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JEE Main vs JEE Advanced- What are the differences in Syllabus, Difficulty, Eligibility?

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Sonam Rana updated

Content Curator updated

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced- Candidates preparing for B.E./B.Tech admissions in India often question the difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced. Although closely connected with each other, there are a number of differences between the two national-level entrances offering admission to top engineering colleges in India. JEE Main is conducted for admission to NITs, IIITs and GFTIs. JEE Main is also the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced. On the other hand, JEE Advanced is conducted for admission to IITs. 

  • JEE Main is conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency). The exam is conducted twice a year.
  • JEE Advanced is conducted by one of seven participating IITs (Roorkee, Kharagpur, Delhi, Kanpur, Bombay, Hyderabad, and Guwahati) on a rotational basis. The exam is conducted once a year.
  • JEE Main 2023 first session is to be held in January and the second session in April 2023 while JEE Advanced will be conducted in June.

Read more on JEE Main vs JEE Advanced and the differences between the two engineering entrances based on their difficulty, syllabus, eligibility, pattern, etc.

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JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Highlights

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Highlights

Particulars JEE Main 2023 JEE Advanced 2023
Number of Attempts 3 (Attempting two sessions of the same year is counted as 1) 2
Candidates Appeared (2021) 9,39,008 1,41,699
Mode of Language 13 languages (English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu) 2 languages (English and Hindi)
Eligibility Qualified class 12th from a recognized boards Ranked among top 2,50,000 JEE Main rank holders
Number of Papers 3 2
Topics Covered Physics: Electronic Devices, EM Waves and Communication Systems;
Chemistry: Biomolecules and Chemistry in Everyday Life;
Mathematics: Sets, Relations and Functions, Statistics and Probability, Trigonometry and Mathematical Reasoning
Physics: Blackbody radiation, Kirchoff’s law, Newton’s law of cooling, Absorptive and Emissive powers, Wien's Displacement Law, Stefan’s Law;
Chemistry: Biomolecules and Chemistry in Everyday Life;
Mathematics: Algebra, Vectors, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, 
Conducting Authority JEE Apex Board (JAB) under National Testing Agency (NTA) IIT Bombay
Official Website jeemain.nta.nic.in jeeadv.ac.in

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Eligibility

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria

Anyone who qualifies the eligibility criteria can apply for JEE Main exam. However, only the top 2,50,000 JEE Main candidates are eligible to apply for JEE Advanced. Read more on JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria in the section below-

JEE Main Eligibility Criteria

  • JEE Main is the basic examination that has to be given by the students to seek admission in top engineering colleges- NITs, IIITs, GFTIs.
  • The students need to clear the following JEE Main 2023 Eligibility Criteria to apply for the exam-
Particulars JEE Main Eligibility
Qualifying exam Passed class 12 or qualifying exam in 2021, 2022 or 2023
Number of attempts Students can participate in the JEE Main examination for 3 consecutive years
Mandatory Subjects Should have passed the qualifying examination with
  1. B.Tech/ B.E
    • Physics
    • Mathematics
    • Any one of the following (Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Technical Vocational Subject),
  2. B.Arch
    • Mathematics
    • Physics
    • Chemistry
  3. B.Plan
    • Mathematics
Age Limit No age limit

JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria

  • To appear for JEE Advanced, the candidates have to clear JEE Main.
  • Authorities have also relaxed JEE Advanced 2023 eligibility criteria as one-time measures due to COVID-19. Candidates can check the details listed below-
Eligibility Particulars Details
Qualifying exam Passed class 12 examination in 2021, 2022 or 2023*
Number of attempts Students can participate in the JEE Main examination for only 2 consecutive years 
Age Limit The students of the General category should be born on or after October 1, 1997. Relaxation is provided to candidates of SC/ST/PwD of 5 years

*Provided the candidates have not appeared for JEE Advanced or have appeared only once. The candidate must also have appeared/ should appear in JEE Main and meet the cut off score of 2,50,000.


JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Attempts

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Number of Attempts

  • The maximum number of attempts each student can make for JEE Main and JEE Advanced is different.  
  • Candidates can appear for JEE Main thrice. Attempting the two sessions of the same year is counted as one. Check JEE Main 2023 Attempts
  • On the other hand, candidates can appear for JEE Advanced only twice in consecutive years. 

