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    JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern Changes: New Marking Scheme & Paper Format

    JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern Changes: New Marking Scheme & Paper Format

    Team Careers360Updated on 02 Apr 2026, 02:54 PM IST

    JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern Changes: NTA has released the JEE Main 2026 exam pattern on the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in. There are no changes in the JEE Main exam pattern 2026 compared to the previous session. The JEE Main 2026 exam will be held in CBT mode. The JEE Main 2026 exam paper pattern consists of three papers: Paper 1 for B.E./B. Tech, Paper 2A for B.Arch, and Paper 2B for B.Plan. JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 includes Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, with 75 mandatory questions. Paper 2A consists of 77 questions from Mathematics, Aptitude, and Drawing. Paper 2B will have 100 questions from Mathematics, Aptitude, and Planning sections. There is also negative marking for incorrect answers. The JEE Main 2026 session 2 BTech is scheduled from April 2 to 8, 2026. Also, the JEE Main 2026 session 1 has concluded on January 29, 2026.

    This Story also Contains

    1. JEE Main Exam Pattern Changes 2026
    2. JEE Main Exam Pattern 2026
    3. JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) Exam Pattern
    4. JEE Main 2026 Paper 2A (B.Arch) Exam Pattern
    5. JEE Main 2026 Paper 2B (B.Plan) Exam Pattern
    JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern Changes: New Marking Scheme & Paper Format
    JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern Changes

    The JEE Main 2026 is a national-level entrance test conducted to offer admission in engineering and architecture courses in top colleges and institutions in India. In this article, Careers360 will discuss JEE Main exam details like pattern changes over the years, JEE Main expected changes, and the actual exam pattern.

    JEE Main Exam Pattern Changes 2026

    The NTA has not announced any changes to the 2026 exam pattern so far. However, there were some notifiable changes made last year. Below is a table consisting of the exam pattern changes made in 2025:

    CriteriaJEE Main 2024JEE Main 2025Changes Highlighted

    Section A (Paper 1)

    20 MCQs per subject (PCM)

    20 MCQs per subject (PCM)

    No changes

    Section B (Paper 1)

    10 numerical questions (5 to be answered, choice)

    5 numerical questions (all mandatory)

    Removal of 5 optional questions

    Paper 2A Maths (B.Arch)

    10 numericals (5 to be answered, choice)

    5 numericals (all mandatory)

    Removal of 5 optional questions

    Paper 2B Maths (B.Plan)

    10 numericals (5 to be answered, choice)

    5 numericals (all mandatory)

    Removal of 5 optional questions

    Negative Marking (Numerical)

    Not applicable

    Applicable (-1 for incorrect answer)

    Negative marking introduced

    Total Questions (Paper 1)

    90 questions (75 to be answered)

    75 questions (all are mandatory)

    Reduced number of questions

    Total Marks (Paper 1)

    300

    300

    No change

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    JEE Main Exam Pattern 2026

    The JEE Main exam pattern for 2026 has been released on the official website. The exam pattern consists of 2 papers- Paper 1 and Paper 2A and 2B. The exam is conducted for 3 hours in computer-based mode. Candidates can check the exam pattern below which is paper-wise and in detail:

    JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) Exam Pattern

    SubjecySection A (MCQs)Section B (Numerical Value Questions)

    Total Questions per Subject


    Marks per Subject


    Total Marks

    Mathematics

    20

    5

    25

    100


    Physics

    20

    5

    25

    100


    Chemistry

    20

    5

    25

    100


    Total

    60

    15

    75

    300

    300

    JEE Main 2026 Paper 2A (B.Arch) Exam Pattern

    Section

    Question Type

    Number of Questions

    Marks

    Exam Mode

    Mathematics

    20 MCQs + 5 Numerical

    25

    100

    Computer-Based Test

    Aptitude Test

    Multiple Choice Questions

    50

    200

    Computer-Based Test

    Drawing Test

    Drawing Questions

    2

    100

    Pen-and-Paper (Offline)

    Total


    77

    400


    JEE Main Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
    Select your preferred subject to view the chapters

    JEE Main 2026 Paper 2B (B.Plan) Exam Pattern

    Section

    Question Type

    Number of Questions

    Marks

    Exam Mode

    Mathematics

    20 MCQs + 5 Numerical

    25

    100

    Computer-Based Test

    Aptitude Test

    Multiple Choice Questions

    50

    200

    Computer-Based Test

    Planning Based Questions

    Multiple Choice Questions

    25

    100

    Computer-Based Test

    Total


    100

    400


    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: What subjects does Paper 1 consist of?
    A:

    The Paper 1 consists of subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with total marks being 300.

    Q: What are the major changes made in the JEE Main 2026 paper?
    A:

    The authority has not made any changes to the JEE Main 2026 paper pattern so far. 

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    Questions related to JEE Main

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to JEE Main ?

    Parala Maharaja College is govt affiliated. As per rules ZZ category which means outside Odisha cannot apply for seats under the official counselling. I wold advise to go to the college and ask for better guidance. The cutoffs for 2025 are not up o the OJEE site but 2024 also

    Decent chances actually. However, you havent given the category as well as home state.

    If we look at the general category, you have chances in newer IIITs and NITs as well . but again this differs for branch too.

    Please use the https://engineering.careers360.com/jee-main-college-predictor to get the entire list of colleges

    Hello Student,

    You can use our college predictor tool to find the possible colleges you can get with this rank.

    College Predictor - JEE Main 2026 College Predictor


    Hello Student,

    You can use our college predictor tool to find the possible colleges you can get with this rank.

    Link to the College Predictor - JEE Main 2026 College Predictor