The national-level engineering entrance exam, Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), is conducted in two stages: JEE Main and JEE Advanced. JEE Main is conducted first, and the selected students, after screening, appear for JEE Advanced. Serving as a gateway to admission into top IITs and other engineering/architecture colleges (IIITs & NITs), it is ensured that JEE remains a fair and effective measure of the competencies of the candidates.
If you are a student wishing to enroll in any of the courses—B.E., B.Tech, B.Arch, or B.Planning—you cannot afford to miss understanding the JEE exam pattern.
The JEE exam pattern guides you through the different sections of the paper, the number of questions to expect, and the marks allotted to each, all of which will help you manage your time effectively.
Recently, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced revisions to the JEE Main exam, which will be implemented starting from JEE Main 2025. Continue reading to learn about the changes being made to this year's JEE Main exam.
What Led the NTA to Change the Exam Pattern for JEE Main Exams?Changes in the JEE Main exam pattern for the year 2025 have led to the need to redirect preparations. Coaching institutes, school teachers, and students must align their approach accordingly.
The recent pattern revision reflects the change introduced for JEE Main 2021, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 dealt a significant blow to the Indian education system, which had largely been operating through physical classrooms, from schools to coaching institutes. The shift to digital learning for JEE preparations proved challenging, especially due to a lack of resources and the limited digital adaptability of students, particularly those from smaller cities.
In response to these challenges, the National Testing Agency (NTA) allowed JEE Main 2021 students to choose five questions to attempt out of ten in Section B of each subject. This change was welcomed by both students and teachers, as it eased the burden on students while still addressing the challenge of assessing critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities in the subjects.
Since then, this pattern has continued, but NTA has again made changes that will be implemented starting from JEE Main 2025.
Exam Pattern Revision For JEE Main 2025With the support extended to students struggling with resources and mental health issues during the pandemic, and the declaration of COVID-19 as no longer a public health emergency in 2023, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has decided to discontinue the option of selecting questions starting from JEE Main 2025.
The exam structure will revert to its original format, where Section B will contain only five questions per subject, and candidates will be required to attempt all five questions. There will be no option to choose between questions in any of the papers—Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), Paper 2A (B.Arch), and Paper 2B (B.Planning)—for JEE Main 2025.
Detailed JEE Main 2025 Exam PatternThe JEE Main 2025 exam will be conducted in two distinct papers: Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech. candidates and Paper 2A for those seeking admission to B.Arch. programs.
While Paper 1 is mandatory for all applicants, Paper 2A is optional for students aspiring to pursue B.Arch. Each paper is divided into two sections: Section A, which includes multiple-choice questions (MCQs), and Section B, which consists of numerical answer-type questions (NATs). Both sections have negative marking for incorrect answers.
The comprehensive pattern and syllabus for JEE Main 2025 is released by NTA and is available on the website - jeemain.nta.ac.in.
Students are advised to thoroughly review the syllabus and the latest exam pattern for JEE. Practicing previous year papers and mock tests is essential, even with changes to the pattern, as they help assess the difficulty level. A well-planned strategy can lead to achieving your desired results and securing a spot in your preferred college. All the best!
