JEE Main 2026: The Ultimate Preparation Guide for Engineering Aspirants

Explore the complete roadmap for JEE Main 2026 Application process, exam pattern, syllabus, slot details, past cutoffs, preparation strategies and counselling process.

About JEE Main

The Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main), organised by the National Testing Agency (NTA), is a computer-based national level entrance exam for admission to undergraduate engineering programs in India. This national-level test opens doors to premier institutions like NITs, IIITs, GFTIs and state engineering colleges. It also serves as the qualifying gateway for JEE Advanced, which leads to admission into the IITs.

For 2026, JEE Main will be conducted in two separate sessions January and April, to ease students’ exam schedules and provide greater flexibility. Updated as per latest NTA notification for JEE Main 2026.

Conducting Body

The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts JEE Main twice a year, with:

• Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech.
• Paper 2A for B. Arch.
• Paper 2B for B. Planning

JEE Main-2026: Application Process and Exam Dates

• Exam Sessions:
  • Session 1: January 2026
  • Session 2: April 2026
• Application Mode: Online via www.jeemain.nta.nic.in

Events	Dates
Session-1: JEE (Main) – January 2026
Online Submission of Application Form	31 Oct’25 to 27 Nov’25
Correction Window	1 – 2 Dec 2025
City Intimation Slip	1st week of January 2026
Downloading Admit Cards from the NTA website	03 days before the Exam
Dates of Examination	From 21 Jan’26 to 30 Jan’26
Display of Question Paper attempted by the Candidate and Answer Keys for inviting challenges	Will be displayed on the NTA website
Declaration of Result	By 12 February 2026
Session-2: JEE (Main) – April 2026
Online Submission of Application Form	Last week of January 2026 onwards.
Correction Window	Will be notified later
City Intimation Slip	2nd week of March 2026 (Tent.)
Downloading Admit Cards from the NTA website	03 days before the Exam
Dates of Examination	From 2 April’26 to 9 April’26
Display of Question Paper attempted by the Candidate and Answer Keys for inviting challenges	Will be displayed on the NTA website
Declaration of Result	By 20 April 2026

Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

As mentioned above JEE Main consists of two papers, Paper-1 for B.E. / B. Tech while Paper-2 is for B. Arch   and B. Planning, however most aspirants appear for Paper-1 only.

Paper 1 – B.E. / B. Tech

• Mode: Online (Computer-Based Test – CBT)
• Duration: 3 hours (1^st shift: 09:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon and 2^nd shift: 03:00 P.M. to 06:00 P.M.)
• Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics
• Language: English, Hindi (or one regional language)
• Total Questions: 75 Ques. (25 each for Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics.)
• Marking Scheme: (For both 20Q. MCQs & 5Q. Numerical Value Type Ques.)
  • +4 marks for each correct answer
  • -1 mark for each incorrect answer

Section	MCQs + Numerical Value Type	Total Questions	Marks
Physics	20 + 5	25	100
Chemistry	20 + 5	25	100
Mathematics	20 + 5	25	100

Paper-2A / 2B – B. Arch. / B. Planning

• Duration: 3 hours for either B. Arch or B. Planning, or 3.5 hours for B. Arch & B. Planning both.
• Shift: 1^st shift: 09:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon (or 12:30) & 2^nd shift: 03:00 P.M. to 06:00 (or 6:30) P.M.
• Subjects: Mathematics, Aptitude Test and Drawing (for B. Arch)

Mathematics, Aptitude Test and Planning (for B. Planning)

• Total Questions (for B. Arch.): 77 (Math: 25, Aptitude: 50, Drawing: 2)
• Total Questions (for B. Planning): 100 (Math: 25, Aptitude: 50, Planning: 25)
  • Mathematics (for both papers): 25 (20 MCQs & 5 NV type)
  • Aptitude (for both papers): 50 ques.
  • Drawing (for B. Arch): 2 ques.
  • Planning (for B. Planning): 25 ques.
• Marking Scheme: For Mathematics (Sections A & B), Aptitude Test and Planning,
  • +4 marks for each correct answer
  • + 50 for 2 questions of Drawing
  • -1 mark for each incorrect answer (Only for 20 MCQs of Mathematics)
  • No negative marking for numerical value type questions, Drawing and Planning sections.

Section	Questions (B. Arch.)	Questions (B. Planning.)	Total Marks
Mathematics	25	25	100
Aptitude Test	50	50	200
Drawing Test	2	NA	100
Planning-based MCQs	NA	25	100
Total Questions	77	100	400

JEE Main-2025: Eligibility Criteria

To appear for JEE Main-2025, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Educational Qualification:

1. The candidate must have passed Class 12 or equivalent in 2024 or 2025 or be appearing in 2026.The candidate should have studied Physics & Mathematics as compulsory subjects along with one of the following: Chemistry, Biotechnology, Biology, Computer Science or Technical Vocational Subject.For B. Arch, the candidate must have studied Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry

4. For B. Plan, Mathematics must be a compulsory subject.

1. Minimum Percentage:
   1. A minimum of 75% is required in Class 12 (65% of SC/ST/Reserved category) or a position in the top 20 percentile of the respective board is required for admission to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs through JoSAA Counselling.
2. Age Limit:– There is no age limit, however candidates must satisfy the year of passing requirements.
3. No. of Attempts:– A maximum of 3 attempts is allowed per candidate.
4. Exam Sessions:- Candidates can appear in one or both sessions (January 2026 and April 2026). The best score among the two will be considered for ranking.
5. Eligibility for JEE Advanced:– Candidates who qualify JEE Main rank among the top 2,50,000(including all categories) and meet other eligibility criteria, are eligible to register for JEE Advanced.

