Scored around 40,000 rank in JEE Mains and wondering what comes next? Don’t worry — you’re not alone. Every year, thousands of students find themselves in this rank range, unsure about their college options and future steps. The good news is that a 40,000 rank can still open doors to several NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and reputed private colleges. The key is knowing which colleges to target and how to navigate the counseling process smartly.
In this guide, we’ll break down the marks range for a 40,000 rank, list the colleges you can get into, explain the counseling process, and even give tips if you’re aiming to improve your rank. Whether you want to secure the best possible seat now or work harder for a better result, this article has you covered. Let’s get started!
Required Marks Range for 40,000 Rank in JEE Mains
Based on past trends, a 40,000 rank in JEE Mains generally falls within the score range of 100 to 110 marks out of 300. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
| Marks out of 300 | Approximate Rank |
| 288- 294 | 20-11 |
| 280-284 | 44-22 |
| 270-279 | 107-63 |
| 252- 268 | 522-106 |
| 231-249 | 1385-546 |
| 215-230 | 2798-1421 |
| 202-214 | 4666-2862 |
| 190-200 | 6664- 4830 |
| 175-189 | 10746-7151 |
| 161-174 | 16163-11018 |
| 149-159 | 21145-16495 |
| 132-148 | 32826-22238 |
| 120-131 | 43174-33636 |
| 110-119 | 54293-44115 |
| 102-109 | 65758-55269 |
| 95-101 | 76260-66999 |
| 89-94 | 87219-78111 |
| 79-88 | 109329-90144 |
| 62-87 | 169542-92303 |
| 41-61 | 326517-173239 |
| 1-42 | 1025009-334080 |
Since a 40,000 rank is positioned between these two ranges, you can expect the required marks to be around 100 to 110 marks, depending on the difficulty level of the paper and the overall performance of candidates.
Percentile Required for 40,000 Rank in JEE Mains
Based on previous years’ data, the percentile needed to achieve a 40,000 rank in JEE Mains generally falls between 95 to 96 percentile. Let’s look at this in more detail:
| Rank | Percentile |
| 20-11 | 99.99826992- 99.99890732 |
| 44-22 | 99.99617561 – 99.99790569 |
| 107-63 | 99.99034797 – 99.99417236 |
| 522-106 | 99.95228621- 99.99016586 |
| 1385-546 | 99.87388626-99.95028296 |
| 2798-1421 | 99.74522293-99.87060821 |
| 4666-2862 | 99.57503767- 99.73930423 |
| 6664- 4830 | 99.39319714- 99.56019541 |
| 10746-7151 | 99.02150308 – 99.3487614 |
| 16163-11018 | 98.52824811-98.99673561 |
| 21145-16495 | 98.07460288-98.49801724 |
| 32826-22238 | 97.0109678-97.97507774 |
| 43174-33636 | 96.0687115-96.93721175 |
| 54293-44115 | 95.05625037-95.983027 |
| 65758-55269 | 94.01228357-94.96737888 |
| 76260-66999 | 93.05600452 -93.89928202 |
| 87219-78111 | 92.05811248 -92.88745828 |
| 109329-90144 | 90.0448455 -91.79177119 |
| 169542-92303 | 84.56203931-91.59517945 |
| 326517-173239 | 70.26839007-84.22540213 |
| 1025009-334080 | 66.6590786-69.5797271 |
Factors Affecting JEE Mains Rank
Your JEE Mains rank is not solely determined by the number of correct answers you give — several other factors play a crucial role in deciding where you stand among lakhs of aspirants. Let’s break down the key factors that affect your JEE Mains rank:
1) Difficulty Level of the Paper
The toughness of the JEE Mains paper directly impacts ranks. Since JEE Mains is conducted multiple times a year in different shifts, the difficulty level may vary from one shift to another.
- If the paper is tougher than usual, the highest marks scored may be lower, pushing your rank higher for the same raw score.
- If the paper is easier, the average marks of all candidates tend to rise, meaning you might need a higher score to achieve the same rank as in a tougher session.
This variation is why the normalization process (explained below) becomes so important.
2) Number of Candidates Appearing
The total number of students appearing for JEE Mains also impacts rank distribution.
- In sessions with more candidates, competition increases, and a small change in marks can shift your rank significantly.
- With fewer candidates, rank fluctuations tend to be less sharp.
For example, a 120-mark score might get you a 40,000 rank in one session but a 45,000 rank in another, depending on how many students took the test.
3) Normalization Process
Since JEE Mains happens in multiple sessions with different question papers, normalization is used to ensure fairness. The National Testing Agency (NTA) uses a percentile-based scoring system rather than raw marks for final rankings.
How does it work?
- Each shift’s raw scores are converted into percentiles based on the relative performance of students in that session.
- This means if you score 120 marks in a tough shift, your percentile might be 96, but the same 120 marks in an easy shift might give you a 94 percentile.
- Finally, ranks are allotted based on the combined percentile scores, not raw marks.
4) Tie-Breaking Rules
In case two or more students get the same marks, NTA uses tie-breaking rules to decide ranks:
- Higher marks in Math get preference.
- If still tied, Physics scores are compared.
- If the tie remains, Chemistry marks are considered.
- If all subject marks are equal, the older candidate is ranked higher.
Colleges Accepting 40,000 Rank in JEE Mains
A 40,000 rank in JEE Mains can help students secure seats in some NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and private engineering colleges.
| Institute Name | Academic Program Name | Quota | Seat Type | Gender | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
| Dr. B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar | Bio Technology (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | OS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 31978 | 49496 |
| Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur | Chemical Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 25754 | 33373 |
| Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology Bhopal | Chemical Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 32325 | 40023 |
| Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad | Bio Technology (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 33697 | 44062 |
| National Institute of Technology Agartala | Computational Mathematics (5 Years, Bachelor and Master of Technology (Dual Degree)) | OS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 28859 | 33509 |
| National Institute of Technology Calicut | Bio Technology (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 35222 | 44304 |
| National Institute of Technology Delhi | Civil Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 38511 | 44293 |
| National Institute of Technology Durgapur | Chemical Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | OS | OPEN | Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 30575 | 40595 |
| National Institute of Technology Goa | Electronics and Communication Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | GO | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 29451 | 42485 |
| National Institute of Technology Hamirpur | Civil Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | OS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 32678 | 47137 |
| National Institute of Technology, Surathkal | Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 27406 | 32230 |
| National Institute of Technology Meghalaya | Mechanical Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | OS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 40305 | 44699 |
| National Institute of Technology Nagaland | Electrical and Electronics Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | OS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 42259 | 47930 |
| National Institute of Technology Patna | Civil Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 34754 | 48149 |
| National Institute of Technology Puducherry | Electrical and Electronics Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | OS | OPEN | Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 27051 | 36210 |
| National Institute of Technology Raipur | Bio Medical Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OBC-NCL | Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 34375 | 41272 |
| National Institute of Technology Sikkim | Electrical and Electronics Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | OS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 35448 | 40863 |
| National Institute of Technology Arunachal Pradesh | Mechanical Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | OS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 45573 | 49818 |
| National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur | Civil Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 35759 | 48303 |
| National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra | Mechanical Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 29471 | 38994 |
| National Institute of Technology, Manipur | Computer Science and Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | OS | OPEN | Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 38474 | 44910 |
| National Institute of Technology, Mizoram | Computer Science and Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | OS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 28938 | 31336 |
| National Institute of Technology, Rourkela | Ceramic Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 37886 | 47645 |
| National Institute of Technology, Silchar | Civil Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OBC-NCL | Gender-Neutral | 26110 | 39677 |
| National Institute of Technology, Srinagar | Computer Science and Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | JK | OBC-NCL | Gender-Neutral | 30252 | 49676 |
| National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli | Civil Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 35256 | 4245 |
| National Institute of Technology, Uttarakhand | Electrical and Electronics Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 39706 | 51785 |
| National Institute of Technology, Warangal | Chemistry (5 Years, Integrated Master of Science) | OS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 25395 | 41976 |
| Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat | Chemical Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 30114 | 46602 |
| Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur | Chemical Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 28923 | 3673 |
| National Institute of Technology, Andhra Pradesh | Civil Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 38879 | 4724 |
| Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur | Aerospace Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology) | HS | OPEN | Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 29734 | 40459 |
Counseling Process in JEE Mains
Once the JEE Mains results are announced, the next crucial step is the counseling process. This process determines which college and branch you will be allotted based on your rank, preferences, and seat availability. Let’s break down the counseling process in detail, covering JoSAA counseling, state-specific counseling, and private college admissions.
JoSAA Counseling
The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) conducts the centralized counseling process for admissions into NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and IITs (for JEE Advanced qualifiers). If you have a 40,000 rank in JEE Mains, JoSAA counseling is your primary route to secure a seat in NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs.
Steps in JoSAA Counseling:
1) Registration: Candidates need to register on the official JoSAA portal using their JEE Mains roll number and password. Registration is mandatory for seat allocation, and missing this step means you won’t be considered for any of the participating colleges.
2) Choice Filling and Locking: After registration, students must fill in their college and branch preferences. It’s important to list both dream colleges and safe options to maximize your chances of getting a seat. Once choices are filled, you must lock them before the deadline.
3) Seat Allotment: JoSAA conducts multiple rounds of seat allotment based on your rank, category, and choices. After each round, you can either accept the allotted seat, participate in further rounds for a better option (float), or freeze your choice.
4) Seat Acceptance Fee: If you’re satisfied with your allotment, pay the seat acceptance fee — Rs. 35,000 for General/OBC candidates and Rs. 15,000 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
5) Document Verification: You need to upload scanned copies of required documents for verification. These include your JEE Mains scorecard, admit card, Class 12 marksheet, category certificate (if applicable), and ID proof.
6) Reporting to Allotted Institute: After the final allotment, report to your allotted college to confirm your admission and complete other formalities.
State-Specific Counseling
Apart from JoSAA, many states conduct their own counseling processes for admission to engineering colleges that use JEE Mains scores. These are useful if you want to apply to state engineering colleges or have a home-state quota advantage. Some major state counseling processes include:
- JAC Delhi: For admission to DTU, NSUT, IGDTUW, and IIIT Delhi.
