JEE Advanced 2026 Cut Off: Expected Category-Wise Qualifying Marks - Experts

IIT Roorkee conducted the JEE Advanced 2026 exam on May 17, 2026. Both papers are now over, and the institute has already released the question papers on its official website. Paper 1 ran from 9 AM to 12 noon, and Paper 2 was held from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

According to students and teachers, the first paper of JEE Advanced ranged from moderately to highly challenging; the Mathematics paper proved to be the lengthiest and most difficult, while Physics required deep conceptual clarity, and Chemistry was intricate and tough.

On the other hand, the second paper was highly conceptual and time-consuming—particularly the Mathematics section, which has been described as extremely difficult. This feedback from students and teachers is expected to influence the JEE Advanced cut-offs.

JEE Advanced 2026 Expected Cut Off: Category-Wise Comparison

Three major coaching institutes — Allen, PhysicsWallah (PW), and Infinity Learn by Sri Chaitanya — have released their JEE Advanced 2026 cut off predictions.

Allen's numbers represent the minimum overall percentage a candidate needs to qualify. PW's predictions are percentile-based, showing the relative standing required among all test-takers. Infinity Learn has shared expected marks along with per-subject minimums.

Here's the full category-wise breakdown:

Category	Allen – Minimum Overall Marks %	Physics Wallah Qualifying Percentile	Infinity Learn by Sri Chaitanya Cut-Off
General	20.60%	93.2 – 94.1	90–100 marks overall; ~9 marks per subject
GEN-EWS	18.50%	81 – 82	80–90 marks overall; ~8 marks per subject
OBC-NCL	18.50%	79 – 80	80–90 marks overall; ~8 marks per subject
SC	10.30%	60 – 62	45–55 marks overall; ~6 marks per subject
ST	10.30%	47 – 49	45–55 marks overall; ~6 marks per subject
PwD	10.30%	0.001 – 1	—

Key Takeaways from the Expected Cut Off

The General category remains the most competitive. Allen's minimum threshold of 20.6% and PW's percentile range of 93–94 indicate that even a few marks can make a significant difference in rankings.

The General-EWS and OBC-NCL categories receive some relaxation. According to Allen, the percentile for both stands at 18.5%, while PW anticipates a percentile range between 79 and 82.

For the SC and ST categories, the eligibility threshold is 10.3% (according to Allen). However, PW's percentile estimates—60–62 for SC and 47–49 for ST—reflect a trend of improved performance within these groups compared to previous years.

The eligibility scope is widest for the Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) category, with Allen's percentile threshold at 10.3% and PW's percentile estimate hovering around zero.

What Exactly is the JEE Advanced Cut-off?

The JEE Advanced cut-off is the minimum score required to be included in the overall rank list. If you do not clear this threshold, you will not be eligible for admission to any undergraduate program at any IIT.

This cut-off is not fixed; it varies every year based on three primary factors: the difficulty level of the examination, the total number of candidates appearing, and the number of seats available across all IITs.

When Will the Official Cut-off Be Released?

The official cut-off for JEE Advanced 2026 will be announced alongside the results. Subsequently, during the JoSAA counseling process, each IIT will determine specific cut-offs for its respective courses.

These minimum scores are represented in terms of opening and closing ranks. To secure a seat, candidates must fulfill both the subject-wise minimum marks (in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) and the overall aggregate percentage criteria stipulated by each institution.

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