As per the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 paper analysis trends, a score of around 190-200 marks converts to a 99 percentile that will be equivalent to approximately 8,000-10,000 AIR.
- Over 180-200+ marks (98-99 percentile) will get you good NITs/IIITs whereas 220+ marks (99.5 percentile) will open up opportunities in top branches of NIT like CSE.
- Within the 160-180 marks range (96-98 percentile), students may go for mis-tier NITs and core branches, based on quota.
- If you score below 140-150 (90 or 95 percentile)then you will be able to get seats from lower NITs, GFTIs or from private colleges.
- General category candidates likely need 93.5-95.0+ percentile to qualify.
Due to high competition, 180+ marks are considered a safe score for 99 percentile in the April session.
Related Links:
- Check List of Colleges with 99 Percentile in JEE Main 2026
- Check Category-wise Opening and Closing Ranks for Top NITs
- Check IIIT JEE Main Cutoff: Opening and Closing Ranks
JEE Main 2026 April: Shift-Wise Expected Marks vs Percentile
The shift-wise data shows how many marks are required to get the same percentile based on the difficulty level. The percentile usually varies due to the normalization process in JEE Main 2026.
- Difficult shifts, like the April 4 Shift 1 and April 6 Shift 1 require lower marks (approximately 160-166=99 percentile) as the few students will score high marks.
- Balance trends are observed in moderate shifts (April 2 S2, April 5 S2, April 6 S2, April 8 S2) with 99 percentile falling within 165-178 marks (average competition and scoring).
- Shifts such as April 2 S1, April 4 S2, and April 5 S1 are easier, so the marks required (175-185 to be in the 99th percentile) are higher because there are more high scorers and it pushes a higher cutoff.
- The variation between the same percentile in all shifts is approximately 15-20 marks, which has a direct impact on rank performance.
Check:
- JEE Main Marks vs Percentile 2026: Check Shift-Wise Marks and Rank Prediction
- JEE Main NIT Cutoff 2026: Check Category Wise Opening and Closing Ranks for Top NITs
2nd April - Shift 1 (Easy to Moderate)
| Percentile | Expected Marks Range |
|---|---|
| 99%ile | 175 - 180 |
| 98%ile | 160 - 162 |
| 97%ile | 148 - 150 |
| 95%ile | 125 - 130 |
| 90%ile | 95 - 98 |
2nd April - Shift 2 (Moderate)
| Percentile | Expected Marks Range |
|---|---|
| 99%ile | 165 - 175 |
| 98%ile | 150 - 155 |
| 97%ile | 138 - 142 |
| 95%ile | 115 - 120 |
| 90%ile | 90 - 95 |
4th April - Shift 1 (Tough)
| Percentile | Expected Marks Range |
|---|---|
| 99%ile | 160 - 170 |
| 98%ile | 145 - 150 |
| 97%ile | 132 - 138 |
| 95%ile | 108 - 115 |
| 90%ile | 85 - 90 |
Also Read:
- JoSAA Counselling 2026: Check Dates, Seat Matrix, Eligibility, and Documents Required
- NIT Colleges Under 95 Percentile in JEE Main 2026, Category-wise NITs under 95 Percentile
4th April - Shift 2 (Easy to Moderate)
| Percentile | Expected Marks Range |
|---|---|
| 99%ile | 176 - 178 |
| 98%ile | 155 - 158 |
| 97%ile | 144 - 146 |
| 95%ile | 124 - 126 |
| 90%ile | 95 - 98 |
5th April - Shift 1 (Easy to Moderate)
| Percentile | Expected Marks Range |
|---|---|
| 99%ile | 175 - 185 |
| 98%ile | 160 - 165 |
| 97%ile | 148 - 152 |
| 95%ile | 125 - 132 |
| 90%ile | 96 - 100 |
5th April - Shift 2 (Moderate)
| Percentile | Expected Marks Range |
|---|---|
| 99%ile | 165 - 175 |
| 98%ile | 150 - 155 |
| 97%ile | 138 - 142 |
| 95%ile | 115 - 120 |
| 90%ile | 85 - 92 |
6th April - Shift 1 (Tough)
| Percentile | Expected Marks Range |
|---|---|
| 99%ile | 160 - 166 |
| 98%ile | 142 - 148 |
| 97%ile | 130 - 135 |
| 95%ile | 105 - 112 |
| 90%ile | 80 - 88 |
6th April - Shift 2 (Moderate)
| Percentile | Expected Marks Range |
|---|---|
| 99%ile | 168 - 178 |
| 98%ile | 152 - 158 |
| 97%ile | 140 - 145 |
| 95%ile | 118 - 125 |
| 90%ile | 88 - 94 |
8th April - Shift 2 (Moderate)
| Percentile | Expected Marks Range |
|---|---|
| 99%ile | 170 - 180 |
| 98%ile | 155 - 160 |
| 97%ile | 142 - 148 |
| 95%ile | 120 - 128 |
| 90%ile | 90 - 98 |
"A tough shift demands fewer marks for the same percentile - a level playing field built into NTA's normalisation process."
