Analysis of 120 Marks in JEE Main 2026: Expected Percentile, Rank, and NIT Admission Prospects

120 Marks in JEE Main 2026: Expected Percentile, Rank & NIT Admission Chances

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is one of the most competitive engineering entrance exams in India. Every year, lakhs of students appear for the exam with the aim of securing admission into top institutes such as NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and qualifying for JEE Advanced.

If you are expecting or have scored 120 marks in JEE Main 2026, this article will help you understand:

What percentile you may get
Your possible All India Rank
Whether NIT admission is possible
Your eligibility for JEE Advanced

Is 120 Marks a Good Score in JEE Main 2026?

A score of 120 out of 300 in JEE Main is considered a decent to good score. While it may not be sufficient for top NITs or premium branches like CSE in leading institutes, it can still open doors to:

Mid-tier NITs
IIITs
GFTIs
State quota seats
JEE Advanced qualification

However, the actual outcome depends heavily on factors such as:

Difficulty level of the exam
Total number of candidates
Shift-wise normalization

JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Percentile: What to Expect at 120 Marks

The National Testing Agency (NTA) calculates results based on percentile scores, not raw marks. Percentile indicates how many candidates you have scored better than.

Based on previous year trends, a score of 120 marks generally corresponds to the following percentile range:

Expected Percentile for 120 Marks

Approximate Percentile: 96 – 97.5
This means you have performed better than 96–97% of candidates.

Note: These values are indicative and may vary depending on exam difficulty and normalization.

Expected Rank for 120 Marks in JEE Main 2026

Ranks in JEE Main depend on the total number of test-takers in that year. Assuming a similar participation level as previous years:

Estimated Rank Range

Expected Rank: 25,000 – 40,000 (All India Rank)

This rank range can fluctuate based on:

Number of candidates
Percentile cutoffs
Category-wise reservation

Category-wise JEE Main Cutoff Trends (Previous Years)

Understanding past cutoff trends helps in estimating eligibility for JEE Advanced and counselling.

Category	Expected Cutoff Percentile
General	~93+
OBC-NCL	~79+
SC	~60+
ST	~46+
EWS	~80+

With 120 marks (~96+ percentile), candidates from all categories are expected to clear the cutoff comfortably.

JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Percentile (Expected)

JEE Main Marks (Raw Score)	Expected Percentile Range
115 – 116	96.10 – 96.30
117 – 118	96.30 – 96.55
119 – 120 (e.g., 120)	96.70 – 97.40
121 – 122	97.55 – 97.80
123 – 124	97.80 – 98.05
125 – 126	98.05 – 98.15

JEE Main 2026 Expected Percentile vs Rank (AIR)

JEE Main Percentile	Expected Rank (AIR)
98.1 – 98.2	1,35,000 – 1,45,000
98.0 – 98.1	1,45,000 – 1,55,000
97.9 – 98.0	1,55,000 – 1,65,000
97.8 – 97.9	1,65,000 – 1,75,000
97.7 – 97.8	1,75,000 – 1,85,000
97.6 – 97.7	1,85,000 – 1,95,000
97.5 – 97.6	1,95,000 – 2,05,000
97.4 – 97.5	2,05,000 – 2,15,000
97.3 – 97.4	2,15,000 – 2,25,000
97.2 – 97.3	2,25,000 – 2,35,000
97.1 – 97.2	2,35,000 – 2,45,000
97.0 – 97.1	2,45,000 – 2,55,000

How to calculate JEE Main 2026 Percentile?

Percentile Type	Formula
Total Percentile (T1P)	Total Percentile = 100 × {No. of candidates in session with raw score ≤ T score} \ {Total no. of candidates appeared in session}
Mathematics Percentile (M1P)	( 100 × No. of candidates in session with Maths raw score ≤ M1 score) / (Total no. of candidates appeared in session)
Physics Percentile (P1P)	( 100 × No. of candidates in session with Physics raw score ≤ P1 score) / (Total no. of candidates appeared in session)
Chemistry Percentile (C1P)	( 100 × No. of candidates in session with Chemistry raw score ≤ C1 score) / (Total no. of candidates appeared in session)

Where You Can Apply With ~120 Marks in JEE Main

Category of Institute	Typical Admission Chances With ~120 Marks (~96–97%ile / ~30,000–60,000 Rank)	Notes
Mid & Lower Tier NITs	Good chance for branches such as Civil, Mechanical, EEE, etc.	Possible especially with Home State quota; reserved categories improve chances
Newer / Less Competitive NITs	Higher chance of admission for many branches	Examples include NITs with historically higher closing ranks for lower demand branches
IIITs (Lower Tier)	Reasonable chance in non-core branches	Top IIITs may require better ranks, but many IIITs have closing ranks where 120 score candidates can get seats
GFTIs (Government-Funded Technical Institutes)	Strong likelihood of admission across various branches	Often more accessible with ranks in this range
State Engineering Colleges (via JEE Main)	High probability especially in less competitive states	Many state colleges use JEE Main score for admission
Private Engineering Colleges	Very likely with a 120 score	Almost all private colleges accepting JEE Main scores will consider this level
JEE Advanced Eligibility	Likely qualifies you to appear for JEE Advanced	If percentile meets the cutoff threshold (around 93–94), qualification is probable

