Quick Answer: No, 75% in Class 12 is not mandatory to appear in JEE Main 2027 or JEE Advanced 2027. You only need to pass Class 12 to write these exams. However, 75% (or a place in the top 20 percentile of your board) is mandatory for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded technical institutes (CFTIs). For SC and ST candidates, the requirement is 65%.
The question “Is 75% mandatory for JEE?” is one of the most common doubts among engineering aspirants. With the National Testing Agency (NTA) releasing the JEE Main 2027 notification on 24 October 2026 and Session 1 registration open till 22 November 2026, lakhs of students are once again asking whether their board marks will stop them from applying.
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The short answer is that the 75% rule affects admission, not the exam. In this article, we explain exactly where the 75% criterion applies, the top 20 percentile alternative, category-wise relaxations, which subjects are counted, improvement exam rules and which colleges do not follow this rule.
Is 75% Mandatory for JEE Main 2027?
To appear in JEE Main 2027: No. NTA does not ask for any minimum percentage in Class 12 to fill the form or write the exam. You must have passed Class 12 (or an equivalent exam) in 2025 or 2026, or be appearing in 2027. There is no age limit.
For admission through JEE Main: Yes. To get a B.E./B.Tech seat in NITs, IIITs and other CFTIs through JoSAA or CSAB counselling, you must meet the Class 12 performance criterion.
JEE Main 2027 – Exam Eligibility vs Admission Eligibility
| Stage | Is 75% Needed? | What Is Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Filling the JEE Main 2027 form | No | Class 12 passed in 2025/2026 or appearing in 2027 |
| Writing the exam / getting a rank | No | Valid admit card |
| Qualifying for JEE Advanced | No | Rank among the top 2.5 lakh (all categories) in JEE Main Paper 1 |
| B.Tech admission in NITs, IIITs, CFTIs | Yes | 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST) or top 20 percentile of your board |
| B.Arch / B.Plan admission in NITs, SPAs | Lower bar | Generally 50% in Class 12, with Mathematics as a subject |
JEE Main 2027 Important Dates
| Event | Session 1 | Session 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | 24 October – 22 November 2026 | 5 January – 3 February 2027 |
| Exam dates | 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28 January 2027 | 2 to 7 April 2027 |
| Admit card | 13 January 2027 | 25 March 2027 |
Is 75% Mandatory for JEE Advanced 2027?
To appear in JEE Advanced 2027: No. To register for JEE Advanced, you must be among the top 2.5 lakh rank holders of JEE Main Paper 1 and meet the age and attempt limits. Board percentage is not checked at this stage.
For IIT admission: Yes. After you get a JEE Advanced rank, you can take an IIT seat only if you satisfy at least one of these two conditions, with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as compulsory subjects in Class 12:
- Aggregate marks route: Passed Class 12 with at least five subjects and scored at least 75% aggregate. For SC, ST and PwD candidates, the requirement is 65%.
- Percentile route: Passed Class 12 with at least five subjects and are within the category-wise top 20 percentile of successful candidates in your board.
Key Difference: JEE Main (NITs) vs JEE Advanced (IITs)
| Point | NITs / IIITs / CFTIs (via JEE Main) | IITs (via JEE Advanced) |
|---|---|---|
| General / OBC-NCL / EWS | 75% or top 20 percentile | 75% or top 20 percentile |
| SC / ST | 65% or top 20 percentile | 65% or top 20 percentile |
| PwD | As per JoSAA / CSAB rules (check the 2027 brochure) | 65% or top 20 percentile |
| Checked at | JoSAA / CSAB counselling | JoSAA counselling (seat acceptance) |
Note: The JEE Advanced 2027 brochure has not been released yet. The IIT criteria above are from the official JEE Advanced 2026 rules, which have stayed the same for several years.
What Is the Top 20 Percentile Rule?
If you score less than 75%, you can still get admission if you are in the top 20 percentile of successful candidates in your board, in your category. In simple words, if your board marks put you in the top 20% of students who passed that year in your board, you qualify even without 75%.
This rule helps students from boards where marking is strict. In some state boards, the top 20 percentile cut-off can be below 75%. In some boards, especially those with liberal marking, it can be above 75%, and for those students the 75% route is easier.
How the Top 20 Percentile Works
- Cut-offs are calculated separately for each board and each category (GEN, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, PwD).
- The PwD cut-off is the lowest of the GEN, OBC-NCL, SC and ST cut-offs.
- The cut-off is based on the same five subjects used for the aggregate (see below).
- Boards publish the cut-off. If your board does not, you must get a certificate from the board in the prescribed format. Otherwise, the CBSE cut-off for your category will be applied.
- The percentile is calculated for one academic year only, so you cannot mix marks from two years.
Category-wise Class 12 Requirement (Summary)
| Category | Minimum Aggregate | OR |
|---|---|---|
| General | 75% | Top 20 percentile of board (GEN) |
| General-EWS | 75% | Top 20 percentile of board |
| OBC-NCL | 75% | Top 20 percentile of board (OBC-NCL) |
| SC | 65% | Top 20 percentile of board (SC) |
| ST | 65% | Top 20 percentile of board (ST) |
| PwD (IITs) | 65% | Top 20 percentile of board (PwD) |
Tip: You need to meet only one of the two conditions, not both.
Which Subjects Are Counted for 75%?
The 75% is not calculated on PCM alone, and not on all subjects. As per the JEE Advanced rules, these five subjects are counted:
| No. | Subject Counted |
|---|---|
| 1 | Physics |
| 2 | Chemistry |
| 3 | Mathematics |
| 4 | A language (if you studied more than one, the one with higher marks) |
| 5 | Any one other subject (the one with the highest marks) |
Other important rules:
- If a subject is not marked out of 100, it is scaled to 100, so the total is out of 500.
- Only Class 12 marks are counted, not Class 11.
- If your board gives only grades, you need a certificate of equivalent marks from the board.
- The marksheet must be issued by one board only. Marks from two boards cannot be combined.
Example: Physics 70, Chemistry 72, Maths 80, English 78, Computer Science 85 (Physical Education 60 is ignored). Total = 385/500 = 77%. This student meets the 75% criterion.
Improvement Exam Rules for Droppers
Many students who scored below 75% ask whether they can improve their marks. Yes, they can, with these rules:
| Your Goal | What You Must Do | How Marks Are Counted |
|---|---|---|
| Reach 75% (or 65%) | Reappear in one or more subjects | Higher marks of the two attempts are taken, subject-wise |
| Reach top 20 percentile | Reappear in all subjects | Only the new year’s marks and that year’s cut-off are used |
Common Scenarios Explained
| Scenario | Can Write JEE Main? | Can Write JEE Advanced? | Can Get NIT / IIT Seat? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80% in Class 12, General | Yes | Yes (if in top 2.5 lakh) | Yes |
| 70% in Class 12, General, not in top 20 percentile | Yes | Yes (if in top 2.5 lakh) | No, unless marks are improved |
| 70% in Class 12, General, in top 20 percentile of board | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 66% in Class 12, SC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 60% in Class 12, ST, not in top 20 percentile | Yes | Yes | No, unless marks are improved |
Options If You Don’t Have 75%
The 75% / top 20 percentile rule applies to IITs, NITs, IIITs and CFTIs through JoSAA and CSAB. Many other good colleges follow their own, usually lower, Class 12 requirements:
| Admission Route | Typical Class 12 Requirement |
|---|---|
| State government engineering colleges (state counselling using JEE Main or state CETs) | Usually around 45%–60% in PCM, depending on the state and category |
| Private universities accepting JEE Main scores | Set by each university, generally lower than 75% |
| State-level entrance exams (WBJEE, MHT CET, KCET, etc.) | As per each exam’s eligibility rules |
| B.Arch / B.Plan at NITs and SPAs (via JEE Main Paper 2) | Generally 50% aggregate, with Mathematics |
Note: Some private institutes have their own high cut-offs. For example, BITS Pilani (BITSAT) asks for 75% aggregate in PCM, with at least 60% in each subject. Always check the specific college’s rules.
What You Can Do
- Improve your marks: Reappear in one or more subjects through your board or NIOS to reach 75% (or 65%).
- Check your board’s top 20 percentile cut-off: You may already qualify even with less than 75%.
- Keep state options open: Register for your state’s counselling and other entrance exams as a backup.
Also Read: IIT Hyderabad PhD Admission January 2027: Eligibility, Last Date, Departments and How to Apply
Has the 75% Criterion Been Removed for 2027?
No. There has been no official announcement removing the 75% criterion for 2027. Here is a short history of the rule:
| Period | Class 12 Rule for IIT / NIT Admission |
|---|---|
| Till 2016 | IITs used the top 20 percentile rule; JEE Main ranks gave 40% weightage to Class 12 board marks |
| 2017 onwards | Board marks weightage dropped; the 75% (65% for SC/ST) or top 20 percentile rule introduced for IITs, NITs, IIITs and CFTIs |
| 2020 to 2022 | Criterion relaxed or waived for these years due to COVID-19 disruptions |
| 2023 onwards | 75% / top 20 percentile criterion restored and continues to apply |
Rumours about the rule being removed often spread on social media because of the COVID-era waivers. Always rely on the official JEE Main Information Bulletin (jeemain.nta.nic.in), the JEE Advanced brochure (jeeadv.ac.in) and JoSAA business rules.
FAQs on 75% Criteria for JEE 2027
Is 75% mandatory for JEE Main 2027? No. You can appear in JEE Main 2027 with any pass percentage in Class 12. The 75% rule only applies to admission in NITs, IIITs and CFTIs.
Is 75% mandatory for JEE Advanced 2027? No, not to write the exam. But for IIT admission you need 75% (65% for SC/ST/PwD) or a place in the top 20 percentile of your board.
Can I get an IIT seat with 70% in Class 12? Only if you are in the category-wise top 20 percentile of your board, or if you belong to SC/ST/PwD (65% needed).
Is the 75% calculated on PCM only? No. It is calculated on five subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, one language and one other subject with the highest marks.
What is the 75% criterion for SC and ST students? SC and ST students need at least 65% in Class 12, or must be in the top 20 percentile of their board.
Has the 75% criterion been removed for JEE 2027? No. It was relaxed during the COVID years (2020–2022) but has applied again since 2023.
Can I improve my Class 12 marks to meet the 75% rule? Yes. You can reappear in one or more subjects. The higher marks of the two attempts are taken for each subject.
What if my board does not publish the top 20 percentile cut-off? You need a certificate from your board. If you cannot get one, the CBSE cut-off for your category is used.
Is 75% required for B.Arch through JEE Main? No. B.Arch and B.Plan admission at NITs and SPAs generally needs 50% in Class 12, with Mathematics.
Can I get admission in private colleges through JEE Main without 75%? Yes. Most private and state colleges set their own, usually lower, Class 12 requirements.
