Joint Entrance Examination (Main) (JEE Main)

National Testing Agency will conduct the JEE Main 2020 April exam in the last week of May. JEE Main was scheduled for April 5, 7, 8, 9 and 11, 2020 but has been postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The computer based test will be conducted for two papers - JEE Main Paper 1 for B.Tech/ B.E and Paper 2 for B.Arch/ B.Planning. The application form was released on February 7 and the last date to complete the JEE Main registration was March 12, 2020. The authorities will release the admit card of JEE Main 2020 after April 15. JEE Main 2020 result will be announced in online mode and will be valid for the current admission year only. JEE Main ranks will be used for admissions to  UG engineering programmes offered by 31 NITs, 25 IIITs and 28 CFTIs in addition to admission in states like Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Bihar, Jharkhand and Nagaland and many other private universities and institutes.

NTA JEE Main is held twice a year in January and May. Candidates can appear for both and the better of the two scores will be considered for ranking purposes. About 8,69,010 candidates appeared for the January session of JEE Main which was held from January 6 to 9 in 570 exam centres. 9 students scored 100 percentile as per the JEE Main result (January) for Paper I which was declared on January 17. The result for Paper 2 was announced on January 23.

What is JEE Main?

Joint Entrance Exam Main is the national level computer based test that is held by the National Testing Agency for the purpose of admissions to the undergraduate engineering courses in National Institutes of Technology, IIITs and the Govt funded Technical Institutes. In addition, it is also the screening cum qualifier test for JEE Advanced.  The test is held twice in a year and validity of the result is one year.

JEE Main Latest News/ Updates and Upcoming Events (April Session)

• April 1. 2020 - NTA has again started the application form correction facility from April 1 to 14. 
• March 31, 2020 - JEE Main 2020 to be help in the last week of May. Also, the admit card will be released after April 15. 
• March 27, 2020- NTA postpones JEE Main April till May last week
• March 18, 2020 - JEE Main postponed till further orders
• March 16, 2020 - Last date for correction of mistakes in the application form of JEE Main.
• March 13, 2020 - Correction of JEE Main 2020 application form starts.
• March 12, 2020 - Last date to apply as JEE Main registration.
• February 7, 2020 - JEE Main Registration starts at jeemain.nta.nic.in. Candidates now have to upload a copy of their class 12 marksheet or admit card in addition to photo and signature.

New Changes in JEE Main 2020:

• Documents to upload - candidates will also have to upload their 12th standard qualifying exam admit card/marksheet along with their photograph and signature. This is new in April session
• JEE Main registration process - Increase in Application fee. Payment mode only in online mode. 
• Number of JEE Main 2020 exam centres have been reduced to 233. Last year they were 264 in India.
• A brand new JEE Main 2020 exam pattern  with introduction of numerical questions, reduction of total questions, change in total marks etc
• Changes in JEE Main Paper I - There are now a total of 75 questions from Physics, Chemistry and Maths. Each has 20 MCQs and 5 numerical questions. Paper 1 is now for 300 marks.
• Paper 2 has separate papers - B.Arch and B.Plan. Maths and Aptitude is common for both. B.Arch applicants must take the drawing test while B.Plan aspirants must take up the Planning test. Total marks are 400
• Numerical questions don't have negative marking.
• JEE Main 2021 will be held in 11 regional languages - Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Odia, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu as per reports.
• UPSEE will be replaced with JEE Main from 2021 for undergraduate engineering admissions in Uttar Pradesh.

All aspirants must adhere to the prescribed NTA JEE Main eligibility criteria that has been announced by NTA. It includes guidelines for age, requisite academic qualifications, subjects studied in 10+2, pass percentage etc. The detailed eligibility criteria of JEE Main to appear for the entrance exam are specified below

JEE Main 2020 Age Criteria: There is no age limit for appearing for the exam. 

Qualifying Examinations: Candidates must have passed class 12 or equivalent exam in 2018 or 2019. Candidates appearing for class 12 board examination in 2020 will be also eligible.

