JEE Main 2026 Session-1 Results Expected in Early February as January Exam Cycle Concludes

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is set to declare the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 results by February 12, following the conclusion of the January exams. Candidates can check their subject-wise NTA scores and overall percentile on the official portal. This article covers the result timeline, answer key updates, and the normalization process essential for engineering aspirants.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has successfully concluded the first session of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026. The examination, which took place on January 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, and 29, saw over 12 lakh students appearing across various centers in India and abroad. As of today, February 2, the NTA has transitioned into the post-examination phase, focusing on the processing of student responses and the compilation of normalized scores. According to the official information brochure, the results for this January session are expected to be announced on the official NTA website by February 12, 2026.

a standard procedure of transparency by releasing provisional answer Timeline for Answer Keys and Result Declaration

Before the final scorecard is released, the NTA follows keys. This allows students to cross-verify their answers and challenge any discrepancies found in the official records.

• Provisional Answer Key Release: Expected between February 4 and February 5.
• Objection Window: Students can raise challenges against the key for a non-refundable fee per question. This window is typically open for 48 hours.
• Final Answer Key: This version is released alongside or just before the final result and cannot be challenged further.
• Scorecard Access: Candidates will need their application number and date of birth to download the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 result.

Normalization and the Percentile System

Since the exam was conducted in multiple shifts, the difficulty levels across different days can vary. To ensure fairness, the NTA uses a normalization procedure based on the NTA score calculation. The scores are not raw marks but percentiles, which indicate the percentage of candidates that have scored equal to or below a particular candidate in that specific session.

• Tie-Breaking Rule: In the case of two candidates having the same NTA score, the priority is given to the higher score in Mathematics, followed by Physics and then Chemistry.
• Final Rank: It is important to note that the All India Rank (AIR) will be announced only after the completion of Session 2 (April attempt). The better of the two NTA scores will be considered for the final ranking.

Key Statistics and Expectations

The competition this year has been particularly intense, with a significant rise in the number of unique registrations for the January session. Early feedback from students suggests that the Mathematics section remained the toughest across most shifts, while Chemistry was largely based on NCERT curriculum.

Conclusion

As the first week of February unfolds, aspirants are advised to keep their login credentials ready and monitor the NTA portal for the provisional answer key release. While waiting for the scores, many students have already shifted their focus to the Session 2 registrations, which opened yesterday. This interim period is crucial for candidates to evaluate their performance and decide whether to aim for a higher score in the April session or begin preparation for the JEE Advanced examination.

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