Key Points to Remember:

A score of around 120 marks is typically associated with a percentile in the 95–97 range and an estimated rank between ~30,000–60,000 (this can vary by year and exam session).
Top NITs (like NIT Trichy, NIT Surathkal, NIT Warangal) and top IIITs (like IIIT Hyderabad/IIIT Delhi) usually require much higher percentiles/ranks, so admission into those with 120 marks is unlikely for most candidates.
Home State quota and reservation categories can significantly improve your chances of getting desirable branches in NITs/IIITs.

Institutes You Can Consider with Around 120 Marks (~96–97 Percentile)

Institute Category	Institutes / Examples	Typical Admission Possibilities
National Institutes of Technology (NITs)	NIT Srinagar NIT Nagaland NIT Uttarakhand NIT Jamshedpur NIT Bhopal (MANIT) NIT Jalandhar NIT Silchar NIT Jaipur	Admission likely in mid-tier NITs and many branches depending on category & home-state quota.
Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)	IIITs accepting ~96–97 percentile	Many IIITs are possible, especially in non-core branches or new IIITs (check specific branch cutoffs in counselling).
Government-Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs)	Various GFTIs that accept ~96–97 percentile	Good chances for many GFTIs across India in popular and elective branches.
State Engineering Colleges	State-level colleges participating in JoSAA	High probability of admission through JEE Main counselling, depending on state quotas and cutoffs.
Private Engineering Colleges	Many private & deemed universities	Very likely admission with 120 marks; options vary widely by branch & location.
JEE Advanced Eligibility	Qualification to appear for JEE Advanced	120 marks (~96–97 percentile) typically meets the JEE Advanced screening threshold.

Notes on Specific Institutes:

Mid-Tier NITs

NIT Srinagar
NIT Nagaland
NIT Uttarakhand
NIT Jamshedpur
MANIT Bhopal
NIT Jalandhar
NIT Silchar
NIT Jaipur
(These are examples of NITs where students with ~97 percentile have historically secured seats depending on branch & quota.)

IIITs & GFTIs

Many IIITs consider lower percentiles than top NITs.
GFTIs often admit candidates with a wider range of ranks depending on branch demand.

Private Colleges & State Colleges

A wide range of private engineering colleges accept JEE Main scores around this percentile.
State colleges participating in JoSAA can be good options — state quota can improve chances for specific candidates.

Important Considerations

Branch and Category Matter: Even within the same institute, cutoffs vary by branch (e.g., CSE vs Mechanical) and category (GEN/OBC/SC/ST/EWS).
Home-State Quota: Can significantly enhance chances at NITs.
Counselling Rounds: Early rounds are more competitive; chances increase in later rounds if preferred choices are flexible.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Can I apply for Manipal University with 120 marks in JEE Main 2026?

Yes, candidates scoring around 120 marks in JEE Main can apply to Manipal University. However, admission to Manipal is primarily based on MET (Manipal Entrance Test) ranks. JEE Main scores may be considered for specific programs or counselling rounds, subject to university norms.

Q2. Is 120 marks enough to get admission into NITs?

With 120 marks in JEE Main 2026, candidates may get admission into mid or lower-ranked NITs, mainly in less competitive branches such as Civil, Chemical, or Production Engineering. Chances improve with home-state quota or reserved category.

Q3. What percentile can I expect with 120 marks in JEE Main 2026?

Based on previous year trends, 120 marks in JEE Main are expected to correspond to a percentile range of approximately 96 to 97.5. The exact percentile may vary due to normalization and exam difficulty.

Q4. Can I qualify for JEE Advanced with 120 marks in JEE Main?

Yes, candidates scoring around 120 marks usually fall well above the JEE Advanced qualifying cutoff (generally around 93 percentile for the General category). Hence, qualifying for JEE Advanced 2026 is likely, subject to official cutoff announcements.

Q5. Apart from NITs, which other colleges can I apply to with 120 marks?

Apart from NITs, candidates can apply to:

IIITs (especially newer or lower-tier ones)
Government-Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs)
State engineering colleges accepting JEE Main scores
Private and deemed universities

Admission depends on rank, category, branch preference, and counselling rounds.