Exam guide
JEE Main 2027
JEE Main is India's largest engineering entrance exam — the gateway to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs, and the qualifier for JEE Advanced (IIT admission). Here is everything you need to know, in one place.
Exam at a glance
| Conducting body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam level | National, for admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs & JEE Advanced eligibility |
| Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Sessions | Session 1 (January) and Session 2 (April) — you may appear in both |
| Papers | Paper 1: B.E./B.Tech · Paper 2A: B.Arch · Paper 2B: B.Planning |
| Duration | 3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Questions (Paper 1) | 75 questions — 25 each in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| Total marks | 300 |
| Marking | +4 for correct, −1 for wrong, 0 for unattempted |
| Languages | 13 languages including English and Hindi |
Important dates
NTA typically opens Session 1 registration around November, holds Session 1 in late January, and Session 2 in early April, with results within two weeks of each session. Exact dates for JEE Main 2027 will be announced on jeemain.nta.nic.in. If you appear in both sessions, your better NTA score counts.
Eligibility
- Passed (or appearing in) Class 12 / equivalent with Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry/Biology/Biotechnology/technical vocational subject.
- No age limit for JEE Main. You can attempt in the year of your Class 12 exam and the two consecutive years after.
- For NIT/IIIT/GFTI admission: at least 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST) or top-20 percentile in your board.
The route to JEE Advanced
Roughly the top 2,50,000 scorers in JEE Main (across categories) qualify to write JEE Advanced, the exam for admission to the IITs. Your JEE Main rank also stands on its own for JoSAA counselling to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs.
Exam pattern in detail
Sections, marking scheme, and how the CBT works.
Cutoffs
Qualifying percentiles by category, 2023–2025.
Counselling (JoSAA/CSAB)
How seats are actually allotted, step by step.
Preparation strategy
A practical plan backed by real paper data.
Full syllabus
Every unit and chapter, mapped to real questions.
Take a mock test
Real past papers in the exact NTA interface.
Frequently asked questions
How many attempts are allowed in JEE Main?›
You can appear in both sessions every year (January and April — both count as one attempt year), for three consecutive years starting from the year of your Class 12 exam. Your best NTA score across the sessions you take in a year is used.
Is there an age limit for JEE Main?›
No. There is no age limit for JEE Main; only the three-consecutive-years attempt rule applies. Individual institutes may have their own age criteria for admission.
What percentile is needed to qualify for JEE Advanced?›
Roughly the top 2,50,000 scorers qualify. In recent years the qualifying percentile for the General category has been around 93 (2025: 93.10; 2024: 93.24), with lower thresholds for reserved categories.
Is there negative marking in the numerical (Section B) questions?›
Yes. Since 2022, numerical value questions carry the same marking as MCQs: +4 for correct, −1 for wrong, 0 for unattempted.
Should I appear in both January and April sessions?›
Almost always yes. The better of your two NTA scores counts, so the second session is pure upside — and the first attempt's exam-day experience typically improves the second score.
What is the difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced?›
JEE Main is the entrance for NITs, IIITs and GFTIs, and the qualifier for JEE Advanced. JEE Advanced is the separate, harder exam for admission to the IITs — only JEE Main qualifiers may write it.
In which languages is JEE Main conducted?›
The exam is offered in 13 languages, including English, Hindi, and major regional languages. On JEEPrep, papers are presented in English.
Information reflects the recent JEE Main pattern and NTA practice; always confirm current-year specifics in the official NTA information bulletin.