As one of the most coveted and competitive exams for engineering aspirants in India, the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) functions as a gateway to prestigious institutes, including IITs, IIITs, NITs, and top-tier engineering colleges.
The National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting JEE, has announced the JEE Main exam pattern for 2026 with several important updates.
If you are preparing for this crucial examination, here’s everything you should know about the revised structure for 2026-
JEE Main Exam Pattern 2026 Overview
Like every year, the JEE Main paper pattern will include two papers-
1. Paper 1 for admission to B.E./B.Tech programs
2. Paper 2 for B.Arch and B.Planning programs
For 2026, candidates must understand the updated question distribution, sectional structure, and marking scheme. Let us have a detailed look at the key changes and how the JEE Main 2026 paper pattern differs from previous years.
Change 1. Revised JEE Main Exam Pattern 2026 for Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech)
The JEE Main Paper 1 comprises two sections – Section A (MCQs) and Section B (Numerical Value Questions or NVQs). For JEE Main 2025, Section A had 20 MCQs for each subject (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics). Section B included 5 compulsory NVQs for each subject.
As per the JEE Main exam details for 2026, the overall structure of Section A and Section B remains similar. However, candidates are advised to focus more on accuracy in Section B due to its scoring impact and negative marking rules.
| Paper 1 Sections | JEE Main 2025 | JEE Main 2026 |
| Section 1 | 20 MCQs for each subject | 20 MCQs for each subject |
| Section 2 | 5 compulsory NVQs for each subject | 5 compulsory NVQs for each subject |
| Total Questions | 75 | 75 |
Change 2. Revised Sectional or Chapter-wise Weightage for JEE Main 2026
According to the syllabus released by NTA, the JEE Main exam pattern 2026 also varies based on its syllabus and topic distribution.
The subject-wise weightage generally depends on high-scoring chapters and frequently asked topics. For 2026, students should prioritize topics that consistently carry higher weightage in JEE Main Paper 1.
Here’s a breakdown of weightage for better understanding-
| Subject | Weightage in JEE Main 2026 | Higher Weightage Topics | Moderate Weightage Topics | Low Weightage Topics |
| Physics | Approx. 22%–25% | Mechanics, Current Electricity, Electrostatics, Optics | Magnetism, Modern Physics, Waves, Thermodynamics | Experimental Physics, Units and Dimensions, Kinematics |
| Chemistry | Approx. 22%–25% | Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry | Nuclear Chemistry, Coordination Chemistry, Biomolecules, Polymers | |
| Mathematics | Approx. 30%–35% | Calculus, Algebra, Coordinate Geometry, Vector Algebra, Probability and Statistics | Relations and Functions, Sequence and Series, Sets, Differential Equations | Matrices and Determinants, Permutations and Combinations |
Change 3. Marking Scheme for JEE Main 2026
The JEE Main marking scheme plays a crucial role in deciding the final score and percentile. The marking scheme for JEE Main 2026 is expected to follow the same structure as the previous year.
The marking scheme for JEE Mains is as follows-
- MCQs: +4 marks for each correct answer, -1 for wrong answers, 0 for unattempted questions
- NVQs: +4 marks for each correct answer, -1 for wrong answers, 0 for unattempted questions
JEE Main 2026 Revised- Paper 1 and Paper 2
Based on the changes discussed above, here is the revised IIT JEE exam pattern for 2026-
Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech)
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Mode | CBT (Computer-Based Test) |
| JEE Main Exam Time Duration | 3 hours |
| Language | English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Punjabi, Tamil, Malayalam, Urdu, and Telugu |
| Question Type | MCQs and NVQs |
| Sections | 3 (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) |
| Section Weightage | Physics-Approx. 22%–25%Chemistry-Approx. 22%–25%Mathematics-Approx. 30%–35% |
| Total Questions | Physics- 20 MCQs and 5 NVQs (Compulsory) Chemistry- 20 MCQs and 5 NVQs (Compulsory)Mathematics- 20 MCQs and 5 NVQs (Compulsory)Total- 75 Questions |
| Total Marks | 300 (100 marks for each section) |
| Marking Scheme | +4 marks for each correct answer -1 mark for each wrong answer (including negative marking for NVQs)0 for unattempted question |
Paper 2 (B.Arch and B.Plan)
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Mode | CBT (Computer-Based Test); Pen & Paper mode for B.Arch Drawing Section |
| JEE Main Exam Time Duration | 3 hours |
| Language | English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Punjabi, Tamil, Malayalam, Urdu, and Telugu |
| Question Type | B. Arch (Paper 2A)Mathematics- MCQs and NVQsAptitude- MCQsDrawing- Drawing aptitudeB. Plan (Paper 2B)Mathematics- MCQsAptitude- MCQsPlanning- MCQs |
| Sections | B. Arch (Paper 2A)Part 1- MathematicsPart 2- Aptitude Part 3- DrawingB. Plan (Paper 2B)MathematicsAptitudePlanning (MCQs) |
| Number of Questions in JEE Main Paper 2 | B. Arch- 75+2 (Drawing Test)B. Plan- 100 Questions |
| Total Marks | 400 marks |
| Marking Scheme | +4 marks for each correct answer -1 mark for each wrong answer (including negative marking for NVQs)0 for unattempted question2 questions of the Drawing Test are evaluated for 100 marks |
Preparation Strategies for JEE Main 2026
Given the revised JEE Main question pattern, here are some tips that could help you with your preparation strategy for 2026-
- Familiarization with Pattern- Understand the JEE Main 2026 pattern and focus on high-weightage topics from each subject.
- Practice NVQs- With negative marking applicable to NVQs, accuracy is extremely important to avoid losing marks.
- Utilize Resources- Solve JEE Main previous year papers and attempt mock tests to improve speed and confidence.
- Time Management- Allocate time wisely across Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics during mock tests.
Preparing for JEE Main 2026
The revised JEE Main exam pattern for 2026 highlights the need for candidates to prepare with clarity, discipline, and smart strategies. While self-study is important, a trusted coaching academy can also play a significant role in your success.
The combination of expert faculty, structured guidance, access to updated study materials, and mock tests designed as per the latest exam pattern can help you stay ahead in JEE Main 2026.
FAQs
The JEE Main 2026 exam pattern for Paper 1 includes 75 questions in total, with Section A having 20 MCQs per subject and Section B having 5 compulsory numerical value questions (NVQs) per subject. Negative marking is applicable for both MCQs and NVQs.
The overall structure remains similar, but students should follow the latest NTA notification for any updates regarding syllabus, marking scheme, and exam day guidelines.
JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 has a total of 75 questions: 60 MCQs (20 each from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) and 15 NVQs (5 each from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics).
JEE Main Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) is scored out of 300 marks, while Paper 2 is scored out of 400 marks.
Yes, negative marking is applicable for both MCQs and numerical value questions (NVQs) in JEE Main 2026.
Also Read
- How to Prepare for JEE Main 2026
- JEE Main 2026 Chapter-Wise Weightage
- JEE Main Marks vs Rank 2026
- NEET vs JEE: Choosing the Right Path for Your Future
- How Many Attempts for JEE Mains 2026
