JEE Main marks vs percentile 2026 session 2: Expected marks for 99, 98, 95 percentiles across April shifts

Vedantu analysis: 160–180 marks likely around 99 percentile in JEE Main marks vs percentile 2026 session 2; April 5 shift was easiest while April 6 shift 1 was the toughest.

Edited by Kunal Bhatia

Updated April 18, 2026 9:23 AM

    JEE Main marks vs percentile 2026 session 2

    Vedantu experts say 160–180 marks are likely to land around the 99 percentile in JEE Main marks vs percentile 2026 session 2, with an average 99 percentile near 175 marks across Session 2. The April window ran from Apr 2–8, 2026 and showed clear shift-wise swings in difficulty.

    JEE Main marks vs percentile 2026 session 2 — score ranges

    Below is the expected marks-to-percentile conversion cited by analysts. These ranges reflect session-wide trends and normalization effects.

    Score range (marks) Expected percentile range
    260+ 99.8–100
    240–259 99.6–99.8
    220–239 99.3–99.6
    200–219 99–99.3
    170–199 97.5–99
    140–169 96–97.5
    120–139 94–96
    100–119 90–94
    Below 100 Below 90

    Short example: 150 marks in a moderate shift maps roughly to 97.5–98.2 percentile .

    JEE Main marks vs percentile 2026 session 2 — shift-wise notes

    Shift difficulty changed the marks needed for the same percentile. Vedantu’s shift analysis flagged April 5 shift 1 as the easiest and April 6 shift 1 as the toughest. That pushed 95–99 percentile marks up or down by several points.

    Key shift observations (Vedantu):

    • April 5, 2026 (Shift 1) : Easiest — about 129–131 marks for 95 percentile ; 181–183 estimated for 99 percentile in that shift.
    • April 6, 2026 (Shift 1) : Toughest — 105–107 marks for 95 percentile and 157–159 for 99 percentile .
    • On average across Session 2, 175 marks is the rough benchmark for 99 percentile .

    Shift normalization means higher marks are needed in easier shifts to secure the same percentile. Analysts also flagged that 180–190 marks typically fall in the 98–99 percentile band, while 115–120 marks often reach 95 percentile in moderate shifts.

    Important date

    • Article updated: Apr 17, 2026

    Method and caveats

    These are expert estimates based on candidate score patterns and reported shift difficulty. The official percentile calculation follows the NTA normalization process; exact formulas and category-wise cutoffs are released by the exam authority.

    FAQs

    What percentile can I expect with 150 marks in April session? A: In a moderate shift, 150 marks ≈ 97.5–98.2 percentile ; in a very easy shift it may fall slightly lower.
    What percentile for 120 marks on April 5 Shift 2? A: In moderate shifts like April 5 Shift 2, 120 marks ≈ 96 percentile .
    What can I expect for 110 marks in April 6 Shift 1? A: For tougher shifts like April 6 Shift 1, 110 marks ≈ 95–96 percentile .
    How many marks for 99 percentile on average? A: On average across Session 2, about 175 marks is needed for the 99 percentile .
    Do shift variations change cutoffs for NIT/IIIT admissions? A: Yes. Shift-wise normalization affects percentiles, which in turn influence rank-based cutoffs for NITs and IIITs.
    Is there an official formula here? A: The official normalization method is published by the exam authority (NTA); these figures are expert estimates, not official conversions.

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