Overview
JEE (Main) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) as the national entrance exam for admission to undergraduate engineering, architecture and planning programmes at NITs, IIITs and other Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs), and as the qualifying stage for JEE (Advanced), which is used for admission to the IITs. It is held in two sessions each year.
Exam pattern
JEE (Main) 2026 has three papers, each 3 hours long and conducted in online (computer-based) mode.
| Paper | For admission to | Sections | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | B.E./B.Tech | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (20 MCQs + 5 numerical-value questions each) | 75 | 300 |
| Paper 2A | B.Arch | Mathematics, Aptitude, Drawing | 77 | 400 |
| Paper 2B | B.Planning | Mathematics, Aptitude, Planning-based questions | 100 | 400 |
For 2026, all 5 numerical-value questions per subject in Paper 1 are compulsory (the earlier option to attempt 5 out of 10 numerical questions has been removed), and each correct answer earns 4 marks while each wrong answer — including wrong numerical-value answers — loses 1 mark.
Syllabus
The syllabus for Paper 1 covers Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics at the Class 11–12 level. Paper 2A (B.Arch) additionally tests Aptitude and Drawing, and Paper 2B (B.Planning) tests Aptitude and planning-related questions, alongside Mathematics.
Marking and results
NTA normalises scores across the multiple shifts each session is held in and publishes percentile scores alongside raw marks. Candidates in the top 2,50,000 (category-wise) of Paper 1 become eligible to also appear for JEE (Advanced).
Important dates
For the 2026 cycle, Session 1 exam dates ran from 21 to 30 January 2026, and Session 2 registration was open from 1 to 25 February 2026, with the Session 2 exam held from 2 to 9 April 2026. NTA released the city intimation slip ahead of each session — in January 2026 for Session 1 and April 2026 for Session 2.
How to apply
Registration for each session is separate and done online at jeemain.nta.nic.in, where candidates fill in personal and academic details, upload documents, choose their paper(s), and pay the fee through UPI, net banking, debit or credit card during that session's application window. Applications without a completed fee payment are not considered valid.
After the exam
JEE (Main) ranks (All India Rank) are used directly for admission to the NITs, IIITs, IIEST Shibpur and other GFTIs, through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) — a single online counselling platform covering 23 IITs, 31 NITs, 26 IIITs, IIEST Shibpur and more than 40 other GFTIs. Candidates register on josaa.nic.in, fill in institute/branch preferences, and go through multiple rounds of seat allotment, choosing at each round to freeze, float or slide their allotted seat. Candidates who also qualify for JEE (Advanced) use their JEE (Advanced) rank for IIT seats through the same portal.
Preparation tips
Because JEE (Main) is held in two sessions and the better of the two scores/percentiles counts, attempting both sessions (where eligible) gives a second chance to improve the result. Since numerical-value questions now carry the same negative marking as MCQs, practising them with the same care as MCQs — rather than treating them as safer, guess-friendly questions — matters more than in earlier years.
How many sessions is JEE Main held in?
Two sessions each year; candidates can appear in one or both, and the better score/percentile of the two is considered.
What is the difference between Paper 1, Paper 2A and Paper 2B?
Paper 1 is for B.E./B.Tech admission, Paper 2A is for B.Arch (Mathematics, Aptitude and Drawing), and Paper 2B is for B.Planning (Mathematics, Aptitude and planning-based questions).
Is there negative marking on numerical-value questions in JEE Main?
Yes, for 2026. Wrong numerical-value answers lose 1 mark, the same as wrong MCQ answers.
How does JEE Main lead to an IIT seat?
It doesn't directly — only candidates who rank in the top 2,50,000 (category-wise) in JEE Main Paper 1 become eligible to also appear for JEE (Advanced), which is what IIT admission is actually based on.