JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme Explained by NTA: +4, −1 Rule You Must Know

JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme Explained by NTA: +4, −1 Rule You Must Know

Team Careers360Updated on 10 Feb 2026, 11:45 AM IST

JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme- The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released marking scheme for JEE Main 2026 on the official website, jeemain.nta.ac.in. Candidates preparing for the JEE Main 2026 exam must clearly understand the marking scheme and exam pattern to maximize their scores. The JEE Mains marking scheme 2026 explains the number of questions, marks distribution, and negative marking rules for each subject. The authority will conduct the JEE Main exam in two sessions. Session 1 exam will be held from January 21 to 29, 2026 and Session 2 is scheduled for April 2 to 9, 2026.

LiveJEE Main 2026 Result Analysis LIVE: Will you get into NIT? BTech courses; NIT, IIIT cut-offsFeb 18, 2026 | 9:43 PM IST

For a general category student, a good score in JEE Main 2026 is usually around 200 marks or more, which often corresponds to a 99+ percentile and improves chances of getting top NITs or IIITs. Scores in the 150 to 180 range (about 97–98+ percentile) are generally considered good for securing a seat in well-ranked NITs.

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This Story also Contains

  1. JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme – Highlights
  2. JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme
  3. JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern
  4. Key Points for JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme
JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme Explained by NTA: +4, −1 Rule You Must Know
JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme

There will be a total of 75 questions of 300 marks in JEE Main 2026. Each question will have +4 marks and -1 will be deducted for incorrect response. The complete details of the updated JEE Mains marking scheme is updated on this page. Along with the JEE marking scheme, candidates should also be aware of all topics listed in JEE Main syllabus 2026.

JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme – Highlights

Below are the key details of the marking scheme for JEE Main 2026:

Particulars

Details

Total Number of Questions

75 (25 Questions in each section)

Questions to be Attempted

75 (25 per subject)

Marks for Correct Answer

+4

Marks for Wrong Attempt

-1 (only for MCQs)

Marks for Unattempted Question

0

Question Types

  • MCQ

  • Numerical Value Questions

Total Marks

300

JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme

The JEE Main 2026 paper will consist of two sections in each subject:

  • Section A (MCQs) : All Compulsory, with negative marking.

  • Section B (Numerical Value Questions) : All Compulsory, with no negative marking.

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Subject-Wise JEE Main Marking Scheme

Subject

Physics

Chemistry

Mathematics

Section A (MCQs) : All Compulsory

20

20

20

Section (Numerical)

05

05

05

Total Number of Questions

25

25

25

Marks Distribution

25 x 4 = 100

25 x 4 = 100

25 x 4 = 100

Total Marks

300

JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern

Candidates should also understand the overall JEE Main 2026 exam pattern before preparation:

Particulars

Details

Exam Mode

Computer Based Test (CBT)

Duration

3 Hours (180 Minutes)

Language

English, Hindi, and Regional Languages (as per choice)

Type of Questions

MCQs & Numerical Value Questions

Total Marks

300 (Paper 1)

Type of Questions

MCQs & Numerical Value Questions

Key Points for JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme

  • Each correct answer will award +4 marks.

  • Each incorrect MCQ will deduct -1 mark.

  • No negative marking for Numerical Value Questions.

  • In Section B, candidates need to attempt only 5 out of 10 numerical questions in each subject.

  • The total marks for JEE Main Paper 1 (B.E/B.Tech) is 300 marks.

JEE Main 2026 College Predictor
Discover your college admission chances with the JEE Main 2026 College Predictor. Explore NITs, IIITs, CFTIs and other institutes based on your percentile, rank, and details.
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JEE Main Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
Select your preferred subject to view the chapters

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the marking scheme of JEE Main 2026?
A:

In JEE Main 2026, each correct answer gives +4 marks, while every wrong MCQ deducts 1 mark. Numerical questions have no negative marking.

Q: How many questions need to be attempted in JEE Main 2026?
A:

Candidates have to attempt 75 questions in total – 25 each from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

Q: What are the total marks of JEE Main 2026?
A:

The JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 will be for 300 marks with a duration of three hours.

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Questions related to JEE Main

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to JEE Main ?

There are many NITs that accepts JEE Main rank below 35,000 in different branches including Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and many more. These NITs are -

Yes, based on previous years' trends, some of the good colleges that offer BTech admissions with JEE Main rank between 65,000–80,000 include:

Arnav Gautam & P.Mohith secured 300 out of 300 in JEE Mains session 1, as per the provisional answer key. The list of toppers to be released with JEE Main results

JEE Main 2026 session 1 result is not declared yet. JEE Main session 1 result will be declared on February 12.

Students belonging to reserved category like SC or ST can hardly get admission into top NITs or IIITs with 32 marks in JEE Main examination, though there some other universities and colleges that provide admission to the SC/ST students with 35 marks in JEE Main, these are: