Published: Jul 07, 2025
Last Updated: Jul 07, 2025 10:34 AM

JEE : Latest Updates on Exam Pattern and Changes You Should Know

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is a highly competitive, national-level engineering entrance exam conducted in two phases: JEE Main and JEE Advanced. More than 15 lakh candidates appear for this exam every year to gain admission to various undergraduate engineering programmes. The total number of candidates appearing for the exam is increasing every year, along with the difficulty level of the exam.

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) has introduced several significant changes to its exam pattern and structure. In this article, we will explore these essential changes in more detail.

Table Of Contents:

JEE- AN Overview

JEE (Joint Entrance Exam) is a highly competitive exam. The JEE Main exam is a gateway to engineering colleges like NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, while JEE Advanced is specifically for admission to IITs. Both exams require thorough preparation and time management to secure a good rank.

Here are general details about the JEE Exam- Both JEE Main & JEE Advanced.

Exam Schedule and Dates

JEE Main:
Session 1: January (Tentative)
Session 2: April (Tentative)

JEE Advanced:
Expected Date: June 
Conducting IIT: IIT Roorkee (Tentative)

Languages: 
The exams are usually conducted in English and Hindi

Negative Markings: 
Both exams have negative markings for incorrect answers, especially for multiple-choice questions.
Mode of Exam
JEE Main: Computer-Based Test (CBT)JEE Advanced: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Difficulty
JEE Main focuses on more direct problem-solvingJEE Advanced is more concept-based, with questions designed to test deeper understanding
Number of Attempts

JEE Main: Candidates can appear for JEE Main for up to 3 consecutive years.
JEE Advanced: Candidates can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of 2 times in two successive years, provided they qualify for JEE Main and meet the eligibility criteria.
Exam Mode and Format
JEE Main: Conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) for all papersJEE Advanced: Conducted in two papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2)
Total Questions
90 questions (Paper 1)54-60 questions per paper
Negative Marking
YesYes
Duration
3 hours3 hours per paper
Total Marks
300 (Paper 1)360 (Both Papers)
Type of Questions
MCQs, Numerical, MatchingsMCQs, Integer-based, Matchings, Paragraph-based

Eligibility Criteria

Minimum Marks: A minimum of 75% marks in Class 12 is required for admission to IITs, NITs, and IIITs (65% for SC/ST candidates).

Candidates appearing for the JEE should meet the following criteria:

Candidates must:

  • Have a minimum of 75% in their Class 12 board exams
  • Have passed their class 12 exam in 2023, 2024, or 2025.
  • Have passed the exam from a recognised board or university 
  • Have Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as core subjects in their Class 12

JEE Main Exam Pattern

JEE Main is the initial stage of the JEE exam. It is used for admission to undergraduate programmes at NITs, IIITs, and other government-funded technical institutes across India. 

As mentioned, JEE Main is held twice a year: one session in January and another in April (dates may vary). 

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Age Limit: There is no age limit for JEE Main Exams
  • Candidates are allowed to attempt the JEE Main for three consecutive years. 
  • Candidates must have passed the 10+2 level exam or an equivalent from a recognised board. 

Syllabus: The syllabus is based on theNCERT curriculum for Classes 11 and 12, covering a wide range of topics in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics

Admission Process: JEE Main qualifies candidates for JEE Advanced (for IITs)

Other details of the JEE Main exam include:

Subjects Covered:Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics
Mode of Exam:Online (Computer Based Test)
Duration:3 hours
Number of Papers:Paper 1: For B.E./B.Tech courses (conducted in CBT mode).Paper 2: For B.Arch/B.Planning courses (this paper includes Mathematics, Aptitude Tests, and Drawing).
Paper 1: For B.E./B.Tech courses (conducted in CBT mode).
Total Number of Questions: 90 questions (30 questions from each subject)
Type of Questions:Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)Numerical Value-based questions (No options provided for answers).
Sections:Physics: 20 MCQs and 10 Numerical Value-based questionsChemistry: 20 MCQs and 10 Numerical Value-based questionsMathematics: 20 MCQs and 10 Numerical Value-based questions
Marking Scheme:For each MCQ, 4 marks are awarded for the correct answer.1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer in MCQs (negative marking).For Numerical Value-based questions, +4 for correct answers, no negative marking.
Duration:3 hours
Total Marks:300 (100 marks per subject)
Paper 2: For B.Arch/B.Planning courses 
Total Number of Questions: 90 questions (30 questions from each subject)
Type of Questions:Aptitude Test: 50 questions (MCQs)Drawing Test: 2 questions (to test drawing skills)Mathematics: 20 MCQs and 10 Numerical Value-based questions
Sections:Physics: 20 MCQs and 10 Numerical Value-based questionsChemistry: 20 MCQs and 10 Numerical Value-based questionsMathematics: 20 MCQs and 10 Numerical Value-based questions
Marking Scheme:Drawing: 50 marks based on creative drawing and designMathematics: +4 for each correct MCQ, -1 for incorrect answersAptitude: +4 for each correct answer, -1 for incorrect answers
Duration:3 hours
Total Marks:400 (Mathematics + Aptitude + Drawing)

JEE Advanced Exam Pattern 

JEE Advanced is the second exam stage and is required for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). It is usually conducted in May every year. 

