JEE Main 2026 Response Sheet Released Today at jeemain.nta.nic.in ‑ Download Answer Key, Calculate Score & Challenge Deadline February 5

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the JEE Mains 2026 Session 1 response sheet along with the provisional answer key today on the official website jeemain.nta.nic.in. Over 13 lakh engineering aspirants who appeared for the JEE Main January 2026 attempt can now download their response sheets, verify their marked answers, calculate expected scores, and raise objections against the answer key until February 5, 2026.

JEE Main 2026 Response Sheet: What You Need to Know

The release of the JEE response sheet 2026 is one of the most anticipated moments for engineering aspirants. This official document provides candidates with a complete record of all responses they marked during the Computer‑Based Test (CBT) conducted from January 21‑29, 2026. Combined with the provisional answer key, students can now accurately assess their performance, predict their percentile, and plan their next steps for JEE Advanced qualification.

Key Dates for JEE Mains 2026 Session 1

Response Sheet Release Date: February 4, 2026 (Today)

Answer Key Release Date: February 4, 2026 (Today)

Challenge Window Opens: February 4, 2026

Challenge Window Closes: February 5, 2026 (11:50 PM)

Objection Fee: Rs. 200 per question (non‑refundable)

Final Answer Key: Expected by February 10, 2026

JEE Main Result Date: February 12, 2026 (or before)

Official Website: jeemain.nta.nic.in

Total Appeared Candidates: 13,00,368 students

Attendance Rate: 96.26%

How to Download JEE Main 2026 Response Sheet

Candidates can download their NTA JEE Mains response sheet by following these simple step‑by‑step instructions:

Step‑by‑Step Download Process

Step 1: Visit the official NTA JEE Main website at www.jeemain.nta.nic.in

Step 2: Look for the "Latest News" or "Announcements" section on the homepage

Step 3: Click on the link that reads "JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Response Sheet and Answer Key"

Step 4: You will be redirected to the candidate login page

Step 5: Enter your login credentials:

• Option A: Application Number + Password
• Option B: Application Number + Date of Birth (DD‑MM‑YYYY format)

Step 6: Enter the security code/captcha displayed on screen

Step 7: Click the "Login" or "Submit" button

Step 8: Your candidate dashboard will open showing various options

Step 9: Click on "View Response Sheet" or "Download Response Sheet" link

Step 10: Your JEE Main 2026 response sheet PDF will be displayed on screen showing:

• Question Paper with all questions
• Your recorded responses (option IDs selected)
• Question‑wise status (Answered/Not Answered/Marked for Review)
• Shift details and exam date

Step 11: Click "Download" or "Print" to save the PDF

Step 12: Similarly, click on "Download Answer Key" to get the provisional answer key PDF

Step 13: Save both documents safely for score calculation and future reference

Important Note: The response sheet download link will be active for a limited period only (typically 7‑10 days). Download it immediately to avoid missing the window.

Understanding Your JEE Main Response Sheet 2026

The JEE Mains 2026 response sheet is a comprehensive document that contains detailed information about your exam attempt. Here's what each section means:

Components of Response Sheet

Header Information:

• Candidate Name
• Application Number
• Roll Number
• Exam Date and Shift
• Paper Type (BE/BTech, BArch, or BPlanning)

Question‑wise Details:

Question ID: Unique identification number for each question (e.g., 245678901)

Subject: Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics section

Question Number: Sequential number (1 to 75 for Paper 1)

Option IDs: Four unique codes representing options A, B, C, D (e.g., 24567890112, 24567890113, 24567890114, 24567890115)

Chosen Option ID: The option code you selected during the exam

Status Indicators:

• Answered: Question attempted and option selected
• Not Answered: Question viewed but no option selected
• Not Visited: Question not accessed during exam
• Marked for Review & Answered: Question marked for later review with answer selected
• Marked for Review: Question marked but not answered

Important Features

Section‑wise Breakdown: Response sheet shows separate sections for Physics (30 questions), Chemistry (30 questions), and Mathematics (30 questions)

Numerical Value Questions: For Section B questions (non‑MCQ), your entered numerical answer is displayed

Time‑stamp Information: Some response sheets may include time spent on each question

Language Used: Shows whether you attempted the question in English or Hindi

JEE Main 2026 Answer Key Download

Along with the response sheet, NTA has also released the provisional JEE Mains answer key 2026 for all shifts and papers:

What is Included in Answer Key?

Question Paper: Complete question paper for your specific shift with all 75 questions

Correct Answers: Official answers for all questions as per NTA experts

Option IDs: Correct option ID for each question

Shift‑wise Keys: Separate answer keys for different shifts (Shift 1 and Shift 2)

Paper‑wise Keys: Different answer keys for Paper 1 (BE/BTech), Paper 2A (BArch), and Paper 2B (BPlanning)

Subject‑wise Organization: Answers organized by Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics

Provisional vs Final Answer Key

Provisional Answer Key:

• Released today (February 4, 2026)
• Subject to challenges from candidates
• May contain errors or disputable answers
• Used for preliminary score calculation

Final Answer Key:

• Released after challenge window closes
• Incorporates valid objections accepted by NTA
• Used for actual result preparation
• Cannot be challenged further
• Expected by February 10, 2026

How to Calculate JEE Main Score Using Response Sheet and Answer Key

Calculating your expected JEE Main marks is crucial for predicting your percentile and rank. Follow this comprehensive guide:

JEE Main Marking Scheme 2026

Section A (Compulsory MCQs - 20 questions per subject):

• Correct Answer: +4 marks
• Incorrect Answer: -1 mark (negative marking)
• Unattempted Question: 0 marks

Section B (Optional Questions - Attempt any 5 out of 10 per subject):

• Correct Answer: +4 marks
• Incorrect Answer: -1 mark (negative marking)
• Unattempted Question: 0 marks

Note: Both MCQs and numerical value questions carry equal marking scheme.

Step‑by‑Step Score Calculation Method

Step 1: Download Both Documents

• Download your response sheet PDF
• Download the provisional answer key for your specific shift

Step 2: Match Your Answers

• Open both PDFs side by side
• For each question, compare your chosen option ID with the correct option ID in answer key

Step 3: Count Correct Answers

• Mark all questions where your option ID matches the answer key
• Count total correct answers for each subject separately

Step 4: Count Incorrect Answers

• Mark all questions where you selected wrong option
• Do NOT count unattempted questions as incorrect
• Count total incorrect answers for each subject

Step 5: Apply the Formula

Physics Marks = (Correct × 4) - (Incorrect × 1)

Chemistry Marks = (Correct × 4) - (Incorrect × 1)

Mathematics Marks = (Correct × 4) - (Incorrect × 1)

Total JEE Main Score = Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics

Sample Score Calculation

Let's take an example:

Physics:

• Correct Answers: 22
• Incorrect Answers: 5
• Unattempted: 3
• Physics Score = (22 × 4) - (5 × 1) = 88 - 5 = 83 marks

Chemistry:

• Correct Answers: 20
• Incorrect Answers: 7
• Unattempted: 3
• Chemistry Score = (20 × 4) - (7 × 1) = 80 - 7 = 73 marks

Mathematics:

• Correct Answers: 18
• Incorrect Answers: 8
• Unattempted: 4
• Mathematics Score = (18 × 4) - (8 × 1) = 72 - 8 = 64 marks

Total Score = 83 + 73 + 64 = 220 marks out of 300

Expected Percentile: With 220 marks, the candidate can expect approximately 98‑99 percentile depending on the difficulty level and overall performance.

JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Percentile Analysis

Based on previous years' trends and Session 1 difficulty level, here's the estimated marks vs percentile for JEE Main 2026:

280‑300 marks: 99.99+ percentile (Rank below 100)

260‑279 marks: 99.8‑99.99 percentile (Rank 100‑2000)

240‑259 marks: 99.5‑99.8 percentile (Rank 2000‑5000)

220‑239 marks: 99.0‑99.5 percentile (Rank 5000‑13000)

200‑219 marks: 98.5‑99.0 percentile (Rank 13000‑20000)

180‑199 marks: 97.5‑98.5 percentile (Rank 20000‑32000)

160‑179 marks: 96.0‑97.5 percentile (Rank 32000‑50000)

140‑159 marks: 94.0‑96.0 percentile (Rank 50000‑75000)

120‑139 marks: 91.0‑94.0 percentile (Rank 75000‑1,15,000)

100‑119 marks: 87.0‑91.0 percentile (Rank 1,15,000‑1,70,000)

80‑99 marks: 82.0‑87.0 percentile (Rank 1,70,000‑2,35,000)

60‑79 marks: 75.0‑82.0 percentile (Rank 2,35,000‑3,25,000)

40‑59 marks: 65.0‑75.0 percentile (Rank 3,25,000‑4,50,000)

20‑39 marks: 50.0‑65.0 percentile (Rank 4,50,000‑6,50,000)

Note: Actual percentiles may vary based on normalization across shifts and overall performance distribution.

How to Raise Objections Against JEE Main Answer Key 2026

If you find any discrepancy or error in the provisional answer key, you can challenge it through the official NTA portal:

Challenge Window Details

Challenge Start Date: February 4, 2026

Challenge End Date: February 5, 2026 (11:50 PM)

Objection Fee: Rs. 200 per question

Fee Payment: Online (Credit/Debit Card, Net Banking, UPI)

Fee Refund: Only if your objection is accepted by NTA expert committee

Step‑by‑Step Process to Challenge Answer Key

Step 1: Login to jeemain.nta.nic.in using your application number and password

Step 2: Navigate to the "Challenge Answer Key" section on your dashboard

Step 3: Click on "Raise Objection" or "Submit Challenge" button

Step 4: Select the question number you want to challenge

Step 5: View the question, official answer, and all four options

Step 6: Select the option you believe is correct

Step 7: Upload supporting documents (compulsory):

• Page from NCERT textbook showing correct answer
• Reference from standard textbooks (HC Verma, RD Sharma, etc.)
• Research papers or academic journals
• Official government publications

Step 8: Write detailed justification explaining why the official answer is wrong (minimum 100 words recommended)

Step 9: Pay the objection fee of Rs. 200 for that question

Step 10: Submit the challenge

Step 11: You can challenge multiple questions by repeating the process

Step 12: Save the challenge receipt for each question

Important Points About Challenges

Valid Proof Required: Challenges without proper supporting documents will be rejected automatically

Expert Review: NTA subject matter experts will review all objections

Committee Decision: The decision of the expert committee is final and binding

Partial Refund: If your challenge is accepted, the Rs. 200 fee will be refunded

No Refund: If your challenge is rejected, the fee is non‑refundable

Multiple Correct Answers: If NTA accepts challenge, they may declare multiple correct answers or award bonus marks to all candidates

Question Deletion: In rare cases, controversial questions may be deleted entirely and all candidates awarded full marks

Difference Between Response Sheet and Answer Key

Many students confuse these two documents. Here's how they differ:

JEE Main Response Sheet

Definition: Record of YOUR answers during the exam

Content: Shows what YOU selected for each question

Purpose: Helps you review your performance

Contains:

• Your chosen option IDs
• Questions you attempted
• Questions you skipped
• Marked for review status

Use: Compare with answer key to calculate score

JEE Main Answer Key

Definition: Official CORRECT answers as per NTA

Content: Shows what the RIGHT answer is for each question

Purpose: Standard for evaluating all candidates

Contains:

• Correct option IDs
• Subject expert‑verified answers
• Shift‑wise correct responses

Use: Used by NTA for result preparation

Together They Help: By comparing response sheet with answer key, you can identify correct, incorrect, and unattempted questions to calculate your exact score.

JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Result Declaration

After the final answer key is published, NTA will announce the official results:

Expected Result Date: February 12, 2026 (or before)

Result Components:

• Subject‑wise NTA scores
• Subject‑wise percentile scores
• Overall NTA percentile
• All India Rank (AIR)
• Category‑wise ranks (if applicable)

Scorecard Download: Available at jeemain.nta.nic.in using application number and password

Rank Card: Separate rank card showing AIR and category rank

Common Mistakes to Avoid During Response Sheet Analysis

Mistake 1: Not downloading response sheet immediately

Solution: Download today as the link may expire soon

Mistake 2: Comparing with unofficial answer keys

Solution: Use only NTA's official answer key for accurate calculation

Mistake 3: Counting unattempted as incorrect

Solution: Remember, unattempted questions don't attract negative marking

Mistake 4: Not saving documents

Solution: Keep multiple copies of response sheet and answer key

Mistake 5: Ignoring wrong questions

Solution: Analyze every incorrect answer to identify weak areas

Mistake 6: Not challenging genuinely wrong answers

Solution: If confident, challenge the answer key with proper proof

Mistake 7: Relying only on marks for college prediction

Solution: Percentile is more important than absolute marks

Mistake 8: Not planning for Session 2

Solution: Decide immediately whether to apply for April attempt

Key Highlights: JEE Main 2026 Response Sheet

• Release Date: February 4, 2026 (Today)
• Official Website: jeemain.nta.nic.in
• Answer Key Status: Released along with response sheet
• Challenge Window: February 4‑5, 2026
• Objection Fee: Rs. 200 per question
• Result Date: February 12, 2026 (expected)
• Total Candidates: 13,00,368 appeared
• Attendance: 96.26%
• Download Access: Through candidate login only
• Best Score: Better of Session 1 and Session 2 considered
• JEE Advanced Cutoff: Top 2,50,000 candidates
• Session 2 Registration: Open till February 25, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: When was the JEE Main 2026 response sheet released?

The NTA JEE Mains response sheet 2026 for Session 1 was released on February 4, 2026, at the official website jeemain.nta.nic.in.

Q2: Can I download the response sheet without login?

No, you need to login with your application number and password/date of birth to download your JEE response sheet 2026.

Q3: Is the answer key released along with the response sheet?

Yes, NTA has released both the JEE Mains answer key 2026 and response sheet simultaneously on February 4, 2026.

Q4: How can I calculate my JEE Main score?

Compare your response sheet with the official answer key. Use the formula: Score = (Correct × 4) - (Incorrect × 1).

Q5: What is the last date to challenge the answer key?

The challenge window closes on February 5, 2026, at 11:50 PM. Challenges submitted after this will not be accepted.

Q6: How much fee is required to challenge one question?

You need to pay Rs. 200 per question challenged. The fee is non‑refundable unless your objection is accepted.

Q7: Will my Session 1 score be considered if I appear in Session 2?

Yes, NTA will consider your BEST percentile score from both Session 1 and Session 2 for final ranking.

Q8: When will the JEE Main 2026 result be declared?

The official JEE Main 2026 Session 1 result is expected to be declared by February 12, 2026.

Q9: Can I still register for Session 2 after seeing Session 1 response sheet?

Yes, Session 2 registration is open till February 25, 2026. You can register based on your Session 1 performance analysis.

Q10: What is the difference between response sheet and answer key?

Response sheet shows YOUR answers during the exam, while answer key shows the CORRECT answers as per NTA.

The release of JEE Mains 2026 response sheet today marks a crucial milestone for over 13 lakh engineering aspirants. This is your opportunity to honestly assess your performance, calculate your expected score, identify areas of improvement, and make informed decisions about appearing in Session 2.

Official Response Sheet Link: https://jeemain.nta.nic.in

Official Answer Key Challenge: Click it

Stay Connected: Keep checking the official NTA JEE Main website for final answer key, result announcement, and JEE Advanced 2026 eligibility list.