JEE Counselling Logo
JEE Counselling

2026

JoSAA

College Predictor

IITs · NITs · IIITs · GFTIs

JEE Main 2026 Answer Key – Session 1 & Session 2

Released 1–2 days after exam · Challenge fee ₹200/question · Score = Correct×4 − Wrong×1

JEE Main 2026 Answer Key – Overview

NTA publishes the JEE Main 2026 provisional answer key on jeemain.nta.nic.in within 1–2 days of the exam. Candidates can view their specific question paper along with marked responses and compare with the official answer key.

A challenge window of 2–3 days is provided where candidates can raise objections against incorrect answers by paying ₹200 per challenge. NTA experts review all challenges, and if accepted, corrections are incorporated in the final answer key, which is then used for result computation.

Answer Key Timeline

1

Last exam date (Session 1)

Late January / Early February 2026

2

Provisional answer key released

1–2 days after last exam date

3

Challenge window opens

Same day as provisional key release

4

Challenge window closes

2–3 days after release (11:55 PM)

5

Final answer key released

1–2 weeks after challenge window

6

Result declared

After final answer key (jeemain.nta.nic.in)

How to Calculate Your JEE Main Score

Score = (Correct MCQs × 4) − (Wrong MCQs × 1) + (Correct NVQs × 4)

Correct MCQ

+4 marks

Wrong MCQ

−1 mark (negative marking)

Correct NVQ

+4 marks

Wrong NVQ

0 marks (no negative)

Example: 50 correct MCQs, 10 wrong MCQs, 8 correct NVQs = (50×4) − (10×1) + (8×4) = 200 − 10 + 32 = 222 marks

How to Challenge the Answer Key

  1. 1Visit jeemain.nta.nic.in and log in with Application Number and Date of Birth
  2. 2Click on 'Challenge(s) of Answer Key' or similar link
  3. 3Select the question ID(s) you wish to challenge
  4. 4Choose the answer you believe is correct from the options
  5. 5Pay ₹200 per challenge via online payment (net banking/UPI/card)
  6. 6Save the confirmation/receipt for your records
  7. 7Wait for NTA to review and announce the final answer key
JEE Main
JEE Advanced
DASA / NRI

Know which college you can get

Predict IITs, NITs, IIITs & GFTIs · 135+ institutes · JoSAA 2025 data

Predict My College

Frequently Asked Questions – JEE Main Answer Key

Common questions about JEE Main 2026 answer key, challenge process, and score calculation

1
When is the JEE Main 2026 answer key released?
NTA releases the provisional JEE Main 2026 answer key within 1–2 days of the last exam date in each session. For Session 1 (January–February) and Session 2 (April), the provisional answer key with candidates' responses is published on jeemain.nta.nic.in. The final answer key (after challenge resolution) is released later.
2
How to challenge the JEE Main 2026 answer key?
Candidates can challenge the provisional answer key within the specified window (usually 2–3 days). Login to jeemain.nta.nic.in → Click on 'Challenge Answer Key' → Select the question and your answer → Pay ₹200 per challenge via online payment. If the challenge is accepted, the fee is refunded. If rejected, the fee is forfeited.
3
What is the difference between provisional and final JEE Main answer key?
The provisional answer key is released soon after the exam and allows candidates to raise objections. After the challenge window closes, NTA reviews all challenges with expert panels. The final answer key incorporates accepted corrections and is published before the result. NTA's final answer key is used for score computation and is binding.
4
How to calculate JEE Main 2026 score using the answer key?
For MCQs: Add 4 marks for each correct answer, subtract 1 mark for each incorrect answer, 0 for unattempted. For Numerical Value Questions (NVQs): Add 4 marks for each correct answer, 0 for incorrect (no negative marking). Formula: Total Score = (Correct MCQs × 4) − (Wrong MCQs × 1) + (Correct NVQs × 4). Maximum score is 300.
5
Can I trust the provisional answer key for score estimation?
Yes, the provisional answer key is accurate for most questions. However, 1–3 questions per shift may be revised after challenges. Use the provisional key for an approximate score, but wait for the final answer key before concluding your exact score. NTA sometimes awards marks to all candidates for a question if found ambiguous.

JEE College Predictor 2026

IITs · NITs · IIITs · GFTIs · 135+ colleges

Predict

Related Pages

JEE Main 2026 ResultMarks vs PercentileExam Pattern 2026JEE Main Cutoff 2026Previous Year Papers

Disclaimer

Answer key dates and challenge fee are based on NTA 2025 pattern. Verify exact dates and fees at jeemain.nta.nic.in for JEE Main 2026.