April 4 Shift 2 and April 5 Shift 1 were the easiest shifts in the Easiest Shift in JEE Main 2026 April Session, with more students scoring high raw marks. NTA normalisation will adjust percentiles across shifts, so raw scores from these easy shifts must be higher to get the same percentile.
The key cutoffs and rank estimates reflect that shift effect. Students scoring 180+ are expected to be among the top 5,000 . Scores around 178-180 likely give 99 percentile and ranks between 5,000–10,000 in these easy shifts.
Experts differed slightly for April 5 Shift 1. Vinay Vishu (Vedantu) estimates the 99 percentile needs 181–183 marks in that shift. Sri Chaitanya’s analysis suggests 175–180 marks for the same percentile. Both notes underline that easier shifts push required raw marks up.
Easiest Shift in JEE Main 2026 April Session: Marks vs Rank
The NTA uses normalisation; percentile and not raw marks decide your rank. That means a high raw score in an easy shift can translate to a lower percentile than the same raw score in a tougher shift.
| Marks (Approx) | Expected Percentile | Expected Rank (Approx) |
|---|---|---|
| 180+ | 99+ | < 5,000 |
| 178–180 | 99 | 5,000–10,000 |
| 158–160 | 98 | 15,000–22,000 |
| 141–142 | 97 | 22,000–35,000 |
| 127–129 | 96 | 35,000–45,000 |
| 115–117 | 95 | 45,000–55,000 |
| 104–106 | 94 | 55,000–65,000 |
Multiple student reports mark April 5 Shift 1 as particularly doable; that is why the marks needed for top percentiles in that shift are higher.
Easiest Shift in JEE Main 2026 April Session: Safe Scores for NITs
If you aim for NIT CSE or core branches, you must target very high scores in the easy shifts because of the normalization effect. Home-state advantage can improve admission chances at NITs with the same marks.
| College Category | Target Rank | Required Marks (Easy Shifts) |
|---|---|---|
| Top 3 NITs (CSE) | Under 2,000–3,000 | 255+ |
| Top 10 NITs (Core branches) | Under 10,000 | 210+ |
| Newer NITs / IIITs | Under 35,000 | 175+ |
| GFTIs | Under 60,000 | 140+ |
If you scored around 103 in April 5 Shift 1, expect roughly 94 percentile and a rank near 55,000–65,000 .
Article updated: Apr 20, 2026.
FAQs
What percentile and rank can I expect if I scored 103 in April 5 Shift 1?
Around 94 percentile ; expected rank 55,000–65,000 .
Why can 180 marks give the same percentile as 160 marks?
Because NTA normalisation adjusts percentiles across shifts. Easier shifts have more high scores, so raw marks must be higher to reach the same percentile.
What raw score likely gives 99 percentile in April 5 Shift 1?
Estimates vary: 181–183 (Vedantu estimate) or 175–180 (Sri Chaitanya analysis).
Will home state help at NITs with the same marks?
Yes. Home state can improve chances when closing ranks are close.
Can 170 in an easy shift get any NIT?
Yes. Many newer NITs and some IIITs accept ~170+ in the easy shifts.
Does NTA publish shift-wise normalisation details?
NTA publishes the percentile and the final scores; the exact normalisation formula details are not provided here.
Are category-wise cutoffs included in these estimates?
No. These are general, all-India estimates and do not account for category-wise or reservation-specific cutoffs.