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What is JEE Main Exam, Importance of JEE Main, Eligibility Criteria, Exam Format and More

JEE Mains & Advanced

What is JEE Main?

Joint entrance examination (JEE) Main is highly competitive and nationally recognized engineering entrance examination in india. JEE Mains is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). JEE Mains serves as the first step who want to take admission in NITs, IIITs and various colleges across india for undergraduate engineering programs. Candidates who wish to pursue admission to the prestigious indian institutes of technology (IITs) must qualify in JEE Main.

Importance of JEE Main

JEE Main is considered to be one of the most important and competitive engineering entrance exam in india. The importance of JEE Main cannot be exaggerated. Reasons why the jee main is so important are given below:

Gateway to top engineering college: JEE Main is india’s leading entrance exam for admission to top engineering colleges, such as NITs, IIITs and other state funded colleges. JEE Main is also the qualifying test for the IITs.

Widely Recognized: JEE Main is one of the most widely recognized engineering entrance exam in india. JEE Main is well recognized by colleges, universities and big MNC’S employers all over the country. A good score in the JEE Main exam is a sign of academic excellence, and can open the gate to many opportunities in the technology and engineering fields. 

Eligibility Criteria

There is no age limit for the candidates who are appearing in the JEE Main 2024. Candidates who have passed the class 12 or equivalent examination in 2022, 2023, or appearing in 2024 irrespective of their age can appear in JEE Main 2024 examination. However, candidates may be required to fulfill the age criteria of the colleges or institutes to which they are desirous of taking admission.

Educational Qualifications

Age Limit

There is no age limit for JEE Main 2024 exam. Any student who has passed the 12th class or its equivalent exam in the year 2022 and 2023 or appearing in 2024 can apply for the JEE Mains.

Attempts Allowed

Candidates may appear in the JEE Main for a period of three consecutive years commencing from the year in which they have passed class 12. As jee main is conducted twice in a single year, applicants may appear six times in the examination.

Exam Format

Paper 1: B.E./B.Tech

JEE Main paper 1 consists of topics from Mathematics, physics and chemistry,

Paper 2: B.Arch/B.Planning

 jee main paper 2 consists of topics from mathematics, aptitude and drawing.

Mode of Examination

JEE Main paper 1 is conducted in computer based test (CBT) mode.  Jee main paper 2 also conducted in computer based test (CBT) mode. However, the drawing section of jee main paper 2 is held in pen and paper mode.

Exam Duration

  • JEE Main exam paper 1 duration is 3 hours and 4 hours for the PwD candidates. 

  • JEE Main exam paper 2 contains 2 paper. However, candidates get 3 hours for both these papers.

Marking Scheme

Paper 1: 

+4 marks for each correct answer, -1 marks for each wrong answer, and 0 marks for each unattempted answer.

Paper 2:

Paper 2A: +4 marks for each correct answer, -1 marks for each wrong answer, and 0 marks for each unattempted answer.

For the drawing test, 50 marks for each of the 2 questions.

Syllabus

The syllabus of the JEE Main includes physics, chemistry, and mathematics. in physics, the syllabus covers topics such as mechanics, electromagnetism, wave mechanics, optics, and modern physics. In chemistry, the syllabus includes physical chemistry including equilibrium and thermodynamics, organic chemistry including reaction mechanism, and inorganic chemistry including chemical bonding and coordination compounds. Mathematics includes algebra, calculus, coordinate geometry, trigonometry and statistics.

Subjects Covered

Subjects covered in the JEE Main paper 1  are physics, chemistry and mathematics and subject covered in JEE Main paper 2 are mathematics, general aptitude, and drawing skills/planning.

Topic Breakdown

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is divided into three subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Here's a brief topic breakdown for each subject:

Physics:

Mechanics: Laws of motion, kinematics, work-energy theorem, rotational dynamics, and gravitation.

Electrodynamics: Electric charges, electric field, current electricity, electromagnetic waves, and electromagnetic induction.

Optics: Geometrical optics, wave optics, interference, diffraction, and polarization.

Modern Physics: Dual nature of matter and radiation, atoms and nuclei, semiconductor devices, and nuclear physics.

Thermodynamics and Kinetic Theory: Thermodynamic processes, laws of thermodynamics, and kinetic theory of gases.

Waves and Oscillations: Simple harmonic motion, wave motion, and sound waves.

Chemistry:

Physical Chemistry: Atomic structure, chemical bonding, chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium.

Inorganic Chemistry: Periodic table, chemical bonding, coordination compounds, and metallurgy.

Organic Chemistry: Hydrocarbons, organic compounds with functional groups, reaction mechanisms, and biomolecules.

Environmental Chemistry: Environmental pollutants, pollutants' sources, and their management.

Mathematics:

Algebra: Quadratic equations, sequences and series, complex numbers, permutations and combinations, and binomial theorem.

Coordinate Geometry: Straight lines, circles, conic sections, and transformations.

Calculus: Limits, continuity, differentiation, integration, differential equations, and applications of calculus.

Trigonometry: Trigonometric functions, identities, and equations.

Vectors and 3D Geometry: Vector algebra and three-dimensional geometry.

Statistics and Probability: Measures of central tendency, probability distributions, and statistics.

Reference Materials

JEE Main is a tough and competitive exam in India, so it's important to have reference materials to help you prepare. Reference materials cover a variety of topics, from physics to chemistry, so you can get a better understanding of the material. Plus, they have lots of practice problems and questions to help you practice and hone your problem solving skills.

Registration Process

Here is how to fill JEE Main 2024 application form online step by step on NTA official website:

Step 1: Registration: JEE Main registration includes the following steps. Candidates should check their eligibility criteria before filling in the application form.

Step 2: Filling the online JEE Mains 2024 application form: Next, candidates must fill their personal details, academic background, and contact information in JEE Main 2024 application form and remember or note down system generated application number.

Step 3: Uploading scanned images: At this stage, candidate will need to upload their scanned photo and signature according to the specifications prescribed on the NTA website.

Step 4: Pay the JEE Main 2024 application fee: the application fee of the jee main can only be paid online which can be done through credit card, debit card, net banking and UPI.

How to Apply

Application Fee

JEE Main 2024 application fees

  • Rs. 1000 for Male candidates of Unreserved/Gen-EWS/OBC category

  • Rs. 800 for Female candidates of Unreserved/Gen-EWS/OBC category

  • Rs. 500 for SC/ST/PwD/Transgender category candidates

Important Dates

Commencement of JEE Main 2024 session 1 registration is Second week of December 2023 and JEE Mains 2024 registration last date for January session is First week of January 2024. Commencement of JEE Main 2024 session 2 registration is Second week of February, 2024 and JEE Main April Registration 2024 last date is Last week of February 2024.

Admit Card

Downloading Admit Card

Visit the official website of NTA JEE Main and you will find the link for the download of the admit card. Once you have clicked on the link, you will be prompted to enter your credentials. You can enter your application number, password (generated during the application process), date of birth, security pin, etc. You will now be able to view your admit card on your screen. Once you are logged in, you can review the details of the admit card to make sure it is correct.

Details on the Admit Card

Following are the details mentioned on the admit card

  • Candidate Name

  • Application Number

  • Roll Number

  • Date of Birth

  • Photograph

  • Category

  • Gender

  • Father’s name

  • Mother’s name

  • Address

  • Test date and shift

  • Reporting time

  • Gate closing time

  • Exam instructions

Exam Day Guidelines

Reporting Time

JEE Main exam is conducted in two shifts: morning and afternoon. For the morning shift of JEE Main, candidates are required to report to the exam center by 7:00 AM to 7:30 AM. For the afternoon shift of JEE Main, candidates are typically required to report to the exam center by 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM.

ID Requirements

Candidate should carry their Aadhar card along with their admit card.

Exam Rules and Regulations

You should arrive at the exam center at least an hour before the start time. The check-in process may include identity verification, so make sure you have plenty of time for this.

Preparation Tips

Study Resources

There are some valuable study resources for JEE Main, which are the following:

  • NCERT Textbook

  • Reference Books

  • Coaching Institute Materials

  • Online learning platforms

Time Management

JEE Main is one of the most competitive engineering entrance exam which requires a lot of preparation across various subjects. Hence, time management is crucial when preparing for JEE Main. 

Mock Tests

Mock test play an important role in jee main preparation and offer several benefits to aspirants which are mentioned below:

  • Familiarity with exam pattern

  • Time management

  • Self - Assessment

  • Stress management

  • Confidence building 

Important Dates and Deadlines

Application Deadline

Commencement of JEE Main session 1 registration is Second week of December 2023 and JEE Mains 2024 registration last date for January session is First week of January 2024. Commencement of JEE Main session 2 registration is Second week of February, 2024 and JEE Main April Registration 2024 last date is Last week of February 2024.

Admit Card Release Date

The National Testing Agency (NTA) will be releasing the admit card for JEE main 2024 online. You'll find the official link to download the JEE main 2024 admit card on their website.

Exam Dates

JEE Main session 1 exam date 2024 is January 24, 2024 to February 1, 2024 and JEE Main session 2 exam date is April 1 to 15, 2024.

Reservation and Category Quotas

SC, ST, OBC-NCL Reservations

The reservation percentage for institutes under central government for SC, ST, OBC-NCL is 15%, 7.5% and 27% respectively.

PwD (Persons with Disabilities) Quota

The reservation percentage for institutes under central government for PwD (persons with disabilities) is 5%. 

State Quota

As per the JEE Main reserve criteria, NITs have home state quota of 50% and the remaining 50% are reserved for candidates from other states.

Top Engineering Colleges Accepting JEE Main Scores

There are several top engineering colleges which accept jee main score for admission to their undergraduate engineering courses. Some of the top engineering colleges in india that accept JEE Main score are given below:

  1. National Institutes of Technology (NITs)

  2. Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs)

  3. Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani

  4. Delhi Technological University

  5. Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT)

  6. Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT)

  7. Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI)

Role of eSaral in JEE Main Preparation

eSaral is an online education platform that offers resources and support for candidates preparing for the competitive exam like JEE Main, NEET, olympiad etc. the role of eSaral in JEE Main preparation can be remarkable.

eSaral generally includes following aspects:

  • Animated video lectures: eSaral courses are provided with animated video lectures, engaging method of teaching which make complex concepts easier to understand and remember.

  • Comprehensive study material: eSaral provides access to quality study material which helps in jee main preparation.

  • Test series: eSaral provides practice test and mock exam for jee main which simulates the actual exam environment.

  • Doubt solving tool: eSaral provides doubt solving tool (DoST) for students to get their doubts and queries resolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1:  What is JEE Main?

Answer 1: JEE Main is a national level engineering entrance examination in india conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). JEE Main is the first step for students seeking admission to undergraduate engineering programs in various colleges and institutions across India.

Question 2: What are the eligibility criteria for JEE Main 2024?

Answer 2: The eligibility criteria for JEE Main are as follows:

  • There is no age limit for the candidates who are appearing in the JEE Main 2024. 

  • Candidates who have passed the class 12 or equivalent examination in 2022, 2023, or appearing in 2024 irrespective of their age can appear in JEE Main 2024 examination.