Engineering entrance exams
JEE Main 2027: Exam Pattern, Syllabus & Eligibility
Joint Entrance Examination (Main) · conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA)
JEE Main is India’s national engineering entrance exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for B.E./B.Tech admission to NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded institutes; it is also the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced (IITs). Paper 1 is a 3-hour computer-based test of 75 questions (300 marks) in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, with +4 for a correct answer and −1 for a wrong one.
When is JEE Main?
JEE Main is held in two sessions every year, usually in January and April. You can take one or both; your better score is used.
JEE Main at a glance
- Conducted by
- National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Level
- National, after Class 12
- Mode
- Computer-based test (Paper 1)
- Sessions
- Two a year (usually January and April)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Questions
- 75 — 25 each in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics
- Total marks
- 300
- Marking
- +4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 unanswered
- Languages
- 13, including English and Hindi
- Used for
- NITs, IIITs and GFTIs via JoSAA; JEE Advanced eligibility
JEE Main exam pattern
| Subject | MCQs (Section A) | Numerical-value questions (Section B) | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 20 | 5 | 100 |
| Chemistry | 20 | 5 | 100 |
| Mathematics | 20 | 5 | 100 |
| Total | 60 | 15 | 300 |
- All 75 questions are compulsory — the optional numerical questions were removed from 2025.
- Numerical-value questions have no options; you type the answer.
- Paper 2A (B.Arch) and Paper 2B (B.Planning) follow separate patterns.
JEE Main syllabus
Physics
- Units and measurements
- Kinematics
- Laws of motion
- Work, energy and power
- Rotational motion
- Gravitation
- Properties of solids and liquids
- Thermodynamics
- Kinetic theory of gases
- Oscillations and waves
- Electrostatics
- Current electricity
- Magnetic effects of current and magnetism
- Electromagnetic induction and alternating currents
- Electromagnetic waves
- Optics
- Dual nature of matter and radiation
- Atoms and nuclei
- Electronic devices
- Experimental skills
Chemistry
- Some basic concepts of chemistry
- Atomic structure
- Chemical bonding and molecular structure
- Chemical thermodynamics
- Solutions
- Equilibrium
- Redox reactions and electrochemistry
- Chemical kinetics
- Classification of elements and periodicity
- p-block elements
- d- and f-block elements
- Coordination compounds
- Purification and characterisation of organic compounds
- Basic principles of organic chemistry
- Hydrocarbons
- Organic compounds containing halogens, oxygen and nitrogen
- Biomolecules
- Principles of practical chemistry
Mathematics
- Sets, relations and functions
- Complex numbers and quadratic equations
- Matrices and determinants
- Permutations and combinations
- Binomial theorem
- Sequences and series
- Limits, continuity and differentiability
- Integral calculus
- Differential equations
- Coordinate geometry
- Three-dimensional geometry
- Vector algebra
- Statistics and probability
- Trigonometry
Based on the NTA syllabus for Classes 11 and 12. Check the latest information bulletin for any change.
JEE Main eligibility
- Class 12 (or equivalent) passed or appearing. NTA usually also allows those who passed Class 12 in the two previous years — three consecutive years in all.
- For B.E./B.Tech: Physics and Mathematics, plus Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology or a technical vocational subject.
- There is no age limit for JEE Main itself.
- For NIT, IIIT and GFTI admission through JoSAA you also need 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST) or a place in the top 20 percentile of your board.
How to prepare for JEE Main
- 1Finish NCERT first. Inorganic Chemistry questions in particular follow the NCERT text closely.
- 2From about six months out, take a full 3-hour mock every week — and every second day in the final month. Spend longer analysing a mock than writing it.
- 3Practise numerical-value questions on their own: without options, careless arithmetic costs marks, and wrong answers are penalised.
- 4Use both sessions: treat January as a full rehearsal, fix your weakest chapters, then improve in April.
- 5Keep a formula sheet and a mistakes notebook for Physics and Mathematics, and revise them every week.
JEE Main FAQs
Is there negative marking in JEE Main?
Yes. Each correct answer gets +4 and each wrong answer −1, in both the multiple-choice and the numerical-value questions. Unanswered questions get 0.
How many times can I take JEE Main?
JEE Main is held twice a year (January and April sessions), and you can appear in the year you finish Class 12 and the two years after it. Your better session score counts for ranking.
What is the difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced?
JEE Main, run by NTA, is used for NIT, IIIT and GFTI admission and is the qualifier for JEE Advanced. JEE Advanced, run by an IIT, is used for IIT admission and is open only to the top 2,50,000 JEE Main Paper 1 candidates.
What percentile is needed to qualify for JEE Advanced?
You must be among the top 2,50,000 candidates in JEE Main Paper 1. In recent years that has meant roughly the 90–93 percentile for the general category, with lower cut-offs for reserved categories.
Do Class 12 marks matter for JEE Main?
Not for the JEE Main score itself. But JoSAA admission to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs needs 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST) or a place in the top 20 percentile of your board.
Can I write JEE Main in Hindi?
Yes. JEE Main is available in 13 languages including English and Hindi; you choose the language when you register.
Practise JEE Main on GyanBook
Timed quizzes and mock tests that follow the real marking scheme, instant scores with step-by-step solutions, and progress tracking for every subject. Free to start.
Related exams
GyanBook India is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with the body that conducts JEE Main. These details were checked against official sources on 13 October 2026. Exam dates, eligibility rules and patterns can change — always confirm them on the official website (jeemain.nta.nic.in) before you apply.