JEE Main
Joint Entrance Examination for admission to NITs, IIITs and CFTIs.
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JEE Main — Highlights
- Conducting Body
- NTA
- Level
- National
- Mode
- Online (Computer-Based Test)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Category
- Engineering
- Country
- India
- Held
- Multiple sessions per year
- Papers
- Paper 1 (Engineering), Paper 2 (Architecture/Planning)
- Marking
- +4 correct, −1 wrong (MCQ)
- Leads to
- NITs / IIITs / CFTIs + JEE Advanced
Eligibility
Open to candidates who have passed, or are appearing in, Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects along with one of Chemistry / Biology / Biotechnology / a technical vocational subject. There is no age limit to appear, but individual institutes may set their own admission criteria.
Exam Pattern
Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) has 90 questions across Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (30 each); 75 are to be attempted. Each subject mixes multiple-choice questions and numerical-value questions. There is negative marking of 1 mark for wrong MCQ answers. Paper 2 (B.Arch/B.Planning) additionally tests Aptitude and Drawing/Planning.
Syllabus
Broadly the NCERT Class 11 and 12 syllabus for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Physics: mechanics, thermodynamics, electrodynamics, optics, modern physics. Chemistry: physical, organic and inorganic. Mathematics: algebra, calculus, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, vectors and 3D.
Selection Process
Candidates are ranked by NTA percentile / normalised score. Ranks feed into JoSAA counselling for NIT/IIIT/CFTI seats, while the top scorers qualify to attempt JEE Advanced for the IITs.
Overview
Joint Entrance Examination for admission to NITs, IIITs and CFTIs.
Eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, important dates and preparation tips.
Eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, important dates and preparation tips.
Frequently Asked Questions
JEE Main is held in multiple sessions each year and you may appear in more than one; your best score is used.
No. JEE Main qualifies you to sit JEE Advanced, which is the exam used for IIT admission.
How to prepare
- Read the official notification first — confirm eligibility, exam pattern and the marking scheme.
- Get the latest official syllabus and map it topic by topic.
- Build a realistic weekly timetable and study consistently, not in bursts.
- Learn each concept properly first, then practise questions on it — avoid blind memorisation.
- Take full-length mock tests regularly under timed, exam-like conditions.
- Analyse every mock: fix weak topics and note the silly mistakes you keep making.
- In the final weeks, revise with short notes and previous-year question papers.
Foundation
Cover the entire syllabus once, concept by concept. Focus on understanding, not speed.
Practice
Do topic-wise question practice and solve previous-year papers. Start timing yourself.
Revision
Full-length mock tests, quick-revision notes, and targeted work on your weak areas.