Quick Summary: Getting 98 percentile in JEE Main 2026 usually needs around 140–150 marks out of 300, though marks can change based on paper level and shift difficulty. This percentile means a student is in the top 2% of all candidates. Balanced scores in Physics, Chemistry, and Maths are important because percentile is calculated using a normalization method. The blog explains marks vs percentile meaning, subject-wise score range, rank idea, chances in top NITs, and why knowing trends helps plan preparation better.
98 Percentile in JEE Mains Marks 2026 – Students can check complete details about 98 Percentile in JEE Mains Marks 2026 on this page. Knowing how marks link with percentile helps candidates plan their preparation better for the JEE Main exam. For 98 percentile in JEE Mains marks, the score is expected to stay between 147 and 174. The JEE Main marks vs percentile 2026 mainly depends on the exam difficulty shift-wise and the overall performance of students. Session 1 of the JEE Main 2026 exam will be conducted from January 21 to 30, 2026, and Session 2 is scheduled from April 1 to 10, 2026.
Achieving a good percentile in JEE Mains is a big concern for all engineering aspirants preparing for JEE Main. Many students know the percentile needed for their preferred college, but they usually have only a basic idea of the marks needed for that percentile. In the JEE Mains exam, percentile is not equal to marks. Marks for a specific percentile change every year depending on paper difficulty and overall student performance. Still, based on previous year trends, an analysis of the expected marks for 98 percent in JEE Main is given below. Aspirants can check the marks against 98 per cent in this article for JEE Main Exam 2026.
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What is 98 Percentile In JEE Mains Marks 2026?
98 percentile in JEE Mains Marks 2026 is expected to lie between 140–150 marks. The exact marks may change slightly based on the paper level, total number of candidates appearing, and overall performance trend. However, in most past years, students scoring within this range have achieved the 98 percentile. This means scoring 98 percentile generally places a student in the top 2% of all examinees.
98 Percentile In JEE Mains Marks 2026
Getting a high percentile in the JEE Main exam is very important for engineering admissions for students. 98 Percentile In JEE Mains Marks 2026 clearly shows a strong and impressive performance in the exam. NTA announces results in percentile form and not as raw marks for students. A candidate can expect a specific marks range for a given percentile, depending on the paper difficulty level and how other candidates perform.
Expected JEE Mains Marks for 98 Percentile 2026
The following table provides approximate marks that are required at various percentile ranges. These values are forecasted with reference to the last year trends and opinion of experts. The mentioned marks are among 300 marks. This helps students understand what the JEE Main score at 98 percentile actually means.
| JEE Main Performance Level (Percentile Wise) | Approximate Marks Range Expected |
| Candidates scoring above 99 percentile | 175 marks or more |
| Students securing nearly 98 percentile | Between 147 and 150 marks |
| Aspirants close to 98.1 percentile level | Around 150 to 152 marks |
| Students falling near 98.2 percentile | Roughly 152 to 155 marks |
| Candidates at about 98.3 percentile range | Between 155 and 158 marks |
| Students scoring near 98.4 percentile | Approximately 158 to 160 marks |
| Candidates achieving close to 98.5 percentile | Around 160 to 162 marks |
| Students near the 98.6 percentile mark | Nearly 162 to 166 marks |
| Candidates falling around 98.7 percentile | About 166 to 168 marks |
| Students close to 98.8 percentile score | Roughly 168 to 171 marks |
| Candidates nearing 98.9 percentile | Between 171 and 174 marks |
Check Out: What is a Good NTA Score in JEE Main 2026?
Subject-wise Percentile in JEE Mains Marks 2026
Students should also try to score well in each subject. This assists in obtaining the better overall percentile. The tables shared below show the expected marks for 98 percentile and above in each subject for JEE Main 2026.
| Subject-Wise Score Range for 98+ Percentile in JEE Main 2026 | |||
| Overall Percentile Range | Mathematics Score (Approx.) | Chemistry Score (Approx.) | Physics Score (Approx.) |
| 99.5 Percentile & Above | 60 marks or more | 71 marks and above | 87 marks and above |
| 99 to 99.5 Percentile | Between 50 to 60 marks | Around 65 to 71 marks | Nearly 82 to 87 marks |
| 98 to 99 Percentile | Roughly 41 to 50 marks | About 58 to 65 marks | Close to 76 to 82 mark |
Marks for 98 Percentile in JEE Mains Physics
A clear understanding of the projected marks in Physics in JEE Main 2026 based on the various percentile ranges is provided in the table below, which gives students the idea as to how their score can interpret to a Physics percentile.
| Physics Score Range (Marks) | Approximate Physics Percentile |
| 87 marks and above | Around 99.5+ percentile |
| 82 – 87 marks | Close to 99 percentile |
| 76 – 82 marks | Nearly 98 percentile |
| 71 – 76 marks | About 97 percentile |
| 67 – 71 marks | Around 96 percentile |
| 64 – 67 marks | Nearly 95 percentile |
| 60 – 64 marks | About 94 percentile |
| 57 – 60 marks | Close to 93 percentile |
| 55 – 57 marks | Around 92 percentile |
| 52 – 55 marks | Nearly 91 percentile |
| 49 – 52 marks | About 90 percentile |
| 42 – 49 marks | Around 80 percentile |
| 35 – 42 marks | Nearly 70 percentile |
| 30 – 35 marks | About 60 percentile |
Check Out: JEE Main 2026 Normalization Process: How to Calculate Scores and Percentile in JEE?
