Overview

JEE Main is India's largest national-level engineering entrance examination, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Around 10-12 lakh students appear every year across two sessions (January and April), with scores normalised using percentile-based ranking. It is the primary screening exam for undergraduate engineering admissions and the qualifying gateway for JEE Advanced (IIT admissions). JEE Main powers admissions into all NITs, IIITs and GFTIs through JoSAA counselling, and is accepted by many private engineering universities, making it the single most important reference point for Indian engineering aspirants.

Exam Pattern

Sections

Syllabus

Eligibility Criteria

• Passed or appearing Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Mathematics and one of Chemistry / Biotechnology / Biology / Technical Vocational subject
• No minimum percentage to appear in JEE Main, but 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST) required for NIT/IIIT/GFTI admission through JoSAA
• Candidates who passed Class 12 in the previous two years or are appearing this year are eligible
• Indian nationals, NRIs, OCIs and foreign nationals can apply
• Two sessions per year for three consecutive years; both sessions of a year count as one attempt

Important Dates

Application Process

1. Register on jeemain.nta.nic.in with a valid email ID and mobile number
2. Fill in personal, academic and exam-city preference details in the application form
3. Upload a scanned photograph, signature and Class 10/12 documents
4. Pay the application fee online (varies by category and number of sessions)
5. Download the confirmation page; admit card is released a few days before the exam
6. Choose Session 1, Session 2 or both at the time of application

💡 Preparation Tips

• Master NCERT Class 11 & 12 thoroughly - JEE Main rarely strays far from NCERT
• Solve at least 10 years of previous-year papers and weekly full-length mocks under CBT conditions
• Build a one-page formula sheet per subject and revise it every week
• Track time per question - aim for around 90 seconds per MCQ on average
• Maintain an error log; in the last 30 days revisit weak chapters instead of starting new ones
• Use Session 1 strategically to test your prep; iterate strategy before the April attempt

Colleges accepting JEE Main

260 colleges accept this exam across 24 states. Tap a college to view full details, placement data, and shortlist.

❓ FAQs