JEE Main 2026: Exam Overview
JEE Main is the first hurdle for every engineering aspirant in India.
Eligibility Criteria :
- Qualifying Exam : Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent in 2024, 2025, or be appearing in 2026.
- Subject Requirements : Physics and Mathematics are compulsory, with one elective (Chemistry, Biology, or Biotechnology).
- Age Limit : No age limit for JEE Main.
Exam Pattern (Paper 1 - B.E./B.Tech) :
- Mode : Computer-Based Test (CBT).
- Total Marks : 300.
- Question Distribution : 75 questions to be attempted (25 each from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics).
- Marking Scheme : +4 for correct answers, -1 for incorrect MCQs.
JEE Advanced 2026: The Gateway to IITs :
Only those who clear the JEE Main cutoff can sit for this prestigious exam.
Strict Eligibility Rules :
- Performance in JEE Main : You must be among the top 2,50,000 candidates.
- Boards Marks : Candidate must score more than 75% aggregate marks in his/her respective Class 12 Board examination
Exam Pattern & Marking :
The JEE Advanced pattern is variable, meaning the marking scheme and question types change every year to test student adaptability.
- Two Compulsory Papers : Candidates must appear for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 on the same day.
- Question Types : Includes Multiple Correct Options (Partial Marking), Numerical Value, and Matrix Match.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) :
General & Eligibility
For JEE Main, you can attempt the exam for 3 consecutive years starting from the year you pass Class 12. For JEE Advanced, you are permitted only 2 attempts in 2 consecutive years.
Yes. To be eligible for admission to IITs, NITs, and IIITs, candidates usually need at least 75% aggregate marks (65% for SC/ST/PwD) in their Class 12 board exams, or be in the top 20 percentile of their respective boards.
No. Only the top 2,50,000 candidates (including all categories) who qualify based on their JEE Main Paper 1 performance are eligible to sit for JEE Advanced.
Exam Pattern & Syllabus
While the core topics in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics are similar, JEE Advanced often includes additional complex topics and requires a deeper, application-based understanding. JEE Main tends to focus more on speed and direct conceptual application.
Yes. In JEE Main, Section A (MCQs) has a $-1$ penalty for wrong answers. In JEE Advanced, the marking scheme is volatile and can include full, partial, and negative marking depending on the question type (Single Correct, Multiple Correct, or Numerical).
Registration & Process
Yes. Registration for JEE Main is handled by the NTA, while qualifying candidates must register separately for JEE Advanced on the official portal managed by the organizing IIT.
No. Physical calculators are strictly prohibited. However, for JEE Advanced, a virtual on-screen calculator may be provided for specific numerical sections, whereas JEE Main does not typically provide one.
