How do NTA prepare the JEE Main question paper and decide the difficulty level of each shift? Let's explore some factors that NTA considers while deciding the questions for JEE Main examination. Read below.
How NTA Determines JEE Main Paper Difficulty Level
Almost more than 10 lakh candidates appear for JEE Main exam every year. The exam is conducted over multiple shifts and days, which raises the question of how NTA decides the difficulty level of the JEE Main exam across all the shifts and how it takes care of the fair distribution of questions across all the shifts. In this article, we will analyse how exactly NTA decides the JEE Main difficulty level and what the candidates should take note of.
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- NTA Follows a Set Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
- Questions in JEE Main are Decided by a Panel of Multiple Experts
- Mix of Easy, Moderate and Difficult Questions
- NTA JEE Main Exam Pattern
- JEE Main 2026
NTA Follows a Set Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
NTA follows the prescribed JEE Main exam pattern, syllabus and marking scheme to prepare the JEE Main question paper every year and across all the shifts. The guideline for NTA is set so that it needs to be followed each year to prepare the JEE Main question papers. The guidelines include:
- JEE Main question paper will have 3 subjects - Maths, Physics and Chemistry. Each subject will have two sections. Section 1 will be MCQs, and Section 2 will be NATs. Candidates have to attempt all the questions, and there will be no optional questions.
- Questions will be framed from a prescribed JEE Main syllabus and will be of class 11 and 12 standard level.
- The marking scheme for all questions will be the same, that is +4 for correct attempts and -1 for each wrong answer.
Also Read: JEE Main 2025 Marks vs Percentile vs Rank: Shift Wise Detailed Analysis
Questions in JEE Main are Decided by a Panel of Multiple Experts
NTA makes a repository of questions which are prepared by multiple subject experts. A pool of questions is created after collecting the questions from these experts. NTA then uses this pool to prepare the question papers for JEE Main exam.
Creating of pool of questions and selecting questions from them for each shift of the exam ensures that there is no sudden spike of difficulty in any shift of the exam.
LIVE Now: JEE Mains Result 2026 Date
Mix of Easy, Moderate and Difficult Questions
The National Testing Agency (NTA) ensures that the percentage of Easy, Moderate and Difficult questions in the exam remains balanced across the shifts. Thus, there is fairness maintained in all the shifts.
Continuous Review of the Questions: NTA also ensures that the questions are reviewed before they are finalised. The review takes place in multiple stages, ensuring there are no mistakes from their end. NTA takes all precautionary measures to make sure the JEE Main 2026 exam is leak-proof and fair for all the candidates.
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NTA JEE Main Exam Pattern
Check the NTA exam pattern for JEE Mains 2026 exam below:
JEE Main Exam Pattern 2026 for BTech (Paper 1)
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| Exam mode |
Online (computer-based) |
| Number of sections and subjects |
3 (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) |
| Duration of exam |
3 hours (180 minutes) 4 hours for PwD candidates |
| Type of questions |
MCQs: 4 options with only 1 correct option Numerical Value Questions: Questions whose answers are to be filled in as a numerical value |
| Section A (MCQ) |
Mathematics: 20 |
| Section B (Numerical Value) |
Mathematics: 5 In Section B, candidates have to attempt all five questions from each section. |
| How many questions are in JEE Mains |
75 |
| JEE Mains Total Marks |
300 marks |
| Language of paper |
Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu in addition to Hindi, English, and Gujarati |
JEE Main Paper 2 Exam Pattern (BArch)
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| Exam mode |
Online (Mathematics and Aptitude) and offline (Drawing test) |
| Number of sections and subjects |
3 (Drawing, Mathematics, and Aptitude) |
| Duration of exam |
3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Sections |
Mathematics (Part I) 20 MCQ and 5 Numerical Value Questions |
| Number of questions |
77 |
| Type of questions |
Mathematics and Aptitude: Objective-type questions Drawing: Questions to test the candidate’s drawing and sketching skills |
| Total Marks of JEE Mains |
400 marks (Drawing section will be of a total of 100 marks, marking of every question will be given along with it) |
| Language of paper |
Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu in addition to Hindi, English, and Gujarati |
