JEE Main - Pattern, Eligibility, Cutoffs, Preparation Tips
JEE Main, conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency), serves as a) the entrance test for NITs, IIITs and CFTIs (Centrally Funded Technical Institutes) and b) as the screening test for JEE Advanced. It is conducted twice: once in January and again in April. Students can take either of the two tests or both. The best of two is taken into account. Approximately 12 lakh candidates take this test every year. The top 2.4 lakhs are shortlisted for JEE Advanced. JEE Main is now conducted only in the online mode. From 2019 onwards JEE Main is being conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). Earlier it was conducted by the CBSE.
JEE Main exam has three papers:
a) for admission in B.E./B.Tech courses
b) for admission in B.Arch course
c) for admission in B.Planning course
Candidates may opt for any one, two or all of them.
Changes in JEE Main pattern in 2020
Some changes have been announced starting from JEE Main 2020. Instead of 30 questions in each subject in JEE Main paper for B.E. & B.Tech courses, there are now 25 questions. Of these 20 questions are of multiple choice type and 5 are of numeric type. Earlier all were of the multiple-choice type. Similarly, some changes in JEE Main 2020 papers for B.Arch and B.Plan courses have also been announced. These are mentioned separately.
JEE Main Overview
JEE Main is the first stage entrance exam for admissions to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). It is also the selection test for all NITs, IIITs and CFTIs. Over 12 lakh candidates take this exam.
NTA conducts the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main in online mode. Two attempts are allowed – one in January and another in April. The best of two is taken into consideration. There are three separate papers for admission to
1) B.E./B.Tech. courses
2) B.Arch. course
3) B.Planning course
JEE Main pattern for each of the three papers is as follows:
B.E./B.Tech
| Number of sections and subjects | 3, (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry) |
| Duration of exam | 3 Hours |
| Number of questions | Maths – 20 MCQs + 5 Numeric
Physics – 20 MCQs + 5 Numeric Chemistry – 20 MCQs + 5 Numeric |
| Marking Scheme | MCQs: +4 for correct answer, -1 for incorrect
Numeric: +4 for correct answer, 0 otherwise |
| Total Marks | 300 marks |
B. Arch
| Number of sections and subjects | 3, Online (Mathematics and Aptitude) and offline (Drawing test) |
| Duration of exam | 3 hours (180 minutes)
60 minutes per section |
| Number of questions | 77 questions (Mathematics: 25 questions, Aptitude: 50 and Drawing: 2) |
| Type of questions | Mathematics : 20 MCQ + 5 Numeric; Aptitude 50 MCQ |
| Total Marks | 400 marks (+4 for correct, -1 for wrong in case of MCQs; +4 for correct, 0 otherwise in case of numeric; Drawing section will be of total 100 marks) |
B.Planning
| Number of sections and subjects | 3, (Mathematics, Aptitude, Planning based uestions) |
| Duration of exam | 3 Hours |
| Number of questions | Maths – 20 MCQs + 5 Numeric
Aptitude – 50 MCQs Planning – 25 MCQs |
| Marking Scheme | MCQs: +4 for correct answer, -1 for incorrect
Numeric: +4 for correct answer, 0 otherwise |
| Total Marks | 400 marks |
JEE Main Eligibility
| 1 | Qualifying Exam | • Candidate should have passed 12th class in the previous two years.
• Candidate appearing in class 12 in the current year can also apply for JEE Main. |
|
| 2 | Age Limit | There is no age limit | |
| 3 | Number of attempts | 3 consecutive years | |
| 4 | Subjects in 12th Class | a) in case of B.Tech/ B.E
Physics, Mathematics, Any one of (Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, Technical Vocational Subject), b) in case of B.Arch ◦ Mathematics ◦ Physics ◦ Chemistry) c) in case of B.Plan ◦ Mathematics |
JEE Main cutoffs
NTA (National Testing Agency) will release the cutoff of JEE Main in online mode after the results are announced. There are two types of JEE Main cutoffs – qualifying and admission. The qualifying cutoff of JEE Main is the minimum marks that have to be scored to qualify for JEE Advanced. Only those candidates who meet the prescribed JEE Main cutoff will be allowed to attempt JEE Advanced examination for admissions in IITs. The cutoff of JEE Main will be different for every category – General, OBC, SC, ST etc.
The admission cutoff of JEE Main will be the minimum rank that has to be secured to gain admission into the participating institutes. The admission cutoff will be released by JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocating Authority) after every round of allotment.
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JEE MAIN PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTION PAPERS
Although there are some changes from JEE Main 2020 onwards, it is important to solve the previous JEE Main papers. NTA question papers are available from 2019 onwards. It is important for the student to work diligently on NTA sample JEE Main papers.