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

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

Upcoming Event

JEE Main Exam Date:21 Jan' 26 - 30 Jan' 26

Gandubilli UnnatiUpdated on 21 Oct 2025, 05:45 PM IST

JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern Changes: JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern changes will be revealed along with the release of the official notification on the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in. The authority will soon begin the session 1 JEE Main 2026 registration in October 2025. However, based on the previous years, 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 Mathematics, Aptitude, and Drawing tests, while Paper 2B includes Mathematics, Aptitude, and Planning-based questions. The JEE Main session 1 will be conducted from January 21 to 30, 2026.

LiveJEE Mains 2026 Registration LIVE: NTA session 1 exam from January 21; applications soon at jeemain.nta.nic.inOct 21, 2025 | 8:09 PM IST

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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

Januray 31The 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 pattern changes over the years and JEE Main expected changes, and the actual exam pattern.

JEE Main Exam Pattern Changes 2026

The NTA may announce some changes for the 2026 exam pattern. There were some notifiable changes made this year. Below is a table consisting of the exam pattern changes made in 2025:

Criteria

JEE Main 2024

JEE Main 2025 (Updated)

Changes 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

JEE Main Exam Pattern 2026

The JEE Main exam pattern for 2026 will be released soon 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

Subject

Section 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 will announce it soon on the official website.

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Questions related to JEE Main

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to JEE Main ?

Hello,

JEE has two exams:

  1. JEE Main : for NITs and eligibility for JEE Advanced.
  2. JEE Advanced: For IITs

The percentage or marks needed to get seat in NITs and IITs are:

  • For NITs, aim for 150+ marks in JEE Main.
  • For IITs, aim for 50-60% marks in JEE Advanced.
  • Focus on concepts, practice, and take mock tests for best results.

Go through the link for more details:

https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/jee-main-cutoff

I hope this answer helps you, All the best!



Heya,

Yes, you can refill your category again. In the case of the April session JEE Main registration, you have the option to change your category while registering your details only once. You can switch from General to EWS if you have a proper certificate. Just be certain that the EWS certificate is granted before the last date of the April session form and complies with the NTA's requirements of validity.

Hope it helps!!!

Hello,

Yes, you can get admission in DTU and IIIT Hyderabad with an outstanding JEE Main rank, as long as you pass Class 12 with at least 60% marks in PCM.


if we talk about DTU (Delhi Technological University) — you must have at least 60% in PCM and pass all subjects. The 75% rule is not strictly applicable here, so you can get admission based on your JEE Main rank and Delhi quota, if applicable.

For IIIT Hyderabad, admission is based on JEE Main percentile/rank, but the institute also requires a minimum of 60% in Class 12 (PCM). So, even with less than 75%, you are eligible if you meet this 60% requirement.

Hope you understand. ALL THE BEST.

Hello Tanishka,

Although i believe your attempting strategy and sequence depends entirely on your stage of preparation and your personal progress, i would suggest you sit for your January attempt even if you aim to seriously prepare for April.

Whatever stage of syllabus completion you are at, i suggest you give it a try to get an estimate of the exam difficulty and see roughly where you stand among the applicants that year. No matter how many mock tests you attempt, the actual examination environment happens to be very different from mock tests. The first attempt is going to give you an idea of the exam environment so you can prepare for your April attempt better.

All the best for your exams!

Hello Swati

Yes, your EWS certificate will be valid for JEE Main 2026 and counselling if it’s issued after April 1, 2025.
This is because EWS certificates are valid for one financial year from April to March.
So, a certificate made in October 2025 will be for FY 2025–26, which covers both JEE and counselling. You’ll need the certificate number during JEE registration in October 2025.
Even if you don’t have it yet, you can still register and upload it later during counselling. Just make sure the certificate clearly mentions the correct financial year.
Always keep a few extra copies and the original ready for verification.
You're good to go if it’s issued after April 1, 2025