Must Read at Collegedunia-


JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Pattern

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Exam Pattern

JEE Main Exam Pattern is fixed. NTA releases the latest exam pattern each year along with the official notification. Meanwhile, JEE Advanced Exam Pattern is not fixed. The conducted IIT changes the type of questions asked each year. Read more on JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Exam Pattern below.

JEE Main Exam Pattern

  • JEE Main is held in 3 different papers for B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch and B.Planning. Candidates appear for
    • Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech,
    • Paper 2A for B.Arch admission or 
    • Paper 2 B for B.Planning admission.
  • JEE Main Exam Pattern had been revised last year with the introduction of internal choice among numerical-type questions.  
Specifications JEE Main Exam Pattern for Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) JEE Main Exam Pattern for Paper 2A (B.Arch) JEE Main Exam Pattern for Paper 2B (B. Planning)
Exam Mode CBT Mathematics and Aptitude- CBT Mode,
Drawing- Pen and paper mode
CBT
Subjects Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics Aptitude Test, Mathematics and Drawing Mathematics, Aptitude Test, and Planning Based Objective Type
Total Questions Asked 30 Questions (20 MCQs + 10 NAT) in each section 82 (Mathematics- 30; Aptitude- 50; Drawing- 2) 105 (Mathematics- 30; Aptitude- 50; Planning- 25)
Total Questions to be Answered 25 Questions (20 MCQs + 5 NAT) in each section 77 (Mathematics- 25; Aptitude- 50; Drawing- 2) 100 (Mathematics- 25; Aptitude- 50; Planning- 25)
Type of Questions Mathematics- 20 MCQs + 10 NAT;
Physics- 20 MCQs + 10 NAT
Chemistry- 20 MCQs + 10 NAT
Mathematics- 20 MCQs + 10 NAT;
Aptitude- 50 MCQs;
Drawing- 2 questions
Mathematics- 20 MCQs + 10 NAT;
Aptitude- 50 MCQs;
​Planning-based questions- MCQs
Medium of Exam English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu
Duration of Exam 3 Hours 3.5 Hours 3.5 Hours
Total Marks 300 400 400
Marking Scheme For MCQs: +4 for each correct response; -1 for each incorrect response; Unattempted questions will not be marked.
For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct response, no negative marking for incorrect answers or unattempted questions.
For MCQs: +4 for each correct response; -1 for each incorrect response; Unattempted questions will not be marked.
For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct response, no negative marking for incorrect answers or unattempted questions.
For Drawing Test: 2 questions of 100 marks
For MCQs: +4 for each correct response; -1 for each incorrect response; Unattempted questions will not be marked.
For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct response, no negative marking for incorrect answers or unattempted questions.
Details JEE Main B.E./B.Tech Pattern- Check Here JEE Main B.Arch Pattern- Check Here JEE Main B.Planning Pattern- Check Here

JEE Advanced Exam Pattern

  • JEE Advanced is held in two different papers- Paper 1 and Paper 2. Candidates must qualify both papers to qualify JEE Advanced.
  • For B.Arch admission at IITs, candidates must also qualify AAT paper after JEE Advanced. 
Specifications JEE Advanced Pattern for Paper 1 JEE Advanced Pattern for Paper 2 JEE Advanced Pattern for AAT
Exam Mode CBT CBT Offline
Subjects Physics;
Chemistry;
​Mathematics
Physics;
Chemistry;
Mathematics
Freehand Drawing; 
Geometrical Drawing;
Three Dimensional Perception;
Imagination and Aesthetic Sensitivity;
Architectural Awareness
Type of Questions MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) Numerical type Questions MCQs, Numerical type, Sketching and Drawing, etc.
Medium of Exam English and Hindi English and Hindi English
Duration of Exam 3 Hours 3 Hours 3 hours
Details JEE Advanced Pattern- Check Here JEE Advanced AAT Pattern- Check Here
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Syllabus

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Syllabus

Although both exams are conducted for B.E./B.Tech admission, JEE Main and JEE Advanced Syllabus differ. JEE Main Syllabus is based on Class 11th and 12th syllabus however candidates are required to study a few more topic for JEE Advanced. Read more on JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Syllabus in the section below.

