Do you want to know how many marks you need to qualify JEE Mains? This is one of the most common questions asked by students preparing for engineering entrance exams. If you want to appear for JEE Advanced or get admission into top colleges like NITs or IIITs, you must first clear the JEE Main qualifying cutoff. Every year, lakhs of students appear for the exam, but only a few thousand cross the qualifying line.
Knowing the exact cutoff and how it is calculated will help you prepare better and set realistic goals. In this article, we will explain what JEE Main qualifying marks are, how they differ from admission cutoffs, and how many marks you need based on your category. You will also see past year trends and learn tips to score above the cutoff. Read till the end to get all the answers you need for JEE Main 2025.
Understanding JEE Main Qualifying Marks (Cutoff)
The qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentile score you need to become eligible for JEE Advanced. It is not the score required for admission to colleges like NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs.
If you score above this cutoff, you can appear for JEE Advanced. But scoring above this cutoff does not mean you will get a seat in a good college.
Difference Between Qualifying Cutoff and Admission Cutoff
There are two types of cutoffs in JEE Main:
- Qualifying Cutoff: This is needed to be eligible for JEE Advanced.
- Admission Cutoff: This is needed to get a seat in NITs, IIITs, or other colleges through JoSAA counselling.
The qualifying cutoff is released by NTA. The admission cutoff is released by JoSAA. The admission cutoff is usually higher than the qualifying cutoff.
How NTA Calculates the Qualifying Cutoff
The National Testing Agency (NTA) does not decide the JEE Main qualifying cutoff based on raw marks alone. Instead, it uses a percentile-based system. This system helps ensure fairness across all sessions of the exam. Since JEE Main is conducted in multiple shifts over several days, the difficulty level of each paper may not be the same. To handle this variation, NTA uses a normalization process to calculate percentile scores.
What is a Percentile Score?
A percentile score tells you how many candidates scored below your score. For example, if your percentile is 90, that means you scored better than 90% of the total candidates who appeared in your session. Percentile scores range from 0 to 100.
Percentile ≠Percentage. A percentile is based on your relative performance, not just your marks.
Only those who score equal to or above the cutoff percentile in their category are considered qualified to appear for JEE Advanced.
This system makes sure that students are judged fairly, no matter which session they wrote the exam in. It also allows colleges and IITs to get a uniform score system for admissions.
How Much Marks Are Required to Qualify JEE Mains?
There is no fixed mark to qualify JEE Mains, as NTA uses percentile scores. For example, in 2025, the cutoff percentile was 93.10 for General, 80.38 for EWS, 79.43 for OBC-NCL, 61.15 for SC, and 47.90 for ST.
Year-wise JEE Main Cutoffs (2017–2024)
Let’s look at how the qualifying cutoff has changed over the years. This will help you understand the trends better.
JEE Main 2024 Qualifying Marks
| Category | Marks |
| General | 93.2362181 |
| General-PwD | 0.0018700 |
| EWS | 81.3266412 |
| OBC-NCL | 79.6757881 |
| SC | 60.0923182 |
| ST | 46.6975840 |
JEE Main 2023 Qualifying Marks
| Category | Marks |
| General | 90.78 |
| General-PwD | 0.001 |
| EWS | 75.62 |
| OBC-NCL | 73.61 |
| SC | 51.98 |
| ST | 37.23 |
JEE Main 2022 Qualifying Marks
| Category | Marks |
| General | 88.41 |
| General-PwD | 0.003 |
| EWS | 63.11 |
| OBC-NCL | 67.01 |
| SC | 43.08 |
| ST | 26.78 |
JEE Main 2021 Qualifying Marks
| Category | Marks |
| General | 87.90 |
| General-PwD | 1.01 |
| EWS | 66.22 |
| OBC-NCL | 68.02 |
| SC | 46.88 |
| ST | 34.67 |
JEE Main 2020 Qualifying Marks
| Category | Marks |
| General | 90.38 |
| General-PwD | 0.06 |
| EWS | 70.24 |
| OBC-NCL | 72.89 |
| SC | 50.18 |
| ST | 39.07 |
JEE Main 2019 Qualifying Marks
| Category | Marks |
| General | 89.76 |
| General-PwD | 0.11 |
| EWS | 78.22 |
| OBC-NCL | 74.32 |
| SC | 54.01 |
| ST | 44.33 |
JEE Main 2018 Qualifying Marks
| Category | Marks |
| General | 74 |
| OBC-NCL | 45 |
| SC | 29 |
| ST | 24 |
| PwD | -35 |
JEE Main 2017 Qualifying Marks
| Category | Marks |
| General | 81 |
| OBC-NCL | 49 |
| SC | 32 |
| ST | 27 |
| PwD | 1 |
Tips to Score Above JEE Main Cutoff
Want to make sure you qualify JEE Main? Follow these simple but effective tips:
1) Assess Your Current Preparation Level
The first step toward improvement is to assess where you currently stand in terms of preparation. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is essential. If you’re scoring in the 78th percentile, it means you’re performing better than 78% of the candidates, but there’s still significant room for improvement. Here’s how to begin your assessment:
- Analyze Your Mock Test Results: Taking mock tests is one of the most effective ways to gauge your preparation. Mock tests simulate the actual exam environment and help you track your progress. After each test, analyze your results carefully. Identifying the root causes of your mistakes will help you make focused improvements.
- Track Your Progress: Keep a record of your scores and performance over time. If your mock test scores are stagnant or showing only slight improvement, this may be an indication that your study method needs revision. On the other hand, if your scores are steadily increasing, you’re likely on the right track.
2) Subject-Wise Strategy to Improve
Each subject in JEE Mains—Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics—requires a distinct strategy. Given that your performance is at the 78th percentile, it’s important to focus on your weak areas while ensuring that your strengths don’t weaken over time.
Physics Preparation Strategy
Physics can be a challenging subject due to its conceptual nature and application-based questions. The key to improvement is building a strong foundation of basic concepts and then practicing problems to apply those concepts.
- Conceptual Clarity: Start by reviewing basic concepts from NCERT or a standard reference book. Don’t rush through chapters; ensure that you thoroughly understand the principles behind the formulas.
- Practice Problems: Physics questions often involve applying concepts to solve numerical problems. Focus on important chapters like Mechanics, Electrostatics, Magnetism, and Optics. Practice problems from previous years’ question papers to understand the types of questions asked in the exam.
- Use Multiple Sources: Books like H.C. Verma’s Concepts of Physics and I.E. Irodov (for higher-level problems) are helpful for practicing and deepening your understanding.
- Time Management: Physics requires conceptual clarity and problem-solving speed. Practice solving problems under time constraints to improve your speed.
Chemistry Preparation Strategy
Chemistry is divided into three main branches: Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry. Most students find Organic and Inorganic Chemistry to be more scoring as compared to Physical Chemistry, as they require less numeracy and more memorization of reactions, mechanisms, and formulas.
- Inorganic Chemistry: Start by understanding the periodic table and the properties of elements. Make sure to memorize important reactions, trends, and exceptions in periodic properties.
- Organic Chemistry: Focus on reaction mechanisms and the key reactions in Organic Chemistry. Practice identifying the type of reaction and applying the correct mechanism in each case.
- Physical Chemistry: Work on understanding the theory behind equations and formulas in topics like Chemical Kinetics, Thermodynamics, and Electrochemistry. Then, practice solving numerical problems.
- Resources: Use resources like M.S. Chauhan for Physical Chemistry and O.P. Tandon for Inorganic Chemistry. Also, ensure consistent revision of Organic Chemistry reactions.
Mathematics Preparation Strategy
Mathematics plays a crucial role in improving your overall rank. Topics like Calculus, Algebra, and Coordinate Geometry have high weightage and require intensive practice. The better your skills in these areas, the higher your chances of scoring well in JEE Mains.
- Focus on High-Weightage Topics: Start by focusing on topics that are frequently tested in the exam, such as Calculus, Algebra, and Coordinate Geometry. These topics have a high number of questions and can help improve your overall score.
- Practice a Variety of Problems: Mathematics requires a lot of practice. Solve problems of varying difficulty levels to improve your problem-solving skills. Use books like Cengage Series and IIT Mathematics by M.L. Khanna for practicing different types of problems.
- Speed and Accuracy: Mathematics can be time-consuming, and managing time during the exam is crucial. Try solving problems faster without compromising accuracy. Regular practice under timed conditions will help improve both speed and accuracy.
- Regular Revision: Unlike other subjects, Mathematics requires continuous revision to retain formulas, methods, and techniques. Set aside time every week to revise key topics and formulas.
3) Time Management and Smart Study Plan
The importance of time management cannot be overstated when preparing for an exam like JEE Mains. Here’s how you can effectively manage your time to maximize your preparation:
Create a Realistic Study Schedule
A study plan should be tailored to your needs and preferences. Based on your weaknesses, strengths, and available time, create a schedule that focuses on improving weaker areas while revising stronger topics.
- Prioritize Topics: Focus on high-weightage and difficult topics early in your preparation. Once you’re comfortable with these, move on to other chapters.
- Set Daily and Weekly Targets: Break your goals into manageable chunks. Set daily targets for how many chapters or problems you’ll cover, and weekly targets for revising topics and taking mock tests.
- Avoid Burnout: Over-scheduling can lead to exhaustion. Allow breaks between study sessions and take days off when necessary to avoid burnout.
Optimize Time for Revision
Effective revision is key to retaining what you’ve learned. Schedule weekly revision sessions for important formulas, concepts, and problem-solving techniques. Revise topics at regular intervals to prevent forgetting them before the exam.
4) Mock Tests and Self-Assessment
Taking mock tests is essential for tracking your progress and simulating exam-day conditions. Regular mock tests will help you:
- Identify weak areas: Mock tests highlight your weak spots, giving you a clear idea of which topics or subjects need more attention.