Subjects to be Qualified in Qualifying Examination: Candidates must have studied a minimum of 5 subjects which will be considered. They are Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry/ Biology/ Biotechnology/ Technical Vocational Subject, Language and any other subject. 

Number of attempts: All aspirants can appear twice in a year. Students can appear for JEE Main for three years consecutively therefore the total attempts allowed for each student will be six in three years

For JEE Main Paper II- Candidates applying for B.Arch programme must have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination with 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics individually and in aggregate. Diploma holders are not eligible for the entrance exam.

Qualifying Marks for Admission into IITs, NITs, IIITs and CFTIs: Gen/OBC candidates must have scored a minimum of 75% marks or should be in the top 20 percentile of their respective boards. Candidates belonging to SC/ST category must have minimum scores of 65% or be in the top 20 percentile of their boards.

Reservation Criteria for JEE Main 2020

Note: Reservation for the NITs, IIITs and GFTIs will be as per the central list and not as per the state of eligibility.

What is JEE Main State Code of Eligibility?

• NTA has specified that the JEE Main 2020 State code of eligibility means the code of the State from where the candidate has passed his/her Class XII (or equivalent) qualifying examination. 
• State code of eligibility in JEE Main does NOT depend upon the native place or the place of residence of the candidate. 
• If a candidate has passed Class XII (or equivalent) qualifying examination from one State but appeared for improvement from another State, the candidate’s State code of eligibility will be the state from where the candidate first passed the Class XII (or equivalent) examination not the improvement one. 
• For NIOS candidate, the State of Eligibility will be the state in which their study centre is located. 
• For Indian students who have passed or are appearing from a school abroad, the State code of eligibility will be determined on the basis of permanent address in India (as per passport ).
• For Indian nationals from Nepal/Bhutan, the State code of eligibility will be determined on the basis of permanent address in India (as given in the passport).
• For OCI/PIO candidates passing Class XII (or equivalent) in India, the same rules for Indian students will apply.  However, if they have passed or are appearing from an institution abroad, they will be eligible for Other State quota seats or All India quota seats and not for Home State quota seats in all NITs, IIEST and Other-CFTI

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria for JEE Advanced 2020 - To be eligible, candidates must be among the top 2,50,000 (including all categories) in Paper-1 of JEE (Main)

JEE Main 2020 Eligibility Criteria for admissions to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs

Candidates should have secured at least 75% marks in their 12^thclass examination or equivalent, OR be in the top 20 percentile in the 12^th class / Qualifying examination conducted by the respective Boards. For SC/ST candidates the qualifying marks would be 65% in the 12^th class / qualifying examination.

For B.Arch admissions, the Council of Architecture has specified that candidates must have secured at least 50% marks in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and also 50% marks in aggregate of the qualifying examination.

Mode of Application : Online

Mode of Payment : Net Banking | Credit Card | Debit Card | Paytm | BHIM

NTA has closed the JEE Main April application form on March 12. Application form was released on February 7 in online mode at jeemain.nta.nic.in. The application form of JEE Main 2020 was same for both Paper 1 and Paper 2 

How to Fill JEE Main Application Form?

Step 1- Registration

Step 2- Fill the JEE Main 2020 application

Step 3- Uploading photograph, signature and class 12 marksheet or admit card

Step 4- Pay the JEE Main 2020 application fee

Step 5- Print the JEE Main Confirmation Page

The JEE Main 2020 application process in a nutshell is given in the image below.

NTA has prescribed the following steps to fill the JEE Main application form. Since the application process is over, the candidates can check the steps for reference purposes.

Step 1: JEE Main Registration- Candidates must register first by entering personal and contact details. Candidates who have already appeared in January can skip this step and login directly using their January credentials. Next the password must be input as per the given specifications. On successful registration, the JEE Main application number is generated. Candidates must note this down.

