The Joint Entrance Examination(JEE) is an assessment conducted every year. Students who have cleared their 12th Board Examinations for all the subjects are deemed eligible to appear for this test. The main objective of this entrance examination is to identify and select those students who have a natural aptitude, especially in the field of Science and Mathematics. The students who clear a specified cut-off by the conducting agency are granted admission into the most esteemed institutions in the field of higher education i.e. Indian Institute of Technology, also known as IIT.

Initially, it was supervised as a single exam. Students had to score well above the declared cut-off marks to seek entry into one of the many prestigious technological establishments across the country such as IITs, the National Institute of Technology(NIT), etc. In 2012, it was merged with another engineering entrance examination named the All India Engineering Entrance Examination(AIEEE) and restructured to be held in two stages, namely:

  • JEE Mains
  • JEE Advanced

The AIEEE originated in 2002, with the sole purpose of admitting aspiring students into NITs, the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), and other such universities. It was remodeled as JEE Mains in 2013 and conducted by CBSE until the year 2018. Until 2010, the exam was held in offline mode. The online mode of the exam was introduced in the year 2011 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development(MHRD). The National Testing Agency(NTA) took over the administration of the JEE Mains Examination from CBSE in 2018. 

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority(JoSAA) is responsible for conducting the joint admission process for all the Indian Institute of Technology(IITs), National Institute of Technology(NITs), Indian Institute of Information Technology(IIITs), and other Government Funded Technical Institutes(GFTIs) across the country. The scores of both JEE Mains and JEE Advanced are taken into consideration by these technological institutes. Some other institutes such as the Indian Institute of Space and Technology(IIST), Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy(IIPE), Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology(RGIPT), Indian Institute of Science(IISc), and the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research(IISERs) only consider the score obtained in JEE Advanced for admission into their premises. A student who has secured a seat in an IIT cannot appear for this examination again. However, there are no such compunctions with IISERs, IIST, IISc, IIPE, NITs, and RGIPT. 

Exam Structure:

The exam structure of JEE Mains Examination as per the latest trend is as follows:

  • The mode of this assessment is Computer Based Examination(CBT).
  • The questions are Multiple Choice Questions(MCQs) and questions with numerical values as the answer(NAT).
  • The question paper is available to the candidate in several regional languages such as:
  • Hindi
  • English
  • Marathi
  • Bengali
  • Gujarati
  • Assamese
  • Kannada
  • Malayalam
  • Urdu
  • Odia
  • Tamil
  • Punjabi
  • Telugu
  • The questions are asked from the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. 
  • There are 3 sections in each set of the question paper. The question distribution for each section is as follows:

Physics

MCQs – 20 questions

NAT – 10 questions (attempt any 5)

Chemistry

MCQs – 20 questions

NAT – 10 questions (attempt any 5)

Mathematics

MCQs – 20 questions

NAT – 10 questions (attempt any 5)
  • The total number of questions is 75(25 questions for each section). The marking scheme is given below-
  • +4 marks for a correct answer
  • -1 mark for a wrong answer
  • 0 for a question not answered.

In the case of NAT, +4 marks for a correct answer and 0 marks for a wrong answer.

  • Maximum Marks = 300

Paper 1

For BE/ B.Tech Courses

Paper 2A

For B.Arch courses

Paper 2B

For B.Planning courses

Paper 1 is mandatory to attempt for all the students. Students who choose to take the examination to pursue Bachelor’s degree in Technology only have to attempt Paper 1, whereas candidates aspiring for a future in architecture are required to appear for Paper 2A and 2B. The drawing section in the architecture exam is conducted in pen and paper mode.

  • Section 1 - Mathematics - consists of MCQs and NAT.
  • Section 2 - Aptitude - only MCQs
  • Section 3 - Drawing - Drawing Aptitude
  • Total number of questions - 82

For B.Plan:

  • Section 1 - Mathematics - MCQs and NAT
  • Section 2 - Aptitude - MCQs
  • Section 3 - Planning - MCQs
  • Total number of questions - 105

Maximum marks for these papers are 400

The marking scheme remains the same as in Paper 1.

Syllabus:

The Syllabus for JEE Main according to the NCERT class 11 and 12 is listed in the tables given below:



For Class 11:

Maths

Physics

Chemistry

Limit, Continuity, and Differentiability

Properties of Solids and Liquids

Equilibrium

Integrals Calculus

Thermodynamics

Redox reactions and Electrochemistry

Differential Equations

Kinetic Theory of Gases

Chemical Kinetics

Coordinate Geometry

Oscillations and Waves

Surface Chemistry

Three-dimensional Geometry

Electrostatics

Classification of Elements and periodicity in properties

Vector Algebra

Current Electricity

General Principles and Process of Isolation of Metals

Statistics and Probability

Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism

Hydrogen

Trigonometry

Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents

s - block elements - alkali and alkaline earth metals

Mathematical Reasoning

Optics

p - block elements

Sets, Relations, and Functions 

Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation

p - block elements - group 13 elements

Atoms and Nuclei

p - block elements - group 14 elements

Electronic Devices

p - block elements - group 15 elements

Communications System

p - block elements - group 16 elements

Experimental skills

p - block elements - group 17 elements

Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations 

Physics and Measurement 

p - block elements - group 18 elements

Matrices and Determinants 

Kinematics

d and f - block elements

Mathematical Induction

Laws of Motion

Co-ordinations Compound

Binomial Theorem and its Applications

Work, Energy, and Power 

Environmental Chemistry

Sequence and Series 

Rotational Motion

Purification and Characteristics of Organic compounds
 

Gravitation

Some Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry
   

Hydrocarbons
 

Electromagnetic Waves

Organic Compounds containing Halogens
   

Organic Compounds containing Oxygen
   

Organic Compounds containing Nitrogen
   

Polymers
   

Biomolecules
   

Chemistry in Everyday Life
   

Principles related to Practical Chemistry

Basic Concepts in Chemistry

States of Matter

Atomic Structure

Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

Chemical Thermodynamics

Solutions