Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main and JEE Advanced (2025)
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is one of the most prestigious entrance exams for admission to undergraduate engineering programs in India. JEE is conducted in two phases: JEE Main and JEE Advanced. Both exams have specific eligibility criteria, and understanding these criteria is essential for aspiring candidates. Below is a comprehensive, updated, and detailed overview of the eligibility requirements for both JEE Main and JEE Advanced in 2025.
1. Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main 2025
1.1 Nationality
- Indian Nationals: Candidates must be Indian citizens.
- Foreign Nationals: Foreign nationals are eligible to apply for JEE Main, subject to the specific guidelines and admission criteria of the institutions they are applying to (such as IITs or NITs).
1.2 Age Limit
There is no specific upper age limit for appearing in JEE Main. However, candidates must meet the age requirements for the course they are applying for, which are set by the institutions.
- General Candidates: Must be born on or after October 1, 2000 (for general category candidates).
- SC/ST/PwD Candidates: Must be born on or after October 1, 1995 (for SC/ST/PwD category candidates).
- Date of Birth: This is as per the date of birth mentioned in the secondary school certificate.
1.3 Academic Qualifications
Candidates must have passed their Class 12th (or equivalent) examination or must be appearing in 2025. The eligibility requirements vary based on the academic background.
Qualifying Examination: Candidates must have passed their Class 12th (or equivalent) exam with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
- Class 12th/Equivalent: Candidates must have cleared the Class 12th exam or equivalent with at least 75% marks (or 65% for SC/ST candidates). If the candidate has not appeared for Class 12th, they should have passed a qualifying exam recognized by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Compulsory Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics must be the core subjects for eligibility. Candidates must have studied these three subjects in Class 12th.
1.4 Number of Attempts
- Maximum Attempts: A candidate can attempt JEE Main a maximum of three times (for the academic year 2025, this rule applies). This means a student can appear for the exam in three consecutive years.
1.5 JEE Main Exam Pattern
- Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
- Mode of Exam: JEE Main is conducted in both Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for Paper 1 (for B.Tech) and Pen and Paper (P&P) for Paper 2 (for B.Arch/B.Planning).
- Marking Scheme:
- Paper 1 (B.Tech): 300 marks (2 hours 30 minutes duration). Each section (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) consists of 25 questions (20 MCQs + 5 Numerical).
- Paper 2 (B.Arch/B.Planning): This includes three sections (Mathematics, Aptitude, and Drawing).
1.6 Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main for Foreign Nationals
- Educational Qualification: Foreign nationals must have passed the equivalent of the Class 12th exam with subjects including Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
- Percentage Requirement: The percentage of marks in the qualifying examination should meet the requirements set by the specific institutions where the candidate intends to apply.
2. Eligibility Criteria for JEE Advanced 2025
2.1 Eligibility to Appear in JEE Advanced
To be eligible for JEE Advanced, a candidate must first qualify the JEE Main exam. The eligibility is determined by the candidate's performance in JEE Main.
2.2 Minimum Marks in JEE Main
- Top 2,50,000 Candidates: Only the top 2,50,000 candidates (including all categories) from JEE Main are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced. The rank is determined based on the JEE Main score.
- The number of candidates may vary slightly depending on the number of available seats and specific guidelines, but this figure has remained consistent in recent years.
- Category-wise Reservation: 5% of the total seats are reserved for SC candidates, 27% for OBC (NCL) candidates, 15% for ST candidates, and 10% for EWS candidates.
2.3 Age Limit for JEE Advanced
- General Candidates: Candidates must be born on or after October 1, 2000.
- SC/ST/PwD Candidates: Candidates must be born on or after October 1, 1995.
- Date of Birth: This is the same age limit followed by JEE Main and applies to all candidates.
2.4 Academic Qualifications
2.5 Number of Attempts
- Maximum Number of Attempts: A candidate can appear for JEE Advanced only twice in consecutive years. Once they appear, the eligibility for JEE Advanced is valid only for the year they qualify and the next one.
2.6 Restrictions on Participation
- Performance in Previous JEE Advanced: Candidates who had appeared for JEE Advanced in earlier years (even if they had not qualified) are not eligible to appear again unless they meet the other eligibility criteria, such as age and class 12 qualifications.
2.7 Subjects in JEE Advanced
- Paper Format: JEE Advanced consists of two papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2), each of 3 hours duration.
- Subjects: Both papers include questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, with varied question formats, including MCQs, numerical-based, and integer-type questions.
- Mode of Exam: The exam is conducted online in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
3. Summary of Eligibility Criteria for JEE Main & JEE Advanced
| Criteria | JEE Main | JEE Advanced |
|--------------|--------------|------------------|
| Nationality | Indian Nationals and Foreign Nationals | Indian Nationals and Foreign Nationals (must qualify JEE Main) |
| Age Limit | Born on or after October 1, 2000 (General) | Born on or after October 1, 2000 (General) |
| Academic Qualification | Class 12th with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics | Class 12th or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics |
| Minimum Percentage | 75% marks (General), 65% marks (SC/ST) | 75% marks (General), 65% marks (SC/ST) |
| Attempts | 3 attempts | 2 attempts (consecutive years) |
| Qualifying Exam | 12th or equivalent | Must have qualified JEE Main |
Conclusion
The eligibility criteria for JEE Main and JEE Advanced are clearly defined and must be met by all aspiring candidates. While JEE Main is more about qualifying through the first level of examination, JEE Advanced is reserved for the top-performing candidates from JEE Main. Both exams demand rigorous preparation in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, and candidates need to ensure they meet all the criteria related to age, academic qualifications, and attempts to qualify for these competitive exams.