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 Oct 2025, 11:40 AM 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 in January, and the second session is scheduled for April 2026. Candidates will be allowed six attempts for the JEE Mains 2026 exam. Candidates can check the details of how many attempts are allowed for JEE Mains 2026 on this page. 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. Candidates must note that there is no upper age limit for appearing in the JEE Main 2026 exam. The authority will begin the JEE Main 2026 registration in the third week of October 2025.

LiveJEE Main 2026 Registration LIVE: NTA session 1 application form soon; exam date, syllabus updatesOct 18, 2025 | 9:18 PM IST

Candidates can follow the steps below to apply online for the JEE Mains 2026 session 1.

  • Visit the JEE Main official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in
  • Click on the new application form tab.
  • Fill out the application form
  • Upload the required documents
  • Proceeds to fee payment
  • Before submitting, review the application form.
  • Submit and download the application form and save the reference number.
Read More

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

Students aspiring for admission in NITs, IIITs, or IITs often talk about the number of attempts of JEE Main 2026. 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 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.

JEE Main 2026 Schedule (Tentative)

EventsJEE January Dates (Session 1)JEE April Dates (Session 2)
Start date for JEE Main registrationOctober 2025February 2026
Last date for JEE Main registrationDecember 2025February 2026
JEE Main 2026 exam correction dateDecember 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 2026January 2026
JEE Main 2026 exam dates, session 2April 2026April 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
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Related links:

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.
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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.
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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 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-

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 will conduct the JEE Main 2026 registration for session 1 in third week of October 2025. 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)

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

NTA has not mandated any criteria for the age of candidates appearing for the JEE Main.

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 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 3 consecutive years. JEE Main 2025 will be conducted twice this year, and the candidates can appear in both sessions. 

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 validity of the JEE Main scorecard?
A:

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. 

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

A candidate can appear in the JEE Main exam 6 times in 3 three consecutive years after 12th class.

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Questions related to JEE Main

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to JEE Main ?

Hello,

JEE has two exams:

  1. JEE Main : for NITs and eligibility for JEE Advanced.
  2. JEE Advanced: For IITs

The percentage or marks needed to get seat in NITs and IITs are:

  • For NITs, aim for 150+ marks in JEE Main.
  • For IITs, aim for 50-60% marks in JEE Advanced.
  • Focus on concepts, practice, and take mock tests for best results.

Go through the link for more details:

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/jee-main-cutoff

I hope this answer helps you, All the best!



Heya,

Yes, you can refill your category again. In the case of the April session JEE Main registration, you have the option to change your category while registering your details only once. You can switch from General to EWS if you have a proper certificate. Just be certain that the EWS certificate is granted before the last date of the April session form and complies with the NTA's requirements of validity.

Hope it helps!!!

Hello,

Yes, you can get admission in DTU and IIIT Hyderabad with an outstanding JEE Main rank, as long as you pass Class 12 with at least 60% marks in PCM.


if we talk about DTU (Delhi Technological University) — you must have at least 60% in PCM and pass all subjects. The 75% rule is not strictly applicable here, so you can get admission based on your JEE Main rank and Delhi quota, if applicable.

For IIIT Hyderabad, admission is based on JEE Main percentile/rank, but the institute also requires a minimum of 60% in Class 12 (PCM). So, even with less than 75%, you are eligible if you meet this 60% requirement.

Hope you understand. ALL THE BEST.

Hello Tanishka,

Although i believe your attempting strategy and sequence depends entirely on your stage of preparation and your personal progress, i would suggest you sit for your January attempt even if you aim to seriously prepare for April.

Whatever stage of syllabus completion you are at, i suggest you give it a try to get an estimate of the exam difficulty and see roughly where you stand among the applicants that year. No matter how many mock tests you attempt, the actual examination environment happens to be very different from mock tests. The first attempt is going to give you an idea of the exam environment so you can prepare for your April attempt better.

All the best for your exams!

Hello Swati

Yes, your EWS certificate will be valid for JEE Main 2026 and counselling if it’s issued after April 1, 2025.
This is because EWS certificates are valid for one financial year from April to March.
So, a certificate made in October 2025 will be for FY 2025–26, which covers both JEE and counselling. You’ll need the certificate number during JEE registration in October 2025.
Even if you don’t have it yet, you can still register and upload it later during counselling. Just make sure the certificate clearly mentions the correct financial year.
Always keep a few extra copies and the original ready for verification.
You're good to go if it’s issued after April 1, 2025