If you are preparing for the upcoming JEE Mains 2026 exam, then the negative marking stands in your way of obtaining high marks on the test. Four incorrect attempts cancel out one correctly answered question. Learn how to avoid negative marking in JEE Mains 2026 below.
How to Avoid Negative Marking in JEE Mains: Preparing for the JEE Mains exam requires strategic preparation. Because there is negative marking the exam, attempting questions correctly becomes of great importance. To get high scores in the JEE Mains exam 2026, students have to solve the most number of questions accurately. In this article, we provide expert tips, strategies and common mistakes to avoid negative marking in JEE Mains 2026. Check out a few tips on how to avoid negative marking in JEE Main.
- Negative Markings in JEE Main 2026
- Why Avoiding Negative Marking is Important in JEE Mains?
- Tips to Avoid Negative Marking in JEE Mains Exam
- How to Avoid Negative Marking in JEE Mains Exam Hall
Negative Markings in JEE Main 2026
As we have already mentioned, there is a provision of negative marking in the JEE Main exam. Candidates appearing for the JEE Mains exam can check the negative marks for both papers 1 and 2 from the following table. The marking scheme for both MCQs and NAT questions is the same
| Option Selected |
Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct answer |
(+4) |
| Incorrect answer |
(-1) |
| Unanswered / Marked for Review |
No mark (0) |
Commonly asked questions
Clearing the JEE Main exam in first attempt is not a difficult task. Several students clear JEE Main while in class 12. One thing that makes it easy to clear JEE Main with class 12 is that students are in regular touch of most JEE syllabus. To score good marks in JEE Main in the first attempt, it is advised that you study class 11 and 12 topics thoroughly, clear all the concepts and solve mock test papers. Also, NCERT books which you study in class 11 and 12 are the best books for JEE Main preparation. Students must study NCERT properly and solve all the questions in the book and do not memorize the concepts as some students do rather understand the concepts.
The time period required to complete the JEE Main preparation depends mainly on the students. Every student has their own pace of study. Ideally, 6-month time is good enough to complete the JEE Main preparation. Students who have started preparing from class 11 or 12 can easily prepare for JEE Main in 6 months considering the topics of JEE syllabus have already been studied in classes 11 and 12.
JEE Main preparation is most effective with classes 11 and 12 as almost 90-95 percent of topics are similar in both exams. This way students can easily complete the entire JEE Main syllabus as well as the syllabus of classes 11 and 12. After the board exams, students get 1-2 months' time where they can focus entirely on JEE Main. Students who have started late for the JEE Main exam can make a 6-month plan where in the first three months they have to focus on revising the syllabus studied in classes 11 and 12. In the next two months focus on solving questions of JEE Main and analyzing the mistakes being made, if any. The last month should be focused on solving mock tests and JEE Main previous year question papers.
Why Avoiding Negative Marking is Important in JEE Mains?
For every wrong answer in JEE mains (-1) mark will be deducted. This means after four wrong attempts a student loses the marks he/she obtained for attempting one question correctly. Even a slight percentile difference will bring a big change in the rank list.
Negative marking is not the only challenge in this exam. It is also a time-bound exam, meaning candidates have to attempt 75 questions across three subjects within 3 hours. Students do not have time for guesswork and weighing in their chances while attempting the JEE question paper. Merely attempting the question will do more harm if the candidate is not sure about the accuracy. Thus, the right strategy is focusing on accuracy>attempts.
Tips to Avoid Negative Marking in JEE Mains Exam
Till now we have covered what negative marking in JEE Mains 2026 is and its impact on rankings and percentile. Let's look at how we can minimise negative marking in JEE Mains.
Read the Question Carefully
Be relaxed and read the complete question in detail. Understand what the question is asking before looking at the options.
Elimination Method
After understanding the question, move to the options. Check the options given and use logic and common sense to eliminate the incorrect options.
Avoid Guesswork
To avoid negative marking in JEE Mains, one must avoid guesswork. Answer the question with surety. In case of any doubts mark the question for review. Be sure of the answer before marking it.
Time Management is the Key
The JEE Mains 2026 exam will be a 3-hour paper. Students will have to attempt 75 questions from Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. There will be both MCQs and numerical answer type questions. A candidate must balance time between all the sections. If you see a question is taking too much of your time, it is better to skip that one and move ahead. You can always come back to it if you have extra time left after completion of the test. But do not mark an answer you are not sure of.
Give Mock Tests
Practising the JEE Mains mock tests cannot be emphasised enough. It is a simulation of the actual test. Candidates must take multiple JEE Main 2026 mock tests after covering a majority of the syllabus. This will help in learning time management and improving accuracy.
Solve Previous Year Papers
A time-tested way is practising the JEE Main last 10 years' question papers. Candidates must practice the actual JEE Mains question paper PDFs. The past year papers will help understand the difficulty level and the high-weightage JEE Main topics. Candidates can use this information to comprehend the frequently occurring types of questions and develop accuracy.
👉Last 5 years Question Paper of JEE Main With Solutions
Commonly asked questions
The difficulty level of JEE Main exam is a little high than the class 12 board exams. Students who are studying in class 12 can score good marks in JEE Main by studying a little extra for the JEE. Students who have studied NCERT textbooks of Physics Chemistry and Mathematics thoroughly can get good marks. The joint Entrance Examination, popularly known as JEE Main is for admission into NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs for B.Tech and architecture courses in India.
Students who are preparing for JEE Main 2026 must start their preparation by studying NCERT books. It will help in building strong foundation of concepts. Study chapters that have high weightage in JEE Mains and also topics that have been asked in recent years. In the last month before exam, solve mock tests and previous year papers.
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How to Avoid Negative Marking in JEE Mains Exam Hall
Till now, we have discussed how to avoid negative marking in JEE Mains during preparation and in the exam. Now we will decode how to attempt the JEE Mains 2026 exam to minimise negative marking in JEE Mains. These methods have been suggested by several JEE Main toppers and coaching experts. To avoid negative marking in the JEE Mains exam, candidates should attempt their exam paper as per the following division:
First 30 Minutes -
- Start with your strongest subject.
- Solve easy and direct questions first to secure sure-shot marks.
- This will help build confidence in solving the questions.
Next 120 Minutes -
- Move to the remaining two subjects.
- Attempt moderate-level questions where you have 70-90% confidence.
- Use elimination techniques if required.
Last 30 Minutes -
- Attempt the tougher/marked-for-review questions.
- Recheck the answer marked.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days ago
According to the MSU Baroda CSE Cutoff 2026 for the General AI category, the maximum rank accepted was 900019 in the last round (Round 3).
As seen from the table below, admission for the General and ST category was the toughest and the easiest for the CSE course. For more information, check the table
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
The JEE Mains 2027 notification can be expected in the last week of September 2026 or in the first week of October 2026.
A
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 4 days ago
The JEE Mains 2027 session 1 application form is expected to be released in the last week of October 2026.
M
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 4 days ago
NTA will release the JEE Main 2027 exam date soon. The expected exam dates are:
- Session 1: Last week of January 2027
- Session 2: First week of April 2027
N
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, IEM Kolkata offers JEE Main scholarships to BTech students as financial assistance. Students with rank 1-10,000 in JEE Main are eligible to receive full tuition fee waiver for four-years.
G
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Yes. Galgotias University accepts both JEE Main and CUET scores for B.Tech admissions. The university states that students with JEE Main/JEE Advanced or CUET scores are given preference in the merit list.
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
No, a JEE Main score alone is not sufficient for direct entry to UG courses at the TUM. For direct entry to UG courses at TU Munich having a qualifying JEE Advanced score is mandatory.
Students with a JEE Main score and a Class 12th completion certificate will need to take the Studienkolleg (prepar
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Not always. While most reputed colleges prefer JEE Main scores, some private engineering colleges in Indore also offer direct admission based on Class 12th merit, especially under management quota seats. So, if you haven't cleared JEE Main with a strong rank, you may still get into a decent private
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, JECRC University grants scholarship to BTech students based on JEE Main scores. Check below score-wise scholarship:
- Candidates with JEE Main percentile score of 85 to 89.99 (General Category), shall get 15% scholarship on Tuition Fee.
- Candidates with JEE Main percentile score of more than 90 (Ge
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
No. While there is an overlap, the GUJCET syllabus is more aligned with state-level board books and is less advanced than JEE Main.
V
Contributor-Level 8