- Karnataka CET (KCET): Offers seats in government and private colleges in Karnataka.
- UPTAC (Uttar Pradesh): Manages admissions for engineering colleges in UP.
In state counseling, home-state quota candidates often have a better chance of securing a seat, even at slightly higher ranks.
Private College Admissions
Many private engineering colleges also accept JEE Mains ranks for their merit-based seats. Some popular private colleges that consider JEE Mains scores include:
- Shiv Nadar University
- UPES Dehradun
- Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
- NIIT University
Two types of seats in private colleges:
- Merit-Based Seats: Allotted based on JEE Mains ranks through the counseling process.
- Management Quota Seats: A certain percentage of seats are reserved for direct admission. These seats are usually more expensive and don’t require a high rank.
Key Points to Remember During Counseling
- Choice Filling: Fill a sufficient number of choices, mixing both ambitious and safe options.
- Rank Analysis: Understand the previous year’s cutoffs to predict your chances.
- Deadlines: Missing counseling deadlines can cost you a seat, so keep track of important dates.
- Backup Plans: Explore both JoSAA and state-level counseling to maximize your options.
How to Improve From 40,000 Rank in JEE Mains
If you’ve secured a 40,000 rank in JEE Mains but feel you can do better, don’t lose hope. Many students improve their ranks significantly in subsequent attempts with the right strategy and mindset. Let’s break down a step-by-step plan to boost your JEE Mains score and move closer to your dream college.
1) Analyze Your Mistakes
The first step to improvement is understanding what went wrong. Start by going through your JEE Mains scorecard and recollect how you performed during the exam. Ask yourself:
- Which subject was the weakest — Physics, Chemistry, or Math?
- Did you struggle with time management?
- Were there silly mistakes or calculation errors?
- Did you find certain topics completely unfamiliar?
Create a list of your mistakes. This will help you identify patterns and focus on the right areas.
2) Strengthen Your NCERT Concepts
JEE Mains questions, especially in Chemistry, are heavily based on NCERT textbooks. If your concepts aren’t clear, solving advanced problems won’t help much.
- Chemistry: Master NCERT line by line, especially for Inorganic Chemistry and Organic reaction mechanisms.
- Physics: Use NCERT for formulas and theory but practice extra problems from H.C. Verma and DC Pandey.
- Math: Strengthen your basics using NCERT, then move to advanced books like Cengage or Arihant.
Don’t skip NCERT — it’s the foundation for everything in JEE Mains.
3) Practice Mock Tests and Previous Years’ Papers
Improvement comes from practice. For comprehensive practice, consider Phodu Club’s JEE Mains Test Series, which mirrors the actual exam, offers detailed performance analysis, and helps track progress. This tailored approach ensures you are well-prepared to excel in the exam.
Aim to solve at least:
- 2-3 mock tests per week
- Last 10 years of JEE Mains papers
Mock tests help in:
- Improving speed and accuracy
- Adapting to the exam pattern
- Identifying your strengths and weaknesses
After each test, don’t just check your score — analyze every mistake. Understand why you got a question wrong and work on that concept immediately.
4) Focus on High-Scoring and Important Topics
Some JEE Mains topics carry more weight. Focusing on these can give a quick boost to your score.
Physics:
- Current Electricity
- Rotational Motion
- Ray Optics
- Semiconductor Devices
Chemistry:
- Chemical Bonding
- Coordination Compounds
- p-block Elements (from NCERT)
- Organic Chemistry – Reaction Mechanisms and Named Reactions
Math:
- Coordinate Geometry
- Integration and Differentiation
- Probability
- Matrices and Determinants
Cover these topics thoroughly to maximize marks in less time.
5) Improve Time Management and Exam Strategy
Scoring well isn’t just about knowledge — it’s about using your time wisely during the exam. Follow these strategies:
- Start with your strongest subject to build confidence.
- Don’t spend more than 2 minutes on any question — move on if you’re stuck.
- Use the elimination method in MCQs to narrow down options.
- Mark tricky questions for review and revisit them later if time permits.
Practicing with a timer will help you develop the speed and focus needed to handle exam pressure.
Bonus Tip: Stay Consistent and Motivated
Improving from a 40,000 rank requires discipline. Create a realistic study schedule and stick to it. Surround yourself with positive influences — study groups, mentors, or online resources — to stay motivated.
Conclusion
A 40,000 rank in JEE Mains might not place you in the top-tier NITs, but it still offers plenty of opportunities. With this rank, you can secure seats in newer NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and several good private engineering colleges. The key is to approach the counseling process wisely — filling enough choices, balancing dream colleges with safe options, and staying updated with seat allotment trends.
If you’re happy with your options, focus on choosing the right branch and college. If you want to improve your rank, use this experience to sharpen your preparation and aim higher in the next attempt.
Remember, your JEE Mains rank is just the beginning. Your dedication, learning, and skills will define your future success. Stay focused, make informed decisions, and keep moving forward.
