JEE Main and JEE Advanced are often spoken of as one exam in two stages. They are linked, but they are run by different bodies, for different institutes, with very different papers. This comparison uses the JEE Main 2026 information bulletin and the JEE Advanced 2026 brochure and question papers. The 2027 documents are awaited, and the JEE Advanced 2027 dates and organising IIT were not yet announced as of 9 October 2026.
What is each exam for?
JEE Main (Paper 1) is for B.E./B.Tech admission at NITs, IIITs, other centrally funded technical institutes and participating state institutions. It is also the eligibility test for JEE Advanced. Papers 2A and 2B cover B.Arch and B.Planning.
JEE Advanced is for admission to bachelor’s, integrated master’s and dual-degree programmes at all IITs.
How do they compare at a glance?
| JEE Main (Paper 1) | JEE Advanced | |
|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | National Testing Agency (NTA) | The IITs, under the Joint Admission Board; the organising IIT rotates (IIT Roorkee in 2026) |
| Purpose | NITs, IIITs, other CFTIs; qualifier for JEE Advanced | IITs |
| How often | Twice a year (January and April), best total NTA score counts | Once a year, one day |
| Papers | One 3-hour paper | Two 3-hour papers, both compulsory |
| Mode | Computer-based | Computer-based |
| Languages | 13 | English and Hindi |
| Questions (2026) | 75 | 102 across both papers |
| Total marks (2026) | 300 | 360 |
| Pattern | Fixed and published in advance | Not fixed; shown at exam time and changes year to year |
| Numerical answers | Integers | Up to two decimal places (2026) |
| Result used | Percentile (NTA score), normalised across shifts | Marks; ranks for those who sit both papers |
How are the papers structured?
JEE Main
Each subject has 20 multiple-choice questions (Section A) and 5 numerical-value questions (Section B). All 75 questions are to be attempted, with no internal choice. Full details are on our JEE Main exam pattern page.
JEE Advanced
The brochure gives no question counts and says only that negative marks may apply to some questions. The format is revealed at exam time. In 2026, each paper repeated the same structure for Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry:
| Paper | Question types (2026) | Per subject | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Single correct; one or more correct; numerical (two decimals); matching lists | 16 questions, 60 marks | 48 questions, 180 marks |
| Paper 2 | Single correct; one or more correct; numerical; paired numerical | 18 questions, 60 marks | 54 questions, 180 marks |
Treat this as the most recent example, not a rule. See the JEE Advanced exam pattern page for more.
How is the marking different?
JEE Main has one rule for every question: +4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 unanswered. That includes numerical questions.
JEE Advanced in 2026 varied the marking by section:
| Question type (2026) | Correct | Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Single correct MCQ | +3 | −1 |
| One or more correct | +4 for all correct options; partial +3, +2 or +1 | −1 |
| Numerical value | +4 (or +2 in the paired section) | 0, no negative |
| Matching lists | +4 | −1 |
The partial marking on multiple-correct questions rewards careful, partial answers: in 2026 you earned +1 for choosing one correct option and nothing wrong, if two or more were correct. Marking any wrong option gave −1.
The practical difference: JEE Main rewards speed and accuracy on a known format. JEE Advanced also rewards reading the instructions carefully on the day and adapting. Our guide on guessing in JEE Main applies to Main only; the maths for Advanced depends on each section’s rules.
Who is eligible for each?
JEE Main (2026 rules)
- No age limit to appear.
- You must have passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025, or be appearing in 2026. That allows up to three consecutive years, with two sessions each.
- The 75% Class 12 criterion (65% for SC/ST/PwD), or being in the top 20 percentile of your board, is not needed to appear. It applies to admission through JoSAA/CSAB.
JEE Advanced (2026 rules)
All five conditions applied:
- Among the top 2,50,000 in JEE Main Paper 1 that year, by category.
- Born on or after 1 October 2001 (five years’ relaxation for SC, ST and PwD).
- At most two attempts, in two consecutive years.
- Appeared for Class 12 for the first time in 2025 or 2026, with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
- Not previously admitted to an IIT.
For IIT admission after qualifying, you also need 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST/PwD) or a place in the top 20 percentile of your board.
The 2027 rules will be set by the 2027 bulletin and brochure. Check our JEE Main eligibility and JEE Advanced eligibility pages when they are published.
How many attempts do you get?
| JEE Main | JEE Advanced | |
|---|---|---|
| Attempts | No stated cap; limited by the Class 12 passing-year window (three years in 2026) | At most two, in consecutive years |
| Sessions per year | Two | One |
How different are the syllabi?
They overlap heavily, but they are not the same. The JEE Advanced 2026 syllabus still lists Solid State, Surface Chemistry, Hydrogen, s-Block Elements, Isolation of Metals, Environmental Chemistry, Polymers and Chemistry in Everyday Life. None of these is a unit in the JEE Main 2026 syllabus.
If you are aiming for both, prepare the shared core thoroughly, then cover the Advanced-only topics separately. Chapter-wise notes and past questions for both are on JEE Notes.
How should you prepare for both?
- Build depth once. The core concepts are the same. JEE Advanced asks you to use them in less familiar ways, so understanding beats memorised question types.
- Practise both formats. JEE Main is about pace on a known pattern. JEE Advanced is about handling multi-correct, matching and numerical questions with varied marking.
- Do not neglect JEE Main. It is your gate to JEE Advanced, and its rank matters in its own right for NITs and IIITs. See our JEE Main guide.