Candidates appearing for the JEE Advanced exam must qualify for JEE (Main) with a rank within a certain cutoff to gain eligibility for the JEE (Advanced) exam.

Age Limit: The age limit generally ranges between 17 and 25 years (with a relaxation for reserved categories). Candidates appearing for JEE Advanced exam should be born on or after October 1, 2000.

Eligibility Criteria: JEE Advanced is only for candidates who qualify for JEE Main and rank among the top scorers.

Syllabus: The syllabus is based on the Class 11 and Class 12 curriculum, which includes subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

Admission Process:

After JEE Advanced, candidates are admitted based on their scored ranks through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA), which coordinates the seat allotment process for IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.

The JEE Advanced exam is mainly conducted for admission to the IITs. Its pattern is more challenging and diverse than that of JEE Main.

Other details of the JEE Advanced exam include:


Subjects Covered:
Like JEE Main, it includes Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, but with more challenging and conceptual questions.

Type of Questions:
A mix of MCQs, integer-based questions, and questions requiring detailed problem-solving
Mode of Exam:Online (Computer Based Test)
Duration:6 hours (divided into two papers)
Total Marks:Varies each year
Number of Papers:Paper 1 and Paper 2


Type of Questions:
Matching-type questionsParagraph-based questionsMultiple Choice Questions (MCQs)Integer-based questions (No options, answers are in numeric form)

Sections:
Each paper is divided into three sections:PhysicsChemistryMathematics


Negative Markings:
Section I: One mark is deducted for every wrong answerSection II: Two marks are deducted for every wrong answerSection III: There is no negative markingsSection IV: One mark is deducted for every wrong answer in Paper 1
Marking Scheme:
Integer-based Questions:Correct answers receive +4 marks, no negative marking.

MCQs:
Correct answers get +3 marks, while incorrect answers lead to a negative marking of -1 mark.

Matching-type Questions:
Correct answers receive +4 marks, negative marking is applied for incorrect options.

Total Marks:
The total marks vary each year depending on the difficulty level, but typically, they're around 360 marks (180 marks per paper).

Revised Exam Pattern of JEE Main 

  1. Revised Exam Pattern of JEE Main Paper 1 (B.E & B.Tech)

Students interested in appearing for B.E and B.Tech entrance exams can check the JEE Main revised exam pattern below. 

Here is the detailed revised JEE Main exam pattern for Paper 1:

ParticularsDetails
Mode of Exam:Computer-based examination 
Language:The exams are usually conducted in English and Hindi
Exam Duration:3 hours

No. of Sections:
There are three sections:PhysicsChemistryMathematics
Type of Questions:Multiple choice questions (MCQs)Questions with numerical values as answers



JEE Mains total questions:
Total: 75 Questions (25 questions each)Physics: 25 (20+5) 5 Questions with answers as a numerical value. All five questions are compulsoryChemistry: 25 (20+5) 5 Questions with answers as a numerical value. All five questions are compulsoryMathematics: 25 (20+5) 5 Questions with answers as a numerical value. All five  questions are compulsory
Total Marks in JEE Mains300 Marks (100 marks for each section)


JEE Mains Negative Marking Scheme
MCQs: Four marks will be awarded for each correct answer and there will be a negative marking of one.Questions with numerical value answers: Candidates will be given four marks for each correct answer and there will be a negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer
  1. Revised Exam Pattern of JEE Main Paper 2 (B.Arch & B.Plan)

Students interested in appearing for the B.Arch and B.Planning entrance exam can check the JEE Main revised exam pattern below. 

The changes in the JEE exam pattern include the removal of optional questions in section B, i.e., In Section B, there will be five questions which are compulsory to attempt all the 5.