Also Read:
Ques. How to calculate JEE Mains marks from the answer key?
Ans. Compare your answers on your response sheets with the provisional answer key. Once you match, mark +4 for correct answer, -1 for incorrect answer and 0 for unattempted questions.. The total score of all the three subjects will be from 300.
Ques. What is the JEE Main response sheet 2026?
Ans. It is an official NTA document that records every answer you submitted during your CBT exam. It is available on jeemain.nta.ac.in and is used alongside the answer key to calculate your expected score before results are declared.
How to Calculate Your Expected JEE Main 2026 Rank from Percentile
Once you have calculated your percentile, you can convert it to estimated rank by using the standard NTA formula. Taking into account an estimated amount of 14 lakh unique candidates (Overall) in JEE Main Session 1 and 2 of this year, the calculation looks like this
Check: How to Calculate JEE Mains Marks from Answer Key
| Percentile | Approx Rank (N = 14 lakh) | Approx Rank (N = 14.5 lakh) |
|---|---|---|
| 99.5%ile | 7,000 | 7,250 |
| 99%ile | 14,000 | 14,500 |
| 98%ile | 28,000 | 29,000 |
| 97%ile | 42,000 | 43,500 |
| 95%ile | 70,000 | 72,500 |
| 93%ile | 98,000 | 1,01,500 |
| 90%ile | 1,40,000 | 1,45,000 |
| 85%ile | 2,10,000 | 2,17,500 |
| 80%ile | 2,80,000 | 2,90,000 |
Check:
Ques. Is the marks vs percentile data the same for all shifts?
Ans. No, the cut-off marks for each percentile bracket vary by shift based on difficulty level. Tougher shifts have lower score requirements for the same percentile, which is why all eight shifts have separate tables above
Ques. What is the last date to challenge the JEE Main 2026 provisional answer key?
Ans. The challenge window closes on April 16, 2026 (Phase 1). Each challenge costs ₹200 per question and is refunded if NTA accepts your objection after expert review.
Ques. How is percentile converted to rank in JEE Mains?
Ans. Using the formula, Rank = N × (100 − P) /100 where N will be the total number of unique candidates and P is your percentile. Having a 95 percentile places them at approximately 70,000 among a total of approximately 14 lakh participants.
Percentile-Wise NIT CSE Options: Other State & Home State
99+ Percentile | Rank: 15,000
- Students in this range have maximum opportunities, including CSE in top NITs like Trichy, Surathkal, Warangal under OS quota.
- With the Home State quota, chances improve further with better closing ranks.
- Almost all NITs and branches are open, making this the safest zone.
| Tier | CSE Closing Rank (Other State) | CSE Closing Rank (Home State) | Last Branch Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | NIT Trichy (1449), NIT Surathkal (1827), NIT Warangal (2409), NIT Rourkela (3431), NIT Allahabad (4594), NIT Calicut (5222), MNIT Jaipur (5601), VNIT Nagpur (6359), SVNIT Surat (8130), NIT Kurukshetra (7037), NIT Delhi (7651) |
NIT Trichy (4569), NIT Surathkal (2800),NIT Warangal (3530), NIT Rourkela (7853), NIT Allahabad (6562), NIT Calicut (8428), MNIT Jaipur (6013), VNIT Nagpur (7203), SVNIT Surat (8105), NIT Kurukshetra (8484), NIT Delhi (10165) |
Tier 1: All NITs |
| T2 | NIT Durgapur (8996), NIT Bhopal (9249), NIT Jamshedpur (8902), NIT Jalandhar (11262), NIT Hamirpur (12586), NIT Silchar (12665), NIT Raipur (13559), NIT Goa (13640), NIT Patna (14996). All other T2 NITs (closing rank >15k) |
NIT Durgapur (11587), NIT Bhopal (11415), NIT Jamshedpur (11978). All other T2 NITs (closing rank >15k) |
Tier 2: All NITs |
| T3 | All T3 NITs (closing rank >15k) | All T3 NITs (closing rank >15k) | Tier 3: All NITs |
Check: Top NITs You Can Get with 98 Percentile in JEE Main 2026
98-99 Percentile | Rank: 15,300 to 30,700
- CSE in top NITs is mostly not available (OS), but students can still get lower branches in Tier 1 NITs.