- Improve time management: Practicing under time pressure helps you learn how to manage your time effectively during the exam.
- Increase confidence: The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become. Consistent practice will help reduce exam anxiety.
Be sure to review each mock test carefully. Note the questions you got wrong, understand why you made mistakes, and work on those areas before your next test.
Best Resource for Practising Mock Tests
To enhance your mock test experience, we highly recommend the Phodu Club’s JEE Main Test Series. The Phodu Club Test Series is designed by experts to give students the most realistic mock test experience, closely resembling the actual JEE Mains exam pattern. With comprehensive question banks, detailed solutions, and thorough performance analytics, this test series ensures that you are fully prepared for the exam day.
Key Features of Phodu Club’s JEE Main Test Series:
- Realistic Simulations: The test series mimics the actual JEE Mains exam pattern, including the same time limits, structure, and difficulty levels. This helps you familiarize yourself with the format and ensures you’re well-prepared for the real exam.
- Diverse Question Sets: The Phodu Club test series offers a wide range of questions, from easy to challenging, covering all the topics across Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. This helps you gain a deeper understanding of all subjects while ensuring you are prepared for every type of question you may encounter.
- Expert-Designed Content: The test series is curated by subject matter experts who understand the JEE Mains exam inside and out. Their insights into the exam format and key topics are incorporated into the test series, giving you an edge in your preparation.
- Detailed Solutions and Explanations: Every question in the test series is accompanied by a step-by-step solution, so you can understand the correct approach to solving each problem. This feature helps improve your problem-solving skills and boosts confidence.
Aim to take mock tests at least once a week in the beginning and increase the frequency as the exam approaches. Analyze your performance after each test and work on improving your accuracy and speed.
5) Using the Right Study Material
Using quality study material is essential for focused and effective preparation. Stick to books that are specifically designed for JEE Mains preparation. Here’s a list of trusted resources:
- NCERT Books: Start with NCERT for all three subjects as they form the foundation for most of the JEE Mains syllabus.
- Physics: H.C. Verma’s Concepts of Physics and I.E. Irodov.
- Chemistry: O.P. Tandon for Inorganic Chemistry, M.S. Chauhan for Physical Chemistry, and Morrison and Boyd for Organic Chemistry.
- Mathematics: Cengage Series, IIT Mathematics by M.L. Khanna, and IIT JEE Mathematics by R.D. Sharma.
- Previous Year Papers: Solve past years’ JEE Mains papers to understand the exam pattern and get an idea of frequently asked questions.
6) Stay Consistent with Revision
Consistency is the key to mastering the JEE Mains syllabus. Even if you’re at the 78th percentile right now, consistent revision and focused improvement in weak areas can boost your performance.
- Track your progress regularly: Keep a record of your test scores, subject-wise performance, and the time you’ve spent on each topic.
- Revise regularly: Even small, 15-20 minute revision sessions can be extremely helpful in retaining what you’ve learned. Try to revise daily, even if it’s just for a short period of time.
7) Setting Realistic Goals
Improving your rank requires both short-term and long-term goals. Set daily, weekly, and monthly targets, such as solving a specific number of problems, covering certain chapters, or improving your mock test score. Start with smaller, achievable goals and gradually aim for bigger milestones.
Conclusion
Qualifying JEE Main is the first step toward achieving your dream of studying at top engineering colleges like the IITs, NITs, and IIITs. The qualifying cutoff is different for each category and changes every year based on exam difficulty and student performance. You must understand that the qualifying cutoff only makes you eligible for JEE Advanced. It does not guarantee a seat in any college. The admission cutoff is usually higher and depends on your rank, course, and college preference.
To stay ahead, aim to score much higher than the qualifying cutoff. Focus on building strong basics, practicing mock tests, and solving previous year papers. Track cutoff trends and understand how the percentile system works. Even if you are close to the cutoff, don’t give up. Try again with better preparation. Stay focused, manage your time well, and keep your confidence high. With the right strategy, you can go beyond just qualifying and secure a great rank.
FAQs
1) Is there a fixed passing mark for JEE Main?
No, there is no fixed passing mark. The qualifying cutoff changes every year and is given in percentile, not raw marks.
2) Can I qualify with a low percentile?
It depends on your category. For PwD or ST candidates, even low scores can qualify. For General or EWS, higher percentiles are needed.
3) What if I miss the cutoff by a small margin?
If you miss the cutoff, you cannot appear for JEE Advanced. But you can still apply to private colleges and other exams like VITEEE or COMEDK.
4) Does the cutoff vary for different sessions (January & April)?
No, NTA uses normalization to ensure fairness across sessions. A single combined cutoff is declared for both sessions.
5) How is the cutoff different for B.E./B.Tech vs. B.Arch/B.Planning?
Yes, cutoffs for B.E./B.Tech are different from those of B.Arch/B.Planning. Separate percentiles are released for each paper.
