JEE Main 2027 Paper 2: What Are Paper 2A and 2B?

JEE Main Paper 2 is for B.Arch (Paper 2A) and B.Planning (Paper 2B) admissions. In the 2026 cycle, Paper 2A had Mathematics + Aptitude Test + Drawing Test (77 questions to attempt) and Paper 2B had Mathematics + Aptitude Test + Planning-Based Questions (100 questions). Both were 3 hours and 400 marks.

JEE Main 2027 status (17 October 2026)

NTA has not opened JEE Main 2027 registration or released a 2027 Information Bulletin. Everything below about marks, questions and duration is the JEE Main 2026 pattern; the 2027 pattern is not announced, so confirm it in the 2027 bulletin. Useful next steps: the Paper 2 B.Arch and B.Planning registration guide, JEE Main 2027 exam dates and the 2027 information bulletin tracker.

Paper 1 vs Paper 2 – Full Comparison

Feature	Paper 1 (B.Tech)	Paper 2A (B.Arch)	Paper 2B (B.Planning)
Purpose	B.E./B.Tech admission	B.Arch admission	B.Planning admission
Subjects	Physics, Chemistry, Maths	Maths, Aptitude, Drawing	Maths, Aptitude, Planning
Questions (2026 cycle)	75	77 (25 Maths + 50 Aptitude + 2 Drawing)	100 (25 Maths + 50 Aptitude + 25 Planning)
Total Marks	300	400	400
Duration	3 hours	3 hours	3 hours
Mode	Fully CBT	CBT + Pen-Paper Drawing	Fully CBT
Drawing Section	No	Yes (2 questions, 100 marks)	No
Planning Questions	No	No	Yes (25 MCQs, 100 marks)
Negative Marking	−1 for MCQ; check bulletin for numerical	−1 for MCQ/Aptitude; none for Drawing; check bulletin for numerical	−1 for MCQ/Aptitude/Planning; check bulletin for numerical

Paper 2A (B.Arch) – Section-wise Breakdown

Section	Questions	Marks	Mode
Mathematics	25 (20 MCQ + 5 numerical, all to be attempted)	100	CBT
Aptitude Test	50 MCQs	200	CBT
Drawing Test	2 questions	100	Pen & Paper

What is the Aptitude Section in Paper 2?

The Aptitude section (50 MCQs, 200 marks) tests visual and spatial ability, aesthetic sense, and general design knowledge. Questions involve topics like: visualizing 3D objects from 2D views, texture and pattern recognition, building/architectural awareness, and mental ability related to spatial reasoning.

This section is unique to Paper 2 and does not overlap with Paper 1. Students aspiring for architecture should prepare this separately — standard JEE coaching does not cover the Aptitude section well.

Colleges You Can Get With Paper 2A Score

Top institutes that admit through JEE Main Paper 2A include: NIT Trichy Architecture, NIT Calicut Architecture, School of Planning & Architecture (SPA) Delhi, SPA Bhopal, SPA Vijayawada, and other NITs/GFTIs with architecture programs. Note that IIT B.Arch seats (IIT Kharagpur and IIT Roorkee) are not filled on the basis of JEE Main Paper 2A: they need JEE Advanced and the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT). Competition for Paper 2A seats is generally lower than B.Tech but the drawing section is a significant differentiator.

How to Plan for JEE Main 2027 Paper 2

Because the 2027 bulletin is not out, plan around the 2026 structure and verify these points when it is published: the number of questions and whether all numerical questions are compulsory; the marks for each Drawing question and any change in the number of Drawing questions (it was cut to two in 2026); negative marking for numerical questions; the Paper 2B Planning section size; the session structure and the extra registration fee for taking both 2A and 2B. Read the Paper 2 syllabus, Paper 2 marking scheme and B.Arch vs B.Planning comparison to decide which papers to take, and keep the JEE Main 2027 registration page open for the application window.