A score of 250 or higher is considered a good score in JEE Main 2026. With this score, you can gain admission to top engineering colleges in India, including NITs, IIITs and GFTIs.JEE Main 2025 session 1 will be conducted in Jan 2026.
A score of 250 or more is considered a good score for JEE Main 2026, suitable for admission into IITs, NITs, and GFTIS in India. However, depending on the course and institute, the student's target, and the JEE Main cutoff, a good score in JEE Main can differ.
The JEE Main is one of the most competitive exams conducted every year for admission into B.Tech.Tech courses in top institutions in India. The JEE Main exam dates are out and scheduled to be conducted in January 2026. While a 120 or above score in JEE Main is enough for admission to top engineering colleges, securing a 250+ score is desirable to qualify for the JEE Advanced examination and ensure a seat in IITs.
The following article will present a detailed explanation of what is good score in JEE Main 2026. This way, you will be better prepared with strategies to score enough to gain admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
What is a Good Score in JEE Main 2026?
250 or above is considered a good score in JEE Main 2026 for admission to top IITs, NITs, GFTIs, and other reputed engineering colleges in India, along with making them eligible for JEE Advanced. A good score in JEE Main 2026 can fetch them a rank between 15000 and 30000. At the same time, a score of 120 or above will help you secure admission to decent engineering colleges in the country.
Moreover, a good score in JEE Main 2026 will help you participate in the JEE Main counselling 2026. Check the analysis below to understand what is a good score in JEE Main:
|
Type of Score |
JEE Main Scores (Out of 300) |
|
250+ |
Excellent |
|
180+ |
Very Good |
|
120+ |
Good |
|
90 |
Average |
|
Less than 90 |
Low |
Also Read: JEE Main Passing Marks 2026
Good Score in JEE Main to be Eligible for JEE Advanced
By analysing previous year trends, it is expected that a score of 250 or above will be required to appear for JEE Advanced 2026. The table below is a detailed chart of the percentages required for minimum JEE Main cutoffs based on category. The trends of the previous years JEE Main marks vs rank are listed below:
| Year | Required cutoff in JEE Main to appear for JEE Advanced | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Category | SC | ST | OBC | |
|
2026 (Expected) |
90.7788642 |
51.9776027 |
37.2348772 |
73.6114227 |
|
2024 |
100 - 93.2362181 |
93.2312696 - 60.0923182 |
93.2312696 - 46.6975840 |
93.2312696 - 79.6757881 |
| 2023 | 90.7 | 51.9 | 37.2 | 73.6 |
| 2022 | 88.4 | 43 | 26.7 | 67 |
| 2021 | 87.8 | 48.6 | 34.6 | 68 |
| 2020 | 70 | 50 | 40 | 73 |
| 2019 | 90 | 40 | 40 | 70 |
| 2018 | 74 | 29 | 24 | 45 |
| 2017 | 81 | 32 | 27 | 49 |
| 2016 | 100 | 52 | 48 | 70 |
| 2015 | 105 | 50 | 44 | 70 |
| 2014 | 115 | 53 | 47 | 74 |
Note: A dip can be seen in the JEE Main 2026 cutoff due to a change in the JEE Main 2026 exam pattern.
What is a Good Score in JEE Main 2026 for Admission to IITs?
The JEE Main cutoff for IITs is usually high; therefore, If you secure excellent scores in JEE Main, you can apply for IITs, i.e., a score of 250 or above. However, the cut-off score for admission into specific IITs may vary and is determined by the institute based on the number of available seats and the performance of candidates.
Admission into IITs also considers your performance in their class 12th examinations.
What is a Good Score in JEE Main 2026 for Admission to NITs?
A good score in JEE Main 2026 for admission into NITs will typically be in the top 75th percentile. However, the cut-off score for admission into specific NITs may vary and is determined by the institute, number of seats available, cutoff, candidates appearing for JEE Main, and the previous year's trends.
Typically, you must also be placed in the top 15000-20000 ranks to get admission into the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) in India. The following table will provide a complete overview of the NIT-wise JEE Main cutoff for 2026:
What is a Good Score in JEE Main 2026 for Admission to IIITs?
What is a good score in JEE Main 2026 for IIITs? A good score in JEE Main 2026 for admission into IIITs ranges between 70-80 percentile score. If you are within the range of rank 1-25000 must make it to the top IIITs across the country. Additionally, admission into IIITs is also based on the your exam performance in class XII and the JEE Main 2026 Cutoff for IIIT
| Name of the Institution | JEE Main Cutoff |
| Atal Bihari Vajpayee IIIT & Management Gwalior | Click Here |
| IIIT Kota, Rajasthan | Click Here |
| IIIT Guwahati | Click Here |
| IIIT Kalyani, WB | Click Here |
| IIIT Sonepat | Click Here |
| IIIT Una, HP | Click Here |
| IIIT Sri City, Chittoor District, Andra Pradesh | Click Here |
| IIIT Vadodara | Click Here |
| IIIT Allahabad | Click Here |
| IIIT Design & Manufacturing, Kancheepuram | Click Here |
| Pt. Dwarka Prasad Mishra IIIT Design & Manufacture Jabalpur | Click Here |
| IIIT Manipur | Click Here |
| IIIT Srirangam | Click Here |
| IIIT Lucknow | Click Here |
| IIIT Dharwad | Click Here |
| IIIT Kurnool | Click Here |
| IIIT Kottayam | Click Here |
What is a Good JEE Main Score to Secure Admission to Top Engineering Colleges?
Apart from the IIT, NIT, or IIITs, securing admission to the top engineering colleges in India requires an 80 per cent score in the JEE Main examination. Besides the JEE Main, you can appear for the entrance exams conducted by a specific university or institution or gain admission to institutions based on JEE Main 2026 scores.
Aspirants can also try to secure direct admission in the B.Tech courses of top private engineering colleges across the country.
A good score and rank in JEE Main 2026 will depend on several factors. It will depend on the marks secured by candidates who appear for the current year's JEE Main examination, the class 12th marks and more. JEE Main Colleges Opening and Closing Rank 2026 will give some insight on the institution and category-wise cut off for various branches.
Top 5 Tips to Get a Good Score in JEE Main 2026
Aspirants will be looking under every rock to find the best tactics for the JEE Main 2026 preparation. Here are five tips to get you started:
- Focus on the tough topics
- Gather all the material needed beforehand
- Look for good online coaching to help you understand the topics better
- Do not strain on one topic for a long time
- Stay healthy and mentally fit and keep a routine going.
Also Read: 1 Year Study Plan for JEE Main
