The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is India's most prestigious and challenging engineering entrance exam. It is the primary gateway for students aiming to secure admission into the country's top-tier technical institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
The exam is conducted in two distinct stages: JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
1. JEE Main
JEE Main is the first stage and serves as the entrance test for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. It also acts as the "screening test" to qualify for JEE Advanced.
Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA).
Frequency: Conducted twice a year (usually January and April). Candidates can appear in both sessions, and the better score is used for ranking.
Papers:
Paper 1: For B.E./B.Tech courses (Computer-based).
Paper 2A & 2B: For B.Arch and B.Planning.
Exam Pattern: Focuses on Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM). It consists of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Numerical Value Questions.
Eligibility: No age bar, but students can only attempt it for three consecutive years starting from the year they pass Class 12.
2. JEE Advanced
Only the top 2,50,000 qualifiers of JEE Main are eligible to sit for JEE Advanced. This exam is the sole gateway to the 23 IITs.
- Conducting Body: One of the seven zonal IITs on a rotational basis (IIT Roorkee for 2026).
- Frequency: Conducted once a year (usually in May).
- Format: Two compulsory papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2), both held on the same day.
- Difficulty: Extremely high. Unlike JEE Main, the pattern changes every year, featuring complex multiple-correct options, matrix matching, and integer-type questions.
- Eligibility: Candidates can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of two times in two consecutive years.
Comparison at a Glance
| Feature | JEE Main | JEE Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs | Admission to IITs |
| Eligibility | Class 12 (or appearing) | Top ~2.5 Lakh JEE Main rankers |
| Difficulty | Moderate (Focus on speed/accuracy) | High (Focus on deep concepts) |
| Attempts | 3 consecutive years | 2 consecutive years |
| Language | 13 languages (including regional) | English & Hindi only |
Important Eligibility Criteria
To secure a seat through either exam, candidates generally need to meet the 75% criteria:
- General/OBC: At least 75% aggregate marks in Class 12 (or be in the top 20 percentile of their board).
- SC/ST/PwD: At least 65% aggregate marks in Class 12.
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