JEE Main 2027 Exam Pattern: 75 Questions, 300 Marks, Marking Scheme and Paper Structure

JEE Main 2027 is a national-level computer-based entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in two sessions — January and April. Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) has 75 compulsory questions for 300 marks across Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, with a duration of 3 hours. The official 2027 information bulletin is expected at jeemain.nta.nic.in; NTA’s exam calendar (September 2026) has tentatively set Session 1 for January 22–30, 2027.

• JEE Main 2027 Paper 1 is a 180-minute computer-based test with 75 questions for 300 marks.
• The exam has 3 sections: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics — each carrying 100 marks.
• Each subject has 20 MCQs in Section A and 5 numerical value questions in Section B — all compulsory.
• Correct MCQ earns +4 marks; a wrong MCQ deducts 1 mark. Numerical questions carry no negative marking.
• The exam is held in 2 sessions (January and April); the pattern remains identical across both sessions.
• NTA uses score normalisation to account for difficulty variation across multiple shifts.
• You can appear in both sessions — NTA considers your best score for the final merit list.

JEE Main Exam Pattern 2027: Overview

JEE Main 2027 is conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) by NTA. The exam has three papers: Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech admissions, Paper 2A for B.Arch, and Paper 2B for B.Planning. Each paper runs for 3 hours, and the same pattern applies across both the January and April sessions. The official 2027 information bulletin is yet to be released; the table below reflects the confirmed 2025–2026 structure, which NTA is expected to continue in 2027.

JEE Main 2027 Paper 1 is a 180-minute computer-based test with 75 questions for 300 marks.

JEE Main Exam Pattern 2027: Important Dates

NTA’s examination calendar (released 16 September 2026) has tentatively set JEE Main 2027 Session 1 for January 22–24 and 28–30, 2027. The official information bulletin — which will confirm the exact registration window, admit card schedule, and Session 2 dates — is expected at jeemain.nta.nic.in around October–November 2026. All dates below are provisional until that bulletin is published.

Source: NTA JEE Main Official Website

JEE Main 2027: Detailed Exam Pattern

JEE Main 2027 has three distinct papers. Paper 1 targets B.E./B.Tech admissions, Paper 2A targets B.Arch students, and Paper 2B targets B.Planning students. You can appear for Paper 1 only, Paper 2 only, or both. The pattern below is based on the confirmed 2025–2026 structure and is expected to remain unchanged for 2027.

Paper 1 — B.E./B.Tech

Paper 1 has 75 compulsory questions for 300 marks. Each subject contains 20 MCQs in Section A and 5 numerical value questions in Section B. All Section B questions are mandatory — there is no option to skip or choose from a larger set since 2025.

Note: All 5 questions in Section B are compulsory. The option to attempt any 5 from 10 was removed from 2025 onwards.

Paper 2A — B.Arch

Paper 2A combines a computer-based test for Mathematics and Aptitude with a pen-and-paper drawing test. The drawing section is conducted on a drawing sheet and is assessed manually by evaluators. Paper 2A totals 400 marks across 77 questions.

Paper 2B — B.Planning

Paper 2B is fully computer-based. It replaces Drawing with a Planning Based Questions section covering urban planning concepts, government schemes, and socioeconomic data interpretation. Paper 2B totals 400 marks across 100 questions.

JEE Main Marking Scheme 2027

The JEE Main 2027 marking scheme differs by question type. MCQs carry a –1 penalty for wrong answers — random guessing can damage your score. Numerical value questions carry no negative marking, so you should attempt every one. The marking below applies uniformly across Paper 1, Paper 2A, and Paper 2B wherever each question type appears.

Negative marking of 1 mark applies to all MCQs — avoid random guessing, especially in Physics and Chemistry.

There is no negative marking for numerical/integer type questions — attempt all 5 Section B questions in each subject.

Section B in JEE Main 2027 is compulsory — you must answer all 5 numerical questions per subject.

JEE Main Subject-Wise Exam Pattern 2027

Each of the three subjects in JEE Main 2027 Paper 1 carries equal weight — 100 marks. This breaks down as 80 marks from 20 MCQs in Section A and 20 marks from 5 numerical questions in Section B. The syllabus spans Class XI and XII topics as specified in the NTA information bulletin.

Mathematics

Mathematics is the most time-intensive section in JEE Main 2027, carrying 100 marks. Calculus, Algebra, and Coordinate Geometry consistently account for the highest share of questions across recent sessions.

