JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

From the official National Testing Agency (NTA), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India documents · last checked 3 October 2026

Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.)

Computer Based Test (CBT) only · 3 hours (4 hours for PwD/PwBD candidates eligible for a scribe)

SectionQuestionsMarks
Mathematics (Section A: 20 MCQs + Section B: 5 numerical-answer questions)25100
Physics (Section A: 20 MCQs + Section B: 5 numerical-answer questions)25100
Chemistry (Section A: 20 MCQs + Section B: 5 numerical-answer questions)25100
Total75300

Marking: +4 for a correct answer and −1 for a wrong answer, in both Section A (MCQ) and Section B (numerical). Unanswered or marked for review without an answer: 0.

  • Section B answers must be typed as a whole number with the on-screen keypad. Round off to the nearest integer.
  • Calculators in any form are not allowed (NTA notice, 02 November 2025).
  • Two shifts a day: 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM (IST).
  • The paper can be taken in English only, or in English plus one other language. There are 13 languages in all: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. Regional languages are offered only at centres in certain states (Hindi and Urdu at all centres in India).
  • Raw marks from each shift are changed to NTA percentile scores (up to 7 decimal places). Merit uses the best total NTA score of the two sessions.
  • Ties are broken by NTA score in Mathematics, then Physics, then Chemistry, then by fewer wrong answers compared with right answers.

Paper 2A (B.Arch)

Mathematics and Aptitude in CBT; Drawing Test with pen and paper on an A4 drawing sheet · 3 hours (3 hours 30 minutes if taking both Paper 2A and 2B; 4 hours / 4 hours 10 minutes for PwD/PwBD candidates eligible for a scribe)

SectionQuestionsMarks
Part I: Mathematics (20 MCQs + 5 numerical-answer questions)25100
Part II: Aptitude Test (MCQs)50200
Part III: Drawing Test2100
Total77400

Marking: Mathematics and Aptitude: +4 for correct, −1 for wrong, 0 for unanswered. Drawing Test: 2 questions marked out of 100, with no negative marking.

  • Shift timing: 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon (3-hour paper) or 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM (both papers).
  • Bring your own pencils, geometry box, erasers, colour pencils and crayons for the Drawing Test.
  • Ties are broken by NTA score in Mathematics, then Aptitude, then Drawing, then by fewer wrong answers.

Paper 2B (B.Planning)

Computer Based Test (CBT) only · 3 hours (3 hours 30 minutes if taking both Paper 2A and 2B; 4 hours / 4 hours 10 minutes for PwD/PwBD candidates eligible for a scribe)

SectionQuestionsMarks
Part I: Mathematics (20 MCQs + 5 numerical-answer questions)25100
Part II: Aptitude Test (MCQs)50200
Part III: Planning-Based Questions (MCQs)25100
Total100400

Marking: +4 for correct and −1 for wrong in all parts. Unanswered: 0.

  • Ties are broken by NTA score in Mathematics, then Aptitude, then Planning, then by fewer wrong answers.
  • In 2026, Paper 2A and 2B were held in one shift on 29 January (Session 1) and 07 April (Session 2).

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