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By rohit.pandey1
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Updated on 2 Apr 2026, 11:12 IST
The JEE Main 2026 paper has 75 compulsory questions. Negative marking applies to all of them — both MCQs and Section B numericals. The right number to attempt is not 75.
Here is the proof in one line: A JEE Main aspirant who attempts 58 questions and gets 51 correct scores 197 marks. A student who attempts 72 questions and gets 52 correct scores 188 marks. Fewer questions, higher accuracy wins every time below 85% accuracy.
This page gives you the subject-wise attempt target, a score-to-attempt table, the negative marking rules that changed in 2025, and the exact order in which to attempt subjects. If Shift 1 just ended for you, use Section 2 to check if your attempt count was in the safe zone. If Shift 2 is still ahead, read Section 5 before you go in.
A good attempt in JEE Main 2026 depends on the difficulty level of the shift and the student’s accuracy.
This typically corresponds to 160–220 marks, which can fetch around 97–99+ percentile depending on normalization.
Candidates should focus on accuracy (85–90%) rather than maximum attempts.
Also Check: JEE Main 2026 April 2 Answer Key
The table below is built from Session 1 January 2026 data and previous year patterns. Find your score target in the left column and read across to know the safe attempt range.
| Target Score | Target Percentile | Safe Attempts | Required Accuracy | Likely College Options |
| 240–300 | 99.5%+ | 68–75 | 90%+ | IIT via JEE Advanced |
| 200–240 | 99–99.5% | 60–68 | 85%+ | Top NITs — CSE, ECE |
| 160–200 | 97–99% | 55–60 | 80%+ | Good NITs, IIITs |
| 130–160 | 93–97% | 50–55 | 78%+ | NITs — other branches |
| 100–130 | 88–93% | 45–50 | 75%+ | IIITs, GFTIs |
| Below 100 | Below 88% | 40–45 | 70%+ | Private colleges, state counselling |
If your shift was tough, the marks cutoff for each percentile bracket drops by 10–20 marks because of normalisation. Use our score calculator to get a precise estimate based on your specific shift difficulty.
Also Check: JEE Mains Marks vs Ranks vs Percentile
JEE
NEET
Foundation JEE
Foundation NEET
CBSE
| Marks Range | Expected Percentile |
| 220+ | 99.5+ |
| 200–220 | 99–99.5 |
| 180–200 | 97–99 |
| 150–180 | 95–97 |
| 120–150 | 90–95 |
| Below 120 | Below 90 |
Good attempts in JEE Main 2026 Session 1 January ranged between 52 and 65 questions for top scores around 200 marks. Around 70% of students cited time management in Mathematics as their main challenge across all shifts. The safe zone for most students is 55 to 62 questions. Below this, you leave easy marks untouched. Above this, accuracy typically slips below 80%.
The most common mistake students make in JEE Main is attempting more questions than their accuracy justifies. Here is why this costs marks, shown with two real scenarios.
Student A attempts 72 questions with 72% accuracy. That is 52 correct and 20 wrong. Score: 208 minus 20 = 188 marks.
Student B attempts 58 questions with 88% accuracy. That is 51 correct and 7 wrong. Score: 204 minus 7 = 197 marks.
Student B attempted 14 fewer questions and scored 9 more marks. This is not a coincidence — it is how the marking scheme works. Every wrong MCQ costs 5 marks in opportunity: 1 mark deducted plus 4 marks not earned.
Also Check: JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper Analysis
| Your Mock Test Accuracy | Safe Attempt Range |
| 90% and above | Up to 70–75 questions |
| 80–89% | 58–65 questions |
| 70–79% | 50–58 questions |
| Below 70% | 45–50 questions, stop guessing |
The goal is not to maximise attempts. The goal is to maximise correct attempts. These are very different things.
Each wrong MCQ answer costs −1 mark. The guessing rule is simple: only attempt an MCQ if you can confidently eliminate at least two of the four options. Pure random guessing across four options has an expected value of −0.25 marks per question. Over ten blind guesses, you lose 2–3 marks net on average. If you cannot eliminate two options, skip the question entirely.
Section B numerical questions now carry −1 for wrong answers. This changed from 2025 onwards and continues in 2026. Previously, students attempted all numericals freely because there was no penalty. That rule no longer applies.
All 5 numericals per subject are compulsory — you cannot skip them. So accuracy on these 15 questions matters enormously. One careless calculation error costs 5 marks in opportunity: 1 mark deducted plus 4 marks not earned on a question you probably knew how to solve.
