JEE Main 2026 Expected Cut-off for JEE Advanced | Category-wise Safe Score & Percentile
JEE Main 2026 Expected Cut-off for JEE Advanced: Safe Score, Category-wise Percentile & Expert Analysis
JEE Main 2026 Result & Cut-off: Important Update for Students
The JEE Main 2026 Session-1 exam, conducted between January 21 and January 28, 2026, has concluded successfully. Now, lakhs of engineering aspirants are eagerly waiting for the JEE Main 2026 cut-off that will decide their eligibility for JEE Advanced 2026.
According to education experts and coaching institutes, a slight increase in the cut-off is expected this year, but no major jump is likely.
The official cut-off will be announced by the National Testing Agency (NTA) after the completion of Session-2 exams in April 2026.
How Was the JEE Main 2026 Paper Level? (Expert Review)
Based on feedback from students and teachers:
- The overall paper level was moderate
- Physics and Chemistry were balanced and NCERT-oriented
- Mathematics was the most scoring differentiator
- Questions tested conceptual clarity, not just difficulty
Because of this balanced paper pattern, experts expect slightly higher average scores, leading to a marginal rise in the cut-off.
Why Mathematics Played a Crucial Role in 2026
Education experts highlighted that:
- Mathematics determined top percentiles
- Time management was critical
- Students with balanced preparation in all three subjects performed better
- Strong command over NCERT concepts gave a clear advantage
This means consistent practice, not guesswork, was key in JEE Main 2026.
Factors Affecting JEE Advanced 2026 Cut-off
The cut-off for qualifying JEE Advanced 2026 depends on multiple factors:
- Difficulty level of JEE Main paper
- Number of candidates appearing
- Overall performance of students
- Normalization across sessions
- Seat availability in IITs
Because these factors vary every year, the cut-off also changes annually.
Expected JEE Main 2026 Cut-off (Category-wise)
Based on expert estimates and coaching institute predictions, here is the expected cut-off for JEE Advanced 2026 qualification:
Expected JEE Main 2026 Cut-off Table
| Category | Expected Percentile | Safe Score (Out of 300) |
|---|---|---|
| General | 93.5 – 95.0 | 140+ |
| EWS | 81.0 – 83.0 | 100+ |
| OBC-NCL | 79.5 – 81.5 | 90+ |
| SC | 61.0 – 63.0 | 60+ |
| ST | 48.0 – 51.0 | 45+ |
Students scoring above these ranges are considered to be in the safe zone for JEE Advanced 2026.
PhysicsWallah’s JEE Advanced 2026 Cut-off Prediction
According to PhysicsWallah, one of India’s leading coaching institutes:
- General: 93.2 – 94.1 percentile
- EWS: 81 – 82 percentile
- OBC-NCL: 79 – 80 percentile
- SC: 60 – 62 percentile
- ST: 47 – 49 percentile
- PwD: Expected to be very low
These estimates align closely with other expert predictions.
Board Exam Eligibility Criteria
Clearing the JEE Main cut-off alone is not enough.
Candidates must also meet Class 12 board exam criteria:
- General / OBC / EWS: Minimum 75% marks
- SC / ST / PwD: Minimum 65% marks
OR must be in the top 20 percentile of their respective boards
Failure to meet board eligibility = Not eligible for JEE Advanced, even if cut-off is cleared.
Why Does JEE Main Cut-off Change Every Year?
The JEE Main cut-off varies annually due to:
- Change in number of applicants
- Variation in paper difficulty
- Performance difference between Session 1 & Session 2
- Competition level
For reference, in JEE Main 2025:
- 15.39 lakh students registered
- 14.75 lakh appeared
- 8.33 lakh applied for both sessions
JEE Main 2026 Result Date (Session-1)
According to NTA updates:
JEE Main 2026 January Session Result:
Expected on February 12, 2026
After the result, students will know:
- Their percentile score
- All India Rank (AIR)
- Chances of qualifying for JEE Advanced 2026
Final Words: What Should Students Do Now?
- Check your expected percentile vs cut-off
- Prepare seriously for Session-2 (April)
- Strengthen Mathematics and NCERT concepts
- Keep board eligibility in mind
Even a 1–2 percentile improvement can change your IIT dream!
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Disclaimer
This article is based on expert analysis and reports sourced and adapted from News18 Hindi and coaching institute estimates. The final cut-off will be officially released by NTA. We do not claim ownership of the original source content.