JEE Main 2026 Complete Guide
JEE Main 2026 was conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in two sessions. This guide captures the official timeline, exam pattern, eligibility, and preparation context for students reviewing the 2026 cycle and planning the next counselling steps.
Quick Overview
- Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Exam Level: National Level
- Frequency: Twice a Year
- Exam Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
Important Dates 2026
| Event | Session 1 | Session 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Application Start | October 31, 2025 | February 2026 |
| Application End | November 27, 2025 | March 2026 |
| Exam Dates | January 21-30, 2026 | April 2-8, 2026 |
| Result Declaration | February 12, 2026 | April 20, 2026 |
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- Qualified 10+2 or equivalent in 2024, 2025 or appearing in 2026
- Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics as main subjects
- Minimum 75% marks (65% for SC/ST) in qualifying exam for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs
Age Limit
- No age limit for appearing in JEE Main
- Candidates must satisfy age criteria of individual institutes
Number of Attempts
- Maximum 3 attempts in consecutive years
- Candidates could appear in both sessions
Exam Pattern 2026
Paper 1: B.E./B.Tech
- Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
- Total Questions: 75 (25 each subject)
- Type: 20 MCQs + 5 Numerical per subject
- Duration: 3 Hours
- Total Marks: 300
- Marking Scheme: +4 correct, -1 wrong
Paper 2A: B.Arch
- Subjects: Maths, Aptitude, Drawing
- Total Questions: 77
- Duration: 3 Hours
- Total Marks: 400
Paper 2B: B.Planning
- Subjects: Maths, Aptitude, Planning
- Total Questions: 100
- Duration: 3 Hours
- Total Marks: 400
Syllabus Highlights
Physics
- Mechanics & Laws of Motion
- Electrostatics & Current Electricity
- Magnetism & EMI
- Optics & Modern Physics
- Thermodynamics & Kinetic Theory
- Oscillations & Waves
Chemistry
- Physical: Equilibrium, Kinetics, Thermodynamics
- Organic: Reaction mechanisms, Biomolecules
- Inorganic: Coordination compounds, p-block
- Electrochemistry & Redox Reactions
- Chemical Bonding & Periodic Properties
Mathematics
- Calculus: Integration, Differentiation
- Algebra: Quadratic, Matrices, Determinants
- Coordinate Geometry
- Trigonometry & Vectors
- Probability & Statistics
- Complex Numbers
Preparation Strategy
Foundation Phase
- Complete NCERT thoroughly for all subjects
- Focus on understanding basic concepts
- Create formula sheets and revision notes
Intensive Practice
- Solve previous 5-10 years' question papers
- Take regular mock tests to improve speed and accuracy
- Identify weak areas and revise them systematically
Final Revision
- Revise formulas and high-weightage topics repeatedly
- Practice time management under full-test conditions
- Stay calm and maintain consistency
Previous Year Cut-offs
| Category | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 93.10 | 93.23 | 90.77 |
| OBC-NCL | 80.38 | 79.67 | 75.62 |
| SC | 61.15 | 46.69 | 51.97 |
| ST | 47.90 | 60.09 | 37.23 |
| EWS | 79.43 | 81.32 | 73.61 |
Note: Cut-off percentiles are for qualifying JEE Advanced. Admission to NITs/IIITs requires substantially better ranks depending on branch, quota, and category.
Conclusion
JEE Main 2026 is now complete, and the current focus for candidates should be JEE Advanced, JoSAA choice filling, rank-based college planning, and document readiness for counselling.
Use our College Predictor and Rank Predictor tools to plan your next step with better clarity.