JEE Main Exam Pattern 2027: Marks, Questions & Duration

Dakshita Bhatia

19

Oct 27, 2026

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JEE Main Exam Pattern 2027: Marks, Questions & Duration

JEE Main Exam Pattern 2027

The JEE Main Exam Pattern 2027 explains the question distribution, total marks, marking scheme, exam duration and examination mode for the three papers. JEE Main includes Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech, Paper 2A for B.Arch and Paper 2B for B.Planning. Under the established exam pattern, Paper 1 carries 300 marks, while Papers 2A and 2B carry 400 marks each.

Understanding the JEE Main 2027 exam pattern helps candidates plan their preparation according to their chosen course. Engineering aspirants must prepare for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, while B.Arch and B.Planning applicants must also prepare for aptitude and course-specific sections. Candidates should refer to the official NTA Information Bulletin for the final rules applicable to JEE Main 2027.

JEE Main 2027 Subject-Wise Exam Pattern

Under the established JEE Main Paper 1 pattern, the examination covers three subjects: Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Each subject carries 100 marks and includes 25 questions, comprising 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in Section A and five numerical-value questions in Section B. The paper contains 75 questions carrying a total of 300 marks.

Section A requires candidates to select the correct answer from the given options. Section B contains numerical-value questions in which candidates calculate and enter their answers. Since NTA discontinued the optional selection of numerical questions from JEE Main 2025, candidates have to attempt all five numerical-value questions in each subject under that pattern.

All three subjects carry equal weightage, so candidates should allocate sufficient preparation time to Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. Regular practice with JEE practice questions can help students become familiar with both question formats and improve their problem-solving accuracy.

The following table summarises the established Paper 1 structure. Candidates should verify the final JEE Main 2027 question distribution against the applicable NTA Information Bulletin when it becomes available.

SubjectSection ASection BTotal Marks
Mathematics20 MCQs5 numerical-value questions100
Physics20 MCQs5 numerical-value questions100
Chemistry20 MCQs5 numerical-value questions100
Total60 MCQs15 numerical-value questions300

Also Read: JEE Mains Syllabus 2027 PDF, Weightage, Important Topics

JEE Main 2027 Paper-Wise Exam Pattern

The JEE Main paper-wise exam pattern depends on the course a candidate wants to pursue. Paper 1 is for admission to B.E./B.Tech programmes, Paper 2A is for B.Arch, and Paper 2B is for B.Planning. Each paper assesses a different combination of subjects and skills.

PaperSubjectsNumber of QuestionsTotal Marks
Paper 1: B.E./B.TechMathematics, Physics and Chemistry75300
Paper 2A: B.ArchMathematics, Aptitude and Drawing77400
Paper 2B: B.PlanningMathematics, Aptitude and Planning100400

Paper 2A: B.Arch Exam Pattern

JEE Main Paper 2A is intended for candidates seeking admission to Bachelor of Architecture programmes. It includes Mathematics, an Aptitude Test and a Drawing Test. Mathematics carries 100 marks, Aptitude carries 200 marks and Drawing carries 100 marks.

Under the established pattern, Paper 2A contains 25 Mathematics questions, 50 Aptitude questions and two Drawing Test questions, making a total of 77 questions for 400 marks. Mathematics includes 20 MCQs and five numerical-value questions. The Aptitude Test assesses relevant reasoning and spatial abilities, while the Drawing Test evaluates drawing and visualisation skills. Mathematics and Aptitude are computer-based, whereas the Drawing Test is conducted offline.

Paper 2B: B.Planning Exam Pattern

JEE Main Paper 2B is intended for candidates seeking admission to Bachelor of Planning programmes. It includes Mathematics, an Aptitude Test and Planning-based questions. Mathematics carries 100 marks, Aptitude carries 200 marks and Planning carries 100 marks.

Under the established pattern, Paper 2B contains 25 Mathematics questions, 50 Aptitude questions and 25 Planning-based questions, giving a total of 100 questions for 400 marks. Mathematics includes 20 MCQs and five numerical-value questions, while the Aptitude and Planning sections contain objective questions. Unlike Paper 2A, Paper 2B does not include a Drawing Test and is conducted entirely in computer-based test mode.

Candidates preparing for these examinations can practise using JEE Main previous-year question papers. B.Arch and B.Planning applicants should select papers relevant to their intended examination and review the applicable instructions before practising.

Also Read: JEE 2027 Preparation Strategy, Formulas, Study Material PDFs

JEE Main Total Marks, Duration and Exam Mode

Under the established examination structure, JEE Main Paper 1 carries 300 marks, while Papers 2A and 2B each carry 400 marks. The standard duration is three hours for an individual paper. Candidates appearing for both Paper 2A and Paper 2B together are allotted three hours and 30 minutes under the established pattern.

The marking scheme for the objective and numerical-value questions awards four marks for each correct answer and deducts one mark for each incorrect answer. Unanswered questions receive zero marks. The Drawing Test in Paper 2A has its own evaluation requirements, so candidates should not apply the objective-question marking table to the Drawing Test without checking the official instructions.

Response to an MCQ or Numerical-Value QuestionMarks
Correct answer+4
Incorrect answer-1
Unanswered question0

Negative Marking in JEE Main 2027

Under the established JEE Main marking scheme, negative marking applies to both Section A and Section B of Paper 1. Candidates lose one mark for each incorrect answer, including an incorrect numerical-value answer. Accuracy is therefore important when deciding which questions to attempt.

For example, if a candidate answers five questions correctly and two incorrectly, the five correct answers earn 20 marks, while the two incorrect answers deduct two marks. The resulting score is 18 marks. Questions left unanswered receive zero marks and do not reduce the score.

JEE Main 2027 Exam Duration and Mode

Paper 1 and Paper 2B are conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode. In Paper 2A, Mathematics and Aptitude are computer-based, while the Drawing Test is completed offline on a drawing sheet.

The usual shifts for three-hour papers under the established pattern are 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon and 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Candidates should check their admit cards for their allotted shift and reporting instructions. Compensatory time for eligible candidates with disabilities depends on the applicable NTA rules and should be verified in the official examination documents.

Candidates preparing for Paper 1 can attempt a JEE Main mock test under a three-hour time limit. Timed practice can help students improve question selection, accuracy and time management across all three subjects.

It is also important to distinguish raw marks from the NTA Score. Raw marks represent the marks obtained in an examination paper, whereas the NTA Score is a normalised percentile score used in the result and ranking process. They are not interchangeable.

Important Changes in the JEE Main Exam Pattern

One of the most significant recent changes to the JEE Main exam pattern concerns the numerical-value questions in Section B. In a public notice dated 17 October 2024, NTA announced that the optional selection of numerical questions would be discontinued from JEE Main 2025. The examination returned to a format in which Section B contains only five numerical-value questions per subject, and candidates must attempt all five.

From JEE Main 2021 to 2024, each subject provided ten numerical-value questions, from which candidates could choose five. The revised structure removed this internal choice and reduced the number of questions provided in Paper 1 from 90 to 75.

Exam FeatureEarlier Format (2021–2024)Format Introduced in 2025
Numerical questions per subject10 provided5 provided
Section B choiceChoose 5 out of 10Attempt all 5
Total questions in Paper 190 provided75 provided
Questions required for the full paper7575

This change was introduced in 2025 and is the established format carried forward from that year. Candidates should not assume that additional numerical questions will be available for selection. Leaving a question unanswered earns zero marks, while incorrect answers attract the applicable negative marking.

For the original announcement, candidates can refer to the official NTA notice on discontinuation of optional questions in Section B. Any further changes for JEE Main 2027 should be checked against the applicable 2027 Information Bulletin.

Also Read: JEE Main 2027 Notification OUT: Session 1 Dates, Live Updates

JEE Main Exam Pattern 2027: Conclusion

The JEE Main Exam Pattern 2027 helps candidates understand the subject-wise question distribution, total marks, exam duration and marking scheme for Paper 1, Paper 2A and Paper 2B. Engineering aspirants should focus on Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, while B.Arch and B.Planning candidates must prepare for their respective aptitude and course-specific sections. Understanding numerical-value questions and negative marking can help candidates make better decisions during the examination.

Before attempting full-length mock tests, review the paper-wise structure and practise MCQs and numerical-value questions under timed conditions. Always refer to the official NTA bulletin for the final rules applicable to the 2027 examination.

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