What is the eligibility criteria for JEE Main and Advanced?

Siddharth Singh    June 06 2025 11:48:17 AM

The eligibility criteria for JEE Main and JEE Advanced are crucial for every engineering aspirant in India to understand before applying. To appear for JEE Main, candidates must have passed their Class 12 board examination or any equivalent qualifying exam in the previous two years or be appearing in the current academic year. There is no age limit for JEE Main, but candidates must have passed with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. The National Testing Agency (NTA) allows students to attempt JEE Main a maximum of six times across three consecutive years, with two sessions each year. For admission into NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs, a candidate must secure at least 75% marks in Class 12 or be in the top 20 percentile of their respective boards. For SC/ST candidates, the qualifying percentage is relaxed to 65%.

For JEE Advanced, only the top 2.5 lakh rank holders in JEE Main are eligible to appear. Candidates must have passed their Class 12 exam in the same year or the year prior. Also, a student is allowed only two attempts in two consecutive years for JEE Advanced. An important criterion is that the candidate should not have been previously admitted to an IIT, regardless of whether they continued with the program or not. Additionally, aspirants must be among the top 20 percentile of their board exams or score a minimum of 75% aggregate (65% for SC/ST) in Class 12.

Students frequently search for phrases like “JEE eligibility criteria 2025,” “minimum percentage required for JEE Main,” “JEE Advanced eligibility for droppers,” and “how many attempts for JEE Main and Advanced.” Addressing these queries, it is important to note that both droppers and regular students are equally eligible, provided they meet the above academic and attempt-related criteria.

Staying updated with official announcements from NTA and IITs is essential, as eligibility norms may change slightly every year. Understanding the JEE eligibility rules helps students plan their preparation and application strategy more effectively and avoid disqualification due to technical reasons.