You just got your JEE Mains result, and it shows 87 percentile. The first thought is – Is this a good score? What will be my rank? Can I get a seat in a good college?
If you are thinking this, you are not alone. Many students feel confused after seeing their percentile. It is not the same as school marks, where you know your result clearly. In JEE Mains, the percentile tells how well you performed compared to others.
So, what does 87 percentile really mean? Can you get into an NIT, IIIT, or a good state college? What are the other options?
This article will answer all these questions. It will explain your expected rank, the colleges accepting 87 percentile, and preparation tips to improve your score. Read till the end to make the right decisions for your future.
Understanding Percentile System in JEE Mains
JEE Mains uses the percentile system to rank students. The percentile score tells how a student performed compared to others. It is not the percentage of marks obtained.
For example, if a student gets 87 percentile, it means they performed better than 87% of the total candidates. It does not mean they got 87% marks in the exam.
The percentile is calculated using the following formula:
Percentile=(Number of students with scores equal to or less than yours/Total number of students in your session)×100
This method ensures that ranks are given fairly, even when exams are conducted in multiple sessions.
What is the Rank for 87 Percentile in JEE Mains?
The rank corresponding to 87 percentile depends on the total number of candidates appearing for the exam. On average, if around 10 lakh students appear in JEE Mains, the rank for 87 percentile will be:
Rank≈((100−Percentile)/100​)×Total Candidates
Rank≈((100−87)/100​)×10,00,000=1,30,000
However, since the number of candidates varies every year, the approximate rank range for 87 percentile is 1,50,000 – 1,80,000.
| Percentile Range | Expected Rank Range |
| 90+ percentile | Below 1,20,000 ranks |
| 89.5+ percentile | 1,20,001 to 1,25,000 ranks |
| 89+ percentile | 1,25,001 to 1,32,000 ranks |
| 88.5+ percentile | 1,32,001 to 1,40,000 ranks |
| 88+ percentile | 1,40,001 to 1,45,000 ranks |
| 87.5+ percentile | 1,45,001 to 1,50,000 ranks |
| 87+ percentile | 1,50,001 to 1,56,000 ranks |
| 86.5+ percentile | 1,56,001 to 1,63,000 ranks |
| 86+ percentile | 1,63,001 to 1,68,000 ranks |
| 85.5+ percentile | 1,68,001 to 1,73,000 ranks |
| 85+ percentile | 1,72,001 to 1,80,000 ranks |
JEE Main Marks vs Rank vs Percentile 2025 (Expected)
| Marks out of 300 | Rank | Percentile |
| 288- 294 | 20-11 | 99.99826992- 99.99890732 |
| 280-284 | 44-22 | 99.99617561 – 99.99790569 |
| 270-279 | 107-63 | 99.99034797 – 99.99417236 |
| 252- 268 | 522-106 | 99.95228621- 99.99016586 |
| 231-249 | 1385-546 | 99.87388626-99.95028296 |
| 215-230 | 2798-1421 | 99.74522293-99.87060821 |
| 202-214 | 4666-2862 | 99.57503767- 99.73930423 |
| 190-200 | 6664- 4830 | 99.39319714- 99.56019541 |
| 175-189 | 10746-7151 | 99.02150308 – 99.3487614 |
| 161-174 | 16163-11018 | 98.52824811-98.99673561 |
| 149-159 | 21145-16495 | 98.07460288-98.49801724 |
| 132-148 | 32826-22238 | 97.0109678-97.97507774 |
| 120-131 | 43174-33636 | 96.0687115-96.93721175 |
| 110-119 | 54293-44115 | 95.05625037-95.983027 |
| 102-109 | 65758-55269 | 94.01228357-94.96737888 |
| 95-101 | 76260-66999 | 93.05600452 -93.89928202 |
| 89-94 | 87219-78111 | 92.05811248 -92.88745828 |
| 79-88 | 109329-90144 | 90.0448455 -91.79177119 |
| 62-87 | 169542-92303 | 84.56203931-91.59517945 |
| 41-61 | 326517-173239 | 70.26839007-84.22540213 |
| 1-42 | 1025009-334080 | 66.6590786-69.5797271 |
Factors Affecting Rank in JEE Mains
The rank for the same percentile can change due to different factors:
- Number of Candidates: If more students appear for JEE Mains, the rank for the same percentile will be higher.
- Difficulty Level: If the paper is tough, fewer students score high marks, which affects percentile calculation.
- Session Normalization: Since JEE Mains is conducted in multiple sessions, normalization is used to balance score differences.
Colleges Accepting 87 Percentile in JEE Mains
Getting admission to a top NIT or IIIT with 87 percentile is difficult. However, there are still many good options.
List of NIT Colleges Between 80-90 Percentile in JEE Main
| College Name | NIRF Ranking | Popular Courses | Annual B.Tech Course Fees (Approx.) |
| National Institute of Technology (NIT), Durgapur | 44th in the Engineering category93rd in the Overall category | Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology | INR 1.79 Lakhs |
| National Institute of Technology (NIT), Jalandhar | 58th in the Engineering category101–150th in the overall category | Instrumentation and Control Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering | INR 1.64 Lakhs |
| National Institute of Technology (NIT), Raipur | 71st in the engineering category36th in the architecture category | Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering | INR 71,110 |
| National Institute of Technology (NIT), Meghalaya | 72nd in the Engineering category | Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering | INR 1.55 Lakhs |
| National Institute of Technology (NIT), Agartala | 82nd in the Engineering category | Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering | INR 1.51 Lakhs |
| National Institute of Technology (NIT), Puducherry | 97th among engineering colleges | Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering | INR 1.45 Lakhs |
| National Institute of Technology (NIT), Goa | 101–150 in the Engineering category | Electronics and Communication Engineering | INR 1.33 Lakhs |
| National Institute of Technology (NIT), Hamirpur | 101–150 in the Engineering category | Electronics and Communication Engineering | INR 1.8 Lakhs |
List of Colleges Other than NITs Accepting 80-90 Percentile in JEE Main
| College Name | Courses |
| IIITM Gwalior | Computer Science and Engineering |
| IIIT Allahabad | Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering |
| University of Engineering and Management, Jaipur | Civil Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering |
| BITS Ranchi | Information Technology, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering |
| KIIT University | Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Information Technology, Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering |
| Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar | Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering |
| Jaipur Engineering College, Jaipur | Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Information Technology, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Engineering |
| CMR Institute of Technology, Kolkata | Computer Science Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering |
| College of Engineering, Pune | Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering |
Preparation Tips to Improve Rank in JEE Mains
If a student is not satisfied with 87 percentile, they can improve their score by preparing better for the next attempt. Here are some useful tips:
1) Focusing on High-Weightage Topics
One of the most effective ways to prepare for JEE Main is by focusing on topics that carry the most weight. Understanding the weightage distribution of subjects will help you prioritize your efforts and make the best use of your time.
JEE Mains Physics Chapter Wise Weightage
| Chapter Name | Weightage |
| Current Electricity | 9.90% |
| Magnetic Effect of Current and Magnetism | 6.60% |
| Alternating Current | 6.60% |
| Kinetic Theory of Gases & Thermodynamics | 6.60% |
| Kinematics | 6.60% |
| Work, Energy, and Power | 6.60% |
| Law of Motion | 6.60% |
| Centre Of Mass | 6.60% |
| Rotational Dynamics | 6.60% |
| Modern Physics | 6.60% |
| Wave Optics | 6.60% |
| Electrostatics | 3.30% |
| Capacitors | 3.30% |
| Simple Harmonic Motion | 3.30% |
| Sound Waves | 3.30% |
| Elasticity | 3.30% |
| Error in Measurement | 3.30% |
| Circular Motion | 3.30% |
| Electromagnetic Waves | 3.30% |
| Semiconductors | 3.30% |
JEE Mains Chemistry Chapter Wise Weightage
| Chapters | Weightage |
| Transition Elements & Coordination Compounds | 9.90% |
| Periodic table, p-Block Elements | 9.90% |
| Atomic Structure | 6.60% |
| Chemical Bonding | 6.60% |
| Chemical And Ionic Equilibrium | 6.60% |
| Solid-State | 6.60% |
| Nuclear Chemistry | 6.60% |
| Thermodynamics & the Gaseous State | 6.60% |
| Mole Concept | 3.30% |
| Redox Reactions | 3.30% |
| Electrochemistry | 3.30% |
| Chemical Kinetics | 3.30% |
| Solution & Colligative Properties | 3.30% |
| General Organic Chemistry | 3.30% |
| Stereochemistry | 3.30% |
| Hydrocarbon | 3.30% |
| Alkyl Halides | 3.30% |
| Carboxylic Acids & their Derivatives | 6.60% |
| Carbohydrates and amino acids | 6.60% |
| Aromatic Compounds | 6.60% |
JEE Mains Mathematics Chapter Wise Weightage
| Chapter Name | Weightage |
| Sequences & Series | 6.60% |
| Straight Lines | 6.60% |
| 3-D Geometry | 6.60% |
| Determinants | 6.60% |
