Amity University-Noida B.Tech Admissions 2026
Among top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026
Should I drop 1 Year for JEE Main 2026? Check Study Plan for Repeaters
Should I drop 1 Year for JEE Main - Many engineering aspirants often wonder if they should drop one year to attempt JEE Main exam can refer to this article to gain an understanding. It is understood that JEE Main is one of the most sought-after entrance examinations in India. So, candidates often feel the need to take as much time as possible preparing for the JEE Main exam. However, aspirants are advised to weigh their options regarding the JEE Main before reaching any conclusion. NTA will conduct JEE Main 2026 in two sessions, one in January and the second in April 2026. The JEE Main 2026 exam dates are January 21 to 31, while the session 2 will be from April 2 to 9, 2026. 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 2026?”. Students can find the answers to all their queries here.
.jpg)
Is the drop year worthwhile for JEE Main 2026?
While taking a drop for JEE Main can provide an opportunity to improve your score and get admission to a better college, it also poses certain challenges, such as the pressure to perform better in the next attempt and the gap year, which may have an impact on the candidate's career path. Recruiters might find this gap year to be a disadvantage. 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.
Also Check:
Appeared in JEE Main all sessions and haven't scored that well?
Most students choose to drop one year because they do not have a good rank to get into the 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 undergraduate as JEE Main marks or rank won't matter after admission.
There is also the option of applying for the JEE Main exam alongside the B.Tech first year and join a top college. Candidates should try for a good performance in their 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.
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.
Know more about:
Should I drop 1 year for JEE Main as I have not appeared for JEE Main at all?
Candidates can opt for colleges that do not require a JEE Main score for admission. The admission can be conducted either using the candidate's 12th scores or the entrance exam of the university itself. Not all colleges and universities require JEE Main scores. Candidates can always opt for these institutes instead. 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.
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 EBookStatistics 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.
Should I drop 1 year for JEE Main after 12th because of Board Exams?
Actually, studying for both class 12 boards and JEE Main is possible, leading to good results. Most students who write JEE Main are in this category and therefore, candidates can easily crack the exam if the planning is preparation is perfect. Many students do prepare for class 12 and JEE Main together as the topics and syllabus are pretty much the same.
Preparation Related:
Tips to crack JEE Main
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.
Amrita University B.Tech 2026
Recognized as Institute of Eminence by Govt. of India | NAAC ‘A++’ Grade | Upto 75% Scholarships | Application Deadline: 15th Jan
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
JEE Main Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
Select your preferred subject to view the chapters
Articles
Related Stories
|
Upcoming Engineering Exams
Certifications By Top Providers
Explore Top Universities Across Globe
Popular Courses and Specializations
List of colleges accepting JEE Main
Browse Engineering Colleges by State
Questions related to JEE Main
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to JEE Main ?
Hello there,
Understanding and solving different question papers is one of the best practices for preparation ,especially when it comes to JEE. It gives you a proper understanding of the exam pattern, important topics to cover, and the marking scheme.
Here is the link attached from the official website of Careers360 which will provide you with the question papers of JEE exam. Hope it helps!
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/jee-main-question-papers
thank you!
Hello aspirant,
In order to prepare for the JEE Main 2026 exam, it is strongly advised that students complete the JEE Main 2025 Question Paper. This will help them comprehend the exam's difficulty level and question kinds. The JEE Main 2026 session 1 test will be administered by NTA from January 21 to 30, while the session 2 exam will take place from April 2 to 9.
To get the previous year question papers, you can visit our site through following link:
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/jee-main-question-papers
Thank you
With a BC-E category certificate, EWS certificate, and Telangana home-state quota, your chances of getting admission to AIML or related CSE branches in CBIT, VNR VJIET, or similar top private colleges in Telangana depend mainly on your JEE Main percentile and the TS EAMCET counselling process, because these colleges fill seats through both TS EAMCET ranks and JEE Main scores (Category-B seats).
For Category-A seats (through TS EAMCET), JEE Main percentile is not considered. Admission is purely based on your TS EAMCET rank, reservation category, gender, and home-state status. CBIT and VNR are highly competitive, especially for AIML, CSE, and IT branches, so you generally need a very strong TS EAMCET rank (usually within a few thousand for BC-E candidates, sometimes slightly relaxed for girls).
For Category-B seats (JEE Main quota), JEE Main percentile matters. Based on recent trends, to have a realistic chance:
-
For CBIT (AIML / CSE / IT), a JEE Main percentile of around 95+ is usually expected, even for reserved categories, because Category-B seats are limited and competition is high.
-
For VNR VJIET (AIML / CSE / IT), candidates with 92–95 percentile sometimes have chances, depending on availability and the specific branch.
-
If your percentile is below 90, getting AIML or core CSE in CBIT or VNR becomes difficult, but you may still have chances in slightly lower-demand branches (like ECE, EEE, or emerging specialisations) or in other good private colleges affiliated with JNTU or autonomous institutions.
Your BC-E and EWS certificates do help mainly in TS EAMCET counselling (Category-A seats), not significantly in Category-B (JEE Main) admissions, where merit largely dominates. Home-state status is already assumed for these colleges, so there is no extra advantage beyond eligibility.
In summary, if your JEE Main percentile is 95 or above, you can reasonably target AIML/CSE in VNR and possibly CBIT through Category-B. If it is 90–94, VNR or related branches are more realistic than CBIT. Below that, it is better to focus on TS EAMCET performance or consider other reputed Telangana colleges offering AIML. If you want, you can share your exact JEE Main percentile and TS EAMCET rank, and I can give you a more precise college- and branch-wise estimate.
Hello,
JEE Mains is a national level entrance examination conducted for admission to UG engineering course in IITs, NITs, etc. This also is a qualifying test for JEE Advanced.
Practicing with previous year question paper will give you on overview of the entire exam pattern, marking scheme, types of questions asked, etc.
Check out the official website of Careers360 for the question papers, preparation tips, etc.
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/jee-main-question-papers
Careers360 is also conducting a free JEE Mains mock test which you can attempt. The last date for registration is 8th January, 2026.
https://learn.careers360.com/test-series-jee-main-2026-free-mock-test/
Thank you.
Hello,
The link to the mock test series is attached here. The mock test of Careers360 is completely free, and the structure and questions were prepared keeping in mind the exam of JEE Mains. The registration is ongoing. the last date of registration on 8th January.
https://learn.careers360.com/test-series-jee-main-free-mock-test/
Thank you.
B.Tech/B.Arch Admissions OPEN
Amity University-Noida B.Tech Admissions 2026
ApplyAmong top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026
VIT - VITEEE 2026
ApplyNational level exam conducted by VIT University, Vellore | Ranked #16 by NIRF for Engg. | NAAC A++ Accredited
Amrita University B.Tech 2026
ApplyRecognized as Institute of Eminence by Govt. of India | NAAC ‘A++’ Grade | Upto 75% Scholarships | Application Deadline: 15th Jan
UPES B.Tech Admissions 2026
ApplyRanked #43 among Engineering colleges in India by NIRF | Highest Package 1.3 CR , 100% Placements
Jain University B.Tech Admissions 2026
Apply100% Placement Record | Highest CTC 54 LPA | NAAC A++ Accredited | Ranked #62 in India by NIRF Ranking 2025 | JEE & JET Scores Accepted
M. S. Ramaiah University B.Tech Admissions 2026
ApplyNAAC A+ & NBA Accredited | QS I-Gauge Gold rated University | Highest CTC 52 LPA | 300+ Companies | Avail Scholarships Application Deadline: 28th Feb’26
JEE Main Notifications
Explore Career Options
By IndustryNever miss JEE Main update
Get timely JEE Main updates directly to your inbox. Stay informed!