Should I drop 1 Year for JEE Main - Aspirants wondering if should they drop one year to attempt JEE Main will find crucial information in this article. It is understood that JEE Main is one of the most sought-after entrance examinations in India. So, it is natural for candidates to feel the need to take as much time as necessary to crack the test with the desired score. However, aspirants are advised to weigh their options regarding the JEE Main before reaching any conclusion. NTA will conduct JEE Main 2025 in two sessions. With careful planning, candidates will have enough time to prepare for JEE Main as well as class 12th board exams. This page deals with the burning question “Should I drop 1 year for JEE 2025?”. Students can find the answers to all their queries here.
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While taking a drop for JEE Main can provide an opportunity to improve your score and get admission to a better college, it also comes with its own set of challenges, such as the pressure to perform better in the next attempt and the gap year which may have an impact on your career path. In this article, we will take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of taking a drop for JEE Main to help you make a well-informed decision.
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Most students choose to drop one year because they do not have a good rank to get into top IITs, NITs or IITS. However, it may not be the ideal solution. Well, dropping one year is a waste of 12 months that could be used to pursue B.Tech in colleges other than NITs and IIITs or the IITs. There are plenty of good institutes and universities that take students through JEE Main and have a good ranking. It's better to apply for admission to these and complete your under graduation as JEE Main marks or rank won't matter after the admission.
Candidates should try for a good performance in thier under graduation such that they stand a better chance of placements and higher education. Here are some colleges and universities that consider JEE Main scores.
SRM University - it considers JEE main scores apart from its entrance exam
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham - The university also considers JEE main scores apart from AEEE scores
Other universities that take JEE Main scores are IIIT Hyderabad, IIIT Delhi, IIIT Bangalore, JMI, Sastra University, Amity University, DTU, NSIT, and more.
States like Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Nagaland, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan etc. also take through JEE Main.
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With so many options, it's best not to take a drop. Instead, it's wise to complete B.Tech and try for an M.Tech or an MBA seat in one of the IITs or NITs.
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Try for colleges and universities that take through class 12. Not all colleges and universities ask for JEE Main scores. Many have their own entrance tests which are conducted after JEE Main. You could apply for these. Some examples of this would be
Sastra University also takes class 12 marks.
Tamilnadu offers a few seats to other state students on the basis of class 12 marks
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab state take through class 12 marks and 15% of the seats are for outside-state students.
Statistics from previous years have shown that taking a drop is not an advisable idea as the number of students who have successfully cracked JEE Main after taking a drop of 1 year is less than 5%. The reason is fatigue on account of studying the same thing all over again and carrying the additional stress of having to do or die. So it's advisable to look for good options and build a good career rather than wasting one year.
In spite of all this, if candidates still wish to take a drop of one year for JEE Main, then the decision should be taken after careful consideration and consultation with parents and teachers.
Actually studying for both class 12 boards and JEE Main is pretty much possible with good results. Most students who write JEE Main are in this category and therefore, you can easily crack the exam if you plan and prepare well. Many students do prepare for class 12 and JEE Main together as the topics and syllabus are pretty much the same. So gear up and strategize well to prepare for JEE Main and your board exams.
Preparation Related:
Here are a few tips to crack the JEE Main in the first attempt while preparing for the board exam.
Segregate the JEE Main syllabus into common for class 12 and JEE Main.
Study for both, practice the exercises after the chapter is done.
Solve previous years question papers and use NCERT books to cement your concepts and fundamentals.
Revision is crucial. While practising with the JEE Main mock tests, study and brush up the subjects simultaneously.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
JEE has two exams:
The percentage or marks needed to get seat in NITs and IITs are:
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
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