JEE Main vs JEE Advanced: Difference in Exam Pattern

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced: Difference in Exam Pattern

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Mamona
Mamona Majumder
Assistant Manager
Updated on Jul 10, 2024 12:02 IST

JEE Main and JEE Advanced are two different exams. Candidates aspiring for the two exams can know the difference between the two exams in the article below.

JEE Main exam pattern vs JEE Advanced exam pattern

JEE Main exam pattern vs JEE Advanced exam pattern

JEE Main exam pattern vs JEE Advanced exam pattern: For individuals preparing for the JEE Main and JEE Advanced exams, it is crucial to understand the dissimilarities between them. This article aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the question paper patterns of both exams, with a specific focus on paper-1 of JEE Main and paper-1 and paper-2 of JEE Advanced - the ones that most candidates appear for. By highlighting the key differences between the two exams, candidates will have a better understanding of what to expect and how to prepare effectively.

Also Read:

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced: Difference in Exam Pattern

Candidates can check the difference between the exam pattern of JEE Main and JEE Advanced in the table below:

Specifications JEE Main Pattern for Paper 1 (BE/BTech) JEE Advanced Pattern for Paper 1 (BE/BTech) JEE Advanced Pattern for Paper 2 (BE/BTech)
Exam Mode CBT CBT CBT
Subjects Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics
Type of Questions 60 (MCQs having 4 options each with 1 correct option) + 15 (Questions for which answer is a Numerical Value) MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) and Numerical type Questions MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) and Numerical type Questions
Medium of Exam 13 regional languages along with English & Hindi English and Hindi English and Hindi
Duration of Exam 3 Hours 3 Hours 3 Hours
Total Marks 300 Varies every year Varies every year
Marking Scheme
  • For MCQs: +4 for each correct response; -1 for each incorrect response; Unattempted questions will not be marked.
  • For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct response, no negative marking for incorrect answers or unattempted questions.
Varies every year Varies every year

Also Read:

JEE Main 2025 Paper Pattern: Key Points

Key points related to the exam pattern of JEE Main are below:

  • JEE Main (Paper-1) is a three-hour computer-based (online) test which will be conducted in four sessions this year.
  • There will be 90 multiple-choice questions (30 questions each in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) in the exam. Each question has four options and out of which only one option is correct.
  • Each subject will have two sections: Section-A and Section-B. Section-A will have Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Section-B will contain questions whose answers are to be filled in as a numerical value.
  • In Section-B, candidates have to attempt any five questions out of 10. There will be no negative marking for Section B.
  • Candidates will be awarded four marks for every correct answer and one mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer. Zero marks will be awarded for unattempted questions.

Subjects in Paper-1 (BTech)

Section-A

Section-B

Question Paper Design

Mathematics

20

10

  • Each subject will have two sections.
  • Section A will be of Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Section B will contain Questions whose answers are to be filled in as a numerical value.
  • In Section B, candidates have to attempt any five questions out of 10
  • There will be no negative marking for Section B

Physics

20

10

Chemistry

20

10

Total

105

Also Read:

JEE Advanced 2025 Exam Pattern: Key Points

Key points related to the exam pattern of JEE Advanced are below. Candidates must note that the exam pattern of JEE Advanced 2025 is yet to be released. The below details are as per last year.

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  • JEE Advanced 2025 will be held online only. There will be two compulsory papers: Paper-1 and Paper-2.
  • As per the JEE Advanced exam pattern, questions will be of objective type (multiple choice and/or numerical answer type). Questions will be designed to test academic, comprehensive, reasoning and analytical ability of candidates.
  • According to JEE Advanced pattern, each question paper will consist of three separate sections, viz., Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
  • Negative marks will be awarded for incorrect answers for some of the questions. Details of the JEE Advanced marking scheme will be provided in the “Instructions to Candidates” section at the time of examination. Candidates can check the negative marking for different type of questions in the table below.
  • As per the JEE Advanced 2025 pattern, the question papers will be in English and Hindi languages. The candidates will have the option to choose (and also switch between) the preferred language anytime during the examination.

JEE Advanced Exam Pattern Paper-2

The paper 1 and paper 2 exam patterns of JEE Advanced is shown below.

