Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main)
Built from official exam bulletins, conducting body notifications, and institution pages.
What this exam is
JEE Main — the Joint Entrance Examination Main — is the national-level undergraduate engineering entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It serves two distinct purposes: first, as the primary route to admission at National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs); and second, as the qualifying examination for JEE Advanced, which is the gateway to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
The exam is held twice a year — Session 1 in January and Session 2 in April — giving candidates two opportunities in any academic year. Introduced in its current form in 2013, JEE Main replaced the earlier AIEEE (All India Engineering Entrance Examination) and unified admissions to centrally funded technical institutes. NTA has conducted JEE Main since 2019, replacing the CBSE, which had previously administered it.
JEE Main covers three papers: Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) for engineering aspirants, Paper 2A (B.Arch) for architecture candidates, and Paper 2B (B.Planning) for town and urban planning aspirants. The large majority of students attempt Paper 1. Scoring is percentile-based: your raw score is converted to a percentile that reflects your performance relative to all candidates who appeared across all sessions and shifts in that year.
The exam is available in 13 languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.
Who should take this exam
JEE Main is the mandatory entry point for anyone who wants to study engineering at an NIT, IIIT, or GFTI, and for anyone targeting IITs (since JEE Advanced eligibility flows through JEE Main). Specifically, you should take JEE Main if:
You are targeting NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs. The JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) counselling process uses JEE Main ranks to allocate approximately 44,693 seats across NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs annually. Programs at these institutions — particularly Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, and Civil Engineering — are funded and accredited, and generally represent strong value for engineering education in India.
You want to appear for JEE Advanced. Only the top 2.5 lakh candidates from JEE Main (Paper 1) qualify to sit for JEE Advanced. For IIT aspirants, JEE Main is a non-negotiable first step.
You are pursuing B.Arch or B.Planning. Paper 2A and 2B respectively are the primary national-level entrance tests for these programmes at NITs and GFTIs.
You are in Class 12 with PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics). The syllabus maps directly onto the Class 11 and 12 NCERT curriculum, so students following the standard Indian board path are the primary target group.
Candidates who are purely targeting IITs need not aim for a top JEE Main rank — they only need to ensure they fall within the top 2.5 lakh qualifier list. The strategic focus then shifts entirely to JEE Advanced preparation. However, having a strong JEE Main rank provides a fallback option at NITs and IIITs.
BTech AI and Data Science is one of the programmes increasingly sought after through the JEE Main → JoSAA route. Students interested in BSc Mathematics, BSc Physics, or BSc Data Science at institutions not under JoSAA may also use JEE Main scores, as some universities and deemed institutions accept JEE Main as part of their shortlisting process.
Exam pattern and structure
JEE Main Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) is a Computer Based Test (CBT) of 3 hours (180 minutes). As of 2025, NTA reverted to the pre-COVID format of 75 compulsory questions, removing the earlier optional question provision. Each subject (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) has 25 questions: 20 MCQs (Section A) and 5 numerical-value questions (Section B).
Paper 1 structure:
| Section | Subject | Section A (MCQ) | Section B (Numerical) | Total Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | Physics | 20 | 5 | 25 | 100 |
| Chemistry | Chemistry | 20 | 5 | 25 | 100 |
| Mathematics | Mathematics | 20 | 5 | 25 | 100 |
| Total | 60 | 15 | 75 | 300 |
Marking scheme:
- Section A (MCQs): +4 for correct answer, −1 for incorrect answer
- Section B (Numerical): +4 for correct answer, 0 for incorrect answer (no negative marking)
Paper 2A (B.Arch) structure:
| Part | Component | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part I | Mathematics (MCQ + Numerical) | 25 | 100 |
| Part II | Aptitude Test | 50 | 200 |
| Part III | Drawing Test (offline) | 2 | 100 |
| Total | 77 | 400 |
Paper 2B (B.Planning) structure:
| Part | Component | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part I | Mathematics (MCQ + Numerical) | 25 | 100 |
| Part II | Aptitude Test | 50 | 200 |
| Part III | Planning-based Questions | 25 | 100 |
| Total | 100 | 400 |
Paper 2B is conducted entirely in CBT mode. Paper 2A is CBT except the Drawing section, which is pen-and-paper.
Scoring methodology: NTA uses a percentile-based normalisation. Because the exam runs across multiple shifts and sessions, raw scores are converted to a percentile score (between 0 and 100) that represents the percentage of candidates who scored equal to or below you. If a candidate appears in both sessions, the better of the two session percentile scores is used for rank calculation.
Syllabus overview
The JEE Main syllabus for Paper 1 is drawn from Classes 11 and 12 NCERT textbooks. NTA formally reduced the syllabus in 2024, removing certain topics that had previously been included. The revised syllabus remains in effect for 2025.
Physics (19 chapters): Core areas include Mechanics (kinematics, laws of motion, rotational motion, gravitation), Properties of Solids and Liquids, Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, Oscillations and Waves, Electrostatics and Current Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Current, Electromagnetic Induction and AC circuits, Electromagnetic Waves, Optics (ray and wave), Dual Nature of Matter, Atoms and Nuclei, and Semiconductor Devices. The Communication Devices unit was removed from the revised 2024 syllabus and remains excluded.
