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The JEE Main (Joint Entrance Examination) is India’s premier engineering entrance test, opening doors to top institutions like NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. For young aspirants targeting the JEE Main 2026 session, understanding the latest JEE Main exam pattern is essential for effective preparation. This article will give a clear idea on the latest exam trends that candidates can expect in JEE Main 2026.
The JEE Main 2026 will be conducted in two sessions: January and April, by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The JEE Main 2026 exam is expected to split into three papers based on course preference as listed below.
The following is a detailed breakdown of the JEE Main 2026 exam pattern for each paper.
Feature
Details
Mode of Exam
Computer-Based Test (Online)
Subjects
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
Total Questions
90 (30 per subject)
Questions to Attempt
75 (25 per subject)
Question Types
MCQs & Numerical Value Questions (NVQs)
Section-A
20 MCQs per subject
Section-B
10 NVQs per subject (attempt any 5)
Exam Duration
3 hours
Maximum Marks
300 (100 per subject)
Marking Scheme
+4 for correct, -1 for incorrect (MCQs only), 0 for unattempted & NVQ errors
Languages
13 languages, incl. English, Hindi, regional
Section A questions are MCQs, while Section B contains numerical questions, of which candidates must attempt any five per subject. There is no negative marking in Section B.
Mathematics, Aptitude Test, Drawing Test
82
Maths
20 MCQs + 10 NVQs (attempt any 5)
Aptitude
50 MCQs
Drawing
2 questions (pen & paper, offline mode)
+4 for correct, -1 for incorrect (MCQs), no negative marking in Section B
Mathematics, Aptitude Test, Planning-based Qs
100
Planning
25 MCQs
+4 for correct, -1 for incorrect (MCQs), no negative marking in Section B (Maths)
Q1. How many questions must a candidate answer in JEE Main 2026 Paper 1?
Ans. A candidate must answer a total of 75 questions in Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), with 25 questions each from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Out of 30 questions per subject (20 MCQs + 10 NVQs), candidates need to attempt 25 (all MCQs and any 5 NVQs).
Q2. Is there negative marking in JEE Main 2026?
Ans. There is a negative marking of -1 for every incorrect MCQ answer. However, no negative marking is applied to numerical value questions in Section B across all papers.
Q3. What is the duration of each JEE Main 2026 paper?
Ans. Each paper—whether Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), Paper 2A (B.Arch), or Paper 2B (B.Planning)—has a duration of 3 hours.
Q4. Are candidates required to attempt all numerical value questions in Section B?
Ans. No, in Section B of each subject (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry), candidates are given 10 numerical value questions and need to attempt any 5. There is no negative marking for unattempted or incorrect numerical questions.
Q5. In how many languages is JEE Main 2026 offered?
Ans. JEE Main 2026 is offered in thirteen languages, including English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu, making it accessible to candidates across the country.