JEE Main: Exam Pattern, Sessions, Percentile & B.E./B.Tech Paper
JEE Main is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) twice a year — Session 1 in January and Session 2 in April. The exam serves two purposes: it is the gateway to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs through JoSAA counselling, and it is the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced. Your best percentile across both sessions is used for ranking and Advanced eligibility.
The standard B.E./B.Tech paper (Paper 1) tests Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics — 75 questions in three hours, offered in 13 languages including Hindi, English, and several regional languages. Scores are reported as NTA percentiles, not raw marks, due to the multi-shift normalization system. In 2026, Session 2 saw 26 candidates achieve 100 percentile, and the General category qualifying cutoff for JEE Advanced was approximately 93.41 percentile. Always confirm the current cutoff on the official portal — it varies by cycle and category.
JEE Main B.E./B.Tech paper at a glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics (equal weight) |
| Total questions | 75 (20 MCQ + 5 Numerical per subject) |
| Total marks | 300 marks |
| MCQ marking | +4 correct, −1 wrong |
| Numerical questions | +4 correct, no negative marking |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Mode | Computer-based test (CBT) |
| Languages | 13 languages including Hindi, English, and regional languages |
| Sessions per year | Session 1 (January) + Session 2 (April); best percentile counts |
Confirm the current pattern in the official JEE Main information bulletin before the exam.
How JEE Main leads to your target
- Sit Session 1 in January — Use Session 1 as a real attempt, not just a trial. Results come mid-February with your percentile and shift-wise score.
- Decide on Session 2 strategically — If satisfied with Session 1, you may skip Session 2. If you want to improve, register in the February window and sit in April. Best percentile of the two is used.
- Check the Advanced qualifying cutoff — After the final result, NTA releases category-wise qualifying percentiles for JEE Advanced eligibility. Only the top 2,50,000 across categories may register for Advanced.
- Register for JoSAA or JEE Advanced — If targeting NITs/IIITs/GFTIs, register for JoSAA counselling using your JEE Main rank. If eligible for Advanced, register on jeeadv.ac.in before the deadline.
Percentile is not the same as marks: NTA reports your result as a percentile, not a raw score. A 95 percentile means you performed better than 95% of candidates in your session — it says nothing directly about how many marks you scored. The normalization formula adjusts for shift difficulty. Always confirm on the official portal.
Official sources
Free JEE exam-help guides
- JEE Main 2027: Notification, Registration & Application Guide
- JEE Main Two-Session System: Should You Attempt Session 2?
- JEE Main Eligibility, 75% Criterion & Number of Attempts
- JEE Main Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme: MCQ, Numerical, Negative Marks
- JEE Main Admit Card: How to Download & What to Check
- JEE Main Answer Key: Provisional, Challenge & Final