- Good chances of CSE in Tier 2/3 NITs and IIEST Shibpur, especially with HS quota.
- This is a competitive range, where branch compromise may be needed.
| Tier | CSE (Other State) | CSE (Home State) | Last Branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Nil | Nil | NIT Trichy (21243), NIT Surathkal, NIT Delhi (27647), NIT Allahabad, NIT Warangal, NIT Rourkela, NIT Calicut, MNIT Jaipur, VNIT Nagpur, SVNIT Surat, NIT Kurukshetra, NIT Durgapur (closing rank >30.7k) |
| T2 | IIEST Shibpur (16765) | NIT Jalandhar (16325), NIT Silchar (23366), NIT Raipur (21913), NIT Patna (17808), NIT Hamirpur (28278), IIEST Shibpur (16576), NIT Goa (16198) |
NIT Bhopal, NIT Jamshedpur, NIT Jalandhar, NIT Silchar, NIT Raipur, NIT Goa, NIT Meghalaya, NIT Agartala, IIEST Shibpur, NIT Durgapur (closing rank >30.7k) |
| T3 | NIT Meghalaya (24074), NIT Agartala (22013), NIT Srinagar (26171), NIT Puducherry (19758), NIT Uttarakhand (18481), NIT Andhra Pradesh (18183), NIT Manipur (33096), NIT Sikkim (26616), NIT Arunachal (30607), NIT Mizoram, NIT Nagaland |
NIT Uttarakhand (30851), NIT Andhra Pradesh (17349). All other T3 NITs (closing rank >30.7k) |
All T3 NITs (closing rank >30.7k) |
95-98 Percentile | Rank: 30,700 to 77,000
- CSE in top and mid NITs becomes difficult, especially under OS quota.
- Students can still get core branches or lower branches in Tier 1/2 NITs.
- With HS quota, chances improve slightly, but options remain limited.
| Tier | CSE (Other State) | CSE (Home State) | Last Branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Nil | Nil | OS: NIT Allahabad (38442), NIT Warangal (37985), NIT Rourkela (51669), NIT Calicut (36080), MNIT Jaipur (38003), VNIT Nagpur (45731), SVNIT Surat (53932), NIT Kurukshetra (39510)HS: NIT Surathkal (39455), NIT Warangal (36742), NIT Calicut (41708), MNIT Jaipur (33703), VNIT Nagpur (49473), NIT Trichy (31593), NIT Allahabad (39400), NIT Delhi (36329) |
| T2 | Nil | Nil | OS: NIT Durgapur (55165), NIT Bhopal (45803), NIT Jamshedpur (45058), NIT Jalandhar (53700), NIT Silchar (48062), NIT Raipur (56483), NIT Goa (45845), NIT Meghalaya (49836), NIT Hamirpur (47577), IIEST Shibpur (58114)HS: NIT Durgapur (58659), NIT Bhopal (51350), Jamshedpur (560666), IIIT Patna (55890), IIEST Shibpur (56695). All other T2 NITs (closing rank >77k) |
| T3 | NIT Mizoram (37751), NIT Manipur (33098), NIT Nagaland (39594) |
NIT Puducherry (64692), NIT Agartala (75417), NIT Meghalaya (59949) |
OS: NIT Agartala (62338), NIT Srinagar (57881), NIT Puducherry (49922), NIT Uttarakhand (49391), NIT Andhra Pradesh (52976), NIT Sikkim (54268), NIT Arunachal (61897), NIT Manipur, NIT Mizoram, NIT NagalandHS: NIT Uttarakhand (61063), NIT Andhra Pradesh (61466). All other T3 NITs (closing rank >77k) |
Check: JEE Main 2026 Marks Vs Percentile for all Session 2 Apr Shifts
93-95 Percentile | Rank: 77,000 to 1,19,000 (Home State Only)
- Options are mostly limited to Home State quota only.
- CSE is available only in a few Tier 3 NITs, while most students get lower branches.
- This is a borderline range for NIT admission.
| Tier | CSE (Home State) | Last Branch (Home State) |
|---|---|---|
| T1 | Nil | NIT Rourkela (81559), SVNIT Surat (81657) |
| T2 | Nil | NIT Goa (114549), NIT Hamirpur (117169), NIT Jalandhar (89077), NIT Silchar (80869), NIT Raipur (116202) |
| T3 | NIT Arunachal (78084), NIT Srinagar - JK quota (39108) | NIT Puducherry, NIT Sikkim, NIT Meghalaya, NIT Agartala, NIT Manipur, NIT Arunachal, NIT Srinagar, NIT Mizoram (closing rank >1.19 lakh) |
80-90 Percentile | Rank: 1,47,000 to 2,95,000 (Home State, T3 Only)
- Very limited options, mainly Tier 3 NITs under Home State quota.
