How many attempts do I get?

JEE Main: the three years from your Class 12 passing year (two sessions each year). JEE Advanced: two attempts in two consecutive years, subject to qualifying through Main.

What is the JEE Main pattern?

Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech): 75 questions, 300 marks, three hours, computer-based — 25 per subject, 20 MCQs (+4/−1) and 5 numerical questions (+4/−1). Check the year's information bulletin; NTA has changed the numerical section format before.

Two compulsory three-hour papers on one day (17 May 2026), each covering all three subjects, with question types and marking that change every year and are revealed only in the paper.

Crack JEE (Main and Advanced)

JEE is two exams in a chain. JEE Main, run by the National Testing Agency in two sessions (21–29 January and 2–9 April in 2026), decides admission to NITs and IIITs and who qualifies for the second exam. JEE Advanced, run by one IIT each year (17 May 2026, registration 23 April–5 May), decides the IITs. The plan below assumes you start about a year out; compress it if you are closer.

Confirm eligibility and the attempt clock

Count your Main years: the year you pass Class 12 and the next two. There is no age limit for Main.
Note the Advanced rule: top ~2.5 lakh Main qualifiers, at most two attempts in consecutive years, and age under 25 on 1 October of the exam year (relaxed five years for SC/ST/PwD).
Check your board percentage target now: 75% aggregate (65% for SC/ST) or top-20 percentile of your board, required at admission.

Learn the pattern you are actually facing

JEE Main Paper 1: 75 questions across PCM, 300 marks, 3 hours, +4/−1. Read the year's bulletin for the numerical section rules.
JEE Advanced: two papers, three hours each, all three subjects in each, with partial marking and unannounced formats.
Download the official syllabi for both; Advanced's is narrower but deeper.

Build the 12-month plan around the two Main sessions

Months 1–7: finish the full syllabus once, chapter tests weekly, NCERT for Chemistry theory.
Months 8–9: mock series for Main; sit session 1 in January as a real attempt.
Between sessions: fix the topics that cost marks in January; sit session 2 in April for the better score.
April–May: switch entirely to Advanced-style practice — previous years' papers under timed conditions.

Register on time

JEE Main: register on jeemain.nta.nic.in for each session separately when the window opens (typically November for January, February for April). Fee ₹1,000 for general male candidates per session; less for women and reserved categories.
Upload the exact photo/signature specs and choose four exam cities; centre allocation follows.
JEE Advanced: register on jeeadv.ac.in in the 23 April–5 May window if you qualify; fee ₹3,200 for general.

Sit the exams

Reach the centre with the admit card and a photo ID; the reporting time is usually 90 minutes before.
Main strategy: attempt Chemistry first for accuracy, bank the numericals, avoid negative-mark guessing below 50% confidence.
Advanced strategy: skim both papers for scoring sections before committing; partial-marking questions reward careful, complete answers.

Counselling: JoSAA and CSAB

After Advanced results (early June), register for JoSAA counselling with both ranks; fill choices for IITs, NITs, IIITs and GFTIs in one list.
Verify documents at the reporting centre and pay the seat acceptance fee within the round deadline.
If you hold only a Main rank, CSAB special rounds fill remaining NIT seats after JoSAA.

Questions

How many attempts do I get?: JEE Main: the three years from your Class 12 passing year (two sessions each year). JEE Advanced: two attempts in two consecutive years, subject to qualifying through Main.
What is the JEE Main pattern?: Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech): 75 questions, 300 marks, three hours, computer-based — 25 per subject, 20 MCQs (+4/−1) and 5 numerical questions (+4/−1). Check the year's information bulletin; NTA has changed the numerical section format before.
And JEE Advanced?: Two compulsory three-hour papers on one day (17 May 2026), each covering all three subjects, with question types and marking that change every year and are revealed only in the paper.

Sources

The numbers above come from these pages. If a fee or date here disagrees with the source, the source wins.

Report an outdated step

Crack JEE (Main and Advanced)

Confirm eligibility and the attempt clock

Learn the pattern you are actually facing

Build the 12-month plan around the two Main sessions

Register on time

Sit the exams

Counselling: JoSAA and CSAB

Questions

Sources

See also

Prepare for NEET-UG

Prepare for GATE

Prepare for CAT (MBA entrance)

1Confirm eligibility and the attempt clock

2Learn the pattern you are actually facing

3Build the 12-month plan around the two Main sessions

4Register on time

5Sit the exams

6Counselling: JoSAA and CSAB

Questions

Sources

See also

Prepare for NEET-UG

Prepare for GATE

Prepare for CAT (MBA entrance)

Confirm eligibility and the attempt clock

Learn the pattern you are actually facing

Build the 12-month plan around the two Main sessions

Register on time

Sit the exams

Counselling: JoSAA and CSAB