Are you in Class 10 and dreaming of getting into IIT? You might be wondering if your Class 10 marks play a role in your IIT admission. Many students have the same question. The truth is, Class 10 percentage does not directly affect your chances of getting into IIT. But that doesn’t mean Class 10 is not important. In fact, it builds the foundation for what comes next.
Class 10 helps you prepare for the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in Class 11 and 12. It also helps you form good study habits and confidence in subjects that are key to cracking JEE. If you’re serious about IIT, the right time to start preparing is now. This guide will explain how much percentage is needed in Class 10, what matters for IIT admissions, and what you can do today to take the first step toward your IIT dream.
How Much Percentage Required for IIT in Class 10?
IITs do not ask for Class 10 marks during admissions. Your Class 10 percentage is not a part of the official eligibility. You will not be disqualified from JEE Main or JEE Advanced if your Class 10 marks are low. Doing well in Class 10 helps you get admission into the Science stream (PCM). This is required for JEE exams. If your Class 10 percentage is good, schools will allow you to take PCM without any issues.
Key Eligibility Criteria for IIT Admissions (2025)
If you want to get admission into an IIT in 2025, you must meet all the eligibility rules. These rules ensure that every student is judged fairly and based on merit. Let us now look at each criterion step by step.
| Eligibility Aspect | Details |
| Class 12 Board Exam Criteria | Must pass Class 12 (or equivalent) with at least 5 subjects including Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM). |
| Minimum Aggregate Marks | General / GEN-EWS / OBC-NCL: 75% aggregate; SC / ST / PwD: 65% aggregate. |
| Top 20 Percentile Alternative | Instead of % marks, candidates can be in the top 20 percentile category-wise of their board in the same academic year. |
| Improvement in Board Exams | Allowed either to improve marks to meet % criteria OR to appear in all subjects to be in the top 20 percentile. |
| Board Requirement | All subjects must be from the same examination board. |
| JEE Main 2025 Performance | Candidate must be among top 2,50,000 in JEE Main B.E./B.Tech. paper (category-wise seats as below): |
| Age Limit | General / GEN-EWS / OBC-NCL: Born on or after Oct 1, 2000; SC / ST / PwD: Born on or after Oct 1, 1995 |
| Number of Attempts | Maximum 2 attempts allowed in two consecutive years for JEE Advanced. |
| Class 12 First Attempt Rule | Must have appeared for Class 12 (or equivalent) exam for the first time in 2024 or 2025 only. Earlier appearances are not allowed (exceptions apply). |
| Prior IIT Admission | Candidates should NOT have taken admission in any IIT academic program before (except specific withdrawal cases). |
| Supreme Court Exception (2025) | Candidates who dropped out from IIT courses between Nov 5–18, 2024 can apply for JEE Advanced 2025, fulfilling other criteria. |
| Foreign Nationals / OCI-PIO (F) | No JEE Main required; can apply directly to JEE Advanced. Supernumerary seats with a cap of 10% per course. No reservation benefits. Must provide valid identity proof. |
1) Performance in Class 12 (or Equivalent) Board Exams
Your Class 12 board exam performance is very important for IIT admission. You must fulfill at least one of the following two conditions. Both conditions require Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
Option 1: Minimum Marks Requirement
You must pass the Class 12 board exam with a minimum of five subjects. These should include Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. You must score a minimum aggregate of:
- 75% if you belong to the General, GEN-EWS, or OBC-NCL category.
- 65% if you belong to the SC, ST, or PwD category.
The aggregate means the average percentage across all five required subjects, not just PCM.
Option 2: Top 20 Percentile Rule
If you do not meet the percentage rule, you can still become eligible by being in the top 20 percentile of your board. This percentile is based on the total marks in all required subjects in a single academic year. So, you must be among the top 20% of students in your board and category. This condition is for students appearing for Class 12 in 2024 or 2025 only.
2) JEE Main 2025 Performance
Before you can appear for JEE Advanced, you must clear the JEE Main exam. Only the top 2,50,000 candidates from JEE Main (B.E./B.Tech paper) can write JEE Advanced. The number of students allowed from each category is as follows:
| Category | Total Candidates |
| OPEN | 1,01,250 |
| GEN-EWS | 25,000 |
| OBC-NCL | 67,500 |
| SC | 37,500 |
| ST | 18,750 |
This count may slightly increase due to tie scores at cutoff ranks.