Paper 1 Pattern

This paper had 3 sections and further, each section was divided into 4 more sections, as shown below:

JEE Advanced Paper 1 sections:

Q:   How do the exam patterns and formats of JEE Main and JEE Advanced compare?

A:
JEE Main and JEE Advanced are both national-level entrance exams conducted for admission to undergraduate engineering programs in India. While JEE Main is the first stage of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and is conducted by the National Testing Agency NTA JEE Advanced is the second stage of the exam and is conducted by one of the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on a rotational basis. Here are the key differences between the exam patterns and formats of JEE Main and JEE Advanced: 1. Number of Papers: JEE Main has two papers - Paper 1 for admission to B.E. /B.Tech courses and Paper 2 for admission to B.Arch/B.Planning courses. On the other hand, JEE Advanced has two papers - Paper 1 and Paper 2, both of which are mandatory. 2. Exam Mode: JEE Main is conducted in both online (Computer Based Test) and offline (Pen and Paper Based Test) modes, while JEE Advanced is conducted only in online mode. 3. Question Types: Both exams have multiple-choice questions (MCQs), but JEE Advanced also includes numerical answer type questions (NATs), where students have to enter the answer in numerical form. 4. Difficulty Level: JEE Main is generally considered easier than JEE Advanced in terms of difficulty level. 5. Syllabus: The syllabus for both exams is similar, but JEE Advanced includes a few additional topics and also requires a deeper understanding of the concepts. 6. Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for JEE Advanced students must first qualify for JEE Main and be among the top 2,50,000 candidates. 7. Number of Attempts: Students can attempt JEE Main for a maximum of three consecutive years, while JEE Advanced can be attempted for a maximum of two consecutive years.

Q:   Is there negative marking in JEE Main?

A:

The answer to this question is a Yes. As per the exam pattern of JEE Main 2024, 4 marks would be awarded for every question answered correctly, while negative marking will be done for every incorrect answer. This implies that 1 mark is deducted every time a candidate answers the question wrongly.  Zero or no marks will be given to un-attempted questions.  

Q:   What is the JEE Advanced exam pattern?

A:
The Joint Entrance Examination Advanced exam pattern varies each year. There are 2 papers in the Joint Entrance Examination Advanced exam. Paper 1 and Paper 2 of Joint Entrance Examination Advanced will comprise three separate sections wherein questions will be asked from Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics. There will be negative markings for answering any question incorrectly in the Joint Entrance Examination Advanced exam. Medium of the Examination: English and Hindi The main exam will be conducted online through a CBT (computer-based mode). Joint Entrance Examination Advanced consists of 2 papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2), and students have to appear for both papers. The question paper consists of three parts: Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics. Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 will have 3 parts, that are: Part 1: Physics Part 2: Chemistry Part 3: Maths Each part will have 3 sections in both papers 1 and 2: Section 1: This section contains 8 questions. The answer to each question is a Numerical Value. For each question, enter the correct numerical value of the answer using the mouse and the onscreen virtual numeric keypad in the place designated to enter the answer. If the numerical value has more than two decimal places, truncate or round off the value to 2 decimal places. Answers to each question will be evaluated according to the following marking scheme: Full Marks: 3 Marks only if the correct numerical value is entered Zero Marks: 0 In all other cases Section 2: This section contains six questions. Each question has 4 options. One and more than one of these four options is the correct answer. For each question, choose the options corresponding to all the correct answer The answer to each question will be evaluated according to the following marking scheme Full Marks: 4 marks for every correct answer. Partial Marks: 3 marks If all 4 options are correct but only three options are chosen; Partial Marks: 2 marks 3 or more options are correct but only two options are chosen both of which are correct; Partial Marks: 1 If two or more options are correct but only one option is chosen and it is a correct option; Zero Marks: 0 If none of the options is chosen. Negative Marking: 2 Marks will be deducted In all Cases. Section 3: This section contains 4 Matching List Sets. Each set has 1 MCQ. Each set has 2 lists: List-1 and List-2. A list-1 has Four entries 1, 2, 3, or 4, and a List-2 has Five entries (P), (Q), (R), (S), and (T). Four options are given in each MCQ based on List-1 and List-2 and only one of these four options satisfies the condition asked in the MCQ. Answers to each question will be evaluated according to the following marking scheme: Full Marks: 3 Marks only if the option corresponding to the correct combination is chosen; Zero Marks : 0 If none of the options is chosen; Negative Marks: 1 Mark will be deducted in all other cases.
  1. Section 1: Physics
    • Section 1: 12 marks
    • Section 2: 12 marks
    • Section 3: 24 marks
    • Section 2: 12 marks
  2. Section 2: Chemistry
    • Section 1: 12 marks
    • Section 2: 12 marks
    • Section 3: 24 marks
    • Section 2: 12 marks
  3. Section 3: Maths
    • Section 1: 12 marks
    • Section 2: 12 marks
    • Section 3: 24 marks
    • Section 2: 12 marks

Section-wise exam pattern for JEE Advanced Paper 1 for Physics, Chemistry and Maths section

Section Number of questions and total marks Question type Marking Scheme
1 3 questions of 12 marks MCQ with only one correct option
  • +4 ONLY if (all) the correct option(s) is(are) chosen
  • +3 If all four options are correct but ONLY three options are chosen
  • +2 If three or more options are correct but ONLY two options are chosen, both of
    which are correct
  • +1 If two or more options are correct but ONLY one option is chosen and it is a
    correct option
  • 0 If none of the options is chosen (i.e. the question is unanswered)
  • -2 In all other cases
  •  
2 4 questions of 12 marks MCQ with one or more than one correct option
  • +3 If ONLY the correct option is chosen
  • 0 If none of the options is chosen (i.e. the question is unanswered)
  • -1 in all other cases
3 6 questions of 24 marks integer type
  • +4 for correct answer
  • 0 for no attempts
  • no negative marks
4 4 questions of 12 marks match the following followed by MCQs
  • +3 If ONLY the correct option is chosen
  • 0 If none of the options is chosen (i.e. the question is unanswered)

Paper 2 Pattern

This paper had 3 sections and further, each section was divided into 4 more sections, as shown below:

JEE Advanced Paper 2 sections:

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  1. Section 1: Physics
    • Section 1: 12 marks
    • Section 2: 12 marks
    • Section 3: 24 marks
    • Section 2: 12 marks
  2. Section 2: Chemistry
    • Section 1: 12 marks
    • Section 2: 12 marks
    • Section 3: 24 marks
    • Section 2: 12 marks
  3. Section 3: Maths
    • Section 1: 12 marks
    • Section 2: 12 marks
    • Section 3: 24 marks
    • Section 2: 12 marks

Section-wise exam pattern for JEE Advanced Paper 2 for Physics, Chemistry and Maths section

Section Number of questions and total marks Question type Marking Scheme
1 4 questions of 12 marks MCQ with only one correct option
  • +3 If ONLY the correct option is chosen
  • 0 If none of the options is chosen (i.e. the question is unanswered)
  • -1 in all other cases
2 3 questions of 12 marks MCQ with one or more than one correct option
  • +4 ONLY if (all) the correct option(s) is(are) chosen
  • +3 If all four options are correct but ONLY three options are chosen
  • +2 If three or more options are correct but ONLY two options are chosen, both of
    which are correct
  • +1 If two or more options are correct but ONLY one option is chosen and it is a
    correct option
  • 0 If none of the options is chosen (i.e. the question is unanswered)
  • -2 In all other cases
3 6 questions of 24 marks integer type
  • +4 for correct answer
  • 0 for no attempts
  • no negative marks
4 2 questions of 12 marks Paragraph type with numerical answers
  • +3 If ONLY the correct option is chosen
  • 0 If none of the options is chosen (i.e. the question is unanswered)

All aspirants need to check the JEE Main 2025 exam pattern along with that of the JEE Advanced. The exam pattern helps candidates to understand the type and difficulty level of questions. The exam pattern also helps students in managing their time during the exam. Candidates must also go through the syllabus along with the question paper pattern to prepare well for the exam.

Read More:

Q:   Is there any change in marking scheme and total number of questions in JEE Main 2025?

A:

Yes, the total number of questins in JEE Main 2025 have been reduced in all three papers - Paper 1 for BE/BTech, Paper 2A for BArch and Paper 2B for BPlan. The Paper 1 exam will now have 75 questions, 25 each from Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. In Paper 2A and 2B, the total number of questions have been decreased only in Mathematics section. There will be 25 questions in Mathematics section of Paper 2A and 2B.

