JEE Main

About the exam

JEE Main is conducted by the NTA in computer-based mode and is held in two sessions each year, generally one in January and one in April. Candidates may appear in one or both sessions, and the better of the two scores is retained. Besides opening admission to NITs, IIITs and Government-Funded Technical Institutions, JEE Main also serves as the screening examination for JEE Advanced, the entrance test for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). A separate Paper 2 is conducted for B.Arch and B.Planning programmes. The exact schedule for each year is published by the NTA in its information bulletin.

Exam pattern and marking

• Mode: computer-based test for Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech); the drawing portion of Paper 2 is attempted on paper.
• Questions: 75 questions in Paper 1, all compulsory — 25 each in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, comprising 20 multiple-choice questions and 5 numerical-value questions per subject.
• Marks: four marks for each correct answer and a total of 300; one mark is deducted for each incorrect answer, including numerical questions; unattempted questions carry no penalty.
• Duration: three hours (with compensatory time for eligible candidates with disability).
• Admission criterion: for admission to NITs, IIITs and similar institutions, candidates must additionally have secured at least 75 per cent marks in Class 12 examinations, or be within the top 20 percentile of their respective boards, with relaxations for reserved categories.

Syllabus overview

The JEE Main syllabus follows the Class 11 and 12 curriculum in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, and the NTA publishes the detailed topic list with each bulletin. In Mathematics, the major areas are sets and functions, complex numbers and quadratic equations, matrices and determinants, permutations and combinations, the binomial theorem, sequences and series, limits, continuity and differentiability, integral calculus, differential equations, coordinate geometry, three-dimensional geometry, vector algebra, statistics, probability and trigonometry. Physics spans kinematics, laws of motion, work, energy and power, gravitation, properties of matter, thermodynamics, oscillations and waves, electrostatics, current electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic induction and alternating currents, electromagnetic waves, optics, dual nature of matter, atoms and nuclei, and electronic devices. Chemistry covers basic concepts, atomic structure, chemical bonding, states of matter, thermodynamics, equilibrium, redox reactions and electrochemistry, chemical kinetics, the periodic table and representative elements, transition elements and coordination compounds, and organic chemistry spanning nomenclature, mechanisms, hydrocarbons and compounds containing oxygen and nitrogen.

How to prepare

1. Concepts before volume. Work through theory with a standard textbook and, in Mathematics and Physics, derive and apply every result yourself rather than memorising it.
2. Practise daily from the start. Solve a fixed number of numerical problems every day, chapter by chapter, including previous-year JEE Main questions, so that speed develops alongside understanding.
3. Simulate the exam with mocks. From mid-preparation, take full-length computer-based mock tests of 75 questions in three hours. Review each paper question by question and maintain a written error log.
4. Revise and consolidate. Use formula sheets, reaction maps and short notes for repeated revision. In the last weeks, alternate between revising weak chapters and attempting sectional tests to keep accuracy high.

Preparation with PrepElephant

PrepElephant supports JEE Main preparation with previous-year question practice, question banks, mock tests and revision tools in the PrepElephant app, along with free guides and resources on this website. The examination is conducted by the NTA, and applications, admit cards and results should always be accessed through official NTA channels.

After the exam

Scores from JEE Main are used to prepare category-wise ranks, through which candidates join the JoSAA counselling process; NITs, IIITs and government-funded institutions admit students primarily on JEE Main ranks. Candidates ranking within the cutoff declared for JEE Advanced become eligible to register for that examination, and many state and private institutions also admit students on the JEE Main score.