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.
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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.
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:
| Criteria | JEE Main 2024 | JEE Main 2025 | 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 |
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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:
| Subjecy | 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 |
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 |
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)
The Paper 1 consists of subjects of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with total marks being 300.
The authority has not made any changes to the JEE Main 2026 paper pattern so far.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
For JEE Advanced Physics preparation, focus on building strong conceptual understanding along with regular problem-solving. Important topics include:
Mechanics
Electrostatics and Current Electricity
Magnetism
Electromagnetic Induction
Optics
Modern Physics
Thermodynamics
Waves and Oscillations
Rotational Motion
Fluid Mechanics
You can prepare using NCERT, H.C. Verma, D.C. Pandey, and previous years'
Hello, if you entered the wrong JEE percentile but uploaded the correct JEE scorecard, your application may still be considered during document verification. However, the final decision will depend on BBAU's verification process. It is advisable to contact the university admission office and inform them about the mistake as soon
Hello Aspirant,
With JEE main rank of 8,19,756 General (Delhi) Category and 68% in class 12 getting CSC or it in top IPU colleges like BPIT, VIPS, BVCOE, Akhilesh Das, or HMRITM is unlikely through the regular counselling rounds.
However, you should still participate in all IPU counselling rounds including
Hello! Thank you for your question.
Admission to NFSU Delhi Campus depends on several factors, including your JEE Main rank, category, home state status, preferred B.Tech programme, seat availability, and the counselling cut-offs for each round. Please share your JEE Main CRL rank, EWS rank, home state, and preferred B.Tech
Hello Dear Student,
Yes, with an OBC-NCL rank of 10,000 in JEE Advanced, you have a solid chance of securing a seat in newer or lower-tier IITs. However, you will likely be restricted to core branches, Civil, Materials/Metallurgy, or Biotechnology.
You can check, find and access more information here:]
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