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How Many Marks Are Required in JEE Main 2026 to Qualify for JEE Advanced? Category-Wise Expected Cutoff Explained
Every year, lakhs of engineering aspirants attempt the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE Main) with the dream of securing admission into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) through JEE Advanced. However, only a limited percentage of students who clear the prescribed cutoff in JEE Main are allowed to appear for JEE Advanced. Therefore, understanding the minimum marks required in JEE Main 2026 to qualify for JEE Advanced is crucial for exam planning and preparation strategy.
Expected Cutoff Marks for JEE Advanced 2026
Although official cutoffs will be announced only after JEE Main 2026 results, previous year trends provide clear estimates.
Based on 2023–2025 trends, the expected minimum qualifying percentile for JEE Advanced 2026 may be as follows:
| Category | Expected Percentile Range | Approx. Marks (Shift & Difficulty Dependent) |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 88 – 90 | 150 – 160 |
| EWS | 63 – 68 | 110 – 120 |
| OBC-NCL | 67 – 72 | 115 – 125 |
| SC | 43 – 45 | 70 – 80 |
| ST | 25 – 30 | 50 – 60 |
| PwD | 0.1 – 2 | 1 – 20 |
Seat-Based Filtering
Only 2.5 lakh candidates are allowed to sit for JEE Advanced, distributed category-wise approximately as:
- GEN – 40%
- OBC-NCL – 27%
- SC – 15%
- ST – 7.5%
- EWS – 10%
- PwD – Horizontal reservation across all categories
This limited intake is a major reason the percentile cutoffs remain competitive.
Expected Minimum JEE Main Marks 2026 (Category-Wise)
The minimum JEE Main marks represent the lowest score a candidate needs to achieve to qualify for the next stage, which in this case is JEE Advanced. This qualifying benchmark helps students understand:
- Whether they meet the cutoff criteria
- Whether they are eligible for JEE Advanced participation
Although JEE Main qualification is officially based on percentile scores, estimated raw marks give students a practical score target to aim for during preparation.
Expected Minimum JEE Main Marks 2026 (Category-Wise)
Based on previous year cutoff patterns and percentile trends, here are the expected minimum marks required in JEE Main 2026 to qualify for JEE Advanced:
General (UR) Category
- Expected Percentile: Around 94–95 percentile
- Expected Minimum Marks: 90 to 100 marks
Students scoring below 90 may find it challenging to meet the expected qualifying range, while those securing above 100 are generally considered to be within a safer bracket for qualification.