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Conducted by IIT Roorkee · 17 May 2026

JEE Advanced 2026 Exam Pattern

Confirmed pattern, live today: asymmetric Paper 1 (48 questions) and Paper 2 (54 questions), updated marking scheme with milder –1 partial marking, chapter-wise weightage, 8-year topper score analysis, and rank-prediction data from official JIC reports.

360Total Marks
102Total Questions
2Papers
17 MayExam Day
2.5LEligible

Table of Contents

Key Highