As of recent years, the JEE Main is conducted in multiple sessions to provide flexibility to the candidates. It is typically held in two sessions: the first session is usually in January, and the second session is in April. This change was introduced to offer students more opportunities to appear for the exam and improve their scores. Candidates can choose to appear in one or both of these sessions, and the best score is considered for admissions.
The JEE Main is a two-part exam: Paper 1 is for admission to undergraduate engineering programs at NITs, IIITs, and other CFTIs, and Paper 2 is for admission to B. Arch and B. Planning courses.
To be eligible to take the JEE Advanced, candidates must qualify the JEE Main with a certain minimum score. The exact score required varies from year to year.
The JEE Advanced is a much more difficult exam than the JEE Main. It is a three-part exam: two papers on Physics and Mathematics, and one paper on Chemistry. The exam is held in two sessions, and candidates must qualify in both sessions to be eligible for admission to IITs.
If you are interested in studying engineering at an IIT, you should start preparing for the JEE Main as soon as possible. You can find more information about the JEE Main and JEE Advanced on the NTA website: https://www.nta.ac.in/.
JEE Main Exam Scheme
Here’s an overview of the scheme of the JEE Main examination:
Paper 1: B.E./B.Tech.
- Subjects: Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry
- Type of Questions: Objective Type – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Questions for which the answer is a numerical value, with equal weightage to Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
- Mode of Examination: “Computer Based Test (CBT)” mode only.
Paper 2A: B. Arch
Part-I: Mathematics
- Type of Questions: Objective Type – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Questions for which the answer is a numerical value.
- Mode of Examination: “Computer Based Test (CBT)” mode only.
Part-II: Aptitude Test
- Type of Questions: Objective Type – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Part-III: Drawing Test
- Type of Questions: Questions to test drawing aptitude.
- Mode of Examination: “Pen and Paper Based” (offline) mode to be attempted on a Drawing sheet of A4 size.
Paper 2B: B. Planning
Part-I: Mathematics
- Type of Questions: Objective Type – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Questions for which the answer is a numerical value.
- Mode of Examination: “Computer Based Test (CBT)” mode only.
Part-II: Aptitude Test
- Type of Questions: Objective Type – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Part-III: Planning-Based Questions
- Type of Questions: Objective Type – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
JEE Main Exam Pattern
The Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main) for B.E./B.Tech. is conducted in Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. The pattern of examination for this paper is as follows:
Subject-wise Distribution of Questions, Total Number of Questions, and Marks:
- Mathematics: 20 (Section A – Multiple-Choice Questions) + 10 (Section B – Numerical Value Questions) = Total 30 Questions, 100 Marks
- Physics: 20 (Section A – Multiple-Choice Questions) + 10 (Section B – Numerical Value Questions) = Total 30 Questions, 100 Marks
- Chemistry: 20 (Section A – Multiple-Choice Questions) + 10 (Section B – Numerical Value Questions) = Total 30 Questions, 100 Marks
- Total: 90 Questions, 300 Marks
Note:
- Each subject (Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry) has two sections: Section A (MCQs) and Section B (Numerical Value Questions).
- In Section B, candidates must attempt any 05 out of the provided 10 questions.
- There is negative marking for both Section A and Section B.
- For Section B, candidates should enter the correct integer value of the answer using the mouse and the on-screen virtual numeric keypad in the designated area.
- Answers for Section B should be rounded off to the nearest integer.
This examination pattern aims to assess candidates’ knowledge and problem-solving abilities in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry for B.E./B.Tech. programs.
JEE Main Marking Scheme
The marking scheme for Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) in the JEE Main examination is as follows:
- Correct Answer or the Most Appropriate Answer: Four marks (+4)
- Incorrect Answer: Minus one mark (-1)
- Unanswered / Marked for Review: No mark (0)
Candidates are awarded four marks for each correct or most appropriate answer. For every incorrect answer, one mark is deducted as a penalty. If a question is left unanswered or marked for review, no marks are added or deducted. This marking scheme is designed to encourage candidates to answer questions accurately while discouraging random guessing.
The marking scheme for questions in the JEE Main examination for which the answer is a numerical value is as follows:
- Correct Answer: Four marks (+4)
- Incorrect Answer: Minus one mark (-1)
- Unanswered / Marked for Review: No mark (0)
Candidates are awarded four marks for each correct numerical value answer. For every incorrect numerical value answer, one mark is deducted as a penalty. If a question is left unanswered or marked for review, no marks are added or deducted. This marking scheme encourages candidates to provide accurate numerical answers while penalizing incorrect responses.
Method of determining merit
The method of determining merit in the JEE Main examination involves the following steps:
- Conversion of Raw Scores: The raw scores obtained by candidates in the subjects of Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry are converted into NTA scores.
- Calculation of Total NTA Score: The NTA scores for individual subjects are combined to calculate the total NTA score for each candidate.
- Overall Merit Preparation: The overall merit list is prepared by merging the NTA scores of all shifts of all days. This means that the scores from multiple exam sessions are considered to create a comprehensive merit list.
This method ensures a fair and standardized approach to determine the merit of candidates appearing in different shifts and on different days of the JEE Main examination. It allows for a more accurate assessment of a candidate’s performance relative to all test-takers.