JEE Advanced Aspirants Demand Third Attempt, Cite Health Issues, Coaching Gap

Last Updated:October 14, 2026, 3:11 PM IST

Several students are demanding a third JEE Advanced attempt, citing illness, family emergencies and unequal access to coaching.

Students have highlighted differences in access to coaching, guidance and structured preparation. (File/Representative Image)

A group of students is seeking a change in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced eligibility rules, demanding three attempts in three consecutive years instead of the current two attempts in two consecutive years. Alternatively, they have proposed allowing two attempts within a three-year window, arguing that illness, family emergencies and unequal access to preparation can affect candidates during the limited eligibility period.

The students argue that performance across two attempts may not fully reflect a candidate’s academic ability, particularly when serious illness or family emergencies disrupt preparation. They have also highlighted differences in access to coaching, guidance and structured preparation.

Students supporting the proposal argue that candidates who begin preparing early, particularly at established coaching centres, may have more time to develop their problem-solving skills. In contrast, students from rural areas, smaller towns or financially disadvantaged families may have fewer opportunities to access specialised coaching and mentoring.

Abhijeet Singh from Delhi says an allergic condition that persisted from September 2025 to February 2026 disrupted his preparation during a drop year. He has supplied medical reports relating to the period.

Aryan, from Madhya Pradesh, says jaundice, his father’s death in an accident and financial difficulties affected his preparation. He also claims that delays in receiving an improved Class 12 result through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) affected his admission prospects, resulting in the cancellation of a seat allotted to him at MANIT Bhopal after 55 days. The circumstances surrounding the alleged cancellation have not been independently verified.

Sanvi from Maharashtra, whose identifying details have been withheld at her request, says severe stomach pain and menstrual symptoms affected her examination attempt. She reports that subsequent health problems further disrupted her preparation.

They believe a three-year eligibility window could provide greater flexibility without guaranteeing admission to an IIT. Candidates would still need to meet the prescribed examination and admission criteria.

Meanwhile, IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal has cautioned that allowing a third attempt could have implications for students’ time, finances and preparation. In an interview with ThePrint, he argued that one year after Class 12 should be sufficient for JEE Advanced preparation and said data from JEE Main showed that relatively few students performed well on their third attempt.

Agrawal said an additional attempt could lead candidates to invest another year and considerable resources, even if only a small number ultimately qualify. He suggested that exceptional cases involving serious health problems or other genuine reasons could be considered separately.

He also questioned how many petitioners would eventually qualify if given another opportunity, suggesting that perhaps fewer than 100 of the 10,000 students who had signed the petition might clear the examination.

The debate centres on whether the existing two-attempt rule provides sufficient flexibility for candidates whose preparation is seriously disrupted, or whether an additional opportunity under defined conditions could address such cases.

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What changes are JEE Advanced aspirants demanding regarding exam attempts?

A group of students is petitioning the Ministry of Education, IIT Council, and the Joint Admission Board to increase the eligibility for JEE Advanced from two attempts in consecutive years to three attempts in three consecutive years, or alternatively two attempts within a three-year window, citing health issues, family emergencies, and disparities in coaching access.

Why are students seeking more flexibility for JEE Advanced attempts?

Aspirants argue that unexpected challenges like serious illnesses, family tragedies, financial difficulties, and unequal access to structured coaching can severely disrupt preparation during the current limited two-attempt window. They point out that JEE Main allows three attempts within the same admission framework, creating an inconsistency.

What is the stance of IIT officials on allowing a third attempt for JEE Advanced?

IIT Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal has cautioned that permitting a third attempt could negatively impact students’ time, finances, and preparation resources. He noted that data shows very few students perform well on a third attempt and suggested that exceptional genuine cases could instead be reviewed individually.

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