Is There a Big Rank Difference between the JEE Advanced and JEE Main of a Particular Student?
A lot of students manage to attain a big rank difference between JEE Advanced and JEE Main. The first and foremost reason behind this is dedicated and strategised study. Some students also manage to do exceptionally well by revising for JEE Main in 7 days, provided he or she is already well prepared. But here is the catch. The student needs to devote equal or even more effort to keep up the performance in JEE Advanced.
You will hear success stories of students who ranked in twenty or thirty thousand in JEE Main but miraculously ranked among top 1000 in JEE Advanced. However, you also must know that only 12,000 students crack JEE Advanced even though the count of JEE Advanced qualifying candidates goes up to 2.5 Lakh.
So, if a candidate cracks JEE Advanced, it is most likely that his/her rank will be far better than it was in JEE Main.
JEE Main preparation in 1 week is not a myth. There are students who can pull it through in the last 7 days. You also get at least a month of a gap before JEE Advanced commences. You can surely do wonders in these 30-40 days. If you are already well prepared for the JEE Advanced, utilise this span to attain a high rank. You could also be one of the success stories among JEE aspirants.
Different Ways People Rank in Exams: Stories of Success and Challenges:
Let's look at different situations where exam rankings can vary:
High Achievers: Some students excel in both JEE Main and Advanced, securing top positions. This happens when a student is naturally talented, understands concepts well, and performs exceptionally under pressure. They build on their JEE Main preparation and step up their game for Advanced.
Late Bloomers: For some, JEE Main is just a warm-up. They may do decently but not exceptionally well. However, between JEE Main and Advanced, they transform. They find their rhythm, improve their skills, and surprise everyone with an outstanding performance in Advanced, achieving a much higher rank than expected.
Pressure Performers: Some students thrive under the intense pressure of JEE Main. They manage their time well, make strategic guesses, and achieve a decent rank. However, the more conceptual and analytical nature of JEE Advanced might challenge them, resulting in a lower rank compared to Main.
Unfortunate Circumstances: Sometimes, factors beyond a student's control, like illness, unexpected personal situations, or even bad luck during the exam day, can affect their performance in JEE Advanced, leading to a lower rank than their potential.
Understand the New Ranking System for JEE Main 2024
The National Testing Agency (NTA), the body conducting the Joint Entrance Exam (Main) across India, has introduced a new ranking system for JEE Main in 2022. Additionally, JEE Main now features a two-cycle Computer-Based Test (CBT) for engineering and architecture courses. It's crucial to familiarize yourself with these changes within a week.
Unlike before, your JEE Main merit list will display your percentile score instead of marks. If you aim to secure admission in specific NITs, IIITs, or CFTIs, be sure to check their respective cut-offs to achieve your targeted percentage. Stay informed about these adjustments to enhance your preparation strategy.
Understanding the Latest Ranking System of JEE Main
JEE Main 2024 will take place in multiple sessions. Every session will have its individual percentile score with the highest score being 100%.
All the sessions will be merged to form a master NTA score for the final rankings.
The score of the topper, according to the final ranking, will be 100%.
In case there are multiple toppers, a tie-breaker will be conducted. It would be on the basis of the highest percentile in the order of Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.
Even after the above step, if the draw situation exists, the older candidate will get a higher rank.
The new ranking system will be executed in JEE Main Phase-1 2022 (June) as well as JEE Main Phase-2 2022 (July).
JEE Main's final merit list will be published by NTA once the JEE Main results of June 2022 are out.
For candidates who have appeared for JEE Main June as well as JEE Main July of 2022, the better score among the two exams would be taken into consideration. So, you could make a difference in JEE Main in 7 days.
The difficulty level might differ from one batch to another. However, NTA will follow a normalisation process to avoid partiality in the ranking. This is a relief for all JEE Main examinees. The relative performance of a candidate in a particular session would be assessed.
As the JEE Main approaches, students panic most about their ranks. This often leads to stress and ruins their performance on the final day of the exam. So, worrying about your rank of JEE Main in 7 days has to be the last thing you should be doing. You will have all the time to do so once your exam is over.
Normalisation of JEE Scores
When a particular exam is being conducted in multiple slots, it is likely that every batch will not receive a similar sort of question paper. Some of the papers will be tough and some on the easier side. However, the ranking has to be absolutely fair as JEE Main happens to be a deciding factor in most students’ lives.
The normalisation of marks obtained in JEE Main is done by the conducting authority (NTA). It follows a particular formula based on the percentile score. A percentile score is estimated on the basis of a candidate's relative performance in a particular session. The scores of all the examinees in that slot are transformed on a scale of 0 to 100.
Formula to Obtain the Normalisation of JEE Main Scores
100 x Number of candidates in a particular session with a raw score equal to or less than the candidate ÷ Total number of candidates appearing in that particular session.
The percentile score is calculated up to 7 decimal places to avoid bunching effects and chances of a tie. The percentile scores of all the subjects (Maths, Physics, and Chemistry) is calculated individually to achieve the total percentile score of a particular session.
Know-How to Calculate Your JEE Main Rank
Since we have understood the most important points regarding the JEE main rank, let us quickly look into the steps required to calculate the JEE Main rank.
Mentioned below are the steps.
To know your rank in JEE Main, you need to first know the total percentage of candidates who are ahead of you in terms of percentile score. You can calculate that by subtracting your percentile score from 100 (which is the highest percentile score).
Multiply the number you get with the total number of candidates who took the exam in that session. The formula to calculate your JEE Main rank will look like this:
JEE Main rank = 100 - (NTA percentile score) × Total number of examinees ÷ 100
Let us suppose that the NTA percentile score of a particular session is 85.20 and the total number of candidates taking the exam is the same as that of 2019 (8,69,010). In that case, the JEE Main rank will be:
(100 – 85.20) × 869010 ÷ 100, which comes to 128614.
So, What's the Takeaway?
Focus on building strong conceptual understanding, not just memorizing formulas. Practice different problem-solving approaches and develop the ability to think critically. Analyze your performance in both exams, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and adapt your strategies accordingly. Remember, consistent hard work and a growth mindset can bridge any rank gap.
Don't get discouraged by your JEE Main rank. Use it as a stepping stone to adjust your preparation and approach Advanced with renewed determination. You never know, you might just surprise yourself and join the ranks of the "Late Bloomers"!
Conclusion
Students need to strategise their revision of JEE Main in 7 days to rank high in the JEE merit list. Competition among JEE aspirants is growing with each passing day. However, there are also more inspiring stories of huge rank differences between JEE Main and Advanced, JEE Main preparation in 1 week, JEE Advanced preparation in one month, and so on.
The better your JEE Main rank is, the more options you will have as to where you wish to take your admissions. You can get through in your dream institutions. You can make the hard work and perseverance of all these years count.
However, it all comes down to the final week which precedes the JEE Main exam. It is upon you to put your best foot ahead in these 7 days. Dedicated study for months to crack JEE Main in 7 days is possible, and you could be an example of that!
FAQs on Is There a Big Rank Difference between the JEE Advanced and JEE Main of a Particular Student?
1. What is the role of the JEE Main rank in qualifying for JEE Advanced 2026?
The JEE Main rank serves as a crucial screening test for JEE Advanced. To be eligible for JEE Advanced 2026, a student must rank among the top 2,50,000 candidates (including all categories) in the JEE Main B.E./B.Tech paper. This cutoff percentile varies each year based on performance. Additionally, candidates must meet the board examination criteria, typically requiring at least 75% aggregate marks in their Class 12 (or equivalent) exam.
2. Does a good rank in JEE Main guarantee a similar rank in JEE Advanced?
No, a good rank in JEE Main does not guarantee a similar rank in JEE Advanced. While a strong performance in Main is necessary to qualify, JEE Advanced is a fundamentally different and more challenging exam. Many students experience a significant change in their rank because the two exams test different skills. JEE Main focuses on speed and accuracy across a wide syllabus, whereas JEE Advanced tests deep conceptual understanding and analytical problem-solving skills.
3. Why do some students experience a significant drop in their rank from JEE Main to JEE Advanced?
A rank drop is common due to several key differences between the exams:
Increased Difficulty: JEE Advanced questions are multi-conceptual and require complex problem-solving abilities, unlike the more direct questions in JEE Main.
Challenging Paper Pattern: The inclusion of question types like multiple-correct, matrix-match, and paragraph-based questions requires a higher level of accuracy and strategic thinking.
Intensified Competition: In JEE Advanced, you compete only with the top 2.5 lakh students from JEE Main, making the competition significantly tougher for every rank.
Stricter Negative Marking: The negative marking scheme in JEE Advanced is often more punitive, which can heavily penalise incorrect guesses and conceptual errors.
4. Is it possible for a student to get a better rank in JEE Advanced than in JEE Main?
Yes, it is entirely possible, though less common. This usually happens with students whose preparation style and aptitude are better aligned with the demands of JEE Advanced. Such students often excel at in-depth analysis and complex problem-solving rather than speed-based calculations. If a student's core concepts are exceptionally strong and they have consistently practised advanced-level problems, they might outperform their JEE Main rank, especially if their Main performance was hindered by time management or a bad exam day.
5. What are the key differences in the examination style that cause this rank variation?
The rank variation is primarily caused by differences in examination philosophy:
Purpose of Exam: JEE Main is a qualifier for Advanced and the entrance for NITs, IIITs, and other GFTIs. JEE Advanced is the exclusive gateway for admission to the 23 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
Syllabus Depth: While the topics are largely similar, JEE Main tests broader knowledge. JEE Advanced tests the same topics but with much greater depth, often linking multiple concepts in a single question.
Nature of Questions: JEE Main primarily features single-correct MCQs and numerical value questions. JEE Advanced includes a diverse and complex mix, demanding higher-order thinking and a thorough understanding of the subject matter.
6. How should I adapt my preparation strategy after JEE Main to minimise the rank difference in JEE Advanced?
To bridge the gap, shift your focus from speed to depth. Start by analysing your JEE Main performance to identify weak areas. Prioritise solving JEE Advanced Previous Year Question Papers (PYQPs) to understand the pattern and difficulty level. Practice with high-quality, multi-conceptual problems and take full-length mock tests designed specifically for JEE Advanced. Time management during the exam, especially knowing which questions to attempt and which to leave, becomes critically important.
7. Is the competition level truly different between JEE Main and JEE Advanced?
Yes, the competition level is drastically different. In JEE Main, you compete against a massive pool of over 10 lakh aspirants. However, for JEE Advanced, the pool is filtered down to only the most serious and high-performing 2.5 lakh students. This means you are competing against the 'best of the best'. In this highly competitive environment, even a small difference in marks can lead to a large change in rank, making the exam a much tougher test of relative performance.
8. How exactly does the JEE Advanced rank impact my chances of getting into a top IIT branch?
Your JEE Advanced rank is the sole factor that determines your admission to an IIT. During the JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) counselling process, seats are allocated based strictly on this rank. A higher rank gives you a better chance to secure a seat in one of the older, more established IITs (like Bombay, Delhi, Madras) and in a high-demand branch like Computer Science Engineering. Conversely, a lower rank might still get you into an IIT, but likely in a newer institution or a less sought-after engineering branch.