Step 2: Fill JEE Main 2020 Application Form – After successfully completing registration of JEE Main, candidates must fill the other personal details as applicable, apply for - Paper I or II or both, enter 4 examination centres as per preference, input language for exam (English/ Hindi/ Gujarati), enter academic details - qualifying exam, school, marks etc and Guardian Income.

Step 3: Upload Scanned Images  – The third step is to upload the scanned images of the photo, signature and class 12 marksheet/admit card in the prescribed format and dimensions. 

Specifications of Scanned Documents

Step 4: Pay JEE Main application fee- Candidates will have to pay the requisite JEE Main fees either in online mode only through Debit Card/ Credit card, Net Banking/UPI/ PAYTM.

JEE Main Application Fees

Mode of Payment: Debit card/Credit card/Net Banking/ UPI and Paytm services. 

Step 5: Print out of JEE Main Confirmation Page: Once the JEE Main application form is submitted, take 4 printouts the confirmation page and keep it safely for future use. Candidates will also have to confirm their registered mobile number and email address by generating and entering the OTP to receive direct notifications from NTA.

Check JEE Main Payment Status -  Candidates may login to see if their payment status is "OK". Only then can they print the JEE Main confirmation page. The following steps have to be followed if the payment status is not "OK":

• In case of online payment:  This means that the transaction has been cancelled. While the amount will be refunded automatically within 7 to 10 days, candidates have to pay the fees once again.

JEE Main Application Status - This is a window inside the JEE Main login of the candidate which gives the status of the application form as the candidate fills the same.

Remove Image Discrepancy JEE Main (April) 2020 - NTA has commenced the image correction facility of JEE Main 2020 April session. Candidates can use the JEE  Main login to remove any image discrepancy in the application form. They will have to upload the correct images in the prescribed format.

JEE Main Correction Window - NTA has again opened the JEE Main application form correction facility from April 1 to 14. Previously, the correction facility was made available to candidates from March 13 to 16, 2020. During this time period, candidates can edit any mistakes made in the details entered in their application form. Candidates who opt for category change from reserved to general, have to pay the difference in application fee through the various online means provided. However in case of a change from general to reserved category, there is no refund of the difference in fee.

Forgot Password or JEE Main application number?

1. To reset the JEE Main 2020 password, click on the option given on the login window and choose one of the following options and rest the same after filling the required information

• Using Security Question & its Answer you chosen during Form filling 
• Using a verification code sent via text message (SMS) to your Registered Mobile No.
• Using a reset link sent via Email to your Registered Email address

2. To retrieve the JEE Main application number, candidates must click on the option for the same on the login window. They must enter the following details

• Application Form    
• Candidate Name
• Father Name
• Mother Name
• Date of Birth

JEE Main Registration Statistics (January)

Application Fees

It is a known fact that JEE Main sees more than 12 lakh candidates every year vying for a seat in the NITs, IIITs or GFTIs . It is important that preparation for the largest engineering entrance exam be fruitful. JEE Main preparation tips specify the steps to be followed by students wishing to crack the exam and taste success in it. 

Last minute tips to crack JEE Main 2020

• Know the JEE Main 2020 January toppers and read their preparation strategy to crack the exam.
• Check the January session JEE Main Question Papers and Answer Keys for the last minute preparation  
• Check the JEE Main January exam analysis 2020 to know what type of questions to expect, weightage of topics asked from Physics, Maths and Chemistry.
• Use the official JEE Main 2020 mock test to practise well for D-Day.
• Keep JEE Main 2020 Exam Day Guidelines on hand to avoid any mistakes on the exam day.