Here is the detailed revised JEE Main exam pattern for Paper 2:

ParticularsDetails
Mode of Exam:Computer-based examination except for Drawing section in B.Arch (Pen & Paper based mode)
Language:The exams are usually conducted in English and Hindi
Exam Duration:3 hours




No. of Sections:
B.Arch (Paper 2A):Part 1 - MathematicsPart 2 - Aptitude testPart 3 - Drawing test
B.Planning (Paper 2B):MathematicsAptitude testPlanning tests (MCQs)




Type of Questions:
B.Arch -Drawing- Drawing aptitudeAptitude- MCQs (Multiple choice questions)Mathematics: MCQs and questions with numerical value as answers
B.Planning -Aptitude- MCQs (Multiple choice questions)Planning- MCQs (Multiple choice questions)Mathematics- MCQs, and questions with numerical value as answers

JEE Mains total questions:
B.Arch: 75+2 (Drawing test) Questions
B.Planning: 100 Questions
Total Marks in JEE Mains paper 2A400 Marks
JEE Mains Marking SchemeDrawing Test: Two questions are evaluated out of 100 marksMCQs: +4 marks for each correct answer and -1 mark for each wrong answer Questions with numerical value answers: +4 marks for each correct answer and -1 for each wrong answer

Revised Exam Pattern of JEE Advanced 

The JEE Advanced exam is scheduled to be online during the second week of May every year with two sessions on the same day. 

According to the sources: National Testing Agency (NTA)), the JEE Advanced syllabus remains the same as the previous year, and there are no significant changes to the exam. However, there are some changes to the eligibility criteria and tie-breaking rules.

Eligibility criteria:

  • The Joint Admission Board (JAB) decided to continue the rule that limits students to two attempts at JEE Advanced
  • Candidates must qualify for JEE Main for the current academic year in JEE Main Paper 1, and meet specific age and examination criteria.

Tie-breaking rules:

  • Candidates with higher marks in Mathematics will receive a higher rank
  • If the tie is not broken after Mathematics, the candidate with higher marks in Physics will receive a better rank

Other details, including the mode of the examination, number of papers, questions and the total marks for the JEE Advanced, remain the same.

Conclusion

The JEE exam will feature some significant changes, such as adjustments to the eligibility conditions, question types, or exam paper patterns. 

Applicants must be contemporised with these latest updates as the exam date draws near to ensure they are ready. 

Candidates can increase their chances of getting admission into prestigious universities like IITs and more by being aware of the revised or updated exam patterns or formats and adhering to a well-thought-out study schedule.    

.    

All the Best!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The amount of time varies for each student, but generally, it is advised to spend at least 4-6 hours a day on JEE preparation, especially during the final year of school. This time should be in addition to your school study hours. Ensure you balance your JEE preparation with your schoolwork so you do not feel overwhelmed.

Yes, you can. Much of the JEE syllabus overlaps with the school curriculum, so studying for JEE can prepare you for school exams. Create a study schedule that allows time for school and JEE subjects, and revise regularly. Staying organised will help in mastering both areas simultaneously.

According to the sources, JEE Advanced is typically held annually in May or June. The specific date can vary slightly each year as it is conducted by a different IIT on a rotating basis.

The registration process for the JEE Advanced will begin from the third week of April every year. Candidates can register online through the official JEE websites.

Yes. According to the sources, the JEE Advanced exam will continue in online mode (CBT) and will consist of two papers. There have been no significant structural changes, but the question types and the format may vary slightly.

To be eligible for JEE Advanced, candidates must clear JEE Main and be among the top 2.5 lakh rank holders. The eligibility is based on the JEE Main rank and only those who 

If you meet these criteria, you can register for JEE Advanced.

A candidate can appear for JEE Advanced twice in consecutive years, provided they meet the eligibility requirements in both years. This includes clearing JEE Main and fulfilling other criteria.

The exam duration for each paper remains the same, with 3 hours allocated for Paper 1 and Paper 2. Both papers will be conducted on the same day, and candidates must appear for both papers to be eligible for ranking.

The JEE Main and Advanced syllabus will be similar to the NCERT syllabus based on Class 11 and Class 12 subjects in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. However, candidates are advised to check official updates on any minor modifications to the syllabus.

The marking scheme for JEE Advanced will follow a pattern similar to previous years:

MCQs: +3 marks for correct answers, with a penalty of -1 mark for incorrect answers

NAT (Numerical Answer Type): +4 marks for correct answers and no negative marking

Matching-type questions: +4 marks, with penalties for incorrect answers based on the specific question type.

Yes. You can choose between English and Hindi as the medium of instruction for JEE Advanced. Depending on the official notification, other regional languages may also be available.

About the Author
Mekhala Joshi

JAIN College

JAIN PU College, a part of the renowned JGI Group, is committed to empowering students with quality education.

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