JEE Main Syllabus

  • JEE Main Syllabus comprises the syllabus of CBSE class 11 and 12. 
    • JEE Main Syllabus for Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) covers topics from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
    • JEE Main Syllabus for Paper 2A (B.Arch) covers topics from Aptitude, Drawing, and Mathematics.
    • JEE Main Syllabus for Paper 2B (B.Plan) covers topics of Mathematics, Aptitude and Planning
  • Topics like Electronic Devices, Electromagnetic Waves and Communication Systems are included in JEE Main Physics but are not asked in JEE Advanced.
  • Similarly, some of the topics of Mathematics like Sets, Relations and Functions, Statistics and Probability, Trigonometry and Mathematical Reasoning are included in JEE Main but not in JEE Advanced.

JEE Advanced Syllabus

  • JEE Advanced Syllabus is usually lesser as compared to the syllabus for JEE Main. However, there are a few extra topics apart from the class 11th and 12th syllabus in JEE Advanced.
  • For e.g. JEE main does not include some of the topics of JEE Advanced like Thermal Physics, Electrochemistry, etc. Check JEE Advanced 2023 Syllabus
  • However, authorities have released a revised JEE Advanced 2023 Syllabus. The new syllabus includes topics from JEE Main that were not earlier included. Check JEE Advanced 2023 Syllabus

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Difficulty

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Difficulty

JEE Main and JEE Advanced are two national-level engineering entrance exams. Although the level of difficulty of any paper depends on each students’ preparation, when comparing the two, JEE Advanced is considered tougher than JEE Main. Read more on JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Difficulty to actually understand the details. 

JEE Main Difficulty Level

  • JEE Main is considered to be easier than JEE Advanced as it only examines the candidates based on class 11th and 12th syllabus.
  • The questions asked in JEE Main are usually direct formula-based and easier in nature when compared to JEE Advanced.
  • JEE Main usually tests only the speed of the candidate with 75 questions asked in the exam.  

JEE Advanced Difficulty Level

  • JEE Advanced is considered to be more difficult than JEE Main because it included other topics than the ones from class 11th and 12th.
  • JEE Advanced questions are concept-based, requiring in-dept knowledge of the topic.
  • The questions are also framed using two or three concepts in one.
  • JEE Advanced tests the speed as well as the problem-solving skills of the applicants. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced FAQs

Ques. How many times can a candidate appear in JEE Main examination?

Ans. Candidates can appear for JEE Main for 3 consecutive years. As per the revised pattern, JEE Main is conducted two  times a year and appearing in both the session in the same year is considered as one attempt.


Ques. Which syllabus should the candidate focus on JEE Mains or JEE Advanced?

Ans. The candidate must know that JEE Main is the qualifying examination for JEE Advanced. And only top 250000 rank holders are eligible to participate in JEE Advanced. Therefore, there a candidate is required to focus on both JEE Main and JEE Advanced Syllabus. 


Ques. Is JEE Main easier than JEE Advanced?

Ans. Although the difficulty level of the exam differs on basis of the candidates’ preparation, however, while comparing the two, JEE Main is considered easier as the exam tests the candidate only on the basis of class 11th and 12th syllabus. JEE Advanced on the other hand also includes topics that are not a part of JEE Main. The questions in JEE Advanced are also are more complex with two or more concepts used in a single question increasing the difficulty level. 


Ques. Is JEE Main necessary for JEE Advanced?

Ans. Yes. To be eligible to appear for JEE Advanced, it is mandatory for a candidate to appear for JEE Main exam first. Only the top 250000 rank holders in JEE Main are eligible for JEE Advanced. 


Ques. Which is first JEE Main or JEE Advanced?

Ans. JEE Main is conducted first followed by JEE Advanced. Candidates must qualify JEE Main first to be eligible to apply for JEE Advanced.


Ques. How many candidates take JEE Advanced?

Ans. Top 250000 rank holders in JEE Main are eligible to apply for JEE Advanced. In 2021, 141699 candidates had appeared for JEE Advanced Paper 1 and 2 while 41862 had qualified the exam for B.Tech admission to IITs.


