Quick Summary: A lot of students would desire to be in a position to know their JEE Main score prior to the announcement of the result. This blog describes how you would use the answer key and response sheet of JEE Main 2026 to compute your marks. According to the marking scheme, you will receive 4 marks when answering correctly, and 1 mark will be deducted when the answer is wrong. The provisional answer key should arrive at the beginning of February. In this blog, we have also explained step-by-step calculations, key dates, and score vs percentile details to help students understand their performance better.
How to Calculate Marks using JEE Main 2026 Answer Key: The National Testing Agency (NTA) will publish the official JEE Main answer key 2026 for the Session 1 examination on February 4. Although the final results are expected to be declared by February 12, 2026, candidates do not need to wait till then to know how they have performed. With the help of the provisional JEE Main answer key, students can check the correct responses marked in the question paper. By following the marking rules shared by NTA, candidates can calculate marks using JEE Main answer key with almost exact accuracy in advance. Along with the answer key, JEE Main 2026 response sheets and official question papers will also be released. The JEE Mains answer key will be available online on the official website (idioms website) jeemain.nta.nic.in.
Using the provisional answer key, candidates can calculate the marks scored in the JEE Main exam 2026 even before the results are officially announced. To do this correctly, students must apply the official marking scheme strictly as per the JEE Mains exam pattern. NTA also provides a formula that helps students estimate their expected marks. Read further to understand clearly how to calculate marks using JEE Mains 2026 answer key.
Read More:
- JEE Main 2026 Admission Requirements (Out)
- JEE Main 2026 Cutoff Prediction: Category-Wise Qualifying and Safe Marks
Key Dates for JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Answer Key
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JEE Main 2026 Session 1: Important Answer Key & Result Dates |
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| Stage of Process | Expected Timeline |
| Release of provisional JEE Main 2026 answer key | Between February 3 and February 6, 2026 |
| Period to submit objections or challenges | Within 2 to 3 days after the answer key is released |
| Availability of final answer key and JEE Main result | On or before February 12, 2026 |
JEE Main Answer Key
The JEE Main answer key is an official record released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) that contains the correct answers for all questions asked in the examination.
There are two different types of answer key:
- Provisional Answer Key: Released first, which allows candidates to challenge any incorrect answer by paying a fee for each question.
- Final Answer Key: Released after reviewing all objections, and this version is used for preparing the official result.
JEE Main Answer Key 2026: Steps to Download
The JEE Main 2026 provisional answer key will be released through online mode. To download the answer key, candidates can follow the steps given below.
- Visit jeemain.nta.nic.in
- Click on the link for the provisional answer key
- Log in using the JEE Main application number and password
- Download the provisional answer key PDF.
Check Out: How Many Students Qualify for JEE Advanced from JEE Main 2026?
Important information for calculating marks using the JEE Main Answer key
To calculate marks using JEE Main answer key, candidates must keep some basic details ready so the calculation process becomes easy and quick. These details help in estimating secured marks before the JEE Mains result 2026 is announced. The required information is mentioned below.
- JEE Main 2026 provisional answer key
- Candidate’s personal JEE Main response sheet
- JEE Main official marking scheme for right and wrong answers.
Check Out: How To Calculate JEE Main 2026 Rank From NTA Percentile Score
How to calculate marks using JEE Main 2026 answer key?
Candidates can download the provisional JEE Main answer key 2026 and use it to calculate expected marks scored in the exam. The JEE Main response sheet should also be downloaded so that answers marked by candidates can be matched with correct responses. The steps explaining how to calculate marks using JEE Main answer key are shared below.
- Download JEE Mains 2026 answer key along with the response sheet.
- Compare individual answers with the correct ones given.
- Candidates should note down both correct and incorrect responses.
- Use the official marking scheme for final calculation.
- The total obtained will be the probable marks scored in the exam.
The same formula can also be used to calculate JEE Main scores:
| 4*(Number of Correct Answers) – 1*(Number of Wrong Answers) = Candidate’s Scores |
JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme
NTA releases complete details related to the JEE Main marking scheme through the JEE Main exam 2026 pattern. Candidates can understand how marks are awarded for correct and incorrect answers through the table provided below.
| Candidate’s Attempt Status | Marks Given |
| Answer matched correctly | +4 marks added |
| Answer found incorrect | −1 mark deducted |
| Question left unattempted | 0 marks awarded |
| Marked for review only | 0 marks considered |
Check Out: What is a Good NTA Score in JEE Main 2026?
What is JEE Main response sheet 2026?
Along with the provisional answer key, candidates are also allowed to access the JEE Main 2026 response sheets. This response sheet shows the answers selected by candidates during the exam. These recorded responses are useful because they can be compared with the JEE Mains answer key to find out the number of correct and wrong answers marked in the entrance examination. After logging in, candidates will also be able to view the JEE Main 2026 question paper.
Response Sheet vs. Answer Key: What is the Difference?
Many students are unsure about the difference between a response sheet and an answer key, even though both are used for separate reasons.
- Response Sheet: This shows your own performance. It only displays the answers you selected. It does not tell whether those answers are correct or incorrect.