Physics

Physics in JEE Main 2027 carries 100 marks and tests both conceptual clarity and calculation speed. Mechanics and Electromagnetism together account for approximately 50% of the Physics weightage in recent sessions.

Chemistry

Chemistry in JEE Main 2027 covers Physical, Inorganic, and Organic Chemistry for a total of 100 marks. Physical and Organic Chemistry each tend to carry the highest question frequency — together making up roughly 60–65% of the Chemistry paper in recent sessions.

JEE Main Question Types 2027

JEE Main 2027 uses two question types in Paper 1 and Paper 2B: MCQs and numerical value questions. Paper 2A adds a drawing test. Understanding how each type works lets you build the right answering strategy before exam day.

MCQ — Single Correct (Section A)

Each MCQ in Section A has four options with exactly one correct answer. A correct selection earns +4 marks; a wrong selection loses 1 mark. If you cannot confidently eliminate at least three options, skipping protects your score. MCQs form 80% of Paper 1 (240 out of 300 marks) — Section A is the highest-stakes portion of the exam.

Numerical Value Questions — Section B

Section B questions ask you to calculate a numerical answer and enter it via the on-screen virtual keypad. There are no multiple-choice options — you must derive the answer independently. Responses are typically non-negative integers or decimals. No negative marking applies, so you should attempt every Section B question. Section B contributes 20 marks per subject (60 marks total for Paper 1).

Drawing Test — Paper 2A (B.Arch) Only

The drawing test is offline, conducted on a drawing sheet. It has 2 questions worth 50 marks each (100 marks total). Questions assess spatial understanding, proportion, 2D and 3D visualisation, and freehand drawing ability. Unlike the CBT sections, the drawing test is evaluated manually by assessors. No negative marking applies.

JEE Main Exam Pattern: Changes in 2027 vs Previous Year

The JEE Main exam pattern has been stable since 2025, when NTA made its last major revision — removing optional questions from Section B and making all 5 numerical questions compulsory. As of October 2026, no changes to the 2027 pattern have been announced. The official 2027 bulletin is awaited; the table below shows the confirmed history alongside the expected 2027 structure.

The JEE Main pattern changed in 2025: Section B now has 5 compulsory numerical questions instead of 10 optional ones — plan your preparation accordingly.

If NTA revises the 2027 pattern in the official bulletin, this page will be updated. Always check the latest details at jeemain.nta.nic.in.

How to Prepare Based on JEE Main Exam Pattern

Your preparation strategy must align directly with the JEE Main 2027 pattern. The structure — 20 compulsory MCQs and 5 compulsory numericals per subject, with –1 for wrong MCQs and zero for wrong numericals — creates clear, actionable priorities.

1. Treat Section B as guaranteed marks. The 5 numerical questions per subject carry 20 marks with no negative marking. Scoring all 15 Section B questions correctly adds 60 marks to your total at zero risk. Practice computing answers and entering them via a virtual keypad in every mock test.
2. Apply strict MCQ skip logic. A wrong MCQ costs you 5 marks net (–1 deducted plus the +4 you missed). Skip the question if you can eliminate only one or two options. Guess only when you can confidently narrow it to two choices — the expected value then turns positive.
3. Allocate time by subject, not by paper order. Mathematics is the most time-demanding subject in Paper 1. Target 60–70 minutes on Mathematics, 50–60 on Physics, and 50–55 on Chemistry. Adjust this split based on your mock-test performance.
4. Use NTA’s CBT practice interface. Paper 1 is fully computer-based. Practise on NTA’s official mock test platform (available at jeemain.nta.nic.in) to build familiarity with the virtual calculator and numerical-entry keypad before exam day.
5. Prepare for both sessions with the same pattern. Session 1 (January) and Session 2 (April) follow the identical paper structure. NTA’s normalisation adjusts for difficulty differences across shifts. Your best percentile across both sessions counts for the merit list.
6. Balance Class XI and XII topics equally. Approximately 40–50% of JEE Main questions in recent sessions came from Class XI topics. Do not neglect Class XI material while focusing on the final-year syllabus in your last revision months.
7. Build per-subject time benchmarks from mock tests. There is no per-section time lock — you manage the full 3 hours freely. Use mock tests to identify your slowest topics and set realistic per-question targets before the actual exam.