JEE Main, short for the Joint Entrance Examination Main, is a national-level engineering entrance exam conducted in India. It serves as the gateway for admission into various undergraduate engineering programs in prestigious institutions such as the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs), as well as for eligibility to appear in JEE Advanced, which is required for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
Exam Conducting Body:
JEE Main is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which is an autonomous organization established by the Government of India to conduct entrance examinations for higher educational institutions.
Exam Format:
Mode: JEE Main is conducted in two modes: Computer Based Test (CBT) and Pen & Paper Based Test (PBT). The CBT mode is the predominant choice among candidates.
Sections: The exam comprises multiple sections depending on the choice of paper (Engineering or Architecture).
Subjects: The engineering paper includes sections on Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
Frequency and Timing:
JEE Main is typically conducted twice a year, in January and April. Candidates have the option to appear for one or both sessions.
The exam is held over several days in multiple shifts to accommodate the large number of applicants.
Eligibility Criteria:
Candidates must have completed their 10+2 examination or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
There are specific eligibility criteria regarding age and number of attempts, which are set by the exam conducting authority.
Scoring and Ranking:
The exam is scored out of 300 marks (total for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics). The ranking is determined based on the NTA score, which considers both the raw score and normalization process.
Use of JEE Main Scores:
JEE Main scores are used for admission to NITs, IIITs, CFTIs, and other participating institutions offering undergraduate engineering programs.
Top performers in JEE Main are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced, which is the gateway to admission into the IITs.
Preparation:
Preparation for JEE Main requires a thorough understanding of the 10+2 syllabus, extensive practice of previous years' question papers, and taking mock tests to simulate the exam environment.
Coaching institutes and self-study are common methods used by candidates to prepare effectively for the exam.
JEE Main is highly competitive, with lakhs of students appearing for the exam each year. It is considered one of the most important exams for aspiring engineers in India, shaping their career paths in the field of engineering and technology.