE Advanced. Candidates should aim higher to ensure qualification.
Safe Score for JEE Main 2026
Based on past trends, a 90+ percentile (approximately 140–150 marks) in JEE Main 2026 is considered a safe target for JEE Advanced eligibility.
Factors Affecting JEE Main Cutoff
- Difficulty level of the exam
- Number of candidates appearing
- Category-wise reservation policies
JEE Advanced Eligibility and Number of Qualifiers
As per NTA guidelines, the top 2,50,000 rank holders in JEE Main become eligible for JEE Advanced. For 2025, 2,50,243 candidates qualified across different categories. The cutoff is adjusted to maintain this number of qualifiers. Aspirants should analyze past year cutoffs and target marks above the safe score to maximize chances of qualifying for JEE Advanced and securing admission to premier institutes like NITs and IIITs.
