What is JEE?
JEE Mains is the first stage of the JEE examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It serves as the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced and as an entrance test for admissions to NITs, IIITs, and other centrally funded technical institutions. It is also widely accepted by several state-level engineering colleges and private universities across India.
Key Features of JEE Mains
- Eligibility: Open to students who have passed or are appearing for their Class 12 exams. Students can attempt the exam up to three consecutive years after completing their Class 12.
- Exam Mode: Computer-based test (CBT) mode for most sections. However, the Drawing section in Paper 2A is conducted offline.
- Frequency: Conducted twice a year (January and April), offering students two opportunities to improve their scores.
- Duration: The exam duration is 3 hours.
- Sections: JEE Main consists of three sections – Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Each section carries equal weightage.
- Question Type: The question paper comprises multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and numerical value-based questions.
- Marking Scheme: For MCQs, 4 marks are awarded for each correct answer, while 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer. There is no negative marking for numerical value-based questions.
- Importance: A good score in JEE Mains ensures eligibility for JEE Advanced and admission to top engineering colleges like NITs and IIITs.
- Paper Types:
- Paper 1: For B.E./B.Tech aspirants.
- Paper 2A & 2B: For B.Arch and B.Planning aspirants.
- Total Marks: 300 marks for Paper 1.
What is JEE Advanced?
JEE Advanced is the second stage of the exam, conducted by one of the IITs on a rotational basis. It is exclusively for students aiming for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Known for its challenging nature, JEE Advanced tests a candidate’s in-depth knowledge and problem-solving abilities.
Key Features of JEE Advanced 2025
- Eligibility: Top 2,50,000 (approx.) candidates of JEE Mains are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced. Additional eligibility criteria include age restrictions and a maximum of two attempts in consecutive years.
- Exam Mode: Computer-based test (CBT) for all sections.
- Exam Date: Usually held in June.
- Total Marks: Varies each year, with the marking scheme often including full, partial, and negative marking.
- Duration: The exam duration is 3 hours for each paper.
- Sections: JEE Advanced consists of two papers – Paper 1 and Paper 2. Each paper is further divided into three sections – Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
- Question Type: The question paper comprises multiple-choice questions, numerical value-based questions, and matrix match type questions.
- Marking Scheme: The marking scheme for JEE Advanced varies for different question types. It is essential for students to understand the specific marking scheme for each question type.
- Importance: A good performance in JEE Advanced secures admission to IITs and other reputed institutions like IISc and IISERs.
To access question papers from the last 3 years, click here.
JEE Main Counseling
- The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) is the regulatory authority that oversees the admissions to IITs, NITs, IIITs and Other-Government Funded Technical Institutes. JEE Main Counselling is usually done in 3 processes i.e., JoSAA, CSAB NEUT and CSAB SFTI, all online. Through the counselling, candidates are allotted colleges and candidates who are allotted a seat are then required to go ahead with the document verification. The most common counselling is through JoSAA. JoSAA is conducting the admission process for allotting seats to 110 participating institutes like the IITs, NITs, IIITs and other-GFTIs.
- JoSAA is the combined counselling procedure for admissions of JEE Main and JEE Advanced qualified candidates.
- JoSAA counselling is held in six rounds.
- CSAB NEUT is for extra seats in the North East and Union Territories.
- CSAB SFTI by Central Seat Allocation Board is for allotting seats in 18 SFTIs.
Steps involved in JEE Mains counselling through JoSAA Counselling are:
- Step 1: Online Registration
- Step 2: Choice Filling and Locking
- Step 3: JoSAA Seat Allotment
- Step 4: Seat Acceptance, Document Verification and Fee
- Step 5: Reporting to the Allotted Institute
Important Dates
The NTA will be conducting the Joint Entrance Examination (Main)-2026 in two sessions, Session -1 in January 2026 and Session-2 in April 2026. The online application form for JEE (Main) – 2026 Session 1 will be available on the NTA website http://jeemain.nta.nic.in/ in the month of October 2025.
Fee Structure
JEE Main:
Male candidates (Unreserved/EWS/OBC category): INR 1,000,
Female candidates: INR 800.
SC/ST/PwD/Transgender category: INR 500.
JEE Advanced:
Female candidates (All categories), SC, ST & PwD: INR 1600.
All other candidates: INR 3200.
Source: National Testing Agency
