JEE Main and JEE Advanced are two important entrance exams for admission into undergraduate engineering programs in India. JEE Main is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission into NITs, IIITs, and other centrally funded technical institutions, as well as for qualifying for JEE Advanced. JEE Advanced, on the other hand, is conducted by one of the seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) for admission into undergraduate engineering programs offered by the IITs.The main difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced is the level of difficulty. JEE Main is considered to be easier compared to JEE Advanced. JEE Main tests the basic understanding of concepts, while JEE Advanced tests a deeper understanding and analytical skills. JEE Advanced also includes topics that are not covered in JEE Main, such as organic chemistry and calculus.
Another difference is the number of attempts allowed. Candidates can attempt JEE Main twice a year, while JEE Advanced can be attempted only twice in consecutive years. Moreover, only the top 2,50,000 rank holders in JEE Main are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced.
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Highlights
Parameter | JEE Main | JEE Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Full Form | Joint Entrance Examination – Main | Joint Entrance Examination – Advanced |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) | Indian Institute of Technology (IITs) |
| Exam Level | National | National |
| Mode of Exam | Online | Computer-based |
| Eligibility | 10+2 or equivalent | Must have cleared JEE Main |
| Frequency | Twice a year | Once a year |
| Exam Pattern | MCQs and numerical answer type questions | MCQs and numerical answer type questions |
| Number of Papers | 3 (Paper 1 – BE/BTech, Paper 2 – BArch/BPlan, Paper 3 – BTech) | 2 (Paper 1 and Paper 2) |
| Total Marks | 300 (BE/BTech), 400 (BArch/BPlan), 300 (BTech) | 396 (Paper 1 and Paper 2 combined) |
| Duration | 3 hours (BE/BTech and BTech), 3.5 hours (BArch/BPlan) | 3 hours each (Paper 1 and Paper 2) |
| Negative Marking | Yes | Yes |
| Accepting Colleges | NITs, IIITs, CFTIs, and various other engineering colleges in India | IITs and Indian School of Mines (ISM) |
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility Criteria | JEE Main | JEE Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Exam | 10+2 or equivalent | 10+2 or equivalent |
| Minimum Age Limit | No age limit | Should have been born on or after 1st October 1998 for general category (relaxation for reserved categories) |
| Maximum Number of Attempts | 4 (twice a year) | 2 |
| Eligibility for IITs/NITs | Through JoSAA counselling based on rank | Need to qualify JEE Main and be in top 2,50,000 candidates |
| Qualifying Marks for JEE Advanced | Top 2,50,000 candidates in JEE Main (varies for different categories) | N/A |
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Attempts
Criteria | JEE Main | JEE Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Number of attempts allowed | 4 (twice a year) | 2 (consecutive years) |
Note: From 2021, JEE Main is being conducted four times a year (February, March, April, and May), and a candidate can appear for all four attempts. However, the number of attempts for JEE Advanced remains the same, i.e., a candidate can appear for the exam only twice, in consecutive years.
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Exam Pattern
Exam | JEE Main | JEE Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) | Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) |
| Exam Mode | Online (Computer-based) | Online (Computer-based) |
| Language Medium | English, Hindi, and other regional languages | English and Hindi |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours | 6 hours (2 papers, 3 hours each) |
| Number of Papers | Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech., Paper 2A for B.Arch, Paper 2B for B.Planning | Paper 1 and Paper 2 |
| Sections | Paper 1 – Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics; Paper 2A – Mathematics, Aptitude Test, Drawing Test; Paper 2B – Mathematics, Aptitude Test, Planning Based Questions | Paper 1 – Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics; Paper 2 – Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| Total Marks | Paper 1 and Paper 2A – 400; Paper 2B – 600 | Paper 1 and Paper 2 – 396 |
| Marking Scheme | +4 marks for correct answer; -1 mark for incorrect answer | For Paper 1 – +3 marks for correct answer; -1 mark for incorrect answer; no negative marking for unanswered questions. For Paper 2 – +4 marks for correct answer; -1 mark for incorrect answer; no negative marking for unanswered questions. |
| Exam Date | Multiple sessions in February, March, April, and May | Once a year in May/June |
| Eligibility | 10+2 or equivalent qualification with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects | Must qualify JEE Main and be in top 2.5 lakh candidates; 10+2 or equivalent qualification with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects |
| Admission Process | Admission to NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs based on JEE Main scores; admission to IITs and other top engineering colleges based on JEE Advanced scores | Admission to IITs and other top engineering colleges based on JEE Advanced scores |
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Syllabus
JEE Main Syllabus Table:
Subject |
Topics |
| Physics | – Physics and Measurement, Kinematics, Laws of Motion, Work, Energy, and Power, Rotational Motion, Gravitation, Properties of Solids and Liquids, Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory of Gases, Oscillations and Waves, Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents, Electromagnetic Waves, Optics, Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation, Atoms and Nuclei, Electronic Devices, Communication Systems |
| Chemistry | – Some Basic Concepts in Chemistry, States of Matter, Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure, Chemical Thermodynamics, Solutions, Equilibrium, Redox Reactions and Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics, Surface Chemistry, Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties, General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Metals, Hydrogen, s-Block Elements (Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals), p-Block Elements, d- and f-Block Elements, Coordination Compounds, Environmental Chemistry, Purification and Characterisation of Organic Compounds, Some Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry, Hydrocarbons, Organic Compounds Containing Halogens, Organic Compounds Containing Oxygen, Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen, Polymers, Biomolecules, Chemistry in Everyday Life |
| Mathematics | – Sets, Relations, and Functions, Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations, Matrices and Determinants, Permutations and Combinations, Mathematical Induction, Binomial Theorem and Its Simple Applications, Sequences and Series, Limit, Continuity and Differentiability, Integral Calculus, Differential Equations, Coordinate Geometry, Three Dimensional Geometry, Vector Algebra, Statistics and Probability, Trigonometry |
JEE Advanced Syllabus Table:
Subject | Topics |
| Physics | – General, Mechanics, Thermal Physics, Electricity and Magnetism, Optics, Modern Physics |
| Chemistry | – Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry |
| Mathematics | – Algebra, Trigonometry, Analytical Geometry, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, Vectors |
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Difficulty
JEE Main and JEE Advanced are two different levels of entrance exams conducted for admission to engineering colleges in India. The difficulty level of these exams varies due to the difference in their exam pattern and syllabus.
JEE Main is considered to be a relatively easier exam as compared to JEE Advanced. The questions in JEE Main are based on the NCERT syllabus and are more concept-based. The exam includes objective-type questions with four options for each question, of which only one option is correct.
On the other hand, JEE Advanced is considered to be one of the toughest exams in the world. The questions are more analytical and require a deeper understanding of the concepts. The exam includes both objective and subjective-type questions, with negative marking for incorrect answers.
Exam | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| JEE Main | Easier |
| JEE Advanced | Tougher |
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced FAQs
Yes, you can appear for both JEE Main and JEE Advanced in the same year. However, to be eligible for JEE Advanced, you must qualify for JEE Main and meet the other eligibility criteria.
There is no limit on the number of attempts for JEE Main. However, a student can appear for JEE Advanced only two times in two consecutive years.
No, it is not necessary to appear for both JEE Main and JEE Advanced to get admission to an IIT. A student can get admission to IITs through JEE Advanced alone, provided they meet the eligibility criteria and qualify the exam.
