How many attempts for JEE Mains 2026? - Candidates are allowed a maximum of 6 attempts for the JEE Main 2026 exam. However, in a single year, candidates can appear for the exam only twice. 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. The National Testing Agency conducts the JEE Main exam twice a year, once in January and the other in April. The JEE Mains 2026 session 1 exam will most probably be scheduled in January 2026, while the second session will take place from April 2026.
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Students aspiring for admission in NITs, IIITs or IITs often talk about the number of attempts of JEE Main 2026. Candidates must note that there is no upper age limit for appearing in the JEE Main 2026. Read the complete article for more details on the number of attempts in JEE Main 2026.
As per the JEE Main eligibility criteria, candidates can appear for JEE Mains 6 times in 3 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.
| Events | JEE January Dates (Session 1) | JEE April Dates (Session 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Start date for JEE Main registration | November 2025 | February 2026 |
| Last date for JEE Main registration | November 2025 | February 2026 |
| JEE Main 2026 exam correction date | December 2025 | February 2026 |
| Release of Advanced city intimation slip | January 2026 | March 2026 |
| JEE Main January 2026 admit card release date | January 2026 | March 2026 |
| JEE Main 2026 exam dates session 1 | January 2026 | — |
| JEE Main 2026 exam dates, session 2 | — | April 2026 |
| Answer key release date | February 2026 | April 2026 |
| Last date to challenge the provisional answer key | February 2026 | April 2026 |
| Release date of JEE Main answer key | February 2026 | April 2026 |
| JEE Main 2026 session 1 result date | February 2026 | — |
| JEE Main 2026 session 2 result date | — | April 2026 |
Candidates have the following benefits under two sessions for JEE Main:
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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.
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.
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.
The authority will release 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-
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
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 from 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. |
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. |
NTA will conduct the JEE Main 2026 registration for session 1 on November 2025. The JEE Main registration for session 2 will commence in January 2026. The application process involves registration, form filling, uploading photographs & signatures and payment of registration fees. Candidates can fill and submit the JEE Main application form on the website, jeemain.nta.nic.in.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
NTA has not mandated any criteria for the age of candidates appearing for the JEE Main.
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.
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.
The JEE Main exam is conducted twice a year, with attempt 1 taking place in January and attempt 2 in April.
JEE Main aspirants are allowed to attempt entrance exams for 3 consecutive years. JEE Main 2025 will be conducted twice this year, and the candidates can appear in both sessions.
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.
The JEE Main scorecard is valid for the current year only. It means if a candidate appears for JEE Main 2025, then he/she can apply for admission in the institutes for the academic year 2025-26.
A candidate can appear in the JEE Main exam 6 times in 3 three consecutive years after 12th class.
On Question asked by student community
The approximate annual cost for 11th/12th PCM and JEE coaching is around 1.5 to 3.5 lakhs for institutes, excluding hostel and mess fees. The total fees including hostel as well as mess fees can rise upto 4.5 to 6.5 lakhs and above, depending on location and institute quality.
Hi dear candidate,
You can anytime visit our official website to find the previous 10 years JEE Mains question papers with solutions. Kindly refer to the link attached below to download them in PDF format:
JEE Main Last 10 Years Question Papers with Solutions (2025 to 2015)
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Hello,
For JEE Main and JEE Advanced , the cut-offs are lower for ST category students. Here is a simple idea based on recent trends:
JEE Main qualification for ST : Around 50–60 marks is usually enough to qualify for JEE Advanced.
JEE Advanced qualification for ST : You just need to clear the JEE Main cut-off, then appear for Advanced.
To get good NITs or IITs , you will need higher marks.
For NITs (Hyderabad or good branches), try for 120+ marks in JEE Main .
For IITs , even with ST quota, you should aim for at least 80–100+ marks in JEE Advanced for decent branches.
Since you are from ST category and Hyderabad , you don’t need 300 marks in JEE Main. Try to score as high as possible to get better branches, but even moderate marks can qualify you.
Hope it helps !
Yes, you can. If you do 11th from CBSE in 2025 and 12th from NIOS in 2026, then you are allowed to attempt JEE. NIOS is a valid board, so you can give JEE in 2026 and again in 2027. Just take admission on time and pass your 12th exams.
For the JEE 2026, priority-wise, high weightage chapters include Integral
1. Calculus, Coordinate Geometry, Vectors, 3D Geometry, Complex Numbers, and Quadratic Equations in Maths
2. Semiconductors, Current Electricity, Work, Power and Energy, and Gravitation in Physics
3. Organic Chemistry Containing Oxygen, Hydrocarbons, and P-Block Elements in Chemistry.
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