Are you planning to get into an IIT and wondering how many chances you have? You are not alone. Many students preparing for engineering entrance exams ask the same question. Getting into an IIT is tough, but knowing the rules can help you plan better. One of the most important things you should understand is how many times you can attempt JEE Main and JEE Advanced. These attempts are limited, and you must use them wisely. If you make a mistake in planning, you might lose a valuable chance.
This guide will help you clearly understand how many times you can appear for JEE Main and JEE Advanced, what happens if you take a gap year, and how age and eligibility rules work. Read every section carefully so that you don’t miss anything. If you want to get into an IIT, your journey starts with smart planning.
How Many Attempts for IIT?
Students can attempt JEE Main up to six times over three consecutive years, while JEE Advanced can be attempted only twice in two consecutive years.
Understanding JEE Main Attempts
Many students preparing for IIT wonder how many times they can appear for JEE Main. This exam is the first step toward getting admission into IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other top engineering colleges. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts JEE Main twice every year. Let us now understand the rules related to the number of attempts, yearly sessions, gap years, and what it means for your preparation.
Total Attempts Allowed in JEE Main
After passing Class 12, a student can appear for JEE Main for three consecutive years. Since JEE Main is conducted twice each year, this gives students a maximum of six attempts. You can choose to appear in all six or just a few, depending on your preparation and confidence. However, once the three-year window starts, you cannot go beyond it.
Example: If you passed your Class 12 exams in 2024, your attempt years would be:
- 2024 (both January and April sessions)
- 2025 (both sessions)
- 2026 (both sessions)
This adds up to six attempts in total. Even if you do not take the exam in any of those sessions, the window will not extend. Your Class 12 pass year fixes your eligibility window for JEE Main.
Number of Attempts Per Year: JEE Main is held in two sessions each year:
- Session 1: Usually in January
- Session 2: Usually in April
Students can appear in both sessions of the same year. If you are not happy with your score in January, you can improve it by appearing again in April. NTA considers your best score out of the two sessions for ranking and admission. So appearing in both sessions is often a good idea if you are well-prepared. Even if you appear in just one session of a particular year, it still counts toward your overall six-attempt limit if you are within the three-year window.
Impact of Dropping a Year
Many students take a gap year to focus fully on preparation. While this can help you improve your score, it does not increase your number of attempts. The rule remains the same — you must use all your attempts within the three consecutive years after passing Class 12.
Example:
If you passed Class 12 in 2024 and decide to take a gap year in 2025, you can still only appear for JEE Main in 2024, 2025, and 2026. After 2026, you become ineligible, even if you did not use all your six chances. So before taking a gap year, students must check how many attempts they have already used and how many are left.
Important Notes
- If you fail to appear in any session, it still counts as a missed chance but does not extend your window.
- Appearing through a dummy school or repeating Class 12 will not reset your attempt count.
- Improvement exams do not affect your attempt window if your first Class 12 appearance was in an earlier year.
By knowing all these details, you can plan your JEE Main journey better. Use each attempt wisely, and do not wait until the last year to give your best effort.
JEE Advanced Attempt Limit (For IIT Admission)
JEE Advanced is the final step for getting admission into the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). It is much tougher than JEE Main and has stricter eligibility rules. One of the most important rules is about the number of attempts a student can make. Unlike JEE Main, which offers more flexibility, JEE Advanced has a fixed and limited number of attempts. Students must understand these rules clearly to avoid losing their chance.
Maximum Attempts Allowed in JEE Advanced
Students can appear for JEE Advanced a maximum of two times. These two attempts must be in two consecutive years. This rule applies to all categories, including General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS. You cannot take a break and then come back after a year to give JEE Advanced again. Your two attempts must be back-to-back.
Example: If you pass Class 12 in 2024, you can appear for JEE Advanced in:
- 2024
- 2025
After 2025, you cannot attempt JEE Advanced again, even if you did not use both attempts. If you skip the 2024 exam, you still have only one chance left in 2025.
This strict rule ensures that students take the exam seriously and plan their preparation without wasting time.
How JEE Main and Advanced Attempts Are Connected
To appear in JEE Advanced, you must first qualify in JEE Main. Only the top 2.5 lakh rank holders in JEE Main (including all categories) are eligible to write JEE Advanced.
However, the number of JEE Main attempts you take does not affect your JEE Advanced attempts. Even if you write JEE Main six times, you can only appear in JEE Advanced two times, provided you qualify each time and meet other conditions.
Effect of Taking a Drop Year
If you decide to take a gap year after Class 12, you must still use your JEE Advanced attempts within two consecutive years from your Class 12 pass year.
Example: If you passed Class 12 in 2024 and did not appear for JEE Advanced in 2024, you can still attempt it in 2025. But after 2025, you become ineligible. So, dropping more than one year is not allowed for JEE Advanced.
Special Supreme Court Ruling (2025)
In 2025, a Supreme Court order allowed one-time relaxation for a specific group of students. This applied to students who joined IITs and withdrew between November 5 and November 18, 2024. These students were given one extra attempt to appear for JEE Advanced in 2025.
This was a temporary rule and does not apply to future students unless new orders are passed.
Who Cannot Attempt JEE Advanced?
You are not eligible for JEE Advanced if:
- You have already used both your attempts in previous years.
- You were admitted to any IIT program in the past, even if you left or dropped out later.
- You passed Class 12 before the allowed year, except in special board-related delay cases.
Make sure you check the official eligibility rules every year to avoid disqualification. By understanding and following the JEE Advanced attempt rules, you can avoid mistakes and use your two chances wisely. Proper planning, timing, and awareness are key to making your IIT dream come true.
IIT JEE Age Limit & Relaxations
When planning for IIT admission through JEE Advanced, students must carefully check the age limit criteria. The age limit is one of the most important eligibility conditions for JEE Advanced. While JEE Main does not have any age limit, JEE Advanced has strict rules that all candidates must follow. If you do not meet the age requirement, you cannot appear for the exam, even if you have good marks or rank in JEE Main.
Age Limit for General and OBC-NCL Candidates
If you belong to the General or OBC-NCL category, you must be born on or after October 1, 2000. This means that by the time you attempt JEE Advanced, your age must fall within the allowed limit. Even a one-day difference can make you ineligible.
This rule helps ensure that students attempt JEE Advanced soon after finishing Class 12 and do not delay their admission process.
Age Relaxation for SC, ST, and PwD Candidates
For students belonging to the SC, ST, and PwD (Persons with Disabilities) categories, there is a 5-year relaxation in the age limit. These students must be born on or after October 1, 1995.
This relaxation is given to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds and to ensure equal opportunities. Many students in these categories may start their education later or face delays due to personal or financial reasons. The relaxation helps them compete fairly with others.
No Age Limit for JEE Main
It is important to note that JEE Main does not have any age limit. You can appear for JEE Main regardless of your age, as long as you have passed Class 12 in the last three years. This makes JEE Main more flexible, especially for students who may want to join NITs, IIITs, or private colleges that accept JEE Main scores.
However, if you are targeting IITs, you must meet the JEE Advanced age criteria, even if you score well in JEE Main.
JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria
To appear in JEE Advanced 2025, candidates must satisfy five major eligibility criteria. These rules are clearly outlined by the exam authorities and must be met by all students who want to take the exam. Students should read each criterion carefully to avoid disqualification, even after doing well in JEE Main. This section explains the eligibility criteria for Indian Nationals and OCI/PIO (I) and also for Foreign Nationals and OCI/PIO (F) candidates.
Eligibility Criteria for Indian Nationals and OCI/PIO (I)
1) Performance in JEE (Main) 2025
To appear in JEE Advanced 2025, candidates must be among the top 2,50,000 successful candidates in the B.E./B.Tech paper of JEE Main 2025. This count includes candidates from all categories.
The distribution of seats across categories is as follows:
| Sl. No | Category | Number of “Top” Candidates |
| 1 | OPEN | 101,250 |
| 2 | OPEN-PwD | 5,063 |
| 3 | GEN-EWS | 25,000 |
| 4 | GEN-EWS-PwD | 1,250 |
| 5 | OBC-NCL | 67,500 |
| 6 | OBC-NCL-PwD | 3,375 |
| 7 | SC | 37,500 |
| 8 | SC-PwD | 1,875 |
| 9 | ST | 18,750 |
| 10 | ST-PwD | 938 |
Please note: The final number of candidates may slightly exceed 2,50,000 due to ties in scores/ranks.
Important note for OCI/PIO (I) candidates: These candidates are not eligible for category-based reservations (GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST). They are considered only under OPEN and OPEN-PwD categories. So, Sl. No. (3) to (10) from the table above do not apply to them.
2) Appearance in Class XII (or equivalent) Examination
Candidates must have appeared for the Class XII (or equivalent) exam for the first time in 2024 or 2025. They must have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
Students who appeared for Class XII in 2023 or earlier are not eligible, regardless of how many subjects they attempted or what marks they scored.
Here’s what is meant by “appearance”:
- If the result of the Class XII exam was declared, it will be counted as an appearance, even if the exam was not held.