Some of the preparation tips suggested by experts and toppers are

• Use the JEE Main syllabus and study all topics thoroughly
• Understand and know the JEE Main exam pattern well
• Prepare a JEE Main study plan and adhere to it well
• Check and refer important books and topics recommended by experts and toppers
• Prepare short notes while studying to use as reference at the last minute
• Practice well by solving previous year sample papers
• Revise and analyze after each test
• Attempt JEE Main 2020 mock test to feel actual exam environment
• Check out JEE Main Topper Tips to know their strategies. One may work for you
• Look at the exam analysis from past exam sessions to know weightage of topics and such.
• Revise regularly to avoid missing or forgetting any topic
• Go for small breaks to avoid monotony and tiredness
• Stay positive and be confident; avoid comparisons with others
• Keep healthy and fit

Best books for JEE Main

While NCERT help in cementing the foundation, the edge in JEE Main preparation comes from referring that extra study material. The following books are recommended by students and experts

Best Books for Chemistry 

• Modern Approach to Chemical Calculations by R.C. Mukherjee
• Organic Chemistry by O P Tandon
• Concept of Physical Chemistry by P Bahadur
• Concise Inorganic Chemistry by J D Lee
• Physical Chemistry by P.W. Atkins
• Organic Chemistry by Morrison & Boyd

Best Books for Maths

• Objective Mathematics by R D Sharma
• Plane Trigonometry by S L Loney
• The Elements Of Coordinate Geometry by S L Loney
• Algebra by Dr S K Goyal Arihant Publications
• Play with Graphs by Amit M Agarwal (Arihant Publications)
• Differential Calculus by Amit M Agarwal (Arihant Publications)
• Integral Calculus by Amit M Agarwal (Arihant Publications)
• Complete mathematics for JEE Main TMH

Best Books for Physics

• Concepts of physics (Vol. 1 and 2) by H.C Verma
• Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday, Resnick & Walker
• Understanding Physics by D C Pandey (Arihant Publications)
• Problems in General Physics by I.E Irodov
• Understanding physics by Freedman and Young
• Problems in physics by SS Krotov
• Problems and solution of physics by Shashi Bhushan Tiwari

JEE Main 2020 January Toppers 

JEE Main Paper 1 Exam Pattern

NTA has released the JEE Main 2020 exam pattern for Paper 1 for the B.Tech aspirants. The JEE Main exam pattern specifies the subjects, types of questions asked, number of questions, duration of exam, marking scheme. mode of exam and language etc. The details of the exam pattern of JEE Main Paper 1 are given below.

JEE Main Exam Pattern (Paper 1)

* MCQs- Multiple Choice Questions
*NQs - Numerical Questions

JEE Main Paper 2 Exam Pattern

B.Arch or B.Plan aspirants appearing for JEE Main Paper II must be conversant with the exam pattern. The JEE Main 2020 exam pattern (Paper 2) allows students to know what to expect in the exam in terms of types of questions, marking scheme, language, mode and more. Paper 2 of JEE Main is separate for B.Arch and B.Plan applicants. While both have aptitude and mathematics common, B.Acrh students must take up the drawing test while the B.Plan applicants must answer the planning section.  Candidates can check the exam pattern of JEE Main 2020 below.

 JEE Main 2020 Exam Pattern (Paper 2) for B.Arch

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

Practice is the key to improve on what one has studied. This is possible with constant practice with the help of past question papers, mock tests and such for JEE Main. The mock tests are available on the NTA website where one can download the same or practice online. Students can even register and book to go to the Test Practice Centres (TPCs) near to their place. Accordingly to the officials, 2,697 TPCs have been established in various schools and engineering colleges with computer centres. To avail this facility, candidates will have to do online registration and visit these TPCs as per the slot allotted to them. The TPCs have a downloaded Computer Based Test (CBT) which is similar to the actual JEE Main exam. Also, authorities have developed an app which enables candidates to choose the nearest JEE Main mock test centres.

To practice on the JEE Main Mock test on the NTA website click here 
Candidates can access the mock test without the need to login. They must simply press enter on the login button without any inputs. JEE Main Mock tests are available for both Paper I and Paper II. However, in case of Paper II, mock test for drawing section or B.planning is not available. 

NTA has released sample numerical questions of JEE Main 2020. Candidates can use these to understand the type of questions that may be asked in the actual exam. 

