JEE Main 2027: exam pattern, syllabus, dates and preparation
The B.E./B.Tech entrance run by NTA, and the gate to JEE Advanced. Everything here is checked against NTA’s own documents and dated.
JEE Main (Joint Entrance Examination, Main) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for the Ministry of Education. Paper 1 decides B.E./B.Tech admission at NITs, IIITs, other centrally funded technical institutes and many state institutions. It is also the eligibility test for JEE Advanced, the IIT entrance.
This guide is based on the JEE (Main) 2026 Information Bulletin. The 2027 bulletin had not been published as of 9 October 2026. When it is, we will check every page against it.
When is JEE Main 2027?
NTA’s exam calendar proposes these dates for Session 1:
| Event | Status (as of 9 October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Session 1 exam | 22, 23, 24, 28, 29 and 30 January 2027, with 31 January as a buffer. NTA marks these “tentative and may undergo changes”. |
| Session 1 registration | Not yet open. The 2027 Information Bulletin is not out yet. |
| Session 2 (April 2027) | Not yet announced |
| Results | Not yet announced |
For the full 2026 timeline as a reference point, see JEE Main important dates.
What is the JEE Main exam pattern?
Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) is a three-hour computer-based test. Each subject has 20 multiple-choice questions (Section A) and 5 numerical-value questions (Section B).
| Subject | Section A (MCQ) | Section B (numerical) | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 20 | 5 | 100 |
| Physics | 20 | 5 | 100 |
| Chemistry | 20 | 5 | 100 |
| Total | 60 | 15 | 75 questions, 300 marks |
All 75 questions are to be attempted. There is no optional section and no internal choice. Section B answers are entered as integers using an on-screen keypad.
Paper 2A (B.Arch) and Paper 2B (B.Planning) are separate papers with Mathematics, an Aptitude Test and either Drawing or Planning. The details are on the exam pattern page.
Is there negative marking in JEE Main?
Yes, in both sections. A correct answer gets +4, a wrong answer −1, and an unanswered question 0. That applies to numerical questions as well as MCQs, so a guessed integer can cost you a mark.
How does the JEE Main score work?
Because each shift has a different paper, NTA does not rank you on raw marks. Your marks are converted into an NTA score, which is a percentile calculated within your own shift. The topper of every shift gets 100. Scores from all shifts of both sessions are then merged to make the merit list.
A percentile is not a percentage of marks. A 95 percentile means you scored at least as well as 95% of the candidates in your shift. Our percentile and normalisation page explains the formula with a worked illustration.
Who can take JEE Main?
For 2026, NTA set no age limit. You had to have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2024 or 2025, or be appearing in 2026. That works out to three consecutive years, with up to two sessions in each.
You do not need 75% in Class 12 to sit the exam. The 75% rule (65% for SC/ST/PwD), or a place in the top 20 percentile of your board, applies to admission at NITs, IIITs and similar institutes. The 2027 rules will be in the 2027 bulletin. See eligibility for the full criteria.
What is in the JEE Main syllabus?
The 2026 Paper 1 syllabus has 14 Mathematics units, 20 Physics units and 20 Chemistry units. Older chapters such as s-Block Elements, Hydrogen, Surface Chemistry, Polymers and Mathematical Reasoning are not in it. Our syllabus page lists every unit with links to free notes, previous-year questions and formula sheets on our sister site, JEE Notes.
What JEE Main percentile do you need for JEE Advanced?
The top 2,50,000 Paper 1 candidates across all categories become eligible to register for JEE Advanced. In 2026 the lowest qualifying NTA score for the General (UR) category was 93.4123549. Each category has its own cutoff, and the numbers move every year. The cutoff page has the full 2026 table.
How many students take JEE Main?
In 2026, 15,38,468 unique candidates appeared in Paper 1 across the two sessions, out of 16,04,854 who registered, according to NTA. Twenty-six candidates finished with an NTA score of 100.
How to prepare for JEE Main
Three things about this exam shape how you should practise:
- Every question is compulsory. With no choice anywhere, a chapter you skipped is a chapter you will meet.
- Wrong answers cost marks in both sections. Learning when to leave a question is a skill you build in practice, not on the day.
- No calculator. Arithmetic by hand has to be fast and reliable.
Full-length mock tests under real timing help most when you review them properly afterwards. Our preparation strategy sets out a routine, and the previous-year papers page shows where to find past papers and how to use them.
Free JEE Main mock tests on TestGuru
JEE Main is the one exam where TestGuru mock tests are live now. Each test follows the current Paper 1 pattern with +4 and −1 marking. After the test, the report names the idea behind each wrong answer, shows the patterns that repeat across your tests, and builds a practice set from your own mistakes.
TestGuru is not affiliated with NTA. Treat jeemain.nta.nic.in as the final word on dates, rules and results.
Everything about JEE Main
Exam pattern
JEE Main exam pattern: 75 questions, 300 marks, 3 hours, +4 and −1 in both sections, no calculator. Paper 1, 2A and 2B structure from NTA's 2026 bulletin.
Read →Syllabus
JEE Main syllabus: all 54 official Paper 1 units in Maths, Physics and Chemistry, with free notes, PYQs and formula sheets for each, plus what changed in 2024.
Read →Dates
JEE Main 2027 dates: Session 1 proposed for 22–24 and 28–30 January 2027 (tentative). Registration and Session 2 not yet announced. Plus the full 2026 timeline.
Read →Eligibility
JEE Main eligibility from NTA's 2026 bulletin: no age limit, Class 12 passing years, attempts, qualifying exams, and the 75% or top-20 percentile rule.
Read →Cutoff
JEE Main 2026 cutoff for JEE Advanced: General 93.4123549, EWS 82.4164528, OBC-NCL 80.9232583, SC 63.9172792 and ST 52.0174712 percentile, per NTA's result.
Read →Percentile
How JEE Main percentile is calculated: NTA's normalisation formula, why percentile is not percentage, how both sessions merge, and the official tie-break order.
Read →Past papers
JEE Main previous year papers: the official NTA source, free 2026 shift papers as timed tests, chapter-wise PYQs for every unit, and how to review them.
Read →Preparation
JEE Main 2027 preparation strategy: cover all 54 units, handle +4/−1 marking, build speed without a calculator, and use mock tests and mistake review properly.
Read →