- If your result was withheld, it will still be counted as an appearance.
- If your Board (like a state or national board) declared the 2022–23 session results after June 28, 2023, then you are eligible for JEE Advanced 2025.
- But if the Board declared the result before June 28, 2023, and your result was withheld, then you are not eligible.
So, always confirm your result date and whether your board falls under the special cases. If you are unsure, check directly with JEE Advanced officials or refer to Annexure V in the official brochure.
3) Supreme Court Ruling 2025
On January 10, 2025, the Supreme Court of India passed a ruling for a specific group of students.
Those who:
- Joined an IIT in 2024, and
- Withdrew between November 5 and November 18, 2024
are given special permission to appear for JEE Advanced 2025. These students are advised to refer to Annexure VI of the official brochure for full details. However, they must still meet all the other eligibility conditions, such as being among the top 2.5 lakh in JEE Main 2025 and appearing for Class 12 in the correct year.
4) Earlier Admission at IITs
Candidates are not eligible for JEE Advanced 2025 if they were:
- Admitted to any IIT program, regardless of whether they completed or dropped out, or
- Accepted a seat via JoSAA and reported online or at a reporting center.
This rule applies to all academic programs listed in the JoSAA Business Rules 2024. However, there are a few exceptions: If you were admitted to a preparatory course in IIT for the first time in 2024, you can appear in JEE Advanced 2025.
If you were allotted a seat in IIT through JoSAA 2024 but:
- Did not report at any center or online, or
- Withdrew before the final round of seat allocation, or
- Had your seat cancelled before the last round
then you are still eligible, provided you meet Criteria A1 to A4.
This criterion ensures that students do not misuse the IIT seat system or occupy multiple seats unfairly.
Eligibility Criteria for Foreign Nationals and OCI/PIO
Candidates who are not citizens of India, and hold OCI/PIO cards under foreign national category are considered foreign nationals. They have a different eligibility path. Foreign national candidates do not need to appear for JEE Main. They can register directly for JEE Advanced 2025, as long as they meet the following:
- Valid foreign passport or OCI/PIO card
- Proof of education and age (as required)
Their applications are considered outside the 2,50,000 candidate limit of Indian nationals.
Supernumerary Seats: Seats for foreign nationals are supernumerary, meaning they are extra seats created specifically for these students. These seats:
- Are capped at 10% of total seats in each course
- Do not come under any reservation such as GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, or PwD
- Do not have female sub-categories or female supernumerary seats
Performance in Class XII (or Equivalent) for IIT Admission
Besides qualifying in JEE Advanced, students must also meet minimum marks criteria in Class XII:
They must satisfy at least one of the following:
Option 1:
- Score a minimum of 75% aggregate in Class XII board exams (with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects)
- For SC, ST, and PwD, the minimum is 65%
Option 2:
- Be in the top 20 percentile of successful candidates in their respective board and category
- This percentile is calculated based on the same academic year and must include five subjects
Special Notes: If you choose improvement exams, you can:
- Appear in one or more subjects to reach 75%/65% mark, or
- Appear in all subjects again to try for top 20 percentile
All your marks must be from one board only. You cannot combine marks from different boards. These academic rules ensure that only well-prepared students enter IITs, both through entrance tests and board exams.
Conclusion
Getting into an IIT is a big goal, and understanding the number of attempts is an important step toward that goal. You can appear for JEE Main up to six times across three years, and for JEE Advanced only two times in two consecutive years. These limits are fixed and based on your Class 12 pass year, not on how many times you actually take the exam. Dropping a year does not give you extra chances, and taking admission in an IIT once makes you ineligible for future attempts at JEE Advanced. So it is important to plan your preparation carefully, use each attempt wisely, and know the rules well. Do not wait until the last minute to understand the eligibility criteria. Start early, stay focused, and keep your targets clear. With strong effort and the right information, you can make the most of your chances and take one step closer to your dream IIT.
FAQs on JEE Attempts
1) Can I take a gap year and still attempt JEE Advanced?
Yes, you can. But you must attempt JEE Advanced within two years of passing Class 12. For example, if you passed in 2024, your last attempt can be in 2025.
2) What if I fail JEE Main in one attempt?
You can take the other session in the same year. You can also try it next year. But remember, you get six attempts in total over three years.
3) Does a dummy school help in extending attempts?
No. The year in which you first appear for Class 12 is considered final.
Even if you enroll in a dummy school later, your attempt window does not reset.
4) Can I give JEE Main after three years of Class 12?
No. You must appear within three years of passing Class 12.