Note for OCI/PIO (I) Candidates:
- OCI/PIO (Indian origin) students will not get category-based reservation.
- They must qualify under OPEN or OPEN-PwD only.
3) Age Limit for JEE Advanced 2025
To be eligible, you must be born on or after October 1, 2000.
If you belong to SC, ST, or PwD categories, you get a 5-year age relaxation. So, you should be born on or after October 1, 1995.
4) Number of Attempts Allowed
You can attempt JEE Advanced only two times in two consecutive years. So, if your first attempt is in 2024, you can attempt again in 2025. You cannot attempt in 2026.
5) Year of First Appearance in Class 12
You should appear for the Class 12 board exam for the first time in 2024 or 2025.
If your first attempt was in 2023 or earlier, you are not eligible for JEE Advanced 2025. This applies even if you did not take JEE Advanced after passing Class 12.
Special Case: If your board declared the result for the 2022-23 academic year on or after June 28, 2023, and you appeared in 2023, then you are still eligible. But this applies only if the board declared the result late, not if your result was withheld personally.
6) No Prior Admission in IITs
You must not have taken any confirmed admission in any IIT before. This rule applies to:
- Any program listed under JoSAA Business Rules 2024.
- Whether you continued the program or left it midway.
- Even if you just accepted the seat and did not join, you become ineligible.
Exceptions Where You Are Still Eligible: You can appear for JEE Advanced 2025 if:
- You got a seat in JoSAA 2024 but did not report either online or offline.
- You withdrew from the seat before the last round of seat allotment.
- Your seat was cancelled before the last round of JoSAA IIT counselling.
But you still need to meet all other criteria like age limit, Class 12 performance, and JEE Main rank.
7) Special Court Exception (January 2025 Ruling)
The Supreme Court of India passed an order on January 10, 2025. As per the ruling, candidates who:
- Took admission in 2024, and
- Withdrew from IIT programs between November 5 to November 18, 2024
will be allowed to register for JEE Advanced 2025.
Such students must read Annexure VI of the official brochure for more details.
8) Eligibility for Foreign Nationals
Foreign nationals do not need to appear in JEE Main. They can register directly for JEE Advanced if they meet all other criteria. To be considered a foreign national:
- You must not be a citizen of India.
- You must not have naturalized Indian citizenship.
- You may have an OCI/PIO (F) card.
Key Points:
- You will be treated as additional candidates beyond the 2,50,000 Indian students.
- Your seats will be supernumerary, which means they are extra and not taken from the general quota.
- These seats will be capped at 10% of the total seats in each course.
- There is no reservation (SC/ST/OBC etc.) for foreign nationals.
- There are also no separate female quotas in foreign national supernumerary seats.
Required Documents:
- You must show valid proof of foreign citizenship.
- This includes a Foreign Passport, Citizenship Certificate, or valid OCI/PIO card.
This complete list of eligibility rules must be followed strictly. Meeting all these conditions makes you eligible to write JEE Advanced 2025, which is the final step to getting into an IIT. Remember, eligibility does not guarantee admission. You still need to perform well in the exam. So, keep preparing smartly and stay focused on your goal.
How Class 10 Prepares You for IIT JEE?
Even though Class 10 marks are not used for IIT admission, the year plays a big role in your preparation.
Strong Basics Class 10 Science and Math include basic concepts. These are needed for understanding topics in Class 11 and 12. For example:
- Algebra and Geometry form the base for Mathematics.
- Chemical reactions and formulas help in Chemistry.
- Basic Physics principles appear again in advanced chapters.
Study Discipline: Class 10 is often the first time students take an exam seriously. Preparing for the board exam helps you develop:
- A daily study routine.
- The habit of solving questions.
- Time management skills.
School Stream Selection: Your Class 10 marks decide which stream you can choose in Class 11. Most schools only allow students with good marks to take the PCM stream. So, if you aim to go to IIT, doing well in Class 10 helps you get into the required stream.
