The Joint Entrance Examination – Main (JEE Main) is India’s premier computer-based test for admission to undergraduate engineering (B.E/B.Tech), architecture (B.Arch), and planning (B.Planning) programs.
It also serves as the gateway to JEE Advanced, which leads to the IITs. Conducted twice a year (typically January and April), it’s managed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and is accepted by NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and many state/private institutions
Students aiming for an engineering or architecture undergraduate program in India.
Aspirants planning to qualify for JEE Advanced and secure admission to IITs.
Those seeking admission to NITs, IIITs, and other centrally funded or private engineering institutions
Must have passed or be appearing in Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2023, 2024, or 2025; candidates who passed prior to 2023 are not eligible
Required subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics
Minimum marks: 75% aggregate in PCM for general category; 65% for SC/ST/PwD (for admission into NITs/IIITs/CFTIs)
No age limit
Paper 1 (B.E/B.Tech): 90 total questions—30 per subject (Physics, Chemistry, Maths), with a mix of MCQs and Numerical Value Type (NVT) questions
Duration: 3 hours; Total marks: 300
Syllabus is based on Class 11 & 12 PCM; minor syllabus changes for Physics in Session 2 (e.g., fewer vector topics)
Each correct answer: +4 marks; incorrect MCQ: –1 mark; NVT abandoned questions: 0 penalty
Final scores use NTA normalized scoring, with candidates receiving the best of their two attempts for ranking
National Institutes of Technology (31 NITs), 25 IIITs, and 28 Government Funded Technical Institutes (GFTIs)
Prominent private engineering colleges, like Amity, Thapar, Nirma, Shiv Nadar, and more
Some universities also offer admission for related programs (e.g., B.Sc, B.Arch, B.Planning)
Follow a comprehensive PCM-based revision plan, use mock tests, and analyze weak areas regularly.
A balanced strategy between self-study and coaching can be more personalized.
Stick to a minimum 6–12 month preparation cycle, depending on your base and rigor
Popular books: H.C. Verma (Physics), R.D. Sharma (Maths), O.P. Tandon (Chemistry).
Use NTA's official mock tests, plus platforms like FIITJEE, Allen, and Resonance
Online resources: Past-year papers, YouTube channels specializing in JEE Main prep.
State government scholarships and institutional merit-based scholarships are available.
JEE Advanced rankers may receive scholarships in IITs.
Some private colleges offer fee concessions to top JEE Main scorers.
Avoid rote memorization—focus on concept building.
Don’t skip analysis of mock test mistakes.
Avoid last-minute intensive cramming.
A solid 6–12 month timeline is typical.
Students with a stronger foundation may be ready in 6–8 months, others may need up to 12 months.
90–95 percentile+ is generally required for NITs.
99+ percentile (approximately 250+ marks) needed for top IIITs and CFTIs, and to qualify for JEE Advanced
The score is valid only for the same academic year it's taken; January and April sessions are combined in one rank list
Conducted twice a year; you can take both sessions and use the higher score
Maximum 6 attempts over three consecutive years, from the year of passing Class 12