| Sets | 3.30% |
| Permutations & Combinations | 3.30% |
| Probability | 3.30% |
| Complex Numbers | 3.30% |
| Binominal Theorem | 3.30% |
| Limits | 3.30% |
| Differentiability | 3.30% |
| Indefinite Integration | 3.30% |
| Definite Integration | 3.30% |
| Differential Equations | 3.30% |
| Height & Distance | 3.30% |
| Trigonometric Equations | 3.30% |
| The Area under the Curve | 3.30% |
| Quadratic Equations | 3.30% |
| Vectors | 3.30% |
| Tangents and Normals | 3.30% |
| Maxima and Minima | 3.30% |
| Statistics | 3.30% |
| Parabola | 3.30% |
| Ellipse | 3.30% |
| Hyperbola | 3.30% |
By focusing on these high-weightage topics, you can maximize your chances of scoring well in JEE Main.
2) Subject-Specific Preparation Strategies
Each subject has its own set of challenges, so it’s important to adopt subject-specific strategies to boost your performance.
- Physics: Physics requires both conceptual clarity and problem-solving ability. Focus on understanding the fundamental principles before attempting complex problems. Use multiple reference books and solve past years’ papers to develop a deeper understanding of the subject. Also, practice numerical problems as much as possible, as they make up a large part of the exam.
- Chemistry: Chemistry can be divided into three branches: Organic, Inorganic, and Physical. Organic Chemistry requires memorization of reactions and mechanisms, so make concise notes for each reaction. For Inorganic Chemistry, focus on learning the periodic trends and important compounds. Physical Chemistry is more problem-solving oriented, so practice regularly with a variety of problems.
- Mathematics: Mathematics requires constant practice. It’s not enough to just understand the theory; you must practice solving problems to develop speed and accuracy. Start with basic problems and gradually increase the difficulty level. Use both standard textbooks and previous years’ question papers to build your problem-solving skills.
3) Managing Time and Resources
Proper time management is one of the most important aspects of JEE Main preparation. It’s essential to balance your study schedule with enough breaks to avoid burnout.
- Create a Study Plan: Design a study schedule that allocates specific time blocks for each subject, with more time given to topics you find challenging. Ensure that you cover the entire syllabus well before the exam and leave time for revision.
- Use Quality Resources: Rely on standard textbooks, online resources, and coaching materials. Some of the best books for JEE Main preparation are:
Best Physics Books for JEE Mains
| Best Physics Book for JEE Main | Book will be best for |
| NCERT for Class XI and XII | Fundamental concepts and understanding of theory |
| Concepts of physics (Vol. 1 and 2) by H.C Verma | Quality problems on all topics |
| Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday, Resnick & walker | Concepts of all the topics |
| Understanding Physics by D C Pandey (Arihant Publications): Set of books forElectricity & MagnetismMechanics (Vol. 1 & 2)Optics & Modern PhysicsWaves & Thermodynamics | Explanation, Derivation and question set of quality solved/unsolved problems |
| Problems in General Physics by I.E Irodov | Practicing problems |
| Understanding physics by Freedman and Young | Explanation, theory of all topics |
| Problems in physics by SS Krotov | Practicing problems |
| Problems and solution of Physics by Shashi Bhushan Tiwari | For practising problems and studying detailed solutions. |
Best Chemistry Books for JEE Mains
| Name of the book and author | Book will be best for |
| NCERT Textbooks (for Class XI and XII ) | Fundamentals of the JEE Main 2025 chemistry topics |
| Modern Approach to Chemical Calculations by R.C. Mukherjee | For practice of solving Physical Chemistry Numericals |
| Organic Chemistry by O P Tandon | Good explanation of topics |
| Concept of Physical Chemistry by P Bahadur | Good explanation and set of quality problems |
| Concise Inorganic Chemistry by J D Lee | Good reference book on Inorganic Chemistry |
| Physical Chemistry by P.W. Atkins | Refer to this book once you are done with the above books or want to practice more |
| Organic Chemistry by Morrison & Boyd | Refer to this book once you are done with the above books or want to practice more |
Best Math Books for JEE Mains
| Name of the book and author | Book will be best for |
| NCERT Books for Class XI and XII | Contains fundamental concepts |
| Objective Mathematics by R D Sharma | Basics of every topic |
| Plane Trigonometry by S L Loney | Trigonometry |
| The Elements Of Coordinate Geometry by S L Loney | Coordinate Geometry |
| Algebra by Dr S K Goyal Arihant Publications | Algebra |
| Play with Graphs by Amit M Agarwal (Arihant Publications) | For solving problems |
| Differential Calculus by Amit M Agarwal (Arihant Publications) | Calculus |
| Integral Calculus by Amit M Agarwal (Arihant Publications) | Calculus |
| Complete mathematics for JEE Main TMH | For an explanation of topics |
Additionally, online platforms such as Khan Academy and Phodu Club offer excellent study material and practice questions for JEE preparation.
