Many students take it easy during Class 11. Perhaps, they are fatigued by their rigorous effort for the Class 10 Board exams; this is a strategic error on the part of the parents and/or students. Also, preparing rigorously for the Boards could lead to an erosion of the skills required for the JEE.

However, they are motivated to work hard in Class 12 in order to crack the JEE Advanced. By that time, it’s a little late since they are pitted against others who have been working diligently for many years. So, it becomes a difficult task for them and they begin to entertain thoughts of dropping a year.

A student has a chance of cracking the JEE Main and Advanced after a drop if he has been working diligently for the entire duration of Class 11 and 12 and, for some reason/mishap, falls short. Or, if he begins preparing for the JEE in Class 11 and finds the prep time of 18 months inadequate, i.e., upto Oct-Nov of Class 12. 

In short, a score of 50 in the Main is unlikely to metamorphose into a score of 200 the next year; however, a score of 150+ could be enhanced to something like 200-225+. Therefore, in the absence of the latter scenario, I would suggest that he try his luck at his State Engineering Exam, if any, or other private engineering college exams.

After all, life doesn’t stop if he doesn’t get an IIT, NIT, IIIT or a GFTI. You can always prove your mettle when you graduates and is pitted against the candidates from these institutes in a job situation which is an entirely different ball game.