JEE Main BPlan Exam Pattern
| Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| Exam mode |
Online |
| Number of sections and subjects |
3 (Mathematics, Aptitude, and Planning-Based Questions) |
| Duration of exam |
3 hours (180 minutes) |
| Sections |
Mathematics: 20 questions and 5 Numerical Value Questions Aptitude: 50 Planning Based Questions: 25 |
| Number of questions |
100 |
| Type of questions |
Mathematics and Aptitude Planning-Based Questions - Multiple-Choice Questions |
| Total Marks of JEE Mains |
400 |
| Language of paper |
Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu in addition to Hindi, English, and Gujarati |
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JEE Main 2026
NTA conducts JEE Main exam twice every year, in January and in April. Candidates have to register for JEE Main 2026 exam, download the JEE Main admit card, appear for the exam, check their result and then register for JoSAA counselling for admission to the NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. The top 2.5 lakh candidates who pass the JEE Main cutoff for JEE Advanced can apply for JEE Advanced for IIT admissions. JEE Main 2026 session 1 exam date is between January 21 to 30, and the session 2 will be held between April 2 to 9.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 hours ago
Yes, admissions are possible to the BTech course at DY Patil University, Navi Mumbai without the JEE Main rank through MHT CET. Securing good scores in the MHT CET is very important. Hence, the students must work hard and secure good marks for successful admission to the BTech course.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 hours ago
Yes, JEE Main is compulsory to take admission in BTech at IIIT Lucknow. Candidates must fulfil the eligibility and apply for JEE Main on the official website of NTA. Applicants must clear the JEE Main cutoff for IIIT Lucknow. They have to particpate in JoSAA/CSAB cousnelling for seat allocation.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 hours ago
With 77 percentile, getting a seat is possible, but it will depend on the branch and the admission cycle. For highly demanded branches like CSE, the chances are usually quite low at that percentile. But for some core or less competitive branches, there may still be opportunities.
One of my juniors go
A
Beginner-Level 3
Answered 2 days ago
No, candidates cannot take admission in BTech at NIT Uttarakhand without JEE Main. It is the mandatory national-level entrance test for admission through JoSAA/CSAB counselling. Admission is based entirely on your JEE Main Rank and counseling round.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, JEE Main is enough for Krupanidhi Institute of Technology admission. But it is not the only exam accepted for B.E. The institute also accepts CET and COMEDK score. Hence, even if JEE score is not available, students can still apply for admissions at the institute.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
The JEE Mains 2026 is not out till now. The data for 2025 is available for BIT Mesra.
As per the recent BIT Mesra JEE Main cutoff 2025, the round 6 results have been released. Based on the final cutoff for the General AI category, BTech in Computer Science and Engineering closed off at the rank of 18
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
If you are OBC candidate then you can
1) Fill JoSSA — try for NIT Manipur/Nagaland/Mizoram in Civil or Mechanical
2) Participate in CSAB — extra chance
3) Don't skip state counselling — OBC quota there can be very beneficial
4) Apply to NSUT/YMCA — placements rival many NITs
A lower branch NIT vs NSUT/YM
S
Beginner-Level 1
Answered 6 days ago
No, interview round for BSc admission at BIT Mesra is part of BITCHEM which is not required for candidates who are open to pusuing BSc at Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra. Candidates who apply through JEE Main will not be required to appear in BITCHEM.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
Candidates wishing to take admission in BTech at IIIT Bhagalpur have to appear in JEE Main. Along with that, candidates also have to participate in JOSAA/ CSAB counselling process. Seat allocation is done when candidates clear cutoff ranks released on the official JoSAA website.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
If candidates have identical Common Rank List (CRL) in JEE (Main) - 2026 Paper-I even after applying NTA's tie-breaking measures, the following order of additional tie-breaking criteria shall be adopted for seat allocation in JAC Delhi:
1. Date of Birth (preference to the elder candidate).
2. Random d
R
Contributor-Level 10
Currently - Assistant Manager, Content
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