How is JEE Main Percentile Calculated?

JEE Main percentile = (Number of candidates who scored equal to or less than you in that session ÷ Total candidates in that session) × 100. This is different from percentage. A 99 percentile means you scored better than 99% of all candidates — not that you got 99 marks.

The Percentile Formula with Examples

The NTA uses the following official formula to calculate JEE Main percentile scores:

NTA Score = (N ≤ candidate / Total N) × 100
where N ≤ candidate = number of candidates scoring equal to or below your raw marks

Worked Example

Suppose 10,00,000 students appeared in Session 2 of JEE Main. You scored 210 marks. Let's say 9,60,000 students scored 210 or below. Your NTA Score would be:

NTA Score = (9,60,000 ÷ 10,00,000) × 100 = 96.0 percentile

This means you scored better than 96% of all candidates in that session. Your rank would be approximately in the top 4% — around 40,000 rank range.

Percentile vs Percentage – Key Differences

Aspect	Percentile	Percentage
What it measures	Your relative rank among all candidates	Your marks out of total
Scale	0 to 100	0 to 100
Depends on	Other students' performance	Your own marks only
Example	99 percentile = top 1% students	99% = 297/300 marks
Used for	JEE Main ranking, counselling	Board exams, eligibility
Can two people share same?	Yes (same session score)	Yes (same raw marks)

Why Does JEE Main Use Percentile Instead of Raw Marks?

JEE Main is conducted across multiple sessions with different question papers. A paper in Session 1 may be harder than Session 2, making raw marks incomparable. For example, scoring 180 in a hard session should be rewarded more than scoring 180 in an easy session.

By using percentile (relative rank within a session), NTA ensures fair comparison. A candidate who scored 180 in a hard session where 90% scored below 180 will get a higher percentile than someone who scored 180 in an easy session where only 70% scored below 180.

How Session-Wise Percentiles Are Merged

After calculating separate session percentiles, NTA takes your best NTA Scoreacross all sessions you appeared in. This becomes your final NTA Score for rank determination. A combined merit list of all candidates is then prepared, and ranks are assigned based on the final NTA Score (with tie-breaking rules applied when needed).