JEE Main Session 1 Expected Cutoff: Trends and 2026 Predictions
- Sairam Joshi
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
The first session of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 has concluded for many, leaving over 10 lakh aspirants in a state of calculation and curiosity. As one of the most competitive engineering entrance exams globally, understanding the JEE Main Session 1 expected cutoff is crucial for students to decide whether to focus on JEE Advanced or gear up for the April session.
In 2026, the engineering landscape in India continues to evolve, with a massive surge in unique candidates and shifts in paper difficulty. This blog provides an exhaustive analysis of the expected qualifying marks, compares them with the last five years of data, and explores the factors that will shape the final NTA scores.
Understanding the JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Dynamics
Before diving into the numbers, it is important to distinguish between the two types of cutoffs released by the NTA:
Qualifying Cutoff: This is the minimum percentile required to be eligible for JEE Advanced. It is released along with the final results of Session 2.
Admission Cutoff: This is the opening and closing rank for various branches in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, managed through JoSAA/CSAB counseling.
Focus Keyword: JEE Main Expected Cutoff Trends
When analyzing the JEE Main expected cutoff trends, we see a consistent upward trajectory. For instance, the General category qualifying percentile jumped from 88.4 in 2022 to over 93.2 in 2024 and 2025. For 2026, early data suggests that this threshold might stabilize or see a slight rise due to the record-breaking attendance of approximately 96.26% in Session 1.
JEE Main Session 1 Expected Cutoff 2026 (Category-wise)
Based on the difficulty level of the shifts held between January 21 and January 29, 2026, and the performance of over 10.36 lakh appeared candidates, here is the predicted qualifying percentile:
Category | Expected Cutoff Percentile (2026) | Expected Safe Marks (Out of 300) |
General (UR) | 93.5 – 95.0 | 90 – 115 |
Gen-EWS | 81.0 – 83.5 | 75 – 85 |
OBC-NCL | 80.0 – 82.0 | 72 – 82 |
Scheduled Caste (SC) | 61.5 – 64.0 | 50 – 60 |
Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 48.0 – 51.0 | 40 – 50 |
PwD (All Categories) | 0.001 – 1.0 | < 40 |
Note: These are estimated figures. The final cutoff depends on the "Normalization Process," which balances the difficulty levels across different shifts.
Previous Years’ Cutoff Comparison (2021–2025)
To understand where 2026 stands, we must look at the historical data. The competition has intensified significantly, as shown in the table below:
Comparative Analysis of Qualifying Percentiles
Category | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
General | 93.10 | 93.23 | 90.77 | 88.41 | 87.89 |
EWS | 80.38 | 81.32 | 75.62 | 63.11 | 66.22 |
OBC-NCL | 79.43 | 79.67 | 73.61 | 67.00 | 68.02 |
SC | 61.15 | 60.09 | 51.97 | 43.08 | 46.88 |
ST | 47.90 | 46.69 | 37.23 | 26.77 | 34.67 |
Why the sudden jump?
The primary driver for the sharp increase in the JEE Main expected cutoff trends since 2023 is the sheer volume of candidates. In 2022, unique candidates were around 9 lakhs; by 2026, that number has crossed 15 lakhs for the full cycle. This saturation means that even a single mark can lead to a shift of thousands of ranks.
Factors Influencing the 2026 Cutoff
Several variables are at play this year that could cause the actual cutoff to deviate from predictions:
Increased Participation: With a 96% attendance rate and over 10 lakh students in Session 1 alone, the percentile-to-marks ratio is expected to be "tighter."
Difficulty Level of Shifts: While Chemistry remained NCERT-centric and scoring, Mathematics in several shifts (especially Jan 24 and Jan 28) was reported as lengthy and challenging. A tougher paper generally leads to a lower raw score requirement for the same percentile.
Seat Matrix: The addition of new seats in top-tier IIITs and specialized B.Tech branches (like AI and Data Science) might provide some relief in admission cutoffs, even if the qualifying cutoff remains high.
Normalization: Since the exam is spread across multiple days, NTA uses a formula to ensure no student is at a disadvantage due to a harder set of questions.
Marks vs. Percentile: What to Expect in 2026?
A frequent question among students is: "How many marks do I need for a 99 percentile?" For JEE Main 2026 Session 1, the following analysis provides a rough guide:
99.9 Percentile: 235 – 250+ Marks
99 Percentile: 175 – 195 Marks
97 Percentile: 145 – 160 Marks
95 Percentile: 120 – 135 Marks
93 Percentile (Borderline General): 105 – 115 Marks
FAQs: JEE Main Session 1 Expected Cutoff
1. What are the current JEE Main expected cutoff trends for 2026?
The current trends indicate a stabilization of the General category cutoff between the 93.5 and 95 percentile. Due to the high number of unique candidates (estimated 15.5 lakh+), the competition is at an all-time high, making it necessary for students to aim for at least 110+ marks to be safely qualified.
2. Is the Session 1 cutoff different from the Session 2 cutoff?
NTA does not release separate cutoffs for each session. There is only one final qualifying cutoff released after Session 2, based on the best of two scores for candidates who appeared in both.
3. Will a score of 120 marks be enough to qualify for JEE Advanced?
Yes, for most categories, 120 marks in a moderate shift should comfortably place you above the qualifying percentile. For General category students, 120 marks typically fetch a 95–96 percentile.
4. How does the difficulty of Mathematics affect the 2026 cutoff?
If the majority of shifts have a "difficult/lengthy" Math section, the overall raw marks required to reach a high percentile may drop. However, the percentile-based cutoff for qualifying for JEE Advanced usually remains robust because it is a relative ranking.
Conclusion: Your Next Steps
While the JEE Main Session 1 expected cutoff gives you a benchmark, don't let a borderline score discourage you. If you are scoring above the 95 percentile, you should ideally start your JEE Advanced preparation simultaneously. If you are below the expected threshold for your category, use the window between February and April to bridge the gaps in your syllabus.
Ready to take the next step in your Engineering journey?
Check your Rank: Use the Official NTA JEE Portal to stay updated on results.
College Predictor: Explore your options at NITs and IIITs via the JoSAA Official Site.
Prepare for Session 2: Access previous year papers and mock tests on the NTA Exams website.
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