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Prachi Bhatia

Updated on 03rd April, 2024 , 7 min read

Difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced

Exam

Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) is an entrance exam conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) in India for admission to undergraduate engineering courses. It consists of two tests – JEE Main and JEE AdvancedBoth are highly competitive exams that require a lot of hard work and dedication to crack. In this article, we will talk about the differences between JEE Main and JEE Advanced so that you can better understand which one is right for you.

Difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced : Highlights

ParticularsJEE Main 2023JEE Advanced 2023
Number of Attempts3 (Attempting two sessions of the same year is counted as 1)2
Candidates Appeared (2022)9,39,0081,41,699
Mode of Language13 languages (English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu)2 languages (English and Hindi)
EligibilityQualified class 12th from a recognized boardsRanked among top 2,50,000 JEE Main rank holders
Number of Papers32
Topics Covered

Physics: Electronic Devices, EM Waves and Communication Systems;

Chemistry: Biomolecules and Chemistry in Everyday Life;

Mathematics: Sets, Relations and Functions, Statistics and Probability, Trigonometry and Mathematical Reasoning

Physics: Blackbody radiation, Kirchoff's law, Newton's law of cooling, Absorptive and Emissive powers, Wien's Displacement Law, Stefan's Law;

Chemistry: Biomolecules and Chemistry in Everyday Life;

Mathematics: Algebra, Vectors, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, 

Conducting AuthorityJEE Apex Board (JAB) under National Testing Agency (NTA)IIT Bombay
Official Websitejeemain.nta.nic.injeeadv.ac.in

What is JEE Main?

The JEE Main is an entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to undergraduate engineering courses in Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs). It is also a qualifying examination for the JEE Advanced, which is conducted for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

JEE Main is held twice a year, in January and April. The exam consists of two papers: Paper 1 is for candidates seeking admission to B.E./B.Tech courses, while Paper 2 is for candidates seeking admission to B.Arch/B.Planning courses. Both papers are held on the same day and candidates can attempt both papers or either paper, as per their choice.

Paper 1 of the JEE Main consists of three sections: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Each section has 30 questions, for a total of 90 questions. Candidates are allotted 3 hours to complete the paper.

Paper 2 of the JEE Main consists of three sections: Aptitude Test, Drawing Test and Mathematics. The Aptitude Test comprises 50 multiple-choice questions, while the Drawing Test has 2 questions that have to be attempted on a drawing sheet provided at the examination centre. The Mathematics section has 20 questions from Class XII level Mathematics syllabus. Candidates are allotted 3 hours to complete Paper 2.

You should also read: JEE Main Syllabus

What is JEE Advanced?

JEE Advanced is the second stage of Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for admission to engineering colleges in India. It is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) under the guidance of the Joint Admission Board (JAB).

The examination consists of two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Both papers are compulsory and must be attempted in order. Each paper is three hours long and will be held in a single session on a single day. Candidates will have to attempt all questions in both papers using an Optical Response Sheet (ORS). There will be no negative marking in Paper 1 but there will be negative marking  in Paper 2 for wrong answers.

Paper 1 will consist of objective type questions from Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics designed to test comprehension, reasoning and analytical ability of candidates. Paper 2 will consist primarily of questions designed to test the candidate's understanding of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and their ability to apply these.

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Difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced : Key Differences

  • JEE Main is the easier of the two exams, making it a good option for students who are not confident in their abilities to perform well on the more challenging JEE Advanced.
  • JEE Main offers more chances to qualify for the IITs, as students can take the exam multiple times if they do not score high enough on their first attempt.
  • As JEE Main is easier, it generally has a lower success rate in getting students into the IITs than JEE Advanced does.
  • JEE Main does not cover all of the material necessary for admission into the IITs – only about 50% of what will be on the JEE Advanced. This means that students who qualify for and choose to attend an IIT will need to prepare for an additional entrance exam.