JEE Main 2020 Sample Papers (Numerical Questions)

JEE Main Question Papers of Past Years

It is important to check all past year question papers to gauge the important topics, understand how the exam will be like, improve time management skills as well as increase speed of answering on the JEE Main exam day.

Question Papers of JEE Main January 2019

JEE Main Question Papers- April 2019

Candidates who have successfully applied for JEE Main will be able to download their admit card in online mode. NTA will not issue the JEE Main admit card by any other means. Candidates must use the JEE Main login to download the admit card.  Since it is an identity document, candidates will have carry the admit card to the exam centre for cross checking by the invigilator.

How to download JEE Main Admit Card?

• Candidates have to click on the download link given on the NTA JEE Main website
• They must enter their Application Number and Password OR their JEE Main Application Number and Date of Birth in the JEE Main login window. 
• The admit card of JEE Main will be displayed. Candidates must ascertain that the details are correct.
• They must print the same and safe keep it as it will be needed during counselling and admissions.

What to carry to the exam hall ?

• JEE Main admit card
• A valid photo id proof 
• A passport size photograph (same as in application form)
• PwD certificate if applicable

Details mentioned in JEE Main 2020 admit card

• Name of Candidate
• Father's Name
• Date of Birth
• Gender
• Category
• State of Eligibility
• Roll Number
• Paper for which appearing
• Application Number
• JEE Main Exam Centre Name and Address
• Exam Date and Time (Shift) of JEE Main 2020
• Photograph and Signature of Candidate
• Parent's signature

Unable to download the admit card?

Candidates who are unable to download their admit card must call the helpline numbers from 10 am to 5 pm at 0120 6895200 OR send an email to jeemain-nta@nic.in giving their application number and also the confirmation page.

Image of JEE Main Admit Card (January Session)

After the conclusion of the JEE Main April exam , many leading coaching centres will release the answer key and solutions on the basis of memory based questions given by candidates. JEE Main answer key mentions the correct answers to the questions asked during the exam. The provisional JEE Main answer key will be released along with the candidates response sheets. These can be checked and downloaded through the JEE Main login window.  Candidates can calculate their probable scores with the help of official answer key.  They can also challenge the answer key within the given dates by paying Rs.1000 per question which will be refunded if their challenge is found to be accurate. 

How to download the JEE Main 2020 answer key?

• Candidates must use their application number and date of birth/password to login.
• They must click on the challenge answer key link given there.
• The IDs of the correct answers will be displayed along with the options to challenge the answer key.
• Take a printout of the same. 
• Match the IDs with the downloaded question paper available in the candidate's account.

How to cross check JEE Main answer key with the questions?

To challenge the answer key of JEE Main, candidates must know the question IDs. This is required as NTA just publishes the answer option with the question ID and not the actual question asked. So What is the JEE Main question ID? This is the ID , a number given to each question asked in the question paper and given in the candidate's response sheet. So the first step candidates must do is to download the JEE Main question paper that is available in the candidate login. This means that they will have all the question Ids on hand. Then they must check the JEE Main provisional answer key for the questions and match them. In case of discrepancy, they must note the question ID and the answer ID to keep track of the same.

How to challenge the answer key?

• Go to  the official website
• Click on the "challenge answer key" link displayed
• Go to the question to be challenged and click on the answer ID option that is correct.
• Save and pay Rs 1000 per question challenged.

JEE Main 2020 Final Answer Key

JEE Main 2020 Official Question Paper with Answer Key

JEE Main Answer Key January details- The National Testing Agency had released the JEE Main 2020 answer key on January 13 in online mode. Candidates were allowed to raise objections to any of the answers by January 15. The final answer key was released on January 17. Three questions were cancelled as given below

Questions cancelled in Final JEE Main Answer Key 2020

Since the exam is a computer based test held in multiple sessions on different days, candidates can use the JEE Main exam analysis to get an idea of the difficulty levels of the exam and what to expect in their own session. 

JEE Main January Exam Analysis by Coaching Institutes