Chemistry (20 chapters): Physical Chemistry includes atomic structure, chemical bonding, thermodynamics, equilibrium, electrochemistry, chemical kinetics, solid state, and solutions. Inorganic Chemistry covers the periodic table, s-, p-, d-, and f-block elements, coordination compounds, and metallurgy. Organic Chemistry covers hydrocarbons, functional group-based organic reactions, biomolecules, polymers, and chemistry in everyday life. Several topics including Surface Chemistry, States of Matter (full chapter), Isolation of Metals, and S-block Elements were removed or reduced in the 2024 revision.
Mathematics (14 chapters): Algebra (sets, relations, functions, complex numbers, quadratic equations, matrices, permutations and combinations, binomial theorem, sequences and series), Calculus (limits, continuity, differentiation, integration, differential equations), Coordinate Geometry (straight lines, circles, parabola, ellipse, hyperbola, 3D geometry), Vector Algebra, Statistics and Probability, and Trigonometry.
For Paper 2A (B.Arch), the additional component is an Aptitude Test covering architectural awareness, mental ability, and general aesthetics, plus a Drawing Test.
For Paper 2B (B.Planning), the additional component is the Aptitude Test plus Planning-based questions on topics such as urban planning, maps, and social concepts.
The official NTA syllabus PDF is published on the JEE Main official website at jeemain.nta.ac.in. Always refer to the current year’s Information Bulletin for the authoritative syllabus.
Eligibility and registration
Academic eligibility:
- Candidates must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2023 or 2024, or be appearing in 2025.
- For Paper 1, the required subjects in Class 12 are Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
- There is no age limit for appearing in JEE Main.
Attempt limit:
- Candidates may appear a maximum of three consecutive attempts (i.e., three years from the year of first Class 12 appearance). As of 2025, candidates who passed Class 12 in 2023, 2024, or are appearing in 2025 are eligible.
- Within a single year, both Session 1 (January) and Session 2 (April) count as one attempt year. Candidates can appear in both sessions.
Class 12 marks criteria for NIT/IIIT/GFTI admission (not for appearing in JEE Main): To actually take up a seat at NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JoSAA, candidates must have scored at least 75% aggregate in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST) or be in the top 20 percentile of their respective board. This criterion applies at the admission stage, not at the JEE Main application stage.
Registration process: Applications are submitted online at jeemain.nta.ac.in. Candidates fill personal and academic details, upload a scanned photograph and signature, choose exam centres, select paper(s), and pay the application fee. Session 1 registration typically opens in late October/early November, and Session 2 registration opens in late January/early February.
Application fee (India, per session, per paper):
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC-NCL / EWS (Male) | ₹1,000 |
| General / OBC-NCL / EWS (Female) | ₹800 |
| SC / ST / PwD / Transgender | ₹500 |
Candidates applying from outside India pay ₹5,000 (General) or ₹2,500 (SC/ST/PwD). Fee is paid online via debit/credit card, UPI, or net banking. The fee is non-refundable. For appearing in two or more papers in a single session, the fee is higher.
Cutoffs and score interpretation
JEE Main has two types of cutoffs:
1. JEE Advanced qualifying cutoff: The NTA releases this after JEE Main results. It is the minimum percentile required for a candidate to be among the top 2.5 lakh qualifiers eligible for JEE Advanced. This is category-wise.
| Category | 2025 Cutoff (percentile) | 2024 Cutoff (percentile) |
|---|---|---|
| General | 93.10 | 93.24 |
| EWS | 80.38 | 81.33 |
| OBC-NCL | 79.43 | 79.68 |
| SC | 61.15 | 60.09 |
| ST | 47.90 | 46.70 |
| Gen-PwD | ~0.008 | ~0.002 |
2. JoSAA admission cutoffs: These are institute-specific and programme-specific opening and closing ranks released after each round of JoSAA counselling. For top NITs (CSE), the general category closing rank typically falls between 500 and 3,000 depending on the NIT. For IIITs, IIIT Hyderabad and IIIT Allahabad have historically had high demand. GFTIs have wider rank ranges.
What a JEE Main score means: A percentile of 99+ typically corresponds to a rank below 10,000 and is generally competitive for most NITs. For IIT admission, only the JEE Advanced rank matters — there is no minimum JEE Main percentile beyond the qualifying cutoff.
The JEE Main rank card shows the candidate’s raw score in each subject, the total raw score, and the final NTA Score (percentile). The All India Rank (AIR) is derived from the NTA Score. Separate category-wise rank lists are also published.
Colleges and programmes that accept this exam
JEE Main scores are used for admission to approximately 127 institutes participating in JoSAA counselling each year, covering over 44,000 seats at NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.
