Many students think Class 12 marks affect their JEE eligibility. Students often face the same confusion. Does their board exam percentage reflect their chance of sitting in JEE Main or JEE Advanced or not? Let’s clear this confusion for JEE aspirants and understand what exactly the Class 12 requirements are.
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Eligibility Criteria for Class 12
Let us understand the eligibility criteria of both JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
JEE Main Eligibility:
- Anyone who has passed or is appearing for their 12th standard exam in the current or last two years, regardless of their board. All categories (General, OBC, SC, ST, etc) can sit for this exam.
- There’s no age limit. You get a maximum of three consecutive years to attempt the exam, which is held twice a year, giving you six attempts in total.
- JEE Main is offered in 13 languages, including English, Hindi, and various regional languages.
- As you only need to pass the 12th board exam to be eligible for JEE Main, to get admitted to NITs, IIITs, or IITs, you must get at least 75% marks (65% for SC/ST) or be in the top 20th percentile of your respective board.
JEE Advanced Eligibility:
- Only the top 2,50,000 rank holders from JEE Main are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced. This is your gateway to the reputed IITs.
- You must be born on or after October 1st, 2000, with a 5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD candidates. You are limited to just two attempts in two consecutive years.
- Conducted only in English and Hindi.
- Candidates who have been admitted to an IIT in the past are not eligible to appear again.
Key Differences Between JEE Main and JEE Advanced
Thinking about JEE Main and JEE Advanced? Don’t mistake them for the same test. Main checks your knowledge, and Advanced tests your core understanding. Typically, the main difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced is that you get admission to IIT via Advanced only. Let’s see some important differences between JEE Main and Advanced in the table shown below:
| JEE Main | JEE Advanced | |
| Purpose | Entry to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs & other colleges. Qualifier examination for JEE Advanced. | Entry to IITs only.Final stage for IIT admission. |
| Exam Pattern | 1 paper (PCM), CBT, MCQs + numerical, Fixed scheme (+4, -1), 300 marks. | 2 papers (PCM), CBT, MCQs, multiple-choice, numerical, matrix, etc. Marks & schemes vary. |
| Syllabus & Difficulty | Based on Class 11–12 CBSE. Concept & formula-based. Speed & accuracy focused. | Class 11–12 but deeper. Application-heavy. Unpredictable, very tough. |
| Eligibility | Class 12 pass/ appearing (last 2 yrs). No age limit. 6 attempts (3 yrs × 2). 13 languages need 75%. (65% SC/ST) or top 20%ile for NITs/IIITs. | Top 2.5 lakh in JEE Main. Age ≤ 25 (relax 5 yrs SC/ST/PwD). 2 attempts in 2 years. English & Hindi only. Past IIT admits are not allowed. |
| Outcome | Admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs & other reputed colleges. | Admission to IITs with global recognition & top opportunities.. |
What If You Don’t Meet The Marks Requirement?
Even if you fall short of marks, don’t worry, you still have other options. Such as:
- You can consider reappearing for Class 12 improvement exams to increase your percentage.
- Consider focusing on JEE Main by applying to top NITs, IIITs, or private engineering colleges that only require JEE Main scores.
- You can also explore alternative exams like BITSAT, VITEEE, SRMJEEE, or state-level engineering entrance exams.
Conclusion
To conclude, JEE Main allows students to pass Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, while JEE Advanced demands higher academic scores, with at least 75% or a top 20 percentile rank. The earlier you understand these criteria, the smarter you can prepare for the future.
FAQs
(1) How many 12th marks are required for JEE?
Ans. To be eligible for admission to NITs, IIITs, and other centrally funded technical institutions through JEE Main, candidates must have either:
- At least 75% marks in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST), or
- Be in the top 20th percentile of their respective board.
Subject requirements:
- B.E./B. Tech: Physics and Mathematics are compulsory, along with one of Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/Technical Vocational subject.
- B.Arch: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics are compulsory.
- B.Planning: Mathematics is compulsory.
(2). Is the criterion of 75% marks in class 12 applicable in JEE Main 2025?
Ans. Regardless of their class 12 percentage, candidates are eligible to enroll in JEE Main 2025. Candidates need to know that the 12th percentage required for JEE Mains can range from 45% to 75% for the General category and 40% to 65% required for the SC/ST category, depending on their State.
(3). Can I give JEE Mains with 60% in 12th?
Ans. Appearing for the JEE Mains does not require any minimum score. No matter what you score, 60% or 95%, you are eligible to sit the exam if you have passed the qualifying examination and meet the subject requirements.
(4). Can 12th fail give JEE Advanced?
Ans. No, a student who fails in Class 12 cannot appear for JEE Advanced. To be eligible, you must pass the Class 12 board exam with the required subjects and marks, as JEE Advanced eligibility depends on qualifying in the 10th standard or equivalent examination.