NTA has not made any changes in the marking scheme of JEE Mains 2025 exam. Also, the total marks and duration of the exam remains the same. 

Q:   Is there any change in JEE Main 2025 exam pattern?

A:

Yes, NTA has announced two major changes in JEE Main exam pattern 2025. As per the new pattern, the total number of questions in JEE Main 2025 Paper 1 (BE/BTech) will be 75, 25 each from Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Also, there will be no optional question in section B in any subject. Students will need to answer all 5 questions in section B from all three subjects. The marking scheme and total marks remains the same.

Q:   What are the important chapters in JEE Mains and JEE Advance that give up to 80% of marks?

A:
JEE Main and JEE Advanced are two of the most competitive engineering entrance exams in India. The syllabus for both exams is vast, but there are certain chapters that carry more weightage than others. Here are some of the most important chapters for JEE Mains and JEE Advanced that can give you up to 80% of the marks: Mathematics: Calculus (Differential and Integral) Algebra (Quadratic Equations, Progressions, Complex Numbers) Coordinate Geometry (Straight Lines, Circles, Conics) Vectors and 3D Geometry Probability and Statistics Physics: Mechanics (Kinematics, Laws of Motion Work, Energy and Power, Rotational Motion) Electrodynamics (Electric Charges and Fields, Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance, Current Electricity Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents) Optics (Geometrical Optics Wave Optics) Modern Physics (Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation, Atoms and Nuclei, Electronic Devices) Chemistry: Physical Chemistry (Basic Concepts, States of Matter Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding, Equilibrium, Thermodynamics Chemical Kinetics, Electrochemistry) Inorganic Chemistry (Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties, Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure, Hydrogen and its Compounds, S-Block Elements, P-Block Elements) Organic Chemistry (Purification and Characterisation of Organic Compounds, Hydrocarbons, Haloalkanes and Haloarenes, Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers, Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids, Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen) It's important to note that these chapters are not the only ones that will be covered on the exams. It's also essential to have a solid understanding of the other topics and to practice solving a variety of problems to increase your chances of success.

Q:   What is the marking scheme for JEE Advanced?

A:

The marking schemes change each year. Negative marks may be awarded for incorrect answers to some of the questions. Details of the marking scheme will be provided in the “Instructions to Candidates” section at the time of examination. JEE (Advanced) 2024 will consist of two question papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2 of three hours duration each. Both papers are compulsory. Each question paper will consist of three separate sections, viz., Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Q:   Why does JEE Advanced pattern changes every year?

A:

The JEE Advanced exam is known to be one of the toughest exams in India, with around 200,000 students competing for seats in the country's top institutions. The exam pattern changes dynamically every year, and the examiners want to test not only the students' credibility but also their adaptability. Moreover, they don't want to compromise the exam's core purpose of evaluating students' knowledge by repeating the same pattern every year. Therefore, it is beneficial to make some generalizations about the paper. This strategy ensures equal opportunity for all students and minimizes the popular "luck factor, " which we all have experienced during board exams. Analyzing previous year's papers to identify the weightage pattern for different chapters and deducing the essential topics is a useful approach. Changing the exam pattern also surprises the coaching industry that charges exorbitant fees without any guarantee of success. Lastly, since it is the JEE Advanced, surprise is an essential element, as no examiner wants rote learners to enter IIT and enjoy at taxpayers' expense.

JEE Main exam pattern vs JEE Advanced exam pattern FAQs

Q: What type of questions are asked in JEE Main?

A: The JEE Main question paper is designed to evaluate the candidates' knowledge in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics based on the prescribed syllabus. Each subject will have two sections, one with multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and the other with questions that require numerical answers. In the numerical answer section, candidates must attempt any 5 questions out of 10, and negative marking is applicable for both sections. 

To answer the numerical questions, candidates are required to enter the correct integer values using the on-screen virtual numeric keypad provided. The answer should be rounded off to the nearest integer. Therefore, it is essential for candidates to have a thorough understanding of the topics and be adept at performing accurate calculations to score well.

Q: What is the exam pattern of JEE Mains?

