How many attempts for JEE Mains in 2026?

If you are a student preparing for JEE Mains 2026, then one of the most important things that you need to understand is the number of chances you can get to appear for the exam. Since millions of engineering aspirants sit for the JEE exam, which makes it a stepping stone towards securing admission from one of the top engineering colleges in India.

This includes the prestigious IITs along with IIITs, NITs and GFTIs. Therefore, understanding the attempt limit along with the relevant rules associated with it can help you manage your preparation timeline in an efficient manner. Unfortunately, manage students are dependent on outdated information, rumours and guesswork, which greatly affects their preparation strategy.

Therefore, it is necessary to clear all the confusion around it, including the number of attempts allowed, associated admission possibilities, JEE Main Eligibility Criteria, and exam sessions. This article will help you understand all this, along with more, to ensure that you develop a dedicated and informed path towards your JEE Mains exam and pursue a promising engineering career.

How Many Attempts Are Allowed in JEE Mains 2026?

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is responsible for conducting the JEE Mains exam and has allowed only two attempts for the candidate every year, which occur in January and April. So, for JEE Mains 2026, you will get 2 attempts:

• Session 1: January 2026

• Session 2: April 2026

So, one question that might be asked is, ‘How many total attempts can a student use across years?’

NTA allows a student to appear for JEE Main for three consecutive years after Class 12. This means that you get 2 attempts per year for 3 years with a total of 6 attempts. This includes the year you completed Class 12 and the next two years.

For instance, if you pass Class 12 in 2024, you can appear in:

• JEE Main 2024 (2 attempts)

• JEE Main 2025 (2 attempts)

• Mains 2026 (2 attempts)

This makes JEE Main one of the most flexible national-level exams in terms of attempts.

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria for Attempts

In order to appear for the entrance exam, there are certain JEE Main Eligibility Criteria, which are as follows:

• There is no upper age limit for candidates to appear for the exam.

• You must have cleared Class 12 or equivalent in 2024, 2025, or be appearing in 2026.

• You can appear for six total attempts across three years, irrespective of whether you passed or failed in earlier attempts.

Students who passed Class 12 before 2024 cannot appear in JEE Mains 2026.

Why Does NTA Allow Multiple Attempts?

After knowing the number of attempts a candidate is allowed to take in JEE Mains, you might wonder why NTA provide students with two attempts in the same year. Some of the most genuine reasons behind this include:

• Reduced pressure: Since JEE Main is one of the most competitive exams, giving two attempts in the same here allows students to minimise stress and pressure in order to prove themselves.

• Improve to performance: Most of the candidates perform much better in the second attempt, as the initial attempt helps them better understand the environment and exam pattern.

• Better normalisation: Multiple sessions also reduce the unfair advantages due to difficult exam slots.

• Flexibility: Students who are appearing for the board exam get the flexibility to sit on the January session of the JEE Main exam and then focus on the boards, followed by another attempt in the April session.

• JEE advanced opportunity: Maine students also qualify for the JEE advanced by appearing in the April session, even if they did not perform well in January.

These are some of the reasons why JEE Main is considered student-friendly as compared to other entrance exams.

JEE Mains Exam Dates 2026

There is no official announcement by the authority regarding the JEE Mains Exam Dates for 2026. However, based on the past year's trends, the schedule can be highly predictable as it follows a similar structure.

Expected Timeline for JEE Mains 2026

• Session 1: 1st–2nd week of January 2026

• Session 2: 1st–2nd week of April 2026

• Application Forms: November 2025 (Session 1), February 2026 (Session 2)

• Admit Cards: 5–7 days before the exam

• Result Declaration: 10–14 days after each session

Students should keep checking the official website for updates regarding changes or confirmations.

Does Using All Six Attempts Give an Advantage?

One of the major doubts among the students is that weather this is considered attempting all six chances of JEE Main or only focusing on the first few attempts. To understand this, we need to first evaluate the benefits and challenges of taking all the attempts of the exam.

When to take more attempts

• Aspirants can improve their performance with practice and learning from their mistakes.

• Candidates can also consider dropping a year and focus completely on the preparation to utilise all the chances.

• If your initial attempts do not go well, you can significantly improve on them in later attempts.

• Your initial performance will not be in line with your actual capability.

When taking more attempts is disadvantageous

• You continue to repeat the same mistakes in every session without improving.

• You are not evaluating the mock test carefully.

• You are only sitting on the exam to use the attempt and not to improve your real performance.

• Your fundamental concepts are weak and require more time to strengthen them.

It doesn't matter how many attempts you take. What actually matters is how dedicated you are to improving from your previous attempt to the next one.

JEE Main 2026 Registration: What Students Should Know

The JEE Main 2026 Registration process is a complete online process, which is done on the official website of NTA. Some of the things that students need to keep in mind include:

• Active mobile number and email

• Class 10 & 12 academic details

• Scanned passport photo

• Scanned signature

• Category certificate (if applicable)

• Valid identity proof

• Preferred exam cities

Important Points Students Often Forget

• The photo must not be older than 3–6 months.

• The name must match exactly as in the Class 12 records.

• Use your own email ID, not a coaching institute’s.

• Double-check exam cities—you cannot change them after the window closes.

Many students make avoidable errors while filling out the form, so taking your time is important.

Should You Attempt Both Sessions of JEE Mains 2026?

Another important and genuine question student ask his whether they should attend both sessions of JEE Mains 2026, especially when they are balancing their board exam as well. The positive impact of attempting both sessions in 2026 is that the January session can give you a reality check before taking the boards, while the April session can allow you to fix your mistakes.

Similarly, your overall percentage will be based on the better of the two scores, which gives an additional advantage. This means that if you performed well in the January attempt, you could significantly reduce the stress in the later session, allowing them to perform even better in the second attempt.

However, many students also prefer to take only one attempt, especially in the case of board exams, as some state board exams class with January preparation. Similarly, students who are completely satisfied with their January score also escape the April session. Other reasons can include medical problems or unavoidable circumstances.

Final thoughts

Students will get two attempts in JEE Mains 2026, while they get an overall of 6 attempts across three consecutive years. There is no upper age limit to appear for the exam, but the candidate must have cleared class 12th. Certainly, using many attempts can be helpful as you get better family with the exam.

However, with effective preparation and dedication, one or two attempts can be sufficient to make a difference and secure a seat in a prestigious engineering college. Important to understand the JEE Main Eligibility Criteria and keep track of the JEE Main exam dates. Effectively follow the JEE Main 2026 Registration process in a timely manner to avoid unnecessary stress.