JEE Main Attempt Limits: How They’ve Changed and What to Expect in 2026

Every year, lakhs of students compete in JEE Main to secure a rank that can determine their academic and professional future. The attempt limit for JEE Main 2026 is a concern among the students. For 3 consecutive years, the JEE aspirants can appear for the exam. To understand in detail the JEE Main attempt limits and what you can expect from the exam this year, take a look at the article.

Also Check - JEE Main 2026 Reservation Rules: What’s Changed for EWS, OBC, SC/ST Candidates?

JEE Main Attempt Limits 2026

For the 2026 session of JEE Main (conducted by the National Testing Agency or NTA), the attempt‐limit guidelines are as follows:

Number of Sessions per Year

• JEE Main will be held in two sessions in 2026: Session 1 (January) and Session 2 (April).

• You can appear in both sessions in the same year.

Years of Eligibility

• A candidate is allowed to appear for JEE Main for three consecutive years starting from the year in which they pass (or appear in) their Class 12 (or equivalent) exam. If you pass Class 12 in 2026, you may appear in JEE Main in 2026, 2027 and 2028.

Total Attempts in Sessions

• Since there are two sessions per year and you have eligibility for three years, this means a maximum of six attempts in total.

No Age Limit

• For 2026 eligibility, there is no upper age limit for appearing in JEE Main.

Also Check - What’s New in JEE Main B.Arch and B.Planning Exam Structure for 2026?

What is Constant in JEE Main?

In the JEE Main exam, there are no changes in a few things, which are as follows:

• The exam is conducted every year in two sessions, which is constant.

• The students can appear for JEE Main for three consecutive years.

• As per the JEE Main 2026 eligibility criteria , candidates can appear for the exam 6 times in 3 consecutive years.

JEE Main 2026 Attempt Limits for Different Categories

The JEE Main 2026 attempt limits for different categories of students have been explained here.

How Many Attempts Are Allowed for General Category

The General category students will get a maximum of 3 attempts in the JEE Main 2026 exam. This is done to ensure fairness and opportunities for other categories of students, to ensure that they get admission to top colleges across the country.

How Many Attempts Are Allowed for OBC

Applicants from the OBC category (Other Backward Classes) can also attempt JEE Main a maximum of three times. It is done to ensure that OBC candidates get equal opportunities to get admission to top colleges across the country.

Also Check - Are IB or Cambridge A-level Students Eligible for JEE Main 2026?

What to Expect in JEE Main 2026

As per recent trends, the JEE Main syllabus is expected to remain unchanged from the previous year. The JEE Main syllabus was revised in both 2024 and 2025, though the extent and nature of the revisions differed. The NTA has released the detailed JEE Main 2026 syllabus PDF along with the information brochure on the official website. The difficulty level of the questions will be moderately easy, with some sections/ chapters having slightly difficult or tricky questions. With practice and mock exams, JEE Main paper can be handled with confidence and ease.

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