A: The JEE Main exam is divided into two papers - Paper 1 for BE/B.Tech and Paper 2 for B.Arch and B.Plan. The total duration of the exam is 3 hours. JEE Main Paper 1 comprises 90 questions, with 30 questions each from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Out of these 30 questions, 20 are multiple choice questions (MCQs) and 10 are numerical value answer (NAV) type questions. Students are required to answer only 5 out of the total number of questions. 

JEE Main Paper 2A for B.Arch comprises 82 questions, with 30 questions from Mathematics, 50 from General Aptitude, and 2 from Drawing. On the other hand, JEE Main Paper 2B for B.Plan comprises 105 questions, with 30 questions from Mathematics, 50 from General Aptitude, and 25 from Planning.

Q: What is the JEE Advanced exam pattern?

A: The Joint Entrance Examination Advanced (JEE Advanced) is an annual exam with a varying pattern. The exam consists of two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2, both of which have three sections covering Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics. Negative marking is applied for incorrect answers in the exam. 

The exam is available in English and Hindi and is conducted in a computer-based mode (CBT). Students must appear for both Paper 1 and Paper 2. Each paper has three parts: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. 

Each of the three parts in both papers has three sections:

Section 1 contains eight questions. The answer to each question is a numerical value, which must be entered using the onscreen virtual numeric keypad. The answer is evaluated according to a marking scheme that awards 3 marks for the correct numerical value and 0 marks for all other cases.

Section 2 contains six multiple-choice questions, each with four options. One or more of these options is the correct answer. The marking scheme for this section awards 4 marks for every correct answer, 3 marks if all four options are correct but only three options are chosen, 2 marks if three or more options are correct but only two options are chosen, 1 mark if only one option is chosen and it is correct, and 0 marks if none of the options are chosen. Negative marking of 2 marks is applied for all incorrect answers.

Section 3 contains 4 Matching List Sets, each with a list-1 that has four entries and a list-2 that has five entries. Four options are given in each MCQ based on List-1 and List-2. Only one of these four options satisfies the condition asked in the MCQ. The marking scheme for this section awards 3 marks if the option corresponding to the correct combination is chosen, 0 marks if none of the options are chosen, and -1 mark for all other cases.

Q: How do the exam patterns and formats of JEE Main and JEE Advanced compare?

A: JEE Main and JEE Advanced are two national-level entrance exams that enable undergraduate engineering program admission in India. JEE Main is the initial stage of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). JEE Advanced is the second stage of the exam and is conducted by one of the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) on a rotational basis. There are several key differences between the exam patterns and formats of JEE Main and JEE Advanced. 

Firstly, JEE Main has two papers - Paper 1 for admission to B.E. /B.Tech courses and Paper 2 for admission to B.Arch/B.Planning courses. On the other hand, JEE Advanced has two mandatory papers - Paper 1 and Paper 2. 

Secondly, JEE Main is conducted in both online (Computer Based Test) and offline (Pen and Paper Based Test) modes, while JEE Advanced is conducted only in online mode. 

Thirdly, both exams have multiple-choice questions (MCQs). However, JEE Advanced also includes numerical answer type questions (NATs), where students are required to enter the answer in numerical form. 

Fourthly, JEE Main is generally considered easier than JEE Advanced in terms of difficulty level. 

Fifthly, the syllabus for both exams is similar, but JEE Advanced includes several additional topics and requires a more profound understanding of the concepts. 

Sixthly, to be eligible for JEE Advanced, students must firstly qualify for JEE Main and be among the top 2,50,000 candidates. 

Lastly, students can attempt JEE Main for a maximum of three consecutive years, while JEE Advanced can be attempted for a maximum of two consecutive years.

Q: Does the JEE Advanced Exam Pattern Depend on the Conducting IIT?

A: It is a common misconception that the design and pattern of the JEE Advanced exam question paper depend on the conducting IIT. However, this is not true. The difficulty level and pattern of the question paper are not static and may vary each time the exam is conducted, regardless of which IIT is conducting it. Therefore, it is essential to prepare thoroughly for the exam, regardless of the IIT conducting it.

About the Author
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Mamona Majumder
Assistant Manager

Mamona is an accomplished author with 6 and counting years of expertise in education-based content creation. Armed with an MA (Hons) in Advertising and Public Relations, complemented by a BA (Hons) in Journalism and... Read Full Bio