Difference between Eligibility Criteria of JEE Main and JEE Advanced

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria 2023

The table below shows the eligibility criteria of JEE Main 2023:

ParticularsDetails
Age LimitThere is no JEE Main Age Limit
Qualifying ExaminationCandidates must pas 12th class examination from a recognized board.
Year of Passing Qualifying ExaminationCandidates must have passed 12th class exam in 2021, 2022, or those appearing in 12th class can also apply for the JEE Main 2023 Exam.
Important Subjects in Qualifying Examination

Candidates must have read 5 subjects in 12th class:

  • Language
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry/ Biology/ Biotechnology/ Technical Vocational Subject
  • Any other subject
Admission Criteria for IITs, NITs, IIITs, and CFTIs
  • For B. Tech/ B. Arch/ B. Plan Admissions in IIITs, NITs, and CFTIs, candidates must have obtained at least 75% marks in aggregate (65% marks for SC/ST candidates) or should be under the top 20 percentile of their respective boards.
  • For B. Arch Admission to institutes other than IIITs, NITs, and CFTIs, candidates must have obtained at least 50% marks in aggregate in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in 12th class examination.

Also read: JEE Main Eligibility

JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria 2023

The table below shows the eligibility criteria of JEE Advanced 2023:

ParticularsEligibility
JEE Advanced Age LimitCandidates belonging to general category must have been born on or after 1st October 1997.
Candidates belonging to SC/ST or PwD category will have 5 years of age relaxation.
Qualifying ExaminationCandidates who passed 12th class exam in 2022 or 2023 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics will be considered eligible.
Candidates who appeared in 12th class exam in 2021 or before that will not be considered eligible for JEE Advanced 2023 Exam.
If 12th class result for the year 2020-2021 was declared on or after 19th October 2021 then candidates who passed 12th class exam in 2021 will be considered eligible for the exam.
No. of AttemptsCandidates who stand eligible for the exam can appear in the exam at most two times that too in consecutive years.
JEE Main 2023 ScoreCandidates must be amongst top 2,50,000 students (including all categories) in B. E./ B. Tech Paper.
IITs Earlier AdmissionCandidates mustn't have been admitted to any of the IITs earlier irrespective of their decision of admission.
JEE Advanced AAT 2023 Eligibility CriteriaCandidates willing to take JEE Advanced AAT 2023 must qualify JEE Advanced 2023 Exam and they must also secure the required cutoff marks to possess higher chances of admission.

Difference between Exam Pattern of JEE Main and JEE Advanced

The format of the JEE Main Exam is fixed. Every year, the NTA publishes the exam pattern along with the official notice. Meanwhile, the JEE Advanced Exam Pattern is not fixed.

JEE Main Exam Pattern 2023

JEE Main is divided into three papers for B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch, and B.Planning.

SpecificationsJEE Main Exam Pattern for Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech)JEE Main Exam Pattern for Paper 2A (B.Arch)JEE Main Exam Pattern for Paper 2B (B. Planning)
Exam ModeCBT

Mathematics and Aptitude- CBT Mode,

Drawing- Pen and paper mode

CBT
SubjectsPhysics, Chemistry and MathematicsAptitude Test, Mathematics and DrawingMathematics, Aptitude Test, and Planning Based Objective Type
Total Questions Asked30 Questions (20 MCQs + 10 NAT) in each section82 (Mathematics- 30; Aptitude- 50; Drawing- 2)105 (Mathematics- 30; Aptitude- 50; Planning- 25)
Total Questions to be Answered25 Questions (20 MCQs + 5 NAT) in each section77 (Mathematics- 25; Aptitude- 50; Drawing- 2)100 (Mathematics- 25; Aptitude- 50; Planning- 25)
Type of Questions

Mathematics- 20 MCQs + 10 NAT;

Physics- 20 MCQs + 10 NAT

Chemistry- 20 MCQs + 10 NAT

Mathematics- 20 MCQs + 10 NAT;

Aptitude- 50 MCQs;

Drawing- 2 questions

Mathematics- 20 MCQs + 10 NAT;

Aptitude- 50 MCQs;

​Planning-based questions- MCQs

Medium of ExamEnglish, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, UrduEnglish, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, UrduEnglish, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu
Duration of Exam3 Hours3.5 Hours3.5 Hours
Total Marks300400400
Marking Scheme

For MCQs: +4 for each correct response; -1 for each incorrect response; Unattempted questions will not be marked.

