The JEE Main 2026 April Session is going to start from 2-9 April 2026. Understanding the JEE Main 2025 April attempt marks vs percentile is important for target setting.
- As per the previous year's analysis, candidates with 176+ marks had secured the 99th percentile.
- Candidates who scored 240+ marks had secured the 99.99th percentile.
- According to official data and expert analysis, the April 2025 session was moderately difficult across the shifts.
This article explains the JEE Main 2025 April marks vs percentile and how candidates can use it for JEE Main 2026 target setting.
Also Read:
- Check JEE Main 2026 Expected Marks vs Percentile Analysis, Normalisation & Safe Score
- JEE Main 2026 College Predictor

Key Summary
- In the JEE Main 2025 April Session, a score of 240+ marks fetched the 99.99th percentile.
- Candidates with 176+ marks achieved 99 percentile.
- The April 2025 session was moderately difficult across shifts
- Every 20-mark score increase boosted the percentile by 0.3–0.5%, which helped in improving rank and college options.
- Targeting 95+ marks in each subject is important to secure an overall 99+ percentile safely.
JEE Main 2025 April Session - Marks vs Percentile
- Scoring 240+ marks ensured JEE Advanced qualification and secured top NIT branches, including CSE, with an AIR typically under 1500
- The 180-200 marks range was good for securing admission in mid-tier NITs across most engineering branches
- Each 20-mark increment significantly increased the percentile by 0.3-0.5%, directly affecting college options and branch availability
| Marks Range | Expected Percentile | Estimated AIR | Admission Prospects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 280–300 | 99.99–100 | 1–50 | Top IITs (All Branches) |
| 260–279 | 99.95–99.98 | 51–500 | Top IITs, Premium NITs |
| 240–259 | 99.90–99.94 | 501–1,500 | IIT Qualification, Top NITs (CSE) |
| 220–239 | 99.70–99.89 | 1,501–3,000 | Good NITs (All Branches) |
| 200–219 | 99.40–99.69 | 3,001–6,000 | Mid-tier NITs, Top IIITs |
| 180–199 | 99.00–99.39 | 6,001–12,000 | NITs (Core Branches), IIITs |
| 160–179 | 98.30–98.99 | 12,001–21,000 | Lower NITs, State Colleges |
| 140–159 | 97.00–98.29 | 21,001–35,000 | New NITs, GFTIs |
| 120–139 | 95.00–96.99 | 35,001–60,000 | Private Colleges, State Universities |
| 100–119 | 90.00–94.99 | 60,001–1,00,000 | Private Engineering Colleges |
| 80–99 | 85.00–89.99 | 1,00,001–1,50,000 | State Universities |
| 60–79 | 75.00–84.99 | 1,50,001–2,50,000 | Lower-tier Colleges |
Check:
Ques. How does the April attempt compare to the January session?
Ans. April sessions historically show slightly higher difficulty levels than January. However, the normalisation process gives no major advantage to either session.
Ques. Can 150 marks secure admission in NITs?
Ans. Yes, 150 marks typically gives around 98.3-98.6 percentile with AIR 28,000-35,000. This qualifies for mid-tier NITs in branches like ECE, Mechanical, and Electrical, especially through the home state quota for general category candidates.
Check: What is the top 20 Percentile in JEE Main 2025?
Subject-Wise Percentile Requirements for 99+ Overall Percentile
- The tables below show that in the JEE Mains 2025 April attempt, the candidates with 95-100 marks in Maths secured 99+ percentile. This shows the high difficulty levels and strong competition.
- Candidates with 90-95 marks in Physics and Chemistry secured 99+ percentile.
- Candidates with weak score in any one subject have seen percentile drop.
- So based on this analysis, it is advised to target around 95+ marks for all three subjects to secure 99 percentile.
| Subject | Minimum Marks | Percentile Required |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 90-95 | 99+ |
| Chemistry | 90-95 | 99+ |
| Mathematics | 95-100 | 99+ |
Check:
Ques. What percentile is required for JEE Advanced qualification?
Ans. The cutoff varies by category. For 2025, the General category required 93.10 percentile, OBC needed 79.43, EWS 80.38, SC 61.15, and ST 47.90 percentile to qualify for JEE Advanced examination attempts.
Ques. How accurate are marks vs percentile predictions?
Ans. Predictions based on historical data are 85-90% accurate. Final percentiles may vary by 2-3% depending on factors including exam difficulty, total candidates, performance distribution, and NTA's normalisation methodology applied.
