Key Points
- NTA released JEE Main 2026 answer key; objections can be raised until today.
- 120 marks are considered a good score in JEE Mains
- 120 marks can potentially secure an AIR between 30,000-40,000.
The JEE Main 2026 answer key and response sheet have already been released by NTA, and today is the last date to raise objections. After this, the final answer key will be published, followed by the JEE Main 2026 scorecard revealing candidates’ marks, percentile, and All India Rank (AIR).
At this stage, students are eagerly searching for JEE Main 2026 marks vs percentile, expected rank for 120 marks in JEE Main 2026, and 120 marks percentile in JEE Mains 2026 to estimate their results before the official declaration. One of the most searched queries is: “What percentile will I get for 120 marks in JEE Main 2026?”
In this article, we explain the expected percentile, rank, admission chances, and how normalisation works in JEE Main 2026 to help candidates get a rough idea of where they stand before the official result.
120 Marks in JEE Main 2026: Expected Percentile and Rank
Based on previous years’ trends and expert analysis of shift-wise difficulty for JEE Main 2026, 120 marks in JEE Main 2026 are expected to fetch a percentile between 96.5-97.5. The exact percentile will depend on how tough or easy your shift was.
In terms of rank, 120 marks may correspond to an All India Rank (AIR) ranging from around 30,000-40,000. Students who appeared in tougher shifts may get a higher percentile and better rank for the same marks scored y candidates in easier shifts.
Overall, 120 marks in JEE Main 2026 is considered a good and competitive score. With this performance, candidates can expect chances of admission in mid-tier NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, especially through home state quota and in branches with comparatively lower closing ranks.
Why Percentile Changes Even at the Same Marks: Normalisation in JEE Main
JEE Main is conducted in multiple shifts to accommodate lakhs of candidates. Since the difficulty level of each shift is not exactly the same, NTA uses a normalisation process to ensure fairness in results for candidates accross all shifts.
Normalisation works by adjusting raw marks according to the relative difficulty of each shift. The final result is given in the form of percentile, not raw marks.
Because of normalisation, the same marks can produce different percentiles in different shifts. A student scoring slightly lower marks in a tougher shift may get a higher percentile than someone who scored more marks in an easier shift. This is why students often notice variations in marks vs percentile in various JEE Main shifts.
Check JEE Main 2026 Shift-Wise Marks vs Percentile
What Is JEE Main Percentile? Understanding the Basics
Many students confuse percentile with percentage, but both are completely different.
JEE Main percentile indicates how many candidates you have performed better than. It shows your relative position among all candidates who appeared in your session.
NTA uses the following formula to calculate percentile:
JEE Main Percentile = (Number of candidates with raw score ≤ your score / Total number of candidates in that session) × 100
For example,
- If 10 lakh students appeared in JEE Main and you scored 150.
- Let candidates scoring ≤ 150 marks: 9,50,000
- Then, your percentile = (9,50,000 / 10,00,000) × 100 = 95 percentile.
This means you performed better than 95 percent of the candidates. Percentile does not represent your score out of 100; it represents your position in the competition.
Check JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Result Date, Process and Official Website Links
JEE Main Marks Explained
JEE Main is conducted for a total of 300 marks, with equal weightage to Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Each subject carries 100 marks.
For every correct answer, you get four marks, and for every wrong answer, one mark is deducted. Unattempted questions carry zero marks. Your final raw score is calculated based on this marking scheme before being converted into percentile through normalisation.
Can I Get NIT with 120 Marks in JEE Main 2026?
Yes, getting an NIT with 120 marks in JEE Main 2026 is possible, though it depends on several factors such as your category, home state quota, and the difficulty level of your shift.
With an expected percentile ranging between 93.2 and 97.5, students may secure admissions in:
- Lower or mid-tier NITs through home state quota,
- Some branches in IIITs and GFTIs,
- Good government engineering colleges at the state level,
- Strong private engineering colleges with merit-based admissions.
For top NITs and high-demand branches like CSE, the cutoff is usually much higher, but 120 marks still keep many good options open for candidates.
Expected JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Percentile vs Rank
Based on previous year trends and the difficulty level of the January Session of JEE Main 2026, here is the expected marks vs percentile vs rank range to help students estimate their performance.
| Marks (Out of 300) | Percentile Range | Expected Rank Range |
|---|---|---|
| 290 – 280 | 99.9989 – 99.9974 | 1 – 36 |
| 280 – 260 | 99.9947 – 99.9758 | 36 – 428 |
| 260 – 240 | 99.9657 – 99.8450 | 428 – 755 |
| 240 – 220 | 99.8450 – 99.6510 | 755 – 1189 |
| 220 – 210 | 99.6510 – 99.4566 | 1189 – 1893 |
| 210 – 200 | 99.4566 – 99.0777 | 1893 – 2720 |
| 200 – 190 | 99.0777 – 98.9036 | 2720 – 3803 |
| 190 – 180 | 98.9036 – 98.5640 | 3803 – 5320 |
| 180 – 170 | 98.5640 – 98.4036 | 5320 – 7564 |
| 170 – 160 | 98.4036 – 98.2064 | 7564 – 9564 |
| 160 – 150 | 98.2064 – 98.0785 | 9564 – 13163 |
| 150 – 140 | 98.0785 – 97.8778 | 13163 – 17223 |
| 140 – 130 | 97.8778 – 97.4488 | 17223 – 23133 |
| 130 – 120 | 97.4488 – 97.3542 | 23133 – 29340 |
| 120 – 110 | 97.3542 – 96.0649 | 29340 – 37440 |
| 110 – 100 | 96.0649 – 95.6348 | 37440 – 47979 |
| 100 – 90 | 95.6348 – 94.9645 | 47979 – 61621 |
| 90 – 80 | 94.9645 – 92.7234 | 61621 – 76271 |
| 80 – 70 | 92.7234 – 90.4108 | 76271 – 102421 |
| 70 – 60 | 90.4108 – 87.0670 | 102421 – 136085 |
This table gives a realistic estimate of where 120 marks in JEE Main 2026 may place you among all candidates.
Is 120 Marks in JEE Main 2026 a Good Score?
Scoring 120 marks in JEE Main 2026 reflects a solid level of preparation and competitive performance. While it may not guarantee top NITs or premium branches, it opens doors to several good engineering colleges across India.
Your final percentile and rank will be confirmed once NTA releases the final answer key and JEE Main 2026 result. Until then, this estimate can help you plan your counselling strategy and shortlist colleges.
Check jee.main.nta.nic Answer Key 2026 OUT: Direct Link to Download JEE Main Response Sheet
Enter your Blink text here...
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation