JEE Main Paper 1 pattern at a glance
The figures below describe Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) of JEE Main 2026, as reported from the National Testing Agency's information bulletin by several education news sources. The NTA's bulletin on the official JEE Main website is the authority, and the pattern can change between sessions or years.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-based test |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Subjects | Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry |
| Questions per subject | 25: Section A with 20 multiple-choice questions and Section B with 5 numerical-value questions |
| Total questions | 75, all compulsory |
| Marks per subject | 100 |
| Total marks | 300 |
| Correct answer | +4 |
| Incorrect answer | −1 (both sections) |
| Unattempted | 0 |
Section A and Section B explained
Section A: multiple-choice questions. Each subject has 20 questions with four options and one correct answer. You can use elimination and back-substitution, and wrong answers cost one mark.
Section B: numerical-value questions. Each subject has 5 questions whose answers you type using an on-screen keypad, as a number. There are no options. For questions asking for a rounded value, the answer is entered as an integer after rounding as the question specifies. These questions now carry the same negative marking as the MCQs. Because you cannot eliminate options, they reward a clean method and a double-check.
How the pattern has changed
| Period | Paper 1 structure | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Before 2019 | Offline paper, 90 questions, MCQs only | Different structure: 30 questions per subject |
| 2020 to 2024 | 90 questions (30 per subject): 20 MCQs and 10 numerical questions, of which 5 were to be attempted | So 75 questions were to be answered; the optional numerical questions carried no negative marking in some years |
| 2025 | 75 questions, 5 numerical questions per subject, all compulsory | Optional questions removed |
| 2026 | 75 questions, same structure | Negative marking of −1 applied to numerical-value questions, as reported |
Because details of the earlier years varied and sources differ on some points, treat this table as a guide to how the exam has evolved and consult the bulletin for the pattern of any specific year. The practical point is that older mocks and older papers may use the optional-question format, which no longer applies.
Question styles in each section, with worked examples
The examples below are original and show the kind of reasoning each section asks for.
Section A, Mathematics (MCQ). If α and β are the roots of x² − 5x + 6 = 0, find α² + β². Here α + β = 5 and αβ = 6, so α² + β² = (α + β)² − 2αβ = 25 − 12 = 13. The shortcut is to use the identity rather than find the roots.
Section A, Physics (MCQ). A projectile is launched at 20 m/s at 45° to the horizontal. Taking g = 10 m/s², what is its range? R = u² sin 2θ ÷ g = 400 × 1 ÷ 10 = 40 m. Options usually include 20 m and 80 m, which come from forgetting the sine or the factor.
Section A, Chemistry (MCQ). Which has the highest first ionisation enthalpy: N, O, C or F? Fluorine has the highest in this group, because of its high effective nuclear charge and small size. Nitrogen is higher than oxygen, a well-known exception, but fluorine exceeds both.
Section B, Chemistry (numerical). What is the molarity of a solution containing 4 g of NaOH (molar mass 40 g/mol) in 500 mL? Moles = 4 ÷ 40 = 0.1; volume = 0.5 L; molarity = 0.1 ÷ 0.5 = 0.2 M. If the answer is asked as a number after scaling (for example, in units of 10⁻¹ M), the question says so, and you should apply that instruction before typing.
Section B, Mathematics (numerical). Two fair dice are thrown. The probability that the sum is 7 is p. Find 6p. There are 6 favourable outcomes out of 36, so p = 1/6 and 6p = 1. The risk with a numerical question is an inattentive last step, such as typing p instead of 6p.
A good mock has all these styles in the right proportions and explains each answer with the method, not only the option.
Marking scheme and worked examples
| Scenario | Calculation | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 60 attempted, 48 correct, 12 wrong | 48 × 4 − 12 × 1 | 180 |
| 70 attempted, 50 correct, 20 wrong | 50 × 4 − 20 × 1 | 180 |
| 75 attempted, 60 correct, 15 wrong | 60 × 4 − 15 × 1 | 225 |
| 50 attempted, 45 correct, 5 wrong | 45 × 4 − 5 × 1 | 175 |
The first two rows give the same score from different strategies: the first attempted ten fewer questions with higher accuracy. The fourth shows that a candidate who attempts fewer but is very accurate can come close to one who attempts everything with lower accuracy. The break-even accuracy for an extra attempt is 20%, so it pays to attempt questions where you are more than 20% likely to be right, and not otherwise. For numerical-value questions that you cannot compute, that likelihood is essentially zero.
Papers 2A and 2B
For candidates seeking admission to B.Arch (Paper 2A) and B.Planning (Paper 2B), the papers have their own structure, with Mathematics and Aptitude sections common to both and a Drawing Test for B.Arch. According to reports on the 2026 bulletin, the optional questions in Section B were removed in these papers also. If you are preparing for these papers, take the structure from the bulletin, and note that the mock tests described on this page are for Paper 1.
Sessions, scores and normalisation
JEE Main is held in more than one session in a year, and candidates may appear in one or both. The exam is conducted over several days and shifts, and because papers in different shifts differ in difficulty, the NTA converts raw marks to a normalised percentile score. For candidates who appear in both sessions, the better of the scores is generally used. For you as a candidate, this means two things: your first session is a real opportunity, not a practice, and raw marks in a mock cannot be compared directly with those of a friend in another shift. The details of the scoring method are set out in the NTA bulletin.
What the pattern means for your mocks
- Use 75-question, three-hour mocks with 25 questions per subject and a 20 + 5 split.
- Check that the mock applies −1 to numerical-value questions; older mocks may not.
- Practise typing answers with an on-screen keypad, if the test platform allows it.
- Rehearse a time plan: roughly 35-40 minutes for Chemistry, 55 for Physics and 70 for Mathematics is a common starting point, with 15-20 minutes to return to marked questions.
- Test a subject sequence over several mocks.
Checklist: is this mock faithful to the current pattern?
| Check | Faithful mock | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| Questions | 75 in total, 25 per subject | 90 questions, with options to skip |
| Split | 20 MCQs and 5 numerical per subject | 10 numerical questions with choice |
| Marking | +4, −1 for both types | No negative marking for numerical questions |
| Duration | 180 minutes | Much longer or shorter |
| Mode | Computer-based | Paper-only format |
Use the JEE Main mock test strategy to sequence your tests, and browse the JEE Main hub for available papers. Subject pages: Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
Disclaimer and sources: the pattern was checked in October 2026 against reports of the NTA's 2026 information bulletin and the NTA website. Some historical details differ between sources. TestMint is independent of the NTA; please confirm the pattern in the official bulletin.
