Based on expert analysis and students' calculated scores from the answer key, it is expected that a score of 175-180+ will fetch around 99+ percentile in moderate shifts.
- For 99 percentile, the score can be around 200+ for easier shifts.
- Based on the shift difficult level analysis, 95 percentile is expected to be around 125-135 marks, and 99 percentile requires around 175-180+ marks.
- Based on the students' reaction, the toughest shift of JEE Main 2026 was the April 6 shift 1, in which lower marks are needed for a good percentile, and April 4 shift 1 was the easier shift in which higher marks are needed.
NTA uses normalisation to account for differences in shift difficulty, and it is expected that the General category cut-off for JEE Advanced 2026 will be around 93-95 percentile.
Related Links:
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Category-wise Cutoff
- JEE Main 2026 Dropped Questions List Out: Check Full Details Shift-Wise and Reddit Discussions
What is JEE Main 2026 April Expected Cutoff for 99 Percentile?
- 06 Apr S1 will have the lowest cutoff range (150-160 marks), as it was the most difficult shift overall.
- 08 Apr S2 (155-165 marks) also in the toughest category, as based on student reaction Physics was difficult that reduced high scores.
- 04 Apr S1 (160-170 marks) also remains in the toughest range because Mathematics was tough as compared to other two sections.
- 02 Apr S2 and 02 Apr S1 (162-173 marks range) shifts were tough but slightly more scoring than the toughest ones, leading to a moderate cutoff increase.
| Shift | Difficulty Level | Expected 99%ile Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Apr - Shift 1 (05S1) | Tough | 165 - 178 |
| 2 Apr - Shift 1 (02S1) | Tough | 163 - 173 |
| 2 Apr - Shift 2 (02S2) | Tough | 162 - 172 |
| 4 Apr - Shift 1 (04S1) | Toughest | 160 - 170 |
| 8 Apr - Shift 2 (08S2) | Toughest | 155 - 165 |
| 6 Apr - Shift 1 (06S1) | Toughest | 150 - 160 |
Check:
- How to Calculate JEE Mains Marks from NTA Score?
- JEE Main 2026 Marks Vs Percentile for all Session 2 Apr Shifts
JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift-Wise Marks vs Percentile Analysis (Expected)
- The marks for 99 percentile range from about 174 to 192, depending on the shift.
- Easier shifts have higher cutoffs because more students scored well, while tougher shifts have lower cutoffs.
- Overall, there is a 10-15 mark difference across shifts, so your percentile depends on how others performed in your shift.
| Percentile | Apr 2 (S1) | Apr 2 (S2) | Apr 4 (S1) | Apr 4 (S2) | Apr 5 (S1) | Apr 5 (S2) | Apr 6 (S1) | Apr 6 (S2) | Apr 8 (S1) | Apr 8 (S2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99 | 175 | 192 | 176 | 182 | 178 | 188 | 174 | 185 | 177 | 189 |
| 98.5 | 161 | 178 | 162 | 170 | 164 | 174 | 160 | 171 | 163 | 174 |
| 98 | 152 | 170 | 153 | 162 | 155 | 166 | 151 | 163 | 154 | 164 |
| 97.5 | 144 | 162 | 145 | 154 | 147 | 158 | 143 | 155 | 146 | 158 |
| 97 | 139 | 157 | 140 | 148 | 142 | 153 | 138 | 150 | 141 | 152 |
| 96.5 | 132 | 150 | 133 | 142 | 135 | 146 | 131 | 144 | 134 | 147 |
| 96 | 128 | 145 | 129 | 137 | 131 | 141 | 127 | 139 | 130 | 140 |
| 95.5 | 125 | 140 | 126 | 132 | 128 | 136 | 124 | 134 | 127 | 135 |
| 95 | 119 | 135 | 120 | 128 | 122 | 131 | 118 | 129 | 121 | 133 |
| 94 | 113 | 128 | 114 | 121 | 116 | 124 | 112 | 122 | 115 | 125 |
| 93 | 107 | 120 | 108 | 115 | 110 | 117 | 106 | 115 | 109 | 118 |
| 92 | 102 | 113 | 103 | 109 | 105 | 110 | 101 | 108 | 104 | 113 |
Also Read:
- Check JEE Main 2026 marks vs NTA percentile analysis
- How Many Candidates applied for the JEE Mains 2026 Session 2 Exam
JEE Main Rank Predictor 2026 - Predict Rank using Marks and Percentile
Also Check:
- JEE Main College Predictor 2026: Predict B.Tech chances based on JoSAA Opening and Closing Ranks
- JEE Main College Predictor by Percentile
JEE Main 2026 April Session: Score Distribution vs Shift (with Percentile Mapping)
- Lower score ranges (50-80 marks) map to 85-92 percentile, where 02S2 dominates, meaning more average scorers.
- From 100+ marks onward, percentile rises sharply (94 to 99+), and 08S2 dominates, showing strong top performer presence.
- At 180+ marks, students are already in the 99+ percentile zone, confirming that small mark differences can significantly change rank.
| Score Range | Approx Percentile | Dominant Shift (Most Students) |
|---|---|---|
| >50 | 85-88 %ile | 02S2 |
| >80 | 90-92 %ile | 02S2 |
| >100 | 94-95 %ile | 08S2 |
| >120 | 96-97 %ile | 08S2 |
| >140 | 97.5-98 %ile | 08S2 |
| >150 | 98-98.5 %ile | 08S2 |
| >160 | 98.5-99 %ile | 08S2 |
| >170 | 99 %ile | 08S2 |
| >180 | 99-99.2 %ile | 08S2 |
| >200 | 99.5+ %ile | 08S2 |
| >225 | 99.8+ %ile | 08S2 |
Read More: What is the NTA Score in JEE Mains?
Check:
What is a good score in JEE Main session 2 2026?
- A good score in JEE Main 2026 Session 2 is usually 180+ marks, which can get you 98–99 percentile and decent NIT/IIIT options.
- Scoring 200+ marks is considered very good, opening chances for top NITs and core branches.
- 220+ marks puts you in a strong position for CSE/ECE in good NITs and IIITs.
- 250+ marks is excellent, placing you among top rankers with chances for top colleges and JEE Advanced success.
| Score Range (Marks) | Expected Percentile | Approx. AIR (Rank) | What It Means / Admission Prospects (General Category) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250+ | 99.9+ | Top 1–2,000 | Excellent- Top IITs via Advanced, premium NIT CSE |
| 220–249 | 99.7- 99.89 | 2,000- 5,000 | Very Good- Good NITs/IIITs (CSE/ECE possible) |
| 200–219 | 99.0- 99.69 | 5,000- 12,000 | Good- Core branches in top NITs, strong IIITs |
| 180–199 | 98.0- 98.99 | 12,000- 25,000 | Decent- Mid-tier NITs, many IIITs/GFTIs |
| 160–179 | 96.5- 97.99 | 25,000- 45,000 | Average- Newer NITs, lower branches |
| 140–159 | 94.0- 96.49 | 45,000- 70,000 | Safe for lower NITs/GFTIs |
| 120–139 | 90.0- 93.99 | 70,000- 1,20,000 | Basic qualification, private/state colleges |
| 100–119 | 85- 90 | 1,20,000+ | Minimum for many private options |
Also Read: JEE Main Scorecard Explained: Percentile, NTA Score, Rank & Category-Wise AIR
Related News:
Comments