Application Fee

Category	For One Session	For Both Sessions
General (Male)	₹1000	₹2000
Gen-EWS/OBC(NCL) Male	₹900	₹1800
General/Gen-EWS/OBC(NCL) Female	₹800	₹1600
SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender	₹500	₹1000

Note:

• The fees are non-refundable.
• International applicants are subject to a different fee structure.

Application Procedure

1. Visit the official portal (jeemain.nta.nic.in).
2. Register using valid credentials Name, email id and mobile number.
3. Fill out the application form with accurate personal and academic details.
4. Upload scanned documents Passport size photograph and signature as per NTA specifications.
5. Select preferred exam centres from various locations across India.
6. Pay the prescribed application fee through available online payments modes.
7. Download and save the confirmation page for future reference.
8. A correction window, as announced by NTA, will allow limited edits to specific fields.

Note: Only applications submitted within the deadline and with successful fee payment accepted will be considered final.

Previous Years’ Qualifying Cutoff (Year-2024 & 2025)

Results are declared separately for each session, showing subject-wise marks and overall percentile. The best percentile out of the two sessions is considered for ranking.

To qualify for JEE Advanced, candidate must secure above the qualifying cutoff percentile specified for their respective category.

For admission purpose the percentile is converted into an All-India Rank-AIR, which is used for seats allocations during JoSAA counselling.

There are two important cutoff metrics:

1. The qualifying cutoff for JEE Advanced eligibility
2. The admission cutoff for colleges allotments during JoSAA counselling rounds

Category	Qualifying Cutoff-2024 (In %ile)	Qualifying Cutoff-2025 (In %ile)
General	93.236	93.10
EWS	81.326	80.38
OBC-NCL	79.675	79.43
SC	60.092	61.15
ST	46.704	47.90

JEE Main-2026: Syllabus Breakdown

The JEE Main syllabus is based on the NCERT curriculum of Class 11 and 12. A detailed syllabus can be downloaded directly from the official website of NTA.

Key topics include:

• Mathematics: Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus, Coordinate Geometry, Probability and Statistics, Vectors
• Physics: Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electromagnetism, Modern Physics, Optics, Waves
• Chemistry: Physical (e.g., Thermodynamics), Inorganic (e.g., Periodic Table), Organic (e.g., Reaction Mechanisms)

Note: For complete syllabus, visit the official website: jee main 2026 syllabus

MyExams Tips: Focus on high scoring areas like Calculus, Mechanics, Electrostatics, and Organic Chemistry. Plan your study based on ROI (Return on time Investment). You can get the detailed explanations of this strategy by clicking on the link given below: YouTube Channel of MyExams.AI.

Admit Card and Exam Day Guidelines

The admit card is available approximately 10 days before the exam on the jee main 2026 admit card In case of any discrepancies, contact the NTA immediately.

On Exam Day:

• Report at exam centre at-least 90 minutes before the scheduled time.
• Carry a printed copy of the admit card and a valid original photo Id proof (Aadhaar, etc.).
• Do not bring prohibited items such as, calculator, smart devices or personal rough sheet (rough sheets will be provided at the exam center).
• Undergo biometric verification and proceed to your assigned seat calmly.
• Read each question carefully and answer based on confidence and accuracy.

MyExams Tips: Effective time management is crucial – 75 questions must be attempted within 180 minutes.

Preparation Strategies

1. Detailed Planning: Break down the syllabus into daily and weekly targets. Ensure a balanced focus on all three subjects, while allocating extra time to weaker areas.
2. NCERT-First Approach: Start with NCERT textbooks to build a strong foundation, then progress to other reference books.
3. Previous Year Papers: Solving past questions helps understand exam style and identify repeating patterns.
4. Mock Tests: Take mock tests under exam-like conditions. Track your time and accuracy and analyse your performance to identify strengths and areas of improvement.
5. Revision: Prepare concise notes and formula sheets. Review them regularly, especially during the final two months of preparation.
6. Stress Management: Maintain a balanced routine with regular breaks, and positive mindset. Adequate sleep and proper nutrition are essential during intense preparation phases.

Counselling and Admission: JoSAA Process

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) conducts six rounds of counselling. Here’s a summary of the entire process:

1. Register for JoSAA using yours JEE Main credentials.
2. Fill in and lock your choices of institutes and branches.
3. After the seat allotment Pay seat acceptance fee and choose an option of freeze, float or slide.
4. Report to the allotted institute for document verification.
5. In subsequent rounds seats allocation may be upgraded based on your preferences and availability.

Required documents:

• JEE Main scorecard and admit card
• Class 10 and 12-mark sheets
• Category certificates (if applicable)

Note: JoSAA 2025 counselling will commence after the announcement of JEE Advanced results.

The Big Picture: JEE Main and Beyond

JEE Main is more than just an entrance exam – it serves as a structured gateway to premier engineering institutions. With its two-session format, cleared syllabus guidelines and access to quality study resources, students have more opportunity than ever to succeed.

A well-planned strategy, emphasising strong conceptual understanding, consistent revisions, effective time management smart mock test practice – can significantly enhance the performance.

FAQ Section

Conclusion

JEE Main 2026 offers more than just an exam, it’s a crucial stepping stone towards an aspiring engineer’s dream college. With its dual-session format, updated syllabus, and transparent cutoff trends, it offers a fair and structured pathway to the top institutions.

Success in JEE Main depends on conceptual clarity, consistent preparation and quality practice. By planning well, by being persistent in practice and by staying aware of all official updates, students can maximize their chance of achieving a better rank.

MyExams.Ai wishes you all the best for your upcoming JEE Main preparation journey!

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Official References

• National Testing Agency: Official Site
• JoSAA Opening/Closing Ranks: Jossa Openings

For free sample paper and mock test series for JEE Main visit the MyExams website: jee Mains 2026