Shift-Wise Difficulty Analysis: April 2025
- April 2 Evening shift was the toughest, offering a 2-3% percentile advantage through normalisation compared to the easier morning shift
- Mid-session shifts (April 3-4) were of moderate difficulty, and there are not many percentile fluctuations due to the normalisation process.
- Choosing difficult shifts strategically can benefit candidates, as tougher papers provide better percentiles for the same raw scores.
| Date | Shift | Difficulty Level | Impact on Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2 | Morning | Moderate-Easy | Standard normalisation |
| April 2 | Evening | Difficult | +2-3% percentile boost |
| April 3 | Morning | Moderate | Standard normalisation |
| April 3 | Evening | Moderate-Tough | +1-2% percentile boost |
| April 4 | Morning | Moderate | Standard normalisation |
| April 4 | Evening | Moderate | Standard normalisation |
| April 7 | Morning | Moderate-Easy | -1% percentile |
| April 7 | Evening | Moderate-Tough | +1-2% percentile boost |
| April 8 | Morning | Moderate | Standard normalisation |
| April 8 | Evening | Moderate | Standard normalisation |
Also Read:
- How many marks to qualify JEE Mains for ST category
- Minimum Marks Required for Top NITs in JEE Main 2026
- How Many Marks Are Required To Clear JEE Mains Out of 300 For SC?
Ques. Does scoring 250+ guarantee IIT admission?
Ans. No, with 250+ marks, you will be qualified for the JEE Advanced qualification with top ranks, but IIT admission depends on JEE Advanced performance. However, it will help to get a seat at a premium NIT as a backup.
Correct Attempts vs Expected Marks vs Percentile for JEE Main 2026
- Attempting 55-64 questions correctly (out of 75) positions candidates in the top 1% with realistic chances for premier engineering institutes
- Accuracy rate matters more than quantity; 45 correct attempts with minimal wrong answers outperform 60 attempts with 15 incorrect responses
- Each incorrect answer costs 5 marks effectively (4 marks not gained + 1 mark deducted), making strategic skipping crucial for maximising scores
| Correct Attempts (out of 75) | Expected Marks | Expected Percentile | Typical Rank Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65-75 | 240-300 | 99.9-100 | 1-1000 |
| 55-64 | 200-239 | 99.4-99.89 | 1001-6000 |
| 45-54 | 160-199 | 98.3-99.39 | 6001-21000 |
| 35-44 | 120-159 | 95.0-98.29 | 21001-60000 |
| 25-34 | 80-119 | 85.0-94.99 | 60001-150000 |
| 20-24 | 60-79 | 75.0-84.99 | 150001-250000 |
Ques. Should I appear in both sessions?
Ans. Yes, you should appear for both sessions. Historical data show that approximately 70% of students improved their scores in Session 2. NTA considers your best percentile from either session for the final ranking.
Ques. Can I predict my rank before the results?
Ans. Yes, using marks vs percentile tables and percentile vs rank calculators, you can estimate your approximate rank. However, actual ranks depend on normalisation and may vary by 1000-2000 from predictions.
JEE Main Top NITs Cutoff
| NIT Trichy | NIT Warangal |
| NIT Surathkal | NIT Calicut |
| NIT Rourkela | MNIT Jaipur |
| VNIT Nagpur | NIT Delhi |
| NIT Durgapur | NIT Silchar |
Check here to know the IIIT JEE Main Cut off 2026
JEE Main Top IIITs Cutoff
| IIIT Allahabad | IIIT Gwalior |
| IIIT Bhagalpur | IIIT Dharwad |
| IIITDM Kancheepuram | IIIT Jabalpur |
| IIIT Pune | IIIT Nagpur |
| IIIT Guwahati | IIIT Vadodara |
Check: JEE Main 2026 GFTIs Cut off
JEE Main top GFTIs Cutoff
| BIT, Mesra | Assam University, Silchar |
| SPA, New Delhi | Gurukula Kangri, Haridwar |
| SPA Bhopal | School of Engineering, Tezpur University |
| SPA Vijaywada | SLIET |
| IICPT | Mizoram University |
so to sum up, in JEE Main 2026, with scores above 230, you can secure top NITs with CSE/ECE branches, while with 200-230 you will have strong chances in good NITs and IIITs. The 170-200 range represents the cutoff zone for average NITs and mid-level IIITs.







Comments