JEE Main and JEE Advanced are the two entrance examinations for admission to engineering institutes across India. JEE Main is the gateway to the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs). It also serves as the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced, which is required for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

As of July 25, 2026, neither the National Testing Agency (NTA) nor the Joint Admission Board (JAB) has released the official notifications for the 2027 examinations. This guide is based on the confirmed JEE Main 2026 admission cycle and the latest JEE Advanced eligibility rules. All 2027 dates mentioned are tentative unless officially announced.

JEE Main 2027: Current Status

The NTA has not yet released the JEE Main 2027 notification. Based on previous years, the information bulletin for Session 1 is expected in October 2026.

Expected JEE Main 2027 Timeline*

Event	Expected Timeline
Session 1 notification and registration	October 2026
Session 1 registration closes	November 2026
Session 1 examination	Late January 2027
Session 1 result	February 2027
Session 2 registration	February-March 2027
Session 2 examination	Early to mid-April 2027
Session 2 result	April 2027

*These dates are based on previous admission cycles and have not been officially confirmed.

What Happened in JEE Main 2026

Since the 2027 notification is still awaited, the 2026 cycle offers the best indication of the likely schedule and exam pattern.

• Session 1 was conducted from January 21 to January 30, 2026.
• Session 2 was held from April 2 to April 8, 2026.
• Candidates could appear in one or both sessions.
• If a candidate appeared in both sessions, the better score was considered for the final ranking.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates are eligible if they:

• Passed Class 12 or an equivalent examination in 2025 or 2026, or are appearing for the Class 12 board examination in 2027.
• Studied Physics and Mathematics along with Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology or a vocational subject.

There is no minimum Class 12 percentage required to appear for JEE Main. However, admission to NITs, IIITs and other CFTIs generally requires:

• At least 75% marks in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST candidates), or
• A position in the top 20 percentile of the respective education board.

There is currently no upper age limit for appearing in JEE Main.

JEE Main Exam Pattern

Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech)

• Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Three sections: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics
• 75 questions in total
• 300 marks
• Four marks for every correct answer
• One mark deducted for every incorrect answer, including numerical-value questions
• Duration: Three hours (four hours for eligible PwD candidates)

Paper 2A (B.Arch)

• Mathematics
• Aptitude Test
• Drawing Test
• Total marks: 400
• The Drawing Test is conducted offline.

Paper 2B (B.Planning)

• Mathematics
• Aptitude Test
• Planning-based questions
• Total marks: 400

JEE Main 2026 Application Fee

Category	Fee
General/Gen-EWS/OBC (Male)	₹1,000
General/Gen-EWS/OBC (Female)	₹800
SC/ST/PwD (Male)	₹500
SC/ST/PwD (Female)	₹500

Candidates choosing examination centres outside India pay a higher fee. Applications are submitted online through debit card, credit card, net banking or UPI.

Selection and Counselling

JEE Main scores are used for:

• Admission to NITs, IIITs and other CFTIs through JoSAA counselling.
• Eligibility for JEE Advanced. The top 2,50,000 candidates in Paper 1 across all categories qualify, subject to other eligibility conditions.

Preparation Tips

• Build strong fundamentals using NCERT textbooks before moving to reference books.
• Practise mock tests regularly to improve speed and accuracy.
• Avoid guessing numerical-value questions as they also carry negative marking.
• If appearing in both sessions, use the January attempt to identify weak areas and improve before the April examination.

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JEE Advanced 2027: Current Status

The official notification for JEE Advanced 2027 has not yet been released.

Under the rotational system followed by the older IITs, IIT Delhi is expected to organise JEE Advanced 2027, although an official confirmation is awaited.

Expected Timeline*

• Registration: April 2027
• Examination: May 2027

*These dates are tentative and will be confirmed through the official information brochure.

Eligibility Criteria

To appear for JEE Advanced, candidates must:

• Qualify JEE Main Paper 1 and rank among the top 2,50,000 candidates across all categories.
• Have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
• Meet the minimum Class 12 marks requirement of 75% (65% for SC/ST/PwD candidates), or satisfy the top 20 percentile criterion of their board.
• Appear for JEE Advanced within two consecutive years after passing Class 12. A maximum of two attempts is permitted.

Exam Pattern

JEE Advanced is conducted as a Computer-Based Test and consists of two compulsory papers.

Each paper includes questions from:

• Physics
• Chemistry
• Mathematics

The examination typically includes:

• Single-correct MCQs
• Multiple-correct MCQs
• Numerical answer questions
• Matching and paragraph-based questions

The marking scheme varies across question types and differs from JEE Main.

Candidates seeking admission to the B.Arch programme at IITs must also qualify the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT).

Admission Process

Admission to the IITs is carried out through JoSAA counselling based on JEE Advanced ranks.

Eligible SC, ST and PwD candidates who narrowly miss admission may be considered for preparatory courses offered by the IITs, subject to the applicable admission rules.

Preparation Tips

• Focus on understanding concepts instead of memorising formulas.
• Solve previous years’ JEE Advanced question papers to understand the difficulty level and question pattern.
• Take regular mock tests under exam conditions.
• Maintain a consistent study schedule with adequate sleep and breaks to avoid burnout.

Official Websites

• JEE Main: jeemain.nta.nic.in
• JEE Advanced: jeeadv.ac.in

Disclaimer

This guide is based on the confirmed JEE Main 2026 schedule, exam pattern, fee structure and eligibility criteria, along with the latest JEE Advanced admission rules available as of July 25, 2026. Since the official 2027 notifications have not yet been released, all dates and timelines mentioned for 2027 are tentative and should be verified on the official websites once announced.