- Provisional Answer Key: Released by NTA at the same time, it carries the correct option IDs for every question asked.
To calculate marks using JEE Main answer key, candidates must keep the JEE Main 2026 response sheets and the answer key open together for comparison.
Check Out: JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Rank vs Percentile
JEE Main 2026 Score vs Percentile
The JEE Main score means the raw marks scored out of 300, whereas the percentile or NTA score shows the percentage of candidates who scored equal to or less than a student in that session. Percentile is used to adjust marks across different shifts and prepare a fair rank list. The JEE Main score vs percentile 2026 data shows that competition becomes very tough at higher score levels.
- Candidates scoring above 200 marks may reach the 99.9+ percentile, where even one mark can impact ranking.
- Scores between 180 and 199 usually fall in the 99.5 to 99.9 percentile range, which is enough to qualify for JEE Advanced.
- Marks from 150 to 179 generally fall between the 98 and 99.2 percentile, suitable for leading NITs and IIITs.
- When marks go below 150, the percentile drops sharply and usually stays between 92 and 96 percentiles.
| Score Range (Marks) | Expected Performance Level | Approximate Percentile Band | Admission Outlook |
| Above 200 | Exceptional score | 99.9 to 100 | Falls among top scorers; includes national-level toppers |
| 180 to 199 | Very high score | 99.5 to 99.9 | Strong chance to qualify for JEE Advanced |
| 150 to 179 | High score | 98 to 99.2 | Good probability of admission in top NITs and IIITs |
| 120 to 149 | Decent score | 96 to 98 | Competitive range for several branches in reputed NITs |
| 90 to 119 | Average score | 92 to 96 | Possible chances in newer NITs or through state quota |
| 60 to 89 | Low score | 83 to 92 | Limited options; mostly lower-preference colleges |
| Below 60 | Very low score | Below 80 | Difficult to secure seats in major engineering institutes |
How to Challenge Provisional JEE Main Answer key 2026?
Candidates will be allowed to raise objections against the JEE Main answer key 2026 between February 4 and February 5.
- To submit a challenge, candidates must log in, choose the question ID or answer ID, and add it to the claims list.
- For each question, a fee of INR 200 must be paid online through credit card, debit card, net banking, UPI, or PayTM.
- This fee is non refundable. However, NTA will refund the amount if the objection is accepted.
Note: After the deadline, no further challenges will be accepted.
JEE Main 2026 Result
NTA will declare the JEE Mains result 2026 for Session 1 by February 12. To view the result, candidates need to log in using their application number and date of birth or password. The result will show subject-wise percentile and overall percentile scores obtained in the exam. Candidates should understand how to calculate JEE Main percentile score, as raw marks are converted into percentile by NTA using the official formula.
FAQs on How to Calculate Marks Using JEE Main Answer Key 2026
Q: When will the JEE Mains 2026 answer key be released?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to make the JEE Main 2026 provisional answer key for Session 1 available on February 4, 2026. The answer key, response sheet and question papers of the question papers will be accessible to the candidates on jeemain.nta.nic.in and also the window to raise an objection is open between February 4 and 5, 2026.
Q: What are memory-based answer keys in JEE Main?
JEE-Main has unofficial answer key sets prepared by coaching institutes and made available to students instantly after the exam and this is based on memory. These keys are created using questions recalled by students and help candidates roughly calculate scores and ranks before the official JEE Main answer key is released, usually within 3 to 5 days after the exam ends.
Q: How can I calculate marks using JEE Main answer key?
To calculate marks in JEE Main exam 2026, candidates need to download their JEE Main response sheet and the provisional answer key from the official NTA website. You should compare your marked answers with the correct answers, then add the marks of the right answers (4 marks) and deduct the marks of the wrong ones (1 mark), because of negative marking, MCQs and Section B. Unattempted questions will have 0 marks.
Q: Which website shows the official JEE Main answer key 2026?
The official website to view the JEE Main answer key 2026 is jeemain.nta.nic.in. Candidates can log in using their application number and date of birth or password to download the provisional answer key, response sheet, and question papers. The answer key is released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for both sessions.
Q: My answers do not match the JEE Main response sheet. What should I do?
If the answers you selected are different from what appears in the JEE Main 2026 response sheets, you should submit an objection during the 2-to-3-day challenge window available on the official NTA website. Candidates shall submit supportive information such as question ID and answer claimed, and submit a non-refundable fee of 200 on a question in order to review it.
Q: Where will the JEE Main answer key link be provided?
The link for the JEE Main 2026 provisional answer key will be published on the official NTA website, jeemain.nta.nic.in, around February 4, 2026, for Session 1. The answer key, response sheet and question paper are downloadable by the candidates through their application number and date of birth.
Q: How can I check the response sheet of JEE Mains?
To view the JEE Main response sheet, candidates need to visit (idioms dictionary) jeemain.nta.nic.in or jeemain.nta.ac.in, log in using their Application Number and Date of Birth or Password, and open the “View Question Paper” or “Response Sheet” option. It shows the responses chosen by the candidates in regards to every question.
