Question 1

How does the TestCrux college predictor work?

Accepted Answer

We analyse official JoSAA opening/closing ranks across multiple years for every institute, branch, seat type and gender pool. For each branch we fit a recency-weighted trend to its closing ranks (recent years count more), adjust for seat increases or decreases announced in the seat matrix, and project an expected 2026 closing rank with a confidence range. Your rank is then compared against that range to tag each branch Certain, Likely or Hopium (safe, moderate, ambitious).

Question 2

What do Certain, Likely and Hopium mean?

Accepted Answer

These are just friendlier names for safe, moderate and ambitious. Certain (safe) means your rank beats even the pessimistic end of our predicted closing-rank range: historically these branches almost always close below your rank, basically a free W. Likely (moderate) means your rank sits inside the expected range: a genuine, realistic shot. Hopium (ambitious) means the branch only closes at your rank if the cutoff loosens more than the trend suggests: worth adding to your JoSAA list above safer options, but don't bank on it.

Question 3

Which rank should I enter: CRL or category rank?

Accepted Answer

JoSAA closing ranks for reserved seats (OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST and PwD pools) are category ranks, not Common Rank List positions. So if you select a reserved seat type, enter your category rank. For OPEN seats, enter your CRL. For IIT branches use your JEE Advanced rank; for NIT, IIIT and GFTI branches use your JEE Main rank.

Question 4

Is this an official JoSAA prediction?

Accepted Answer

No. Closing ranks depend on how candidates fill choices each year, seat additions and exam difficulty, so no predictor can guarantee an allotment. Our ranges are statistical estimates built from official JoSAA data. Use them to build a balanced choice list, and always include enough Certain (safe) options so you don't end up unallotted.

Question 5

Does it account for new branches and seat increases?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in three ways. Where institutes add seats to an existing branch, the prediction widens the expected closing rank proportionally. Brand-new branches with no closing-rank history get a separate peer-based estimate and are clearly marked Estimated. And because candidates who take the new IIT and IISc seats vacate NIT, IIIT and GFTI seats, every JEE Main cutoff is shifted outward by the number of new Advanced-side seats in that category and pool.

JEE College Predictor 2026

New IIT & IISc branches in 2026

IISc Bangalore

IIT Delhi

IIT Jodhpur

IIT Indore

IIT Mandi

IIT Jammu

IIT Kanpur

IIT (ISM) Dhanbad

IIT Kharagpur

IIT Madras

IIT (BHU) Varanasi

IIT Dharwad

IIT Palakkad

IIT Ropar

How the JEE college predictor works

1. Enter your rank

2. We project the cutoff

3. Build your choice list

College Predictor FAQs