Class 12 & entrance exams · BoardPrep blog
JEE 75% Criteria Explained for CBSE Class 12 Students
What the JEE 75% Class 12 eligibility criterion means, the top 20 percentile alternative, and why board marks still matter for JEE aspirants.
For admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded institutions through JEE, there is usually a Class 12 eligibility criterion as well as your JEE rank.
The criterion
You generally need 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST candidates) or a place in the top 20 percentile of your board in that year. This is based on the official JEE information bulletin. Always check the current year's bulletin, because rules can change.
What it means in practice
- A strong JEE rank isn't enough on its own if you fall short of the criterion.
- 75% is very achievable with steady board preparation, even for students spending most of their time on JEE.
How to secure it without losing JEE time
- One board-style written session a week through the year.
- Full board papers from mid-January.
- Don't neglect English and your fifth subject. They count toward the percentage.
Start with the big chapters
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