JEE Main vs. JEE Advanced: How They Affect IIT Admissions
Understanding the admission process for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) requires a clear distinction between JEE Main and JEE Advanced. This article explores how these examinations are intertwined and the role each plays in securing admission to the prestigious IITs.
Eligibility for JEE Advanced
While JEE Main marks are important, they are not sufficient on their own for admission to IITs. JEE Main is the first step in a two-stage process for admission to IITs. To become eligible for the subsequent JEE Advanced, candidates must secure a certain percentile in JEE Main. In recent years, this has ranged from around 90 to 93 percentiles for general candidates. This benchmark ensures that only the top performers in JEE Main can proceed to the JEE Advanced stage.
The JEE Main Stage
Here are the details of the JEE Main stage:
JEE Main Cutoff: Approximately 250,000 candidates are selected based on their performance. The exact number can vary each year depending on the difficulty of the exam. Eligibility: This stage is crucial for eligibility to appear in JEE Advanced. Only those who meet the JEE Main cutoff are allowed to take the JEE Advanced exam. Board Percentage: In addition to JEE Main scores, candidates must also meet the 12th board exam criteria. The required percentage varies based on the category: 75% for general/EWS and 65% for SC/ST/PwD. Top Percentile: Candidates must be in the top 20th percentile in their respective board exams.The JEE Advanced Stage
JEE Advanced is the deciding factor for admission to IITs. Here’s how it works:
JEE Advanced Performance: The rank you secure in JEE Advanced is crucial. Admission to an IIT is determined not by your JEE Main marks but by the performance in JEE Advanced. Category and Branch: Your final admission to an IIT branch will depend on several factors, including your JEE Advanced rank, the category you belong to, and the available seats in the IIT and branch you wish to join.Timeline for the Admissions Process
To apply for IITs, candidates go through several stages:
JEE Main: Securing a position in the JEE Main rank list. JEE Advanced: Clearing the JEE Advanced exam based on your JEE Main performance. JoSAA counseling: The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) process where candidates apply to and get allocated seats in various IITs based on their JEE Advanced rank and the individual IITs' cutoffs.Conclusion
While JEE Main marks are indeed important for securing eligibility to appear for JEE Advanced, the final admission to IITs is determined by your performance in JEE Advanced. The key takeaway is that JEE Main only opens the door to JEE Advanced, which is the critical step in achieving admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology.