JEE Main Exam Pattern

JEE Main and Advanced Exam Pattern 2027

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is India's most prestigious engineering entrance test, serving as the gateway to institutions like the IITs, NITs, IIITs, and other centrally funded technical colleges. The exam is conducted in two stages — JEE Main and JEE Advanced — each with a distinct structure, difficulty level, and purpose.

Overview of JEE 2027

JEE Main is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), while JEE Advanced is organized by one of the zonal IITs on a rotational basis under the Joint Admission Board (JAB). In 2027, JEE Advanced is expected to be conducted by one of the seven IIT zones.

Part 1: JEE Main 2027 Exam Pattern

Sessions and Schedule

JEE Main 2027 is expected to be held in two sessions:

• Session 1: January 2027

• Session 2: April 2027

Candidates can appear in one or both sessions. If both are attempted, the best NTA percentile score is considered. Registration for Session 1 is expected to open in October–November 2026 on the official NTA portal: jeemain.nta.nic.in

Paper 1 — B.E./B.Tech (Engineering)

This is the most widely taken paper, intended for candidates seeking admission to engineering programs.

Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT) Duration: 3 hours (4 hours for PwD candidates) Total Questions: 75 (all compulsory) Total Marks: 300

Section-wise Breakdown

In Section B, candidates are typically required to attempt 5 out of 10 numerical value-based questions (or all 5, depending on NTA's announcement for 2027).

Marking Scheme — Paper 1

Key advantage: Numerical questions carry no negative marking. Attempt all of them — even an educated estimate costs nothing.

Paper 2A — B.Arch (Architecture)

Intended for students seeking admission to Bachelor of Architecture programs.

Mode: Hybrid (CBT for Maths & Aptitude; Pen-and-Paper for Drawing) Total Questions: 77 Total Marks: 400

Paper 2B — B.Planning (Urban Planning)

Intended for students seeking admission to Bachelor of Planning programs.

Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT) Total Questions: 100 Total Marks: 400

General Marking Scheme (All Papers)

• Correct MCQ answer: +4 marks

• Incorrect MCQ answer: −1 mark (negative marking)

• Unanswered / Marked for Review: 0 marks

• Numerical questions: No negative marking

If NTA drops a question (due to ambiguity), all candidates who attempted that shift receive full marks (+4) for it.

Languages Available

JEE Main 2027 will be available in 13 languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. Language selection is made at the time of registration and cannot be changed afterward.

JEE Main 2027 Eligibility at a Glance

• Class 12 qualification: Passed in 2025, 2026, or appearing in 2027

• Age limit: No upper age limit for JEE Main (but individual institutes may have their own criteria)

• Number of attempts: Up to 6 attempts across 3 consecutive years (2 sessions per year)

• 75% rule: For admission to NITs/IIITs/GFTIs, General/EWS/OBC candidates need 75% in Class 12; SC/ST/PwD candidates need 65% (or top 20 percentile of their board)

• Advance to JEE Advanced: Only the top 2.5 lakh qualifiers across all categories are eligible

Part 2: JEE Advanced 2027 Exam Pattern

JEE Advanced is considered one of the most challenging undergraduate entrance exams in the world. Unlike JEE Main, its paper pattern varies every year — the conducting IIT has the freedom to change question types, section counts, and marking schemes. However, certain structural features have remained consistent.

Schedule

JEE Advanced 2027 is expected in May–June 2027, typically on a Sunday. Both papers are held on the same day:

• Paper 1: Morning session (approx. 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)

• Paper 2: Afternoon session (approx. 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM)

Appearing in both papers is compulsory. A single paper score is not considered for ranking.

General Structure (Based on Recent Trends)

Note: The exact number of questions and marking scheme for 2027 will be announced by the organizing IIT. Always verify with the official notification at jeeadv.ac.in.

Question Types in JEE Advanced

JEE Advanced typically features four types of questions, each with its own marking logic:

1. Single Correct MCQ Only one option is correct.

• Correct: +3

• Incorrect: −1

• Unattempted: 0

2. Multiple Select Questions (MSQ) One or more options may be correct. Partial marking applies.

• All correct options marked (no wrong): +4

• Partial correct options (no wrong): +1 per correct option

• Any wrong option marked: −2

• No attempt: 0

3. Numerical Value Type (NVT) A non-negative integer or decimal value answer (no options given).

• Correct: +3 or +4

• Incorrect: 0 (no negative marking in Paper 2 NVTs)

• Unattempted: 0

4. Match the List (Paper 1) / Paragraph-Based (Paper 2)

• Paper 1 typically ends with a Match-the-List section

• Paper 2 typically ends with a Reading Comprehension / Paragraph-based section

• Marking varies; negative marking of −1 or −2 may apply

Critical note on MSQ partial marking: Mark only options you are 100% certain about. Marking even one wrong option negates all partial credit and incurs −2. This is the biggest strategic decision in JEE Advanced.

Subject-wise Focus Areas

Physics Mechanics and Electromagnetism together account for over 50% of Physics questions. Optics, Modern Physics, and Thermodynamics are also regularly tested.

Chemistry Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Inorganic Chemistry are covered in roughly equal proportion. NCERT forms the backbone of Inorganic Chemistry.

Mathematics Calculus, Algebra, Coordinate Geometry, and Vectors/3D Geometry carry high weightage. Problems test multi-step reasoning and application, not just formula recall.

JEE Advanced 2027 Eligibility

• JEE Main performance: Must be among the top 2,50,000 qualifiers in JEE Main 2027 (all categories combined)

• Class 12: Must have passed (or be appearing) in 2026 or 2027

• Age: Born on or after October 1, 2002 (5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD)

• Number of attempts: Maximum 2 attempts in 2 consecutive years

• Prior IIT admission: Candidates who have previously taken admission to any IIT (even if they did not continue) are not eligible

Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT)

Candidates who qualify JEE Advanced and wish to pursue B.Arch at IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, or IIT BHU must additionally appear in the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT), a separate exam conducted by the organizing IIT.

Key Differences: JEE Main vs JEE Advanced

Important Exam Dates (Expected — 2027)

All dates are tentative, based on trends from 2025 and 2026. Verify with official NTA and JEE Advanced notifications.

For the most accurate and updated information, always refer to the official NTA website (jeemain.nta.nic.in) and the JEE Advanced portal (jeeadv.ac.in).

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