Qualifier Eligibility: Who Can Apply and Who Gets a Hall Ticket
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There are two separate questions: can you apply for the qualifier, and will your graded assignment scores earn you a hall ticket for the exam?
Who can apply
Data Science and Applications — anyone who has passed Class 12 or an equivalent, from any stream and at any age, having studied Mathematics and English in Class 10. Students who have finished their Class 11 exams can also apply; they join the programme only after passing Class 12.
Electronic Systems — anyone who has passed Class 12 or an equivalent with Physics and Mathematics, at any age. Class 11 students with Physics and Mathematics may also apply and join after Class 12.
Application fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC | ₹4,000 |
| SC / ST / PwD (40% or more) | ₹2,000 |
| SC / ST who are also PwD | ₹1,000 |
The fee is not refundable. An extra facilitation fee applies if you choose an exam centre outside India.
The hall-ticket rule
In each of the four courses, take the average of your best two of the first three weekly graded assignment scores. That average must reach the minimum for your category in every course:
| Category | Minimum GA average in each course |
|---|---|
| General | 40% |
| OBC-NCL / EWS | 35% |
| SC / ST / PwD | 30% |
An assignment you do not attempt counts as zero, so skipping a week makes the rule much harder to meet.
Direct entry without the qualifier
Candidates who were eligible to write the most recent JEE Advanced can join the Foundation level directly by paying the admission fee and uploading proof — no qualifier needed.
Related
- Qualifier Exam Pattern, Cut-offs and Re-attemptsThe format of the IIT Madras BS qualifier exam, the pass marks by category, re-attempts and what your score unlocks.
- September 2026 Qualifier TimelineKey dates for the September 2026 IIT Madras BS qualifier — applications, the four weeks and every qualifier exam.