JEE Main Exam Pattern 2026, Marking Scheme & Total Questions Explained

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will update the JEE Main exam pattern for all three papers - Paper 1 (BE/BTech), Paper 2A (BArch), and Paper 2B (BPlan) soon. According to the previous pattern, optional questions in Section B for Paper 1 have been removed. Students had to attempt all 5 questions per subject in this section. Similarly, Papers 2A and 2Bdid not have optional questions in the Mathematics section.

The JEE Main 2026 will include three papers:

• Paper 1: For BE/BTech courses.
• Paper 2A: For BArch.
• Paper 2B: For BPlan.

Students can take the exam in 13 languages, including Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Hindi, English, and Gujarati.

To ace the exam, it’s crucial for candidates to familiarize themselves with the updated pattern, marking scheme, and other exam details. Knowing the structure will help students plan their preparation effectively.

JEE Main 2026 Important Date (Updated Schedule)

Here’s the updated schedule (tentative) for JEE Main 2026 in a tabular format:

Note: Ensure to regularly check the official websites (jeemain.nta.nic.in and nta.ac.in) for any updates.

JEE Main Exam Pattern 2026 Overview

JEE Main consists of two papers - Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech courses and Paper 2 for B.Arch and B.Planning courses. Paper 1 contains Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) as well as Numerical Value Questions. Paper 2 contains a mix of Objective Type Questions and Drawing-Based Questions.

Provided below is the JEE Main exam pattern for Paper 1 and 2 as released by the JEE Main exam conducting authority on the official website. JEE Main exam for Paper 1 (B.E/B. Tech) consists of 90 MCQs for a total of 300 marks. Paper 2A for B.Arch will contain 82 questions for a total 400 marks and Paper 2B for B.Plan will contain 105 MCQs for a total of 400 marks. 

JEE Main 2026 aspirants can refer to the JEE Main exam pattern table given below: 

JEE Main Paper 1 Exam Pattern 2026 for BE/B.Tech 

The JEE Main Exam Pattern for Paper 1, which is intended for B.E./B.Tech aspirants, is a pivotal aspect of this highly competitive engineering entrance examination. This paper consists of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Numerical Value Questions in the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. With a total duration of 3 hours, candidates need to navigate through these sections, ensuring efficient time management.

JEE Main Paper 2 Exam Pattern for B. Arch & B. Plan

Provided below is the JEE Main exam pattern. All exams in JEE Main Paper 2 are conducted in Online mode except for the B.Arch Drawing exam, which is conducted offline. JEE Main 2026 aspirants can refer to the JEE Main exam pattern table given below: 

JEE Main 2026 B.Arch Paper Pattern

The JEE Main 2026 Paper Pattern for B.Arch is a distinctive examination format designed to evaluate the aptitude and architectural skills of aspiring architects. This paper includes three sections: Mathematics, Aptitude Test, and Drawing Test.

The Mathematics section assesses the mathematical proficiency of candidates, while the Aptitude Test gauges their general awareness and aesthetic sensitivity. The Drawing Test focuses on evaluating the drawing and sketching abilities of the candidates. With a total duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes, the B.Arch paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the skills and knowledge required for pursuing a career in architecture.
 

JEE Main 2026 B.Plan Paper Pattern 

JEE Main 2026 Paper Medium

JEE Main is the national-level engineering entrance exam. Students from all corners of the nation sit for this exam in hope of scoring a seat in the top engineering colleges in India.

Considering the multi-lingual status of the country, the JEE exam conducting authorities provide students with an option to appear for the JEE exam in their native languages. JEE Exam 2026 will be conducted in 13 languages which are, English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. 

JEE Main 2026 Syllabus

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has published the 2026 JEE Mains syllabus along with the official brochure on the official website. To score well in the JEE Main exam, students must know the NTA JEE Main 2026 Syllabus thoroughly along with the JEE Main exam pattern. Knowledge of JEE Main Syllabus 2026 will help students to create a proper study plan and study important topics for the entrance exam.

The JEE Mains Syllabus 2026 is based on Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry subjects in grades 11 and 12. Therefore, students must start their exam preparation with the NTA JEE Syllabus and completing it on time is also important. Students are advised to practice the JEE Main 2026 mock test papers as much as possible to get an idea about JEE Main difficulty level. Students can view or download the JEE Main Syllabus 2026 from the official NTA website or from Aakash JEE Main Syllabus page.

JEE Main Exam Pattern 2026: Total Number of Questions

JEE Main is conducted for three separate exams which are, B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Plan. Each exam consists of a different syllabus and is based on different exam patterns. The total number of questions in all 3 exams also vary. Provided below are details for JEE Main Total Number of questions:

JEE Mains Paper-1 (B.Tech) Total Questions

JEE Main Paper-1 consists of a total of 90 questions. Details are provided below: 

Total Questions in JEE Mains Paper-2A 

JEE Main Paper-2A total questions are 90. The details are provided below: 

JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme

The JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme plays a crucial role in determining a candidate's success in this highly competitive engineering entrance examination. For Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) in Paper 1, candidates receive +4 marks for each correct answer, while a penalty of -1 mark is imposed for each incorrect response, encouraging careful consideration of choices. Notably, there is no negative marking for incorrect answers in Numerical Value Questions. 

JEE Main 2026 marking scheme is provided below. In both sections of the JEE Main 2026, there will be a negative rating of -1 in case of wrong answers. These details are provided below: 

JEE Main 2026 B.E/ B.Tech Marking Scheme

JEE Main 2026 B.Arch Marking Scheme

JEE Main 2026 B.Planning Marking Scheme

The marking scheme for Paper 2, aimed at B.Arch and B.Planning aspirants, differs slightly. It assigns marks for each correct answer, with no negative marking, in line with the unique nature of the questions in this paper.

JEE Main Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs

Q1. What will be the exam pattern for JEE Main 2026?
A1. JEE Main 2026 will likely follow the same pattern as previous years with three papers—Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech and separate papers for B.Arch and B.Planning.

Q2. How many questions will be asked in JEE Main 2026 Paper 1?
A2. JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 will have 90 questions in total—30 each from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Students will need to attempt 75 questions.

Q3. Will JEE Main 2026 be held in online mode only?
A3. Yes, JEE Main 2026 will be conducted in online computer-based mode for all papers, except for the drawing section in B.Arch which will be offline.

Q4. What type of questions will be asked in JEE Main 2026?
A4. The exam will have Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Numerical Value questions. MCQs carry negative marking, but numerical questions might not have negative marks.

Q5. Will there be negative marking in JEE Main 2026?
A5. Yes, one mark will be deducted for every wrong answer in the MCQs. No marks will be deducted for unanswered or correctly attempted numerical value questions.

Q6. Will there be a choice of questions in JEE Main 2026?
A6. Yes, each subject will have 20 MCQs and 10 numerical questions. Students will need to answer only 5 out of the 10 numerical questions.

Q7. What will be the total marks for JEE Main 2026 Paper 1?
A7. The total marks for JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 will be 300—100 marks for each subject: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

Q8. Will the JEE Main 2026 exam have separate timings for each paper?
A8. Yes, each paper in JEE Main 2026 will have a fixed duration of 3 hours. PWD candidates may get extra time as per official rules.

Q9. Can I appear for both January and April sessions of JEE Main 2026?
A9. Yes, students will be allowed to appear in both sessions. The best score out of the two attempts will be considered for final ranking.

Q10. Will JEE Main 2026 follow NCERT syllabus for questions?
A10. Yes, questions in JEE Main 2026 will be based mainly on the Class 11 and 12 NCERT syllabus for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.