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What After JEE Main?- The National Testing Agency will conduct the JEE Main 2026 exam for sessions 1 & 2 in online mode. After the exam, many aspirants naturally wonder, "What after JEE Mains?"—especially those concerned about low marks or curious about college and course options. Whether you’ve scored well or need alternatives, there are plenty of career paths and admission possibilities. From top engineering colleges to backup plans, Careers360 has compiled a detailed guide to help answer questions like “What to do after JEE Main 2026 exam?” and explore the best options ahead. The JEE Main 2026 session 1 will be held from January 21 to 30, 2026, and the session 2 exam will be conducted from April 1 to 10, 2026. The JEE Main 2026 registration is scheduled to start in October 2025. Check out the article to get an idea about "What after JEE Main 2026?
Also check- JEE Main rank predictor 2026 | JEE Main college predictor 2026
The marking scheme for JEE Mains 2026 paper 1 and paper 2 is similar. JEE Main total mark is 400 for Paper 2. The total marks in JEE Mains 2026 paper 1 is 300. Each incorrect answer will lead to a deduction of 1 mark, and for each correct response, candidates will get +4 marks.
The result of a year-long preparation, in some cases more than 2 years of preparation says whether admission to the NITs, IIITs and GFTIs is possible; whether qualifying for JEE Advanced is in luck or not. The options may vary for students who have done well and students who may not have done well but the fact remains that there are good options. Take a look at the different possibilities that come as an answer to the question of what to do after JEE Mains. Candidates can use the JEE Main Rank Predictor to know the probable rank based on the JEE score. By knowing about the ranks, you will be informed about whether you have qualified IIT JEE Main or not. This will also help you in making decisions regarding applications for admission into engineering institutes.
Candidates who qualify the JEE Main exam and are among the top 2,50,000 candidates can appear for the JEE Advanced. However, candidates need to fulfil the other eligibility criteria too. Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) conduct the JEE Advanced exam. Registration for JEE Advanced 2026 will commence online. The exam is conducted for two papers. JEE Advanced qualifying candidates will be offered admission to the IITs. The qualifying candidates need to participate in the JoSAA counselling. Other institutes which will consider JEE Advanced merit are the Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research (IISERs), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram. Around 10,988 seats are available for admission in the participating IITs.
If you missed the chance for JEE Advanced 2026, then do not despair. Based on your JEE Main 2026 performance, you will be eligible for admission into good engineering colleges. Through the JoSAA counselling, you will be allotted seats offered by NITs, IIITs and GFTIs. The counselling is conducted online. The allotment process will be conducted by Joint Seat Allocation Authority and admissions will be done based on JEE Main rank and choice of college or courses.
Other than NITs, IIITs, CFTIs and IITs, there are other top engineering entrance options present for you. Private and state-level engineering entrance exams will also be able to win you a seat in prestigious institutes. By attempting other top engineering entrance exams, you will be able to provide yourself with a wider range of options to select. These exams will also let you be closer to home and ensure a good all-round education.
If you wish to study near home, then you can always apply for the state engineering entrance exam as an option for "What after JEE Main 2026?". These exams provide admissions into the best government institutes and give preference to those students who meet the domicile requirements. Some states also provide admissions through the JEE Main rank. These states use the All India ranks to allot seats and simply conduct the counselling based on specified eligibility criteria as announced by the state authorities.
Maharashtra – Maharashtra state offers 15% of the total seats at private/self-financed engineering institutes through JEE Main 2026.
West Bengal – The state offers 10% of the total seats at private engineering institutes through JEE Main.
Himachal Pradesh – Himachal Pradesh offers the first 50% of the total seats across all institutes based on JEE Main merit/rank.
Rajasthan – The state offers 15% of the total seats at private-unaided engineering institutes and 15% of the total seats across self-financed courses offered by government-aided institutions to candidates from other states based on JEE Main score or class 12th marks.
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Engineering entrance exams in India are held at the national, state and college levels. State-level engineering exams are conducted by individual states for admission to engineering colleges within that state, providing an alternative route to engineering education. Candidates need to fulfil the eligibility conditions to appear for the entrance examinations conducted at the state level. The same is the case with the entrance test held at university level.