Marks for 98 Percentile in JEE Mains Chemistry
Check this table to understand how your expected Chemistry marks in JEE Main 2026 may correspond to your likely percentile.
| Chemistry Score Range (Marks) | Likely JEE Main 2026 Percentile |
| 71 marks and above | 99.5+ percentile |
| 65 – 71 marks | Around 99 percentile |
| 58 – 65 marks | 98+ percentile |
| 54 – 58 marks | 97+ percentile |
| 50 – 54 marks | 96+ percentile |
| 47 – 50 marks | 95+ percentile |
| 44 – 47 marks | 94+ percentile |
| 42 – 44 marks | 93+ percentile |
| 40 – 42 marks | 92+ percentile |
| 38 – 40 marks | 91+ percentile |
| 36 – 38 marks | 90+ percentile |
| 30 – 36 marks | 80+ percentile |
| 25 – 30 marks | 70+ percentile |
| 17 – 25 marks | 60+ percentile |
Check Out: How To Score High Marks in JEE Main Maths Paper 2026?
Marks for 98 Percentile in JEE Mains Maths
The table below gives an idea of how many marks in Mathematics are generally needed to achieve different percentiles in JEE Main 2026.
| JEE Main 2026 Percentile (Maths) | Approximate Marks |
| Above 99.5 percentile | 60+ |
| 99 percentile and above | 50 – 60 |
| 98 percentile and above | 41 – 50 |
| 97 percentile and above | 35 – 41 |
| 96 percentile and above | 32 – 35 |
| 95 percentile and above | 28 – 32 |
| 94 percentile and above | 26 – 28 |
| 93 percentile and above | 25 – 26 |
| 92 percentile and above | 23 – 25 |
| 91 percentile and above | 21 – 23 |
| 90 percentile and above | 20 – 21 |
| 80 percentile and above | 16 – 20 |
| 70 percentile and above | 11 – 16 |
| 60 percentile and above | 8 – 11 |
Is 98 a good percentile in JEE Main 2026?
Scoring 98 percentile in the JEE Main Exam is considered a very good achievement. Aspirants can get admission in top colleges like NIT Rourkela, NIT Trichy, NIT Surathkal, and others. Scoring 98 percentile in JEE Main is not easy due to the tough level of the exam. Also, candidates with 98 percent are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced.
Candidates who score 98 percentile in the JEE Main Exam can also choose to appear again in session 2 to aim for 100 percentile. It is not easy, but it is possible. Aspirants have to work more, take (take with a grain of salt idiom synonym) more mock tests and complete numerous question papers.
Check Out: How to Score 100 Percentile in JEE Main 2026 April Session?
Key Rules of 98 Percentile In JEE Mains Marks 2026
The JEE Main exam result system follows clear rules. Knowing these rules helps students understand What is 98 Percentile in JEE Mains Marks 2026? and predict marks and rank.
- Normalization Process: The NTA uses a normalization method to decide 98 Percentile In JEE Mains Marks 2026 This method balances score changes caused by different paper difficulty levels across exam shifts. Raw marks are converted into an NTA score, called the percentile. This method keeps the JEE Main marks vs percentile 2026 system fair for all candidates.
- Percentile Calculation: Percentile indicates the percentage of students who have scored the same or lower in comparison to a certain mark. E.g. a 98 percentile indicates that 98 out of 100 students scored at the same or lower. A higher percentile means a good percentile in JEE Mains compared to others. This method decides what is the JEE Main score at 98 percentile.
- Marks Vs. Percentile Fluctuation: The marks needed for a certain percentile change every year. This depends on paper difficulty and the number of students in the JEE Main 2026 exam. Thus, shared marks are just (just in case definition) expected values. Students should aim for the higher side of the expected marks for 98 percentile.
FAQs on 98 Percentile In JEE Mains Marks 2026
Q: What is 98 Percentile in JEE Mains Marks 2026?
The 98-percentile classification in JEE Main 2025 occurs because students tend to have a score near 160-180 out of 300. The final number changes with the level of difficulty of each exam shift, but it mostly stays between about 147 to 174+ marks, which generally gives a rank somewhere around 20,000 to 30,000.
Q: Is 98 percentile enough to get admission in NIT?
Yes, getting into NITs with a 98 percentile in JEE Main exam is possible, mainly for core branches and even some Computer Science (CSE) seats in newer or North-Eastern NITs. Nevertheless, even NIT CSE seats are competitive without Home State quota or reservation benefits and ranks around 11k-22k may offer NIT Hamirpur, Goa, Silchar, and Durgapur among other options despite IIITs also being good options.
Q: Can 150 marks lead to 98 percentile?
Yes, the 150 marks in JEE Main are typically in the 98+ percentile bracket, and may be very near 98 to 99 percentile. However, the exact result may change a little depending on paper difficulty and total students. This score is considered very strong and offers good chances for NITs and IIITs, though category and shift level also matter.
Q: Why is Subject Wise Percentile important in JEE Mains Marks 2026?
Subject-wise percentile in JEE Mains is important to understand strength in each subject, plan focused study, and act as a tie-breaker (Maths > Physics > Chemistry) when total scores match. It affects final rank and college admission, balances scores across shifts, and shows weak areas for improving overall performance.
Q: Can 98 percentile get me into top engineering colleges?
Yes, 98 percentile is a good and competitive score that tends to grant the student admission in most of the best engineering colleges, provided that they meet other necessary requirements, such as board marks and entrance exam marks requirements.
Q: Is 98 percentile a good percentile in JEE Main?
Yes, a good percentile in JEE Mains like 98 is seen as very strong, placing students in the top 2% of candidates. It tends to get them into good NITs, IIITs and GFTIs, as well as enable them to write JEE Advance particularly core branches such as CSE, depending on category and cutoff.
Q: Is 98 percentile in JEE Mains marks good for CSE?
A 98 Percentile In JEE Mains Marks 2026 is widely seen as an excellent result, and it gives a high chance of getting admission in the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) branch at many reputed engineering colleges, including the National Institutes of Technology (NITs).