4) Effective Study Plans for JEE Main
Effective planning is key to scoring well in JEE Main. Here are a few tips on crafting a study plan:
- Set Realistic Goals: Break down your syllabus into smaller topics and set daily or weekly goals. For example, aim to complete a chapter in a week and revise it the following week.
- Prioritize Based on Weaknesses: Identify the topics you struggle with the most and allocate more time to them. Regular revision is crucial, so make sure you cover the entire syllabus at least once before the exam.
- Incorporate Mock Tests: Regularly take mock tests to assess your preparation and improve your time management skills. Mock tests will help you get used to the exam format, boost your confidence, and identify areas where you need improvement. Analyze your performance after each mock test and work on the mistakes. A great resource for mock tests and practice material is Phodu Club’s JEE Mains Test Series. The series is designed to mirror the actual exam pattern, providing you with a comprehensive collection of high-quality mock tests and question papers.
- Revise and Review: The final month before the exam should be dedicated to revision. Go over all your notes, especially formulae, concepts, and important reactions or equations.
5) Time Management Tips
Effective time management is crucial to performing well in both the JEE Main exam and in the preparation leading up to it.
- Divide Your Day into Time Blocks: Follow a structured timetable where you allocate fixed hours for studying and revision. For example, 3-4 hours of study in the morning, a break for lunch, and another 3-4 hours in the evening. Stay consistent with your study hours.
- Avoid Distractions: Create a study environment that’s free of distractions. Keep away your phone, social media, and other distractions during study time. You can use apps to block distracting websites to stay focused.
- Practice Speed and Accuracy: During mock tests, work on improving your speed without compromising accuracy. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become with answering questions quickly.
- Avoid Overloading Yourself: While consistency is important, it’s also crucial not to overburden yourself. Adequate rest and proper sleep are important for maintaining your mental focus and energy levels.
6) Take Mock Tests Regularly
Mock tests are a vital component of JEE Mains preparation. Regularly taking mock tests can significantly boost your confidence and performance. A highly recommended option is the Phodu Club’s JEE Mains Test Series, known for its realistic exam simulations, detailed performance analysis, and expertly curated questions. It’s a great resource to enhance your preparation and get closer to your JEE Mains goals. They help simulate the actual exam experience and evaluate your preparation.
- Timed Practice: Solve mock tests under timed conditions to improve your speed and accuracy.
- Analyze Performance: After every test, analyze your performance. Identify the mistakes and understand why you made them.
- Focus on Weak Areas: Use the insights from mock tests to focus on areas where you struggle. For example, if you find numerical problems in Physics challenging, dedicate extra time to them.
- Develop Exam Temperament: Mock tests help you adapt to the pressure and time constraints of the actual exam.
Conclusion
Scoring 87 percentile in JEE Mains is a decent achievement, but it may not be enough for admission to top NITs and IIITs. However, students can still get admission in good state engineering colleges and private universities. The rank for 87 percentile usually falls between 1,50,000 and 1,80,000, depending on the number of candidates.
For students aiming for a better rank, consistent practice, solving previous year papers, and taking mock tests can help improve their performance. Hard work and proper strategy can help students achieve their dream of getting into a good engineering college.