National Institutes of Technology (31 NITs): NITs are government-funded engineering institutes distributed across all states and union territories. Major NITs include NIT Trichy, NIT Warangal, NIT Surathkal, NIT Calicut, NIT Rourkela, NIT Allahabad, NIT Bhopal, NIT Delhi, and others. Collectively, they offer approximately 24,525 seats (as per JoSAA 2025 seat matrix). Admission is through JoSAA counselling based on JEE Main rank.
Indian Institutes of Information Technology (26 IIITs): IIITs are specialised institutes focused on information technology and related disciplines. They include IIIT Allahabad, ABV-IIITM Gwalior, IIIT Hyderabad (independent admission process), IIIT Kota, IIIT Guwahati, and others. Approximately 9,940 IIIT seats are available through JoSAA 2025.
Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs): GFTIs include institutes such as Birla Institute of Technology Mesra, IIEST Shibpur, Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, and various other centrally or state-funded technical institutes. Approximately 10,000 seats are available across GFTIs in JoSAA.
IITs (via JEE Advanced): JEE Main also serves as the qualifying round for IIT admissions. The top 2.5 lakh JEE Main qualifiers attempt JEE Advanced, and IIT admissions (approximately 18,160 seats across 23 IITs in 2025) are based solely on JEE Advanced rank. Top IITs include IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, and IIT Madras.
Other institutions: Several state and private universities, including some deemed universities, also accept JEE Main scores as part of their own admission processes, though these are outside the JoSAA framework.
For BTech AI and Data Science, NITs and IIITs are increasingly offering dedicated programmes that can be accessed through JEE Main and JoSAA.
How to prepare
JEE Main preparation is a structured, multi-month exercise centred on Class 11 and 12 NCERT-level mastery with significant extension into problem-solving at a higher difficulty level.
Build from NCERT first. The JEE Main syllabus derives from NCERT textbooks. A thorough, conceptual understanding of all NCERT chapters in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics is the essential foundation. This is especially true for Chemistry, where a large number of JEE Main questions test factual and conceptual knowledge directly from NCERT.
Physics preparation: Focus on problem-solving across all major chapters. Mechanics (kinematics, rotational motion) and Electrostatics/Current Electricity are consistently high-weightage areas. Numerical questions (Section B) in Physics are often formula-heavy; practising varied problems from multiple difficulty levels helps.
Chemistry preparation: Physical Chemistry problems require mathematical fluency; Inorganic Chemistry is memory-intensive; Organic Chemistry requires understanding reaction mechanisms. The balance across all three branches in JEE Main means no sub-section should be neglected.
Mathematics preparation: Calculus (differentiation and integration) and Coordinate Geometry carry the highest weightage historically. Algebra and Probability are also significant. Speed and accuracy are critical in Mathematics — timed practice is essential.
Mock tests and PYQ practice: Previous years’ question papers (PYPs) and mock tests are indispensable. NTA releases official mock tests through the NTA’s test practice centre portal. Attempting full-length mocks under exam conditions (3 hours, no breaks) builds stamina and time management skills.
Time allocation strategy in exam: Since Section B numerical questions carry no negative marking, they should be attempted if you have even partial confidence. Section A MCQs require caution due to the −1 penalty.
Revision cycles: Given the breadth of the syllabus, regular short-cycle revision (every 4–6 weeks per subject) is more effective than leaving all revision to the end.
Resources: Stick to standard textbooks: H.C. Verma for Physics concepts, I.E. Irodov for advanced problems, P. Bahadur/O.P. Tandon for Physical Chemistry, Morrison and Boyd for Organic Chemistry conceptual understanding, and R.D. Sharma or Arihant series for Mathematics. For Chemistry, NCERT itself is often sufficient for a significant portion of questions.
Key dates and timeline
JEE Main follows a biannual schedule. The broad timeline each year:
| Event | Session 1 (January) | Session 2 (April) |
|---|---|---|
| Registration opens | Late October / Early November | Late January / Early February |
| Last date for application | Late November | Late February / Early March |
| Admit card release | ~3 days before exam | ~3 days before exam |
| Exam dates | Late January to early February | Early to mid-April |
| Result declaration | ~2 weeks after exam ends | ~2 weeks after exam ends |
| JEE Advanced qualifying list | After Session 2 results | — |
Exact dates for each cycle are announced by NTA on the official website. The Information Bulletin released for each session contains the definitive schedule.
Post-result timeline:
- JEE Advanced registration: Within a few weeks of JEE Main Session 2 results
- JoSAA counselling registration: Begins after JEE Advanced results (June)
- JoSAA rounds: June–July (6 rounds)
- Reporting to institutes: July–August
Related exams
- JEE Advanced — The second stage after JEE Main; sole gateway to IIT admissions. Only the top 2.5 lakh JEE Main qualifiers are eligible.
- CUET UG — Central university entrance for a wide range of UG programmes. Some central universities accept CUET UG for science programmes.
- IIT JAM — Postgraduate entrance for IITs; relevant for students who complete a BSc and wish to enter IIT M.Sc. or integrated programmes.
Sources Used
The information on this page is compiled from official sources and institutional programme pages. It may not reflect the most recent changes. Always verify directly with the institution before making any admission or financial decision.