Always complete your rough work before entering a numerical answer. Double-check your units. A calculation error on a question you understood is the most expensive mistake in JEE Main.
| Scenario | Questions Attempted | Wrong Answers | Marks Lost to Negatives |
| Smart selective | 62 | 7 | −7 marks |
| Blind guesser | 75 | 22 | −22 marks |
| Conservative | 50 | 4 | −4 marks |
The smart selective student and the blind guesser both attempted questions, but the blind guesser effectively donated 15 marks to no one.
Most students ask for one total number. The better question is how many per subject, in what order, and in how much time. Here is the subject-wise guide built from Session 1 2026 trends and topper strategies.
Chemistry is the highest-accuracy subject for most students. Questions are NCERT-based, direct, and most can be answered in 60–90 seconds. In Session 1 January 2026, Chemistry was consistently rated the easiest section across all shifts. Start here, finish it completely, and do not return unless you have spare time at the end.
Target: 23–25 attempted, 19–22 correct. This gives you 76–88 marks from Chemistry alone — a strong base that removes pressure from Physics and Maths.
Do not overthink NCERT-based questions. The answer that feels obvious from NCERT is almost always correct.
Physics questions fall into two types: formula-based questions that take 90 seconds, and multi-concept numericals that take 3–5 minutes. In round 1, solve only the formula-based questions across the entire Physics section. Mark every multi-concept question and come back in round 2.
Target: 20–22 attempted, 16–19 correct. Skip any Physics question that requires more than 3 minutes of setup in round 1. These are the time traps that cause students to run out of time for Maths.
In Session 1 2026, Physics questions were mostly formula-based and conceptual across most shifts, making it the most manageable section for prepared students.
Mathematics is where most students lose the most marks — not by getting questions wrong, but by spending too long on 1–2 questions while leaving 4–5 solvable ones untouched. In Session 1 January 2026, students who spent more than 80 minutes on Maths averaged lower scores than those who attempted 17–20 questions selectively.
Start with direct questions — probability, 3D geometry, straight lines, matrices. Leave lengthy calculus and algebra questions for round 2. If a Maths question does not show a clear path to the answer within 2 minutes, flag it and move on. Come back with fresh eyes after covering the simpler ones.
Target: 17–20 attempted, 14–17 correct.
| Subject | Time Allocation | Questions to Attempt | Target Correct | Expected Marks |
| Chemistry | 35–40 mins | 23–25 | 19–22 | 76–88 |
| Physics | 55–65 mins | 20–22 | 16–19 | 64–76 |
| Mathematics | 70–80 mins | 17–20 | 14–17 | 56–68 |
| Total | 180 mins | 60–67 | 49–58 | 196–232 |
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Yes — 60 questions with 82–85% accuracy gives you approximately 180–196 marks, which typically translates to 97–99 percentile depending on shift difficulty. The number alone means nothing without the accuracy rate beside it. In Session 1 2026, good attempts for top scores around 200 marks ranged between 52 and 65 questions.
Only if your accuracy is consistently above 88% in mock tests under time pressure. For most students, attempting all 75 with average accuracy produces a lower score than attempting 58–65 questions carefully. Every wrong MCQ costs 5 marks in opportunity — 1 mark deducted and 4 marks not earned.
If 51 out of 55 attempts are correct — that is 93% accuracy — your score is 197 marks, which was enough for 99 percentile in several January 2026 shifts. Accuracy at 55 attempts consistently beats volume at 70 attempts for students with less than 90% accuracy.
Yes — this is what most toppers do. Chemistry first because it is the fastest and highest-accuracy subject. Physics second because it is conceptual and moderately paced. Mathematics last because it is the slowest and requires the most selective question choice. This order protects your Chemistry and Physics scores from Maths time pressure.
The mathematical average across 180 minutes and 75 questions is 2 minutes 24 seconds. In practice, target 90 seconds per Chemistry question, 2.5 minutes per Physics question, and 3.5 minutes per Maths question. Any single question consuming more than 4 minutes is a flag — mark it and move on immediately.
Section B numerical questions carry −1 for wrong answers, exactly like MCQs. This changed from 2025 onwards and applies in 2026. All 5 numericals per subject are compulsory. Always complete rough work before entering your numerical answer — a wrong numerical costs 5 marks in opportunity.