Engineering Entrance Exam | Conducting Body |
|---|---|
VIT University | |
SRM Institute of Science and Technology (Earlier known as SRM University) | |
BITS Pilani | |
Manipal Academy of Higher Education | |
Consortium of Medical Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK). | |
JNTU Anantapur | |
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology | |
State Common Entrance Test Cell, Mumbai | |
West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
If your JEE Main score is low, you can explore other engineering entrance exams, consider state-level colleges, retake JEE Main, or opt for courses aligned with your interests.
If your JEE Main result didn't meet the cut-off, you can consider other colleges that accept JEE Main scores, explore alternative courses, or prepare to improve your score for the next attempt.
If you've qualified for JEE Advanced, focus on rigorous preparation, take mock tests, seek guidance from mentors, and utilize study materials to increase your chances of securing a good rank for admission to top IITs.
To prepare for JEE Advanced, focus on advanced and deeper concepts, practice solving complex problems, and take mock tests. Follow the JEE Advanced syllabus for the preparation for the exam. Moreover, refer to advanced study materials and previous years' question papers.
To be eligible for JEE Advanced, you must be among the top 2,50,000 candidates in JEE Main. You should also fulfill other eligibility conditions, such as age limits and previous attempts.
No, admission to IITs is based on JEE Advanced rank. However, JEE Main scores can be used to get admission to other engineering colleges and NITs.
Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria for JEE Advanced, you can appear for both exams in the same year.
If you didn't clear JEE Main, you can consider other engineering entrance exams like state-level exams, BITSAT, VITEEE, or private university entrance exams. You can also explore diploma courses, and lateral entry options, or take a year gap to prepare again.
Yes, some colleges and universities offer courses like B.Sc., B.Arch., and other non-engineering programs based on JEE Main scores. Check the admission criteria of individual institutions.
Yes, some institutions may accept JEE Main scores for admission to courses like B.Sc. (Hons.), B. Planning, etc. However, the eligibility criteria and cutoffs can vary.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
It is possible to prepare for the JEE session in a short time, but you will need a focused and realistic approach. Instead of trying to cover everything, concentrate on the important chapters and strengthen the topics you already know. Solve previous questions and take practice tests to improve speed and accuracy. Manage your time well and revise regularly. With consistent effort and smart preparation, you can still aim for a good performance even with limited time.
Hope this helps you.
Hello there,
Studying important topics is very essential. It will give you an advantage in examination specially in exams like JEE mains.
Here is the link attached from the official website of Careers360 which will give you the list of all the important topics from all the subjects of JEE mains that is Physics, Chemistry and math. Hope it helps!
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/most-important-chapters-of-jee-main
thank you!
Yes, you can correct the annual income in the correction window. The correction window opens after the deadline of the application form, where you can correct your wrong details by logging into your account. If the application window is closed right now, and the correction window may be open now, please confirm the date and fill in the write information using the correction window. And if there is a situation where the correction window gets closed, then you need to submit your corrected income certificate at the time of admission. If you need more information related to the JEE Mains Form Correction 2026, then you can read the article JEE Mains Form Correction 2026 on our official website.
Thank you.
Hello,
If you scored one hundred and thirty in the exam, eligibility for IIT depends on the qualifying marks for that year. To get into an IIT, you must first qualify for the next level and then secure a high enough rank. Admission finally depends on the qualifying cutoff and your performance in the next step of the process.
Hope this helps you.
Hello,
If you are not able to open the links given in the lecture plan and you have not started preparing for JEE yet, begin with the basic textbooks you already have. Focus on understanding the main concepts in Physics, Chemistry, and Maths. Make a simple study plan and cover important chapters step by step. Use whatever study material is available to you without depending on the links. With regular practice and revision, you can start your preparation smoothly even without those resources.
Hope this helps you.
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Attempt JEE Main online mock test based on the updated syllabus. Check your preparation and identify your weak points.
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