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JEE Main & JEE Advanced: Complete Guide for Engineering Aspirants

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is the route most students in India take towards an undergraduate engineering degree. It works in two stages: JEE Main, a national-level examination used by the NITs, IIITs and many other participating institutions, and JEE Advanced, taken by candidates who qualify through JEE Main and want admission to the IITs. This guide explains how the two examinations fit together, what is tested, who can appear and how to plan your preparation.

JEE Main

JEE Main is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It is a computer-based examination (the drawing section of the architecture paper is an exception) and its score is used for admission to engineering, architecture and planning programmes at the National Institutes of Technology, the Indian Institutes of Information Technology and a range of other centrally funded and state institutions. JEE Main also acts as the screening stage for JEE Advanced: only candidates who qualify at the required level in JEE Main may register for it.

The examination has three papers, and you choose the ones relevant to your course:

  • Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) — Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
  • Paper 2A (B.Arch) — Mathematics, an aptitude section and a drawing test.
  • Paper 2B (B.Planning) — Mathematics, aptitude and planning-based questions.

Read the detailed JEE Main guide, or compare the two exams side by side in JEE Main vs JEE Advanced.

JEE Advanced

JEE Advanced is conducted each year by one of the zonal IITs on behalf of the Joint Admission Board. It is the qualifying examination for admission to the undergraduate programmes of the Indian Institutes of Technology, and its scores are also accepted by a few other institutions of national importance. The paper is known for testing conceptual depth and multi-step reasoning rather than speed alone, and its question formats change from year to year. Only candidates who satisfy the year's eligibility criteria — which include performing at the required level in JEE Main — can register.

Continue with the JEE Advanced guide for how it differs from JEE Main and where to find the official brochure.

JEE at a Glance

Start with the topic you need. Each page links onward to related information.

JEE topics

  • JEE Main

    The national entrance exam used for NITs, IIITs, GFTIs and many other institutions.

  • JEE Advanced

    The second-stage exam that leads to admission in the IITs.

  • Eligibility

    Who can appear, qualification requirements and the rules you must verify each year.

  • Syllabus

    Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics topics, and how Main and Advanced differ.

  • Exam Pattern

    Papers, question types, marking and duration, explained in plain language.

  • Preparation

    Study plans, concept building, practice, mock tests and revision strategy.

Useful JEE Resources

Application windows, fees, eligibility rules and exam dates are announced only on the official websites. Check them directly before acting on anything you read elsewhere.

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Disclaimer

JEE.co.in is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with the National Testing Agency, the IITs, JoSAA or the Ministry of Education. Content here is written for general educational understanding. Candidates must verify important dates, eligibility requirements, application procedures, fees and rules on the relevant official websites. Read the full disclaimer.