JEE Main Vs JEE Advanced - Key differences: Aspirants can check this page for the key differences in JEE Main and JEE Advanced. It will help in devising a combined preparation plan. JEE Main is conducted by NTA, while JEE Advanced is conducted by participating IITs. Candidates qualifying for the JEE Main exam are considered for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. Whereas JEE Advanced qualifying candidates will be offered admission to the best IITs. The top 2,50,000 JEE Main qualifiers are eligible to take the JEE Advanced exam. When preparing for both exams, candidates will find a key difference in the syllabus and exam pattern. Based on their eligibility criteria, admission to various types of institutes, exam pattern, syllabus, etc, students will be able to differentiate between JEE Main Vs JEE Advanced crystal clear.

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What is JEE Main vs JEE Advanced
JEE Main VS JEE Advanced- Key differences
JEE Main VS JEE Advanced- Eligibility and Attempts
JEE Main VS JEE Advanced- Exam Pattern

JEE Main VS JEE Advanced 2026 - Difference in Syllabus, Exam Pattern

However, JEE Main and JEE Advanced candidates will have to fulfil the minimum eligibility conditions, i.e. Class 12 passed, to secure admission. Further, candidates can also check the JEE Main 2026 college predictor to find the best colleges for admission. Students can refer to the article below to learn more about JEE Main VS JEE Advanced in detail.

What is JEE Main vs JEE Advanced

JEE Main exam is a national-level exam conducted as a computer-based test for admission to BTech courses. The authorities conduct the JEE Main exam for B.E./B. Tech course admission at NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. The JEE Main exam tests fundamental concepts that align closely with the CBSE syllabus.

Whereas, Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced is also a national-level exam conducted for admission to the BTech course in top IITs and other participating institutions. Admission to IITs is through counselling conducted by the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA). The JEE advanced test covers complex subjects, analytical thinking, problem solving, and a more deep topics.

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JEE Main VS JEE Advanced- Key differences

JEE Main is the entrance exam for NITs, IIITs, and other government-funded institutes, and also qualifies students for JEE Advanced, which is required for IIT admissions. JEE Main is held twice a year, while JEE Advanced is held once for top-ranking students. Understanding the differences helps students plan their preparation effectively. Given below is a detailed table for students to understand JEE Main VS JEE Advanced -

Key differences- JEE Main VS JEE Advanced

Difference	JEE Main	JEE Advanced
Official website link	jeemain.nta.ac.in	jeeadv.ac.in
Admission to institutes	National Institutes of Technology (NITs) Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs) Centrally Funded Technical Institute (CFTI)	Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)
Eligibility	Should have passed 10 + 2 from a science background with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. Minimum 75% aggregate B.Arch/ B. Plan- 50% aggregate scores	One among the top 2,50,000 candidates who cleared JEE Mains. Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects Minimum 75% for (gen/OBC)
Paper	Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.) or Paper 2A (B.Arch.) or Paper 2B (B.Planning.) and B.Arch. & B.Planning (both)	JEE Advanced Paper 1 & 2 JEE Advanced AAT
Registration Fee	Single Paper General Male Candidates - Rs. 1000 OBC Male Candidates - Rs. 900 General/OBC Female Candidates - Rs. 800 SC/ST/PwD/Transgender Candidates - Rs 500 More than One Paper General/OBC Male Candidates - Rs. 2000 General/OBC Female Candidates - Rs. 1600 SC/ST/PwD/Transgender Candidates - Rs. 1000	Female Candidates (all categories) ₹ 1600 SC, ST, and PwD Candidates ₹ 1600 All Other Candidates ₹ 3200
Exam Duration	3 Hours	6 Hours
Counselling	Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JOSAA)	Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JOSAA)

JEE Main VS JEE Advanced- Eligibility and Attempts

The eligibility criteria for JEE Main and JEE Advanced differ slightly based on various factors. Students can refer to the key pointers below to check the difference between JEE Main Vs JEE Advanced.

Age- When it comes to JEE Main Vs JEE Advanced, there is no age restriction for the JEE Main exam. For JEE Advanced, a five-year age relaxation is given to ST, SC and PwD candidates.

Attempt- A candidate can attempt JEE (Advanced) a maximum of two times in two consecutive years. As for JEE Main, students are eligible to appear the exam 6 times over three consecutive years.

Education qualification- Students will need to pass 10 + 2 to qualify for both JEE Main and JEE Advanced exam. Students are also required to pass with a minimum aggregate of 75% for general (65% for SC/ST).

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JEE Main VS JEE Advanced- Exam Pattern

JEE Main consists of multiple sections and is held twice a year, allowing students three consecutive years to participate. It serves as the qualifying exam for NITs, IIITs, and other government-funded institutions. On the other hand, JEE Advanced, conducted once a year, comprises two papers with multiple-choice and numerical-type questions. It is specifically for students seeking admission to IITs and other select institutes, with only two attempts allowed in consecutive years. To understand the exam pattern for JEE Main Vs JEE Advanced, students should look out for the exam marking scheme, exam mode of conduct, language, etc. Students should therefore refer to the table below for the differences between JEE Main and JEE Advanced.

Exam pattern for JEE Main VS JEE Advanced

Particulars	JEE Main Details	JEE Advanced Details
Mode of Conduct	Computer-based examination	Computer-based examination
Language of Examination	English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.	English and Hindi
Type of Questions	Multiple choice questions (MCQs) Questions with numerical values as answers	MCQs Numerical value answer type questions Single-digit integer answer
No. of Sections	Three are three sections: Mathematics Physics Chemistry	Both papers include 3 sections- Paper 1- Physics Chemistry Mathematics Paper 2- Physics Chemistry Mathematics
JEE Mains Total questions	75 Questions (25 questions in each section)	54 Questions (18 questions each)
jee main vs jee advanced marks	300 Marks (100 marks for each section)	306 Marks
JEE Mains negative marking	MCQs: For each correct answer Four marks will be awarded Negative marking of one mark on each wrong answer. Questions with numerical value answers: Four marks for each correct answer Negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer.	The exam has a concept of full, partial and zero marks.
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced difficulty	Moderate to difficult	Moderate to difficult
Difference Between JEE Main And JEE Advanced	JEE Main is the entrance exam for admission to NITs, IIITs, and other central and state government-funded institutes. It is held twice a year, allowing students multiple opportunities to take the exam.	JEE Advanced is used for admission to IITs, IISTs, and RGIPTs. Unlike JEE Main, JEE Advanced is conducted once a year and is specifically for students who have qualified for JEE Main.
JEE Main Vs JEE Advanced Syllabus	JEE Main includes Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Aptitude test, and Planning-Based Objective Type.	JEE Advanced covers Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics with a focus on specific topics
JEE Main Vs JEE Advanced which is better	JEE Main is aligned with the NCERT syllabus and is generally easier than JEE Advanced. It provides entry to NITs, IIITs, and other GFTIs and also serves as the qualifier for JEE Advanced. A top 2,50,000 rank in JEE Main allows you to sit for JEE Advanced.	JEE Advanced, on the other hand, is more challenging and tests a deeper understanding of concepts. It is specifically for admission into the top-tier Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other select institutions like IIST and RGIPT. To gain admission to these elite colleges, a high rank in JEE Advanced is crucial.
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced preparation	JEE Main includes Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics from CBSE classes 11 and 12.	JEE Advanced has additional topics like Thermal Physics and electrochemistry not covered in JEE Main. Some topics are exclusive to JEE Advanced.