The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the final answer key for JEE Main 2026 Session 1 on the official website jeemain.nta.nic.in, finalizing responses based on challenges submitted by candidates during the objection window. Nine questions have been dropped from the final key, and candidates will receive full marks for these questions when calculating their raw scores.
Earlier, the NTA had informed candidates via its official X (Twitter) handle (@NTA_Exams) that the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 results and scorecards would be declared by February 16, 2026. This follows earlier communications that had indicated a February 12 release.
This update affects millions of aspirants who appeared in Session 1 from January 21 to January 30, 2026.
Official Result Release: Dates and Details
Key Dates of JEE Main 2026: Session 1 & Session 2
Session 1: Scorecard & Final Result
| Event | Date |
| JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam | Jan 21–30, 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key & Response Sheet | Feb 4, 2026 |
| Final Answer Key | Feb 16, 2026 (released) Click here to Download |
| Result & Scorecard (Session 1) | By February 16, 2026 |
| Result Time | Typically evening (Exact time on NTA portal) |
The scorecard release for Session 1 is confirmed to be available by February 16, 2026 on the official NTA portal jeemain.nta.nic.in. Candidates must log in using their application number and password/date of birth to view and download their scorecards.
Session 2 (Looking Ahead)
| Event | Tentative Date |
| JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam | April 2–9, 2026 |
| Session 2 Result | Around April 20, 2026 |
| Final Combined Rank List / AIR | Late April – Early May 2026 (tentative) |
Results for the second session will follow a similar timeline, and after both sessions are complete, NTA will issue a combined All India Rank (AIR) for counselling and admissions.
Understanding the JEE Main Scorecard
The JEE Main scorecard is a critical document containing the following information:
- Candidate’s Name and Roll Number
- Application Number
- Subject-wise Scores (Math, Physics, Chemistry)
- Total NTA Score (Percentile)
- Percentile Score
- All India Rank (if applicable)
- Qualifying Status for JEE Advanced
Scorecards reflect percentile scores, not raw marks. The percentile indicates the percentage of candidates who scored the same or lower than the candidate. NTA uses a normalisation process to adjust scores across different sessions and shifts for fairness.
How to Check & Download the Scorecard
To access the result and scorecard on Release Day:
- Visit jeemain.nta.nic.in.
- Click the ‘JEE Main 2026 Result / Scorecard’ link.
- Enter Application Number + Password/Date of Birth.
- Submit details to display the scorecard.
- Download and save a PDF copy for future reference.
No offline or physical scorecards will be sent by NTA; all access is online only.
What Is the Cutoff? Definitions and Distinctions
In the JEE Main context, "cutoff" is used in two key ways:
- Qualifying Cutoff for JEE Advanced: Minimum percentile required to be eligible for the JEE Advanced exam.
- Admissions Cutoff: Closing percentiles or ranks for admission into institutes such as NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs through the JoSAA counselling process.
The official cutoffs are announced by NTA only after final results for both sessions, but expected ranges can be estimated based on past trends, difficulty patterns, and performance data from coaching platforms.
Expected Qualifying Cutoffs for JEE Advanced Eligibility
Based on trend analysis and expert estimates for JEE Main 2026, the expected qualifying cutoffs by category are:
| Category | Expected Cutoff (Percentile) |
| Unreserved (General) | 93–95 |
| Gen-EWS | 80–82 |
| OBC-NCL | 79–81 |
| SC | 60–63 |
| ST | 47–50 |
| UR-PwD | ~0–1 |
These percentiles approximate the minimum performance required to appear for the JEE Advanced 2026 exam, which will be held later in May after Session 2. Final cutoffs may vary slightly based on exam difficulty and overall performance distribution.
Connecting Marks to Percentile and Rank Trends
To better understand performance thresholds, recent analytics provide approximate correspondences between raw marks and percentiles:
| Marks Range (Out of 300) | Approx. Percentile | Estimated Rank Range |
| 240–280+ | 99.9+ | 1–1,200 |
| 210–239 | 99.5–99.9 | 1,200–6,000 |
| 180–209 | 99.0–99.5 | 6,000–12,000 |
| 160–179 | 98.0–99.0 | 12,000–25,000 |
| 140–159 | 97.0–98.0 | 25,000–35,000 |
| 120–139 | 95.0–97.0 | 35,000–60,000 |
| 100–119 | 90.0–95.0 | 60,000–1.1 Lakh |
| 70–99 | 80.0–90.0 | 1.1–2.5 Lakh |
Note: These figures are estimates based on January shift trend data and expert predictions. Individual session difficulty and normalisation can affect final outcomes.
Expected Admissions Cutoff Trends
While qualifying percentiles determine JEE Advanced eligibility, the admission cutoffs for institutions like NITs and IIITs are driven by the counselling process and are tied to All India Ranks (AIR). Generally:
- CSE programs in top NITs often close within top 25,000–35,000 AIR.
- ECE branches may close around 30,000–45,000 AIR.
- Mechanical, Civil, and other branches extend wider based on seat availability and category.
These figures depend on annual seat matrices, candidate preferences, and year-to-year performance fluctuations.
Also See:
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Admit Card Live Updates
- Examination Schedule for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 (Released) by NTA
- What to Do After JEE Main 2026 City Intimation Is Released
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 City Intimation Expected in March – Check Date
- JEE Main 2026 Final Answer Key OUT! Check Now
Conclusion: What This Means for the 2026 Cycle
The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 results and scorecards are scheduled to be released by February 16, 2026, on the official NTA portal, which is a crucial checkpoint for engineering aspirants. The result will include percentile scores that determine eligibility for JEE Advanced and form the basis of the combined rank list after Session 2. Cutoff estimates suggest General category qualifiers may need close to 93–95 percentile, with adjustments for other categories.
Final admission cutoffs will be available after both sessions are complete and JoSAA counselling begins. Staying informed about official NTA notifications ensures clarity on timelines and next steps.
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