How Many Marks Are Required To Clear JEE Advanced 2026?

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Author at PW

February 18, 2026

To qualify for a rank in the IITs, you must achieve a specific set of minimum marks in JEE Advanced by passing both the subject-wise cutoffs (usually around 5% per subject) and the overall aggregate cutoff (typically near 17.5%). To get to the big stage, you first have to clear the JEE Main hurdle. Think of it as the preliminary qualifying round. For most general category students, this means aiming for roughly a 91 percentile to even be allowed to sit for the advanced exam.

The minimum marks in JEE Advanced represent the lowest score a candidate must achieve in both individual subjects and the total aggregate to qualify for the IIT ranking list. These benchmarks change annually based on paper difficulty and student performance. Meeting these criteria ensures you're eligible for the JoSAA counseling process to secure a seat in IITs.

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Basics of Minimum Marks in JEE Advanced

To get a rank in the IIT system, you don't just need a high total. You actually have to cross two different hurdles at the same time. First, you must hit a specific percentage in physics, chemistry, and mathematics individually. Second, your total score across all subjects must meet the aggregate cutoff. If you fail even one subject's minimum, you won't get a rank.

Understanding the Dual Cutoff System

Subject-Wise Minimum: You must score a tiny percentage (usually 5%) in each of the three subjects.
Aggregate Minimum: Your total marks must be equal to or higher than the overall qualifying mark set by the organizing IIT.
Category Variation: Cutoffs are much lower for OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwD candidates compared to the General category.

2024 Qualifying Criteria Reference

Here is a quick checklist for 2024 criteria for JEE Advance:

Category	Subject-Wise Minimum	Aggregate Minimum
Common Rank List (CRL)	5%	17.5%
OBC-NCL	4.5%	15.75%
SC / ST	2.5%	8.75%

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Minimum Marks for JEE Advanced 2026 Eligibility

Before you can even worry about the IIT paper, you've got to clear the JEE Main hurdle. The minimum percentile for JEE advanced eligibility is determined by the NTA every year. Only the top 2,50,000 candidates across all categories from JEE Main are allowed to sit for the Advanced exam.

Expected JEE Main Cutoffs

General Category: Usually requires a percentile needed to qualify for JEE advanced around 90-91.
EWS/OBC: This often falls between the 75-77 percentile range.
SC/ST: Generally ranges from 35 to 50 percentile depending on the student turnout.

You should aim for higher JEE main qualifying marks for JEE advanced than the previous year's closing score. This gives you a safety net if the 2026 paper ends up being easier than usual. It's always better to have a buffer than to be right on the edge.

Past Year Trends in Minimum Marks for JEE Advanced

Looking at historical data helps us predict the IIT JEE advanced qualifying marks for 2026. The total marks for the exam fluctuate sometimes it is 306, 360, or 372. Because the total marks change, we focus on percentages rather than raw numbers to understand the trend.

Year-Wise Percentage Breakdown

2024: The aggregate for General was 17.5% (roughly 63 marks out of 360).
2023: The aggregate was slightly lower at 15.03% (about 54 marks out of 360).
2022: This was a very tough year where the cutoff dropped to 15.28% (55 marks out of 360).

Don't confuse JEE advanced qualified marks with the marks needed for a top IIT branch. Qualifying only means your name is on the rank list. To get into a top-tier IIT like Bombay or Delhi, you typically need to score above 35-45% of the total marks.

Check Out: JEE Previous Year Papers

Comparing Minimum Marks for JEE Advanced and Admission

There's a massive gap between IIT advanced qualifying marks and the marks required for an actual seat. Just clearing the cutoff doesn't guarantee an IIT seat because there are far more qualified students than available spots. You might qualify but still not have a high enough rank to get a seat.

How to Target a Safe Score

When you're aiming for a goal as big as an IIT seat, it helps to break down the target into realistic chunks. Think of it like a game with different levels:

To Just Get on the Rank List: You should aim for at least 20% of the total marks. This is usually enough to clear the hurdles in any given year.
To Grab a Seat in a Lower IIT: You’ll want to push your score into the 30% to 35% range.
To Reach the Top 5 IITs: This is where things get serious. You’ll likely need to hit 50% or more of the total score.

Key Tips to get minimum marks for JEE Advanced

Success isn't just about hard work; it's about knowing the rules of the game. Since the minimum marks in JEE advanced apply to each subject, you can't afford to ignore Physics, Chemistry, or Math entirely. Even a genius in Math will fail if they get zero in Chemistry.

Study Tips for 2026 Aspirants

Analyze Past Papers: Check the 2024 papers to see how many "easy" questions were actually available.
Mock Tests: Take full-length tests to practice staying focused for six long hours.
Subject Balance: Spend 30 minutes every day on your weakest subject to ensure you hit that subject cutoff.

When you're in the exam hall, find the easiest questions first. Secure your IIT advanced qualifying marks in the first hour of each paper. Once the minimums are safe, you can take more risks on tougher problems to improve your overall rank.

Essential Exam Day Mindset

Stay Calm: The paper is designed to look scary, but you only need a small portion of it to qualify.
Read Carefully: Negative marking can ruin your aggregate score very quickly.
Time Management: Don't get stuck on one "ego" problem for twenty minutes.

Getting into an IIT is about being smarter than the average, not just working harder. By understanding these cutoff trends, you can plan your preparation more effectively. Focus on accuracy over quantity, and you'll find that clearing the minimum marks in JEE advanced is quite doable.

Required To Clear JEE Advanced 2026 FAQs

What are the minimum marks in JEE advanced for the General category?

In recent years, General candidates needed about 17.5% aggregate and 5% in each subject to qualify for a rank.

Does clearing the cutoff guarantee an IIT seat?

Don't think of the cutoff as a guaranteed seat. IIT JEE advanced qualifying marks only put you on the rank list; admission depends on seat availability.