*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

JEE Main 2023 : 51 answered questions

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Ques. My friend has got 77K AIR in JEE Main. He wanted to know if he should go for GNDU Amritsar or GNE Ludhiana?

● Top Answer By Sagardeep on 02 Mar 23

You are considering pursuing either mechanical engineering or electrical engineering. We highly recommend you consider GNE Ludhiana. The Amritsar Campus of GNDU only offers three B.Tech streams: Computer Science, Electronics and Communication, and Urban Planning. However, the mechanical and civil engineering streams are available at the regional campus of Sathiala and were established in the 2014 batch. The faculty for Computer Science and Electronics at GNDU is exceptional. However, it is important for you to research placement statistics and other relevant information before making a final decision. If your rank is 77k, there may be a slight chance for you to get into mechanical engineering at GNE. However, there is an option for you to change streams after one year if there are any vacant seats in your preferred department....Read more

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Ques. Which is better: JEE or BITSAT?

● Top Answer By Tanvi Jaipuriar on 27 Feb 23

Comparing competitive exams or choosing one over the other is a very illogical thing to do. The entire agenda behind a competitive exam is to build your knowledge and test you on the basis of the same. So unless you defer from gaining the right set of knowledge, any competitive exam will bear the same result. I have a very effective technique to tackle this issue. Prepare in such a way that you are appearing for JEE Advanced. This is because the course and structure of Advanced are such that once you are ready to clear that, you can clear every other exam too. This means your focus will not be divided and all you can do is focus on one exam. Keep focusing on the preparation for JEE Advanced and when your BITSAT is around the corner start solving mock tests to improve your speed. Prepare additionally for English and Logical Reasoning questions. BITSAT focuses more on your speed than the clarity of your concepts. So a mere preparation of 3 months before BITSAT is more than enough provided that your concepts are clear from JEE Advanced preparation. So instead of choosing one single exam, prepare for JEE Advanced and target both as the future is unpredictable. ...Read more

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Ques. How can I score 250 in JEE Mains?

● Top Answer By Juhi Gupta on 16 Feb 23

A score of 250 out of 360 in Mains is difficult but not impossible. Your performance depends on your capacity to grasp concepts and your former knowledge. For some, it might be a cakewalk while for some it might be an unattainable number despite the relentless effort. The syllabus is elaborate so one should have a lot of time to prepare. If you are serious about scoring 250 follow the simple tips I have mentioned below Aim for a score that is higher than 250 and then only after tremendous efforts will you be able to touch the 250 mark. Choose a wise mentor who will guide you throughout your exam preparation. Continuous revision will do wonders for your preparation. Even if you are confident in a certain topic, keep revising so that the flow is not broken. Work on your weaknesses rather than ignoring them. My friend had joined the Filo-app. One-to-one sessions with tutors helped her a lot in making her understand and practice Math concepts. Take mock tests regularly, about once or twice a week. This helps you identify the areas you need to work on and prepares you well. Lastly, you need to stay optimistic as this journey you have embarked on is tough and requires a lot of determination and motivation. Take care of your health, both physical and mental....Read more

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Ques. What are the minimum marks required for JEE Main to get into an NIT?

● Top Answer By Vedant Mishra on 22 Apr 22

You need to have a higher rank if you want a decent NIT and a good branch. Here is an estimated list of cutoffs for a few reputed NITs.  Institute  Estimated Cutoff (General category) NIT Warangal 1000 - 7000 NIT Trichy  500 - 5000 NIT Surathkal  300-5000 NIT Jaipur  1200-8000 NIT Allahabad  500-10000 These are approximate opening and closing ranks and the cutoff for these institutes varies each year. ...Read more

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Ques. Is NCERT sufficient for the JEE mains chemistry?

● Top Answer By Adrija Mukharjee on 25 Apr 22

NCERT books can help a lot to prepare for JEE Mains Chemistry. But it is not sufficient.  Inorganic Chemistry is the most scoring part. And for this section, NCERT books are a must. In past years there were questions directly from NCERT. But read your class notes and textbooks as well.  For Physical and Inorganic Chemistry, NCERT isn’t enough. You need to practice a lot, in order to have a good command of these sections. For these sections, go through the NCERT, make notes for important sections and solve practice series. ...Read more

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