- Chances of getting CSE are very minimal; students receive mostly lower courses or distant campuses.
| Tier | CSE (Closing Rank) | Last Branch |
|---|---|---|
| T1 | Nil | Nil |
| T2 | Nil | Nil |
| T3 | NIT Manipur (215198), NIT Sikkim (185001), NIT Mizoram (563566), NIT Srinagar - LA (220991) |
NIT Arunachal Pradesh (201715), NIT Puducherry (205593), NIT Meghalaya, NIT Agartala, NIT Srinagar, NIT Sikkim, NIT Manipur, NIT Mizoram (closing rank >2.95 lakh) |
Below 80 Percentile | Rank: Greater than 2,95,000
- Almost zero NIT options.
- There may only be a couple of last-branch seats in Tier 3 NITs.
- These students need to focus on private colleges or any other entrance examination.
| Tier | CSE (Closing Rank) | Last Branch |
|---|---|---|
| T1 | Nil | Nil |
| T2 | Nil | Nil |
| T3 | Nil | NIT Meghalaya (318381), NIT Agartala (346939), NIT Srinagar LA (467655), NIT Sikkim (629625), NIT Manipur (529893), NIT Mizoram (1314967) |
Ques. Does home state quota help in NIT admissions?
Ans. Yes, significantly. Home state candidates get a relaxed closing rank in their respective state's NIT, which means students at 95-98 percentile who cannot get CSE in OS quota may still secure seats in T2 and T3 NITs under HS quota.
Ques. Is there negative marking for numerical questions in JEE Mains?
Ans. No. Section B numerical value questions carry +4 for a correct answer and 0 for a wrong or unattempted answer. There is no negative marking in Section B, unlike Section A MCQs which carry −1 for wrong responses.
Ques. Which shift in April 2026 was the toughest?
Ans. The 4th April Shift 1 and 6th April Shift 1 were rated as the toughest shifts in this session. Consequently, a lower raw score is needed to achieve the same percentile in these shifts compared to the easy-to-moderate ones
What If My Percentile Is Below 90? Other Reputed College Options
- For candidates with a percentile below 90, NIT and GFTI CSE options become very limited. However, there are a number of well-known private and government-aided institutions that will accept JEE Main scores.
- Moreover, JEE Main 2026 scores are accepted for direct admissions at colleges like Upes Dehradun (AI and cloud computing programmes with extensive industry connections), Bennett University (modern curriculum with a start-up ecosystem), Graphic Era University Dehradun (strong CSE placement record), IILM University (focus on practical learning), and Chitkara University (prominent in North India in terms of academic structure and placement systems).
- Colleges accepting JEE Main 2026 score are Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering Delhi (silver state closing rank -1,59,959), and Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, MIT Academy of Engineering Pune, Thapar Institute of Engineering and Pondicherry Technological University (closing rank up to -29,000).
| Category | College Name | Key Highlights | Approx Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private University | UPES Dehradun | AI & Cloud Computing programs, strong industry connections | Varies |
| Private University | Bennett University | Modern curriculum, strong start-up ecosystem | Varies |
| Private University | Graphic Era University, Dehradun | Strong CSE placement record | Varies |
| Private University | IILM University | Focus on practical learning and industry exposure | Varies |
| Private University | Chitkara University | Known in North India for academics & placements | Varies |
| Government-Aided / Deemed | Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering, Delhi | Accepts lower percentile candidates | 1,59,959 |
| Government-Aided | Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology | Recognized state-level institute | Varies |
| Private / Autonomous | MIT Academy of Engineering, Pune | Industry-oriented curriculum | Varies |
| Deemed University | Thapar Institute of Engineering | Strong reputation, competitive admissions | 29,000 |
| State University | Pondicherry Technological University | Government institute with decent placements | 29,000 |
Ques. Can I get NIT CSE with 90-93 percentile?
Ans. With 90-93 percentile (rank 1,00,000-1,40,000), NIT CSE via Other State quota is not available. Along with other Tier 3 NITs like NIT Arunachal and NIT Srinagar (JK quota), CSE can also be found with the Home State quota.
Ques. Which private universities accept JEE Mains scores directly?
Ans. Institutions such as SRM, KIIT, UPES Dehradun, Bennett University, Graphic Era, IILM, and Chitkara University all accept JEE Main scores for direct admissions. SRMJEEE Phase 1 closes April 16, 2026.
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