JEE Main Number of Attempts 2026: Which Score will be Considered? [Explained]

The JEE Main number of attempts 2026 is 6 in a period of 3 years in succession. A candidate is eligible to attempt the JEE Main for up to three consecutive years, starting from the year they pass their Class 12 exams. Therefore, a candidate may select any session from among the available sessions over the next three years.

Now the candidate can appear in both the sessions of JEE Main 2026, and the best one out of all attempts will be taken as the final score and used to allocate the All India Rank to each candidate (provided that those attempts are of the same year as for which the AIR is being allotted).

JEE Main Number of Attempts 2026

The JEE Main number of attempts 2026, as specified by NTA, is six. If the person is satisfied with just one attempt, that person can leave it and wait for the AIRs to be announced. But that is just a few exceptional cases, and generally following benefits can be sought by the person if they go for several attempts:

• If you could not achieve your desired score in the first attempt of JEE Main, do not get disheartened.
• It will serve as a learning curve. You will gather experience of giving the real exam and learn from this failure.
• With more attempts at hand, one is more likely to get a satisfactory result and would not be forced into dropping a year for the sake of some minor mistake that one might make.
• In case of an injury, sickness, or any other unforeseeable circumstance due to which one might not be able to give the paper, it serves as more backup to not have to suffer for something out of their hands.
• Additionally, it gives more chances to improve the score.

JEE Main Related Articles 

JEE Main 2026 Schedule

All the exact information regarding JEE Main 2026 exam dates are yet to be published by the NTA. Candidates can check the expected JEE Main dates mentioned in the table below. 

JEE Main Score Card Validity

As for the validity, the scorecard is only valid for the year for which the candidate appeared. So, the paper attempted in 2026 will be valid for getting admission in the academic year 2026-25 and can not be carried forward to next year. Additionally, NTA releases the scorecards after the JEE Main results are declared for each phase.

Also Check: JEE Main Marks vs Rank 2026

How to Attempt JEE Main 2026 Online Paper?

After the form filling and registration, we come to the next question, how to attempt for JEE Main online paper? Well, for starters, JEE Main will be conducted in a CBT (Computer Based Test) mode, which means that students attempt the exam on a designated system over the internet.

It starts by stating several instructions and an appropriate disclaimer that all the candidates accept (for which students are given time separately from the exam time to get through with them). The question palette for JEE Main 2026 will have the following colour scheme:

JEE Main 2026 Attempts Limit Impact on Cutoff and Admissions

The JEE Main score is available for that particular year only, which means there is no carry forward. So, for example, if you appear for the 2026 exams, your score is valid only for 2026.

Admissions are provided based on marks of that particular year. It will increase the JEE Main cutoff and stir an air competition among the candidates. Toppers appear for all the attempts and thus increase the cutoff, and the admission process becomes tougher.

Read More: JEE Main Preparation Guidelines 2026

Eligibility for the JEE Main 2026 Attempt

Aspirants wondering about the JEE Main number of attempts 2026 can check the eligibility here. In JEE Main, students can appear for three consecutive years, starting from passing their class 12 exam. So, for example, a student could sit in JEE 2026 only if they passed out of class 12 in 2023 or any subsequent years. 

• For B.Tech admission, a student must have compulsorily studied Physics and Mathematics and any subject among Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biology and Technical Vocational subject in class 12 with at least passing marks in each subject.
• For B.Arch, aspirants must have passed class 12 or its equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
• For B.Plan, candidates must have Mathematics in class 12.
• A diploma holder is not eligible for the entrance exam.