JEE Advanced Cutoff Analysis for 2025

1. Understanding Cutoff Scores

A cutoff score in JEE Advanced is the minimum score a candidate must achieve to be considered eligible for the next stage of the admission process, primarily for securing a rank and participating in the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) counseling for admission into the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). It acts as a benchmark to filter candidates based on their performance. If a candidate scores at or above the cutoff, they qualify for ranking, which determines their eligibility for the JoSAA counseling process.

2. Types of Cutoffs

There are mainly two types of cutoffs in JEE Advanced:

• Qualifying Cutoff: This is the minimum score required to be included in the rank list. It determines eligibility for participating in JoSAA counseling. These cutoffs are usually lower compared to admission cutoffs. To qualify, candidates need to meet minimum marks in each subject (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) and achieve a minimum aggregate score. In 2025, the qualifying cutoff was 20.56% for the Common Rank List (CRL), 18.50% for GEN-EWS and OBC-NCL, and 10.28% for SC, ST, and PwD categories.
• Admission Cutoff: These cutoffs are the opening and closing ranks for specific IITs and programs. They are determined after each round of JoSAA counseling and are specific to each institute, program, and category. Admission cutoffs are presented as opening and closing ranks, reflecting the range within which admissions are offered. These vary significantly based on the popularity of the course and the IIT.
• College-Specific Cutoffs: Each IIT sets its own cutoff marks for different courses. These college-specific cutoffs are influenced by factors like the number of available seats, the popularity of the course, and the overall performance of candidates. For example, a higher rank (and thus a higher score) is generally needed for admission to Computer Science Engineering (CSE) at IIT Bombay compared to Civil Engineering at IIT Patna.

3. Factors Affecting Cutoff Variations

The JEE Advanced cutoff varies each year due to several factors:

• Difficulty Level of the Exam: If the exam is perceived as difficult, the cutoff tends to be lower, and vice versa. A tougher paper may lower the cutoff because fewer students are able to score high marks.
• Number of Candidates Appearing: A larger number of test-takers usually leads to higher cutoffs due to increased competition.
• Availability of Seats: The number of seats available in the IITs influences the cutoff. Fewer seats typically result in higher cutoffs.
• Candidate Performance: The overall performance of candidates in a particular year affects the cutoff. If candidates perform well overall, the cutoff is likely to increase.
• Previous Year Cutoff Trends: Past cutoff trends are considered while determining the cutoff for the current year.
• Reservation Policies: Cutoffs are different for various categories like General, OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST, and PwD, as per the reservation policies of the government.

4. Historical Cutoff Trends and Impact on Student Preparation

Analyzing historical cutoff trends provides valuable insights for students preparing for JEE Advanced. These trends help students understand the level of competition and set realistic targets.

Historical Data:

It's important to note that cutoff data can be presented in different ways (total marks, percentages, or ranks), so direct comparisons can sometimes be difficult. Also, the total marks for the JEE Advanced exam have been 360 in recent years, but this may not always be the case.

Here's a general overview of cutoff trends based on available information:

• Trends from 2020-2024
  • In 2024, the cutoff was higher than in previous years. For example, the cutoff for the Common Rank List (CRL) was 30.34%.
  • In 2023, the qualifying cutoff for the common rank list (CRL) was 23.89%.
  • In 2022, the minimum mark in each subject was 5, and the minimum aggregate mark was 55 for the common rank list (CRL).
• Cutoff in 2025:
  • The JEE Advanced 2025 cutoff marks for inclusion in the rank list are: 20.56% for the common rank list; 18.50% for the GEN-EWS rank list and OBC-NCL rank list; 10.28% for SC, ST, and PwD rank lists across all categories; and 5.14% for Preparatory course rank lists.

Impact on Student Preparation:

• Setting Realistic Goals: Analyzing past trends helps students set realistic targets. For example, if a student is aiming for a top IIT, they should aim for a score well above the cutoff. For top IITs like Bombay and Madras, aim for scores above 150, which translates to ranks below 5000.
• Strategic Preparation: Students can identify important topics and difficulty levels by analyzing previous years' question papers and cutoff trends. If the exam is tougher than the previous year, the cutoff is likely to drop.
• Understanding Competition: Knowing the number of candidates appearing and the availability of seats helps students understand the level of competition. More candidates appearing for the exam means higher competition.
• Category-Specific Preparation: Since cutoffs vary for different categories, students should focus on securing marks above the cutoff for their respective categories.

By understanding these cutoff dynamics, students can tailor their preparation strategies and increase their chances of securing a seat in their desired IIT program.