For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct response, no negative marking for incorrect answers or unattempted questions.

For MCQs: +4 for each correct response; -1 for each incorrect response; Unattempted questions will not be marked.

For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct response, no negative marking for incorrect answers or unattempted questions.

For Drawing Test: 2 questions of 100 marks

For MCQs: +4 for each correct response; -1 for each incorrect response; Unattempted questions will not be marked.

For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct response, no negative marking for incorrect answers or unattempted questions.

For detailed information: JEE Main Exam Pattern

JEE Advanced Exam Pattern 2023

JEE Advanced is divided into two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2. Candidates must pass both exams to be eligible for JEE Advanced.

Candidates for B.Arch admission at IITs must additionally pass the AAT exam after passing the JEE Advanced.

SpecificationsJEE Advanced Pattern for Paper 1JEE Advanced Pattern for Paper 2JEE Advanced Pattern for AAT
Exam ModeCBTCBTOffline
Subjects

Physics;

Chemistry;

​Mathematics

Physics;

Chemistry;

Mathematics

Freehand Drawing; 

Geometrical Drawing;

Three Dimensional Perception;

Imagination and Aesthetic Sensitivity;

Architectural Awareness

Type of QuestionsMCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)Numerical type QuestionsMCQs, Numerical type, Sketching and Drawing, etc.
Medium of ExamEnglish and HindiEnglish and HindiEnglish
Duration of Exam3 Hours3 Hours3 hours

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How to prepare for JEE Main and JEE Advanced

JEE Main:

To prepare for JEE Main, students should first understand the syllabus and the exam pattern. They should then create a study plan accordingly and start preparing for the exam well in advance. Additionally, students must solve as many previous years' papers and mock tests as possible to get an idea of the type of questions asked in the exam.

Also read: JEE Main Preparation Tips

JEE Advanced:

To prepare for JEE Advanced, students must first clear JEE Main with a good rank. They should then start preparing for JEE Advanced immediately after the announcement of the exam date. Students must focus on understanding the concepts and solving as many questions as possible from each topic. Additionally, they should solve previous years' papers and mock tests to get an idea of the type of questions asked in the exam.

So, which exam should you take? It depends on your goals. If your goal is simply to get into an IIT, then you should take the JEE Main exam. However, if your goal is to get into one of the top IITs, then you should take the JEE Advanced exam. However, since both exams cover similar topics and require an in-depth knowledge base, it's important to prepare as thoroughly as possible before taking either one. With careful study and practice, you can increase your chances of success on either exam!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is JEE Mains better or JEE Advanced?

Exams at the national level are JEE Main and JEE Advanced. When comparing the two tests, JEE Advanced is significantly more difficult than JEE Main. In the JEE Advanced test, the difficulty level of the questions is much higher.

How is JEE Mains different from JEE Advanced?

The primary distinction between JEE Main and JEE Advanced is that in order to sit for the JEE Advanced test, you must pass JEE Main AND achieve the qualifying All India Rankings cut-off point. JEE Main serves as a prerequisite for the JEE Advanced exam.

Which exam is tougher, JEE Mains or Advanced?

The JEE Advanced exam is regarded as one of the hardest in the nation to pass. Only those who qualified for the exam using the top 2,50,000 JEE Main ranks may take the test. The testing format of the exam is what makes it difficult. Its preparation measures a candidate’s capacity for critical thought.

What rank do I need for IIT?

A JEE Main score of 250 or more is considered to be good, and a score in the 85th to 95th percentile on the exam is optimal for admission to NITs and IITs. To be accepted into the elite NITs and IITs, applicants must also rank among the top 15,000–20,000 students nationwide.

What if I don’t qualify JEE Mains but not Advanced?

If you pass JEE Mains but not JEE Advance, you cannot enrol in an IIT, but you can go to the counselling session and, using your JEE Mains scores, enrol in an NIT, a IIIT, or a GFTI.

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