Know this. Only the top 2.5 lakh Paper 1 candidates (all categories together) qualify to sit JEE Advanced, and a strong percentile does not get you an NIT seat unless you also meet the 75% (or top 20 percentile) Class 12 rule.
- Run by
- National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Admits you to
- B.E./B.Tech admission to NITs, IIITs, IIEST and other centrally funded technical institutes through JoSAA/CSAB, plus many state and private colleges that accept the score. Paper 1 is also the qualifier for JEE Advanced (IIT entry). Paper 2A is for B.Arch and Paper 2B for B.Planning.
- Who can sit
- No age limit. You can sit if you passed Class 12 (or equivalent) in the previous two years or are appearing in the current year. For admission to NITs, IIITs and other JoSAA institutes you also need at least 75% aggregate in Class 12 (65% for SC, ST and PwD) or a place in the top 20 percentile of your board. B.Arch needs Physics and Mathematics in Class 12 with 45% aggregate (COA rule); B.Planning needs 50% in Mathematics and 50% aggregate.
- Pattern
- Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech): computer-based test, 3 hours, 75 questions (25 each in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry), 300 marks. Each subject has 20 MCQs (Section A) and 5 numerical-answer questions (Section B), with negative marking in both. Paper 2A (B.Arch): Mathematics and Aptitude on computer plus a pen-and-paper Drawing Test. Paper 2B (B.Planning): Mathematics, Aptitude and Planning questions on computer. Scores are normalised into NTA percentiles across shifts.
- When
- Two sessions a year: Session 1 in January and Session 2 in April. Results usually by late April.
- Limits
- No age limit. Both sessions in a year may be taken and the better score counts. Eligibility is limited to the year of Class 12 and the two years after it, which in practice means up to six sessions over three years.
Courses it leads to
- B.Tech / B.E.The four-year engineering degree, taught at IITs, NITs, IIITs, state government colleges and a very large number of private colleges.4 years
- B.ArchA five-year professional degree that trains you to design buildings and spaces, from a house to a campus or a city block.5 years
- B.Sc (Physical and Mathematical Sciences)A science degree focused on one or two subjects from physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, statistics, electronics or data science.3–4 years
- Integrated BS-MS / Integrated M.ScA five-year programme that takes you from Class 12 straight to a master's degree in basic science: physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, earth…5 years
Sources, checked 2026-09-28: jeemain.nta.nic.in · cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in