How Many Attempts for JEE Mains 2026? - Eligibility & NTA Rules Explained Here

How Many Attempts for JEE Mains 2026? - Eligibility & NTA Rules Explained Here

Team Careers360Updated on 08 Dec 2025, 02:46 PM IST

How many attempts for JEE Mains 2026? - The National Testing Agency will conduct the JEE Mains 2026 exam in two sessions, the first session will be held from January 21 to 30, 2026, and the second session is scheduled for April 2 to 9, 2026. Candidates will be allowed six attempts for the JEE Mains 2026 exam. Students can check the details of how many attempts are allowed for JEE Mains 2026 on this page. As per the JEE Main eligibility criteria 2026, candidates can attempt the JEE Mains over three consecutive years, making it a total of six attempts. Candidates must note that there is no upper age limit for appearing in the JEE Main 2026 exam. The authority will conduct the JEE Main exam in online mode.
Also Check: JEE Main 2026 registration | JEE Main 2026 exam date

This Story also Contains

  1. How Many Times can a candidate appear for JEE Main?
  2. How Many Attempts For JEE Mains For the General Category
  3. How Many Attempts For JEE Mains For OBC
  4. JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026
  5. JEE Main Application Form 2026
How Many Attempts for JEE Mains 2026? - Eligibility & NTA Rules Explained Here
How Many Attempts for JEE Mains 2026

However, in a single year, candidates can appear for the exam only twice. Students aspiring for admission in NITs, IIITs, or IITs often talk about the number of attempts of JEE Main 2026. This means they can appear for the exam twice every year for 3 consecutive years. Read the complete article for more details on the number of attempts in JEE Main 2026.

How Many Times can a candidate appear for JEE Main?

As per the JEE Main eligibility criteria, candidates can appear for JEE Mains six times in three consecutive years. That is, candidates qualified/appearing for Class 12th in the last 3 years are eligible to appear for JEE Main. NTA JEE Main exam 2026 will be conducted in two sessions. Candidates who are attempting the JEE Main exam for the first time in 2026 will be eligible to take to test in 2026 and 2027 as well. The answer to the question of the number of attempts in JEE Mains for the general category is that students can appear for three consecutive years from the year of passing their class 12. For more information on the JEE Mains attempt limit and the advantages, applicants can read the following pointers.

UPES B.Tech Admissions 2026

Ranked #43 among Engineering colleges in India by NIRF | Highest Package 1.3 CR , 100% Placements

Amrita University B.Tech 2026

Recognized as Institute of Eminence by Govt. of India | NAAC ‘A++’ Grade | Upto 75% Scholarships

JEE Main 2026 Schedule

EventsJEE January Dates (Session 1)JEE April Dates (Session 2)
Start date for JEE Main registrationOctober 31, 2025Last week of January 2026
Last date for JEE Main registrationNovember 27, 2025February 2026
JEE Main 2026 exam correction dateDecember 1 to 2, 2025February 2026
Release of Advanced city intimation slipJanuary 2026March 2026
JEE Main January 2026 admit card release dateJanuary 2026March 2026
JEE Main 2026 exam dates session 1January 21 to 30, 2026April 2 to 9, 2026
Answer key release dateFebruary 2026April 2026
Last date to challenge the provisional answer keyFebruary 2026April 2026
Release date of JEE Main answer keyFebruary 2026April 2026
JEE Main 2026 session 1 result dateFebruary 2026
JEE Main 2026 session 2 result dateApril 2026
JEE Main 2026: Preparation Tips & Study Plan
Download the JEE Main 2026 Preparation Tips PDF to boost your exam strategy. Get expert insights on managing study material, focusing on key topics and high-weightage chapters.
Download EBook

Related links:

VIT - VITEEE 2026

National level exam conducted by VIT University, Vellore | Ranked #16 by NIRF for Engg. | NAAC A++ Accredited

Jain University B.Tech Admissions 2026

100% Placement Record | Highest CTC 54 LPA | NAAC A++ Accredited | Ranked #62 in India by NIRF Ranking 2025 | JEE & JET Scores Accepted

Advantages of 2 attempts for JEE Main 2026

Candidates have the following benefits under two sessions for JEE Main:

  • Candidates will be able to improve their scores in the second attempt if they are not satisfied with their IIT JEE Main 2026 first session result.
  • The second attempt will help the candidates to overcome the mistakes from session one if any.
  • This will reduce the probability of dropping a year. Thus, candidates do not have to waste an entire year.
  • In case any candidate misses the first session, they will not have to wait for one more year to appear for the JEE Main exam.

How Many Attempts For JEE Mains For the General Category

For the JEE Main exam, candidates from the general category are allowed a maximum of 6 attempts. This ensures fairness and opportunities for aspiring engineers to showcase their aptitude and secure admissions to esteemed institutions across the country.

How Many Attempts For JEE Mains For OBC

Candidates belonging to the OBC (Other Backward Classes) category are granted a maximum of six attempts for the JEE Main exam in three consecutive years. This provision ensures that OBC candidates have equitable opportunities to showcase their potential and secure admissions to top-notch engineering institutions in the country.

Validity of JEE Main Score 2026

The score of JEE Main is valid for the current year only. This means if a candidate appears for JEE Main 2026 he/she can apply for admission to the institute only for the academic year 2026-27. Candidates will be able to check the qualifying marks for JEE Main 2025 online. Candidates have to use the JEE Main login 2025 to check their scores.

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2026

The authority released the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria online. Candidates need to check the information bulletin for eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2026 consist of educational qualifications, number of attempts, nationality, and more. According to the criteria, the eligibility conditions of JEE Main 2026 are as follows-

JEE Main 2026 Eligibility Criteria

CriteriaDetails

JEE Main 2026 Number of Attempts

NTA will conduct the JEE Mains 2026 in two sessions - January and April. Students will be able to appear in the exam two times a year. Also, students can appear in JEE Main for three consecutive years from the year of passing their class 12 exam.

Age Criteria for JEE Main 2026

NTA has not mandated any criteria for the age of candidates appearing for the JEE Main. Students of any age can appear in the exam, but only for three consecutive years after passing their class 12.

Criteria for Subjects in Class 12

Students who are aiming for B.Tech admission must have studied Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects along with any one subject among Chemistry/Biotechnology/Biology/Technical Vocational subjects in class 12 and must have passed in each subject.

B.Arch aspirants must have passed class 12 or its equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. For B.Plan, candidates must have Mathematics in class 12.
No Diploma holder is eligible for the entrance exam. Rest the eligibility criteria remain the same as B.Tech aspirants.

Criteria of Percentage of Marks in Class 12

Candidates must have secured at least 75% marks in the Class 12 examination conducted by the respective Boards. For SC/ST candidates the qualifying marks would be 65% in Class 12/qualifying examination. The candidate is also required to pass each of the subjects of the Class 12 / qualifying examination.

Criteria of Year of Appearance in JEE Main 2026

Students appearing in JEE Main 2026 must have passed class 12 not earlier than 2023.

JEE Main Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
Select your preferred subject to view the chapters

JEE Main Application Form 2026

NTA has conducted the JEE Main 2026 registration for session 1 from October 31 to November 27, 2025. The application process involves registration, form filling, uploading photographs & signatures, and payment of registration fees. Candidates could fill and submit the JEE Main application form on the website, jeemain.nta.nic.in.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How many times can we give JEE Mains?
A:

A candidate can appear in the JEE Main exam six times in three consecutive years after 12th class.

Q: How many attempts are there in the JEE Main 2026?
A:

There are two attempts in the year 2026. Candidates can attempt both the sessions of the JEE Main exam. The session is being conducted in January, and session 2 will be held in April. 

Q: What is the benefit of extra attempts in JEE Main exam?
A:

Extra attempts will help the candidates to overcome the mistakes from session one if any, improve their scores, reduce the probability of dropping a year, and more.

Q: What is the age criteria for JEE Main 2026?
A:

There is no age limit to appear for JEE Main 2026

Q: What is the criteria of percentage of marks in class 12th?
A:

Candidates must have secured at least 75% marks in the Class 12 examination. SC/ST candidates must have 65% in the Class 12/qualifying exam. The candidate is also required to pass in each of the subjects of Class 12 / qualifying exam.

Q: How many times JEE Mains conducted in a year?
A:

The JEE Main exam is conducted twice a year, with attempt 1 taking place in January and attempt 2 in April.

Q: What is the JEE Mains attempt limit?
A:

JEE Main aspirants are allowed to attempt entrance exams for three consecutive years. JEE Main 2025 will be conducted twice this year, and the candidates can appear in both sessions.

Articles
|
Upcoming Engineering Exams
Ongoing Dates
HITSEEE Application Date

5 Nov'25 - 22 Apr'26 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
SMIT Online Test Application Date

15 Nov'25 - 12 Apr'26 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
SNUSAT Application Date

19 Nov'25 - 31 Mar'26 (Online)

Certifications By Top Providers
Basic Programming using Python
Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Introduction to Biostatistics
Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Programming Basics
Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
C-Based VLSI Design
Via Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
MERN Stack Developer
Via Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Udemy
 1525 courses
Swayam
 817 courses
NPTEL
 773 courses
Coursera
 697 courses
Edx
 608 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe

Questions related to JEE Main

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to JEE Main ?

The most effective way to prepare for JEE Main 2026 is by focusing on the most important Previous Year Question Papers (PYQs), which highlight high-weightage and frequently repeated questions across Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Since the exam strongly tests NCERT concepts, mastering these PYQs is essential for predicting the question pattern and improving your time management. https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/jee-mains-chapterwise-pyq-previous-year-questions-solutions-pdf

Hello

If you need a single book or previous year question, so that you can practice from them and revise the most important concepts well, you can download the book in the pdf form by clicking on the link I am attaching below, you just need to click on the link and after that by log in or sign in you can download the pdf and practice from there.

PYQ's BOOK

Hello,

With a 99.5 percentile in JEE Mains, you generally come in the range of All India Rank of 4500 and 7500. The exact rank can vary based on the total number of candidates, the difficulty of the exam, and the normalization process for that session. Here in this article you will find all about the JEE Main cutoff.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello,

Don't worry even if you give the wrong birthplace address in the JEE Main application, because the NTA provides the correction window. Still, it can affect the domicile/state quota. So, you must correct these mistakes in the correction window.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello,
Here is a list of the toughest JEE Main question papers from the past years based on student reviews and expert analysis. These shifts are widely considered the hardest because maths was very lengthy, physics was tricky, and chemistry had unpredictable questions.

For 2024, the toughest papers were 4 April Shift 1, 8 April Shift 2, 9 April Shift 1 and 6 April Shift 2.
For 2023, the toughest papers were 29 January Shift 2, 30 January Shift 1 and 1 February Shift 2.
For 2022, the toughest papers were 27 June Shift 2, 28 June Shift 1 and 29 June Shift 2.
For 2021, the toughest papers were 27 July Shift 2, 25 February Shift 2 and 16 March Shift 2.
For 2020, the toughest papers were 7 January Shift 2, 9 January Shift 1 and 6 September Shift 2.
For 2019, the toughest papers were 10 April Shift 2, 9 January Shift 1 and 12 April Shift 1.
To get the question papers for JEE main check the below link for (2016 - 2025):
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/jee-main-question-papers