What Should Class 10 Students Do to Prepare for IIT?
Class 10 is an important stage for students who want to get admission to IITs. Although Class 10 marks do not directly affect IIT eligibility, what you do in Class 10 can make a big difference later. It helps you build a strong foundation. Here are some important steps Class 10 students should take to prepare well for IIT.
1) Strengthen PCM Fundamentals
Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) are the core subjects for IIT JEE exams. In Class 10, focus on building a clear understanding of basic concepts in Science and Math. Topics like Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry in Math are very important. Similarly, in Science, learn the basic principles of Physics and Chemistry carefully.
Do not just memorize formulas or facts. Try to understand how and why things work. This will help you solve problems easily in higher classes. Practice solving problems regularly. This will improve your problem-solving skills, which is a key to cracking IIT JEE. Many questions in JEE Advanced are based on strong concepts taught in Class 10. So, make sure your basics are clear before moving to higher-level topics in Class 11 and 12.
2) Start Early JEE Foundation Preparation
If you aim to secure a top rank in IIT JEE, start preparing early. Join a foundation course or coaching after Class 10 if possible. These courses help you learn important topics and problem-solving methods gradually.
Start solving NCERT textbooks thoroughly. NCERT books cover all the basic concepts clearly. Along with NCERT, you can use simple competitive exam books to practice questions. Avoid jumping to advanced books too early. First focus on mastering the basics. Try to solve sample papers and previous year questions. This will give you an idea of the exam pattern and question types. It also helps improve your speed and accuracy. Early preparation reduces stress in Class 11 and 12. It gives you enough time to understand difficult topics and clear doubts.
3) Develop Consistent Study Habits
One of the most important things for success in IIT JEE is discipline. Start developing good study habits from Class 10 itself. Make a daily timetable and stick to it. Allocate fixed hours for studying PCM subjects and revision. Avoid last-minute studying or cramming. Instead, revise regularly to keep concepts fresh in your mind. Regular revision helps you remember formulas, concepts, and problem-solving techniques easily.
Time management is also very important. Learn to balance school studies, coaching, and self-study. Take short breaks while studying to stay fresh. Avoid distractions like excessive mobile phone use or social media during study hours. Also, try to solve problems on your own before seeking help. This builds your confidence and improves your thinking skills.
4) Choose Science Stream in Class 11
Class 10 board exams decide the stream you can choose in Class 11. If you want to join IIT, choose the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM). This stream is the basis for IIT JEE preparation. Good Class 10 scores help you get admission in good schools or colleges that offer the PCM stream. These schools also provide better guidance and coaching for IIT preparation. So, work hard in Class 10 to secure good marks. This will open the right doors for your IIT journey.
5) Stay Motivated and Focused
Preparing for IIT is a long journey. You must stay motivated and focused throughout. Set small goals and reward yourself when you achieve them. Surround yourself with friends and family who support your dreams. Remember that Class 10 is the start of this journey. If you start well, you will find the coming years easier and more enjoyable.
Conclusion
Class 10 marks do not decide whether you can get into an IIT. The IIT admission process does not ask for your Class 10 percentage. What truly matters is your performance in Class 12 and your rank in the JEE exams. However, Class 10 is still an important year. It sets the base for your future studies, especially in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
If you take Class 10 seriously, you will find it easier to handle the pressure of Class 11 and 12. You will also develop better problem-solving skills, time management, and study habits. These skills are important for cracking JEE.
So, even though Class 10 marks are not part of the eligibility, the knowledge and discipline you gain will help you in the long run. Focus on learning the basics well and stay consistent. Start early, stay motivated, and take each step carefully toward your goal of getting into an IIT.
FAQs
1) Is 85% in Class 10 good for IIT?
Yes. It is a good score. But remember, Class 10 marks do not affect your IIT admission. Focus more on your Class 11 and 12 PCM subjects.
2) Can I get into IIT with 60% in Class 10?
Yes, you can. Your Class 10 marks are not checked. You need to score at least 75% in Class 12 or be in the top 20 percentile to be eligible.
3) Do IITs check Class 9 and 10 marks?
No. IITs only check your Class 12 marks and your JEE rank. Class 9 and 10 marks are not part of the selection process.
