What is top 20 Percentile in JEE Main 2025? Check Category wise top 20 percentile cut off marks in Class 12th for IITs, NITs, IIITs and GFTIs

Candidates must have obtained 75% marks in class 12 to be considered eligible in JEE Main top 20 percentile to get admission into IITs and NITs. However, 75% of marks do not guarantee admission to IITs and NITs. The top 20 percentile eligibility criteria for JEE Main are different across the category. Last year, the Andhra Pradesh board’s top 20%ile cutoff was 94% for general category candidates, whereas 75.6% for Maharashtra Board’s candidates. Candidates can check the Category-Wise cutoff below:

• The overall cut-off for general candidates and general EWS students is 378, while for OBC NCL the cut-off marks are 383, SC 364, and ST 366.
• JEE Main top 20 percentile for CBSE Class 12th in the previous year was 420 and 387 for IITs and NIT+System respectively for General category students.
• Last year, JEE Main top 20 percentile for ISC was 444 and 446 for IITs and NIT+System respectively for the General category.

This JEE Main top 20 percentile criterion ensures that deserving candidates who have performed exceptionally well in their board exams, even if they may not have met the specific percentage criteria, are allowed to secure admission to their desired B.Tech program in India.

Must Read Article on JEE Main Eligibility:

• JEE Main 2025 Eligibility Criteria

JEE Main Top 20 Percentile Cut-off Marks for IITs and NIT+ System

In the 2024 JEE Main Top 20 Percentile cut-off marks, most boards show slight changes compared to 2023, with 2024 being the primary focus. For instance, the CBSE cut-off remains steady at 417 for the general category, while Andhra Pradesh saw a slight drop from 471 in 2023 to 470.

Assam's cut-off dropped significantly from 351 to 306, indicating a potential decrease in student performance.

On the other hand, Maharashtra and Manipur showed improvements, with cut-offs rising from 351 to 378 and from 332 to 402, respectively.

Notably, several boards like Goa, Kerala, and Banasthali Vidyapeeth have not provided 2024 data.

What's a good score in JEE Main 2025?

For the General category, a decent JEE Main score would range from 250-270 for the best of the NITs, while above 300 would be satisfactory to get admission in one of the IITs. Yet, 200-250 score is enough to get admission in some lower-ranked NITs or IIITs. For OBC-NCL students, a good rank generally ranges from 230-250 for premier institutions, while 180-230 is enough for other NITs and IIITs. SC students with scores of more than 150-170 are likely to get admission in NITs, and ST students generally require a score of 130-150 for reasonable choices. PwD students generally need a score of about 150-180, subject to the institution.

Required Score for Top Institutes in JEE Main 2025

JEE 2025 Score 150+ in last 5 days

Achieving a score of 150+ in JEE Main 2025 in the last 5 days of preparation is an ambitious yet potentially achievable goal for candidates with a solid foundation. However, this requires focused strategy, effective time management, and smart revision techniques.

JEE Main cut-off marks have ranged from around 85 to 90 for the general category. Scoring 150+ in the last few days of preparation puts you well above the average cut-off and significantly improves your chances of getting into prestigious institutions like NITs and IIITs.

Is Top 20 Percentile Required for IIT 2025?

Yes, the top 20 percentile is a crucial requirement for IIT admissions through JEE Advanced in 2025. According to the guidelines from the JoSAA and JEE Advanced, candidates need to be within the top 20 percentile of successful candidates in their respective class 12 board exams to be eligible for IIT admissions. This percentile-based criterion helps ensure that only candidates with the required academic competence can apply for IITs. Apart from the top 20 percentile requirement, candidates must also meet the minimum marks in JEE Main to qualify for JEE Advanced. Generally, a candidate must score at least 75% in their Class 12 exams (or be in the top 20 percentile) to be eligible for JEE Advanced.

• For IITs, the top candidates often score 300+ in the exam.
• For NITs, the cut-off typically ranges from 230-250 for General category candidates.
• For IIITs, the required score tends to be between 220-250.

In previous years, the top 20 percentile requirement has varied slightly across different educational boards. For example, in JEE Main 2024, the top 20 percentile cut-off marks (out of 500) varied based on the board.

JEE Main Marks vs Percentile

The Marks vs Percentile statistics of JEE Main indicate that above 300 you are in the 99.9+ percentile, and you get admission to premier IITs.

The 270-300 marks equate to the 99+ percentile, perfect for premier NITs and IIITs. 240-270 gives you the 98-99 percentile, and 210-240 gives the 97-98 percentile, getting you into lower-ranked NITs.

180-210 and 150-180 scores put candidates in the 95-97 percentile and 90-95 percentile, respectively, and get them into second-string NITs.

Below 150 scores progressively decrease the percentile, and it becomes increasingly difficult to get into top colleges, with below 60 scores leading to a below 50 percentile.

20 Marks in JEE Mains

Expected Percentile: Below 50 percentile

A score of 20 marks in JEE Main is quite low, and this typically results in a percentile below 50. With 20 marks, the candidate will not be eligible for the top NITs or IITs. This score is unlikely to secure a seat in the private colleges with lower requirements like Private engineering colleges like Amity University, Shiv Nadar University, UPES Dehradun, or Bennett University.

40 Marks in JEE Mains

Expected Percentile: Below 50 percentile

A score of 40 marks in JEE Main typically results in a percentile between 50 and 70. This score might not be sufficient for admission to top NITs or IIITs, but there may still be possibilities for entry into lower-ranked NITs or private institutions that accept JEE Main scores like VIT Vellore, SRM University, or Shiv Nadar University could offer options for admission.

80 Marks in JEE Mains

Expected Percentile: 50-70 percentile

A score of 80 marks in JEE Main places a candidate in the mid-level percentile range, between 70 and 80 percentile. This range still doesn’t guarantee a seat in top NITs, IITs, or IIITs, but it opens up options in lower-ranked NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs (Government Funded Technical Institutes) like  NIT Agartala, NIT Durgapur, IIIT Lucknow, or IIIT Bhubaneswar might offer admission depending on branch and category and the private institutes like VIT Vellore, SRM University, and UPES Dehradun may be within reach.

120 Marks in JEE Mains

Expected Percentile: 80-90 percentile

A score of 120 marks in JEE Main generally results in a percentile between 80 and 90. This score is considered decent and increases the possibility of getting into mid-range NITs or IIITs. It is also a score that might allow OBC, SC, or ST candidates to get into slightly lower branches of top NITs or IIITs. However, General Category candidates may find it challenging to secure a seat in the top-tier NITs or IITs, especially in high-demand branches such as Computer Science or Electronics. Institutes like NIT Allahabad, NIT Patna, NIT Jaipur, or NIT Rourkela and IIITs such as IIIT Jabalpur, IIIT Lucknow, and IIIT Kalyani may offer admission in branches like IT, Civil, or Mechanical, the well-established private universities like VIT Vellore, SRM University, and Manipal University are also viable options.

JEE Main 2025 Low Score Expected Percentiles and Colleges

JEE Main Top 20 Percentile for NIT+System

The category-wise JEE Main Top 20 Percentile cut off marks (out of 500) for NIT+System is been as follows:

Board-Wise Top 20%ile Eligibility Criteria

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