The JEE Main 2026 exam pattern for Paper 1 (B.Tech) will include three sections: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Check complete details on the marking scheme and total marks.
JEE Main Exam Pattern 2026
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 is the gateway to India’s top engineering institutes, including NITs, IIITs, and other centrally funded technical institutions. Understanding the exam pattern is crucial for strategic preparation and scoring well. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern for Paper 1 (B.Tech).
JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 (B.Tech)
JEE Main Paper 1 is conducted for candidates aspiring to pursue B.E./B.Tech courses. The exam is held in computer-based mode and includes three subjects:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
Each section is equally important and contributes to the overall score.
Subject-wise Exam Pattern
| Subject | Section A (MCQs) | Section B (Numerical) | Total Questions | Marks |
| Mathematics | 20 | 10 | 30 | 100 |
| Physics | 20 | 10 | 30 | 100 |
| Chemistry | 20 | 10 | 30 | 100 |
| Total | — | — | 90 | 300 |
💡 In Section B, only 5 out of 10 numerical questions need to be attempted per subject.
Marking Scheme
- Correct Answer (MCQ or Numerical): +4 marks
- Incorrect Answer (MCQ): -1 mark
- Incorrect Numerical (Section B): No negative marking
- Unattempted Question: 0 marks
Duration and Mode
- Exam Duration: 3 hours
- Mode of Exam: Online (Computer-Based Test)
- Language Options: English, Hindi, and regional languages
Important Highlights
- Total Questions: 90
- Total Marks: 300
- Negative marking applies to only MCQs, not numerical questions
- Flexibility to choose any 5 out of 10 numerical questions ensures better scoring chances
- The exam tests conceptual understanding, application skills, and numerical solving ability
JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern for Paper 2 (B.Arch & B.Plan)
The JEE Main 2026 is not just for engineering aspirants—students who aim to pursue Architecture (B.Arch) or Planning (B.Plan) courses at premier institutions like NITs, SPAs, and other CFTIs must appear for Paper 2. NTA conducts Paper 2 in two formats: Paper 2A for B.Arch and Paper 2B for B.Plan. Understanding the exam pattern is key to structured preparation.
Paper 2A – B.Arch Exam Pattern
JEE Main Paper 2A is specifically designed for students aspiring for Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) programs.
Subjects & Question Distribution
| Section | Type of Questions | No. of Questions | Marks |
| Mathematics | MCQs + Numerical Value Questions | 20 + 10 (Attempt 5) | 100 |
| Aptitude Test | MCQs | 50 | 200 |
| Drawing Test | Drawing-based questions (Offline) | 2 | 100 |
| Total | — | 82 | 400 |
Mode of Exam
- Mathematics & Aptitude: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Drawing Test: Pen-and-Paper Mode
⏱️ Duration
- Total Duration: 3 hours
Paper 2B – B.Plan Exam Pattern
JEE Main Paper 2B is for candidates seeking admission to Bachelor of Planning (B.Plan) courses.
Subjects & Question Distribution
| Section | Type of Questions | No. of Questions | Marks |
| Mathematics | MCQs + Numerical Value Questions | 20 + 10 (Attempt 5) | 100 |
| Aptitude Test | MCQs | 50 | 200 |
| Planning Section | MCQs | 25 | 100 |
| Total | — | 105 | 400 |
Mode of Exam
- Entire Paper 2B is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.
⏱️ Duration
- Total Duration: 3 hours
Marking Scheme (for Both Papers)
- Correct Answer (MCQ or Numerical): +4 marks
- Incorrect MCQ: -1 mark
- Incorrect Numerical (Section B in Mathematics): No negative marking
- Unattempted: 0 marks
JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern for Paper 2 (B.Arch & B.Plan)
Students preparing for the B.Arch and B.Planning entrance exams can refer to the previous year’s pattern for insights. One of the key changes introduced last year was the removal of optional questions in Section B. Earlier, candidates could attempt any 5 out of 10 questions, but now all 5 questions provided are mandatory.
JEE Main 2026 Paper 2 is expected to be conducted online, with the exception of the drawing section in the B.Arch paper, which will likely be held in offline (pen-and-paper) mode.
The tables below outline the previous year’s exam pattern, including the question distribution, total marks, and marking scheme for JEE Main Paper 2.
| JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern for Paper 2 (B.Arch & B.Plan) | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-based examination, except for the Drawing section in B.Arch (Pen & Paper-based mode) |
| Language | English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu |
| Exam Duration | For Non-PwD/PwBDCandidates- 03 hours (180 minutes) For PwD /PwBDCandidates (who areeligible for scribe)-04 hours |
| No. of Sections | B.Arch (Paper 2A):• Part 1 – Mathematics• Part 2 – Aptitude test• Part 3 – Drawing test B.Plan (Paper 2B):• Mathematics• Aptitude test• Planning test (MCQs) |
| Type of Questions | B.Arch:• Mathematics: MCQs and Questions for which the answer is a numerical value• Aptitude: Multiple-choice questions(Objective Type)• Drawing: Drawing aptitude B.Planning:• Mathematics: MCQs and Questions for which the answer is a numerical value• Aptitude: MCQs(Objective Type)• Planning: MCQs(Objective Type) |
| JEE Mains Total Questions | • B.Arch: 77 QuestionsPart I: Mathematics-20 (Section A) and 05 (Section B)Part II: Aptitude test- 50Part III: Drawing Test-02• B.Plan: 100 QuestionsPart-I: Mathematics-20 (Section A) and 05 (Section B)Part-II: Aptitude Test-50Part-III: Planning- 25 |
| Total Marks | Paper 2A: 400 MarksPaper 2B: 400 Marks |
| JEE Mains Marking Scheme | • MCQs: +4 marks for a right answer, -1 mark for a wrong one.• Numerical value answers: +4 marks for a correct answer, -1 mark for a wrong answer.• Drawing Test: There are 2 questions, and both are checked out of 100 marks. |
NTA JEE Main 2026 Paper Pattern Subject-wise Mark Distribution
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the JEE Main 2026 paper pattern for all three streams: B.Tech (Paper 1), B.Arch (Paper 2A), and B.Plan (Paper 2B). A clear understanding of the subject-wise marks distribution will help students plan their preparation and attempt strategy more effectively.
The JEE Main 2026 conducted by NTA includes three different papers:
- Paper 1 for B.Tech
- Paper 2A for B.Arch
- Paper 2B for B.Plan
Below is the complete subject-wise mark distribution for all three papers in a single, easy-to-understand table.
| NTA JEE Main 2026 Paper Pattern: Subject-wise Mark Distribution | |||
| Particulars | BE/BTech Marking Scheme | BArch Marking Scheme | BPlan Marking Scheme |
| Correct Answer | +4 marks awarded | +4 marks awarded | +4 marks awarded |
| Incorrect Answer | -1 mark deducted | -1 mark deducted | -1 mark deducted |
| Un-attempted Question | 0 marks (No deduction) | 0 marks (No deduction) | 0 marks (No deduction) |
| Subjects & Marks per Section | Mathematics: 25 questions X 4 marks = 100 marksPhysics: 25 questions X 4 marks = 100 marksChemistry: 25 questions X 4 marks = 100 marks | Mathematics: 25 questions X 4 marks = 100 marksAptitude Test: 50 questions X 4 marks = 200 marksDrawing test: 2 questions X 50 marks = 100 marks | Mathematics: 25 questions X 4 marks = 100 marksAptitude Test = 50 questions X 4 marks = 200 marksPlanning Based Questions = 25 X 4 marks = 100 marks |
JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern: Total Number of Questions
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), will serve as the gateway for admission into top engineering, architecture, and planning colleges across India. Understanding the total number of questions in each paper is essential for effective time management and preparation strategy.
Total Questions in JEE Mains Paper-1 (BTech)
NTA will conduct Paper 1 of JEE Main 2026 for B.Tech admissions, and it is expected to include a total of 90 questions. The table below provides a detailed overview of the anticipated question distribution for JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 (B.Tech).
| Total Questions in JEE Mains Paper-1 (BTech) | |||
| Subject | Section A | Section B | Marks |
| Mathematics | 20 | 05 | 100 |
| Physics | 20 | 05 | 100 |
| Chemistry | 20 | 05 | 100 |
| Total | 75 | 300 | |
Total Questions in JEE Mains Paper-2A (BArch)
NTA will conduct JEE Main Paper 2A for admission to B.Arch programs, which is expected to include around 90 questions in total. The paper will primarily assess candidates in Mathematics, Aptitude, and Drawing. For a clearer understanding of the expected sectional question distribution, you can refer to the table provided below.
| Total Questions in JEE Mains Paper-2A (BArch) | |||
| Question Paper Design | Subject | Number of Questions | Mark’s |
Subject-wise distribution of Questions, Total Number of Questions, and Marks |
Part I: Mathematics | 20 (Section A) and 05 (Section B) | 100 |
| Part II: Aptitude test | 50 | 200 | |
| Part III: Drawing Test | 02 | 100 | |
| Total | 77 | 400 | |
Total Questions in JEE Mains Paper-2B (BPlan)
NTA has made the announcement that JEE Main Paper-2B will comprise nearly 90 questions, to be framed by it for admissions to the course of B. Planning. It is going to comprise presumably questions from the sections of Mathematics, Aptitude, and Planning. To understand how many questions in each subject would be asked based on expectations, see the given table.
| Total Questions in JEE Mains Paper-2B (BPlan) | |||
| Question Paper Design | Subject | Number of Questions | Marks |
| Subject-wise distribution ofQuestions, Total | Part I: Mathematics | 20 (Section A) and 05 (Section B) | 100 |
| Number of Questions, andMarks | Part II: Aptitude Test | 50 | 200 |
| Part III: Planning | 02 | 100 | |
| Total | 100 | 400 | |
Types of Questions in JEE Main 2026 Paper Pattern
As per the expected JEE Main 2026 exam pattern, each subject will include two sections — Section A featuring Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Section B comprising numerical value-based questions.
For the 2026 exam, Section B is likely to have 5 compulsory questions, with no optional choices. In the previous year, negative marking was applied in both sections, and candidates were required to enter integer values using an on-screen virtual numeric keypad in Section B.
| Types of Questions in JEE Main Paper Pattern | ||
| Paper | Subjects | Types of Questions |
| Paper 1: B.E./B.Tech. | Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)Numerical Value Questions |
| Paper 2A: B.Arch | Part I – Mathematics | Objective Type- MCQsNumerical Value Questions |
| Part II – Aptitude Test | Objective Type – MCQs | |
| Part III – Drawing Test | Drawing aptitude-based questions | |
| Paper 2B: B. Plan | Part I – Mathematics | Objective Type – MCQsNumerical Value Questions |
| Part II – Aptitude Test | Objective Type – MCQs | |
| Part III – Planning-Based Questions | Objective Type – MCQs | |
JEE Main Exam Pattern 2026 FAQs
JEE Main 2026 consists of three papers:
- Paper 1: B.E./B.Tech (Engineering courses)
- Paper 2A: B.Arch (Architecture)
- Paper 2B: B.Plan (Planning courses)
|
Paper |
Subjects Included |
|
B.Tech |
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
|
B.Arch |
Mathematics, Aptitude Test, Drawing |
|
B.Plan |
Mathematics, Aptitude Test, Planning |
- Paper 1 (B.Tech): 75 questions (25 per subject)
- Paper 2A (B.Arch): ~77 questions
- Paper 2B (B.Plan): 100 questions
Each paper has a duration of 3 hours. Candidates appearing for both Paper 2A and 2B together are given 3 hours 30 minutes.
Yes, candidates can appear for both Paper 2A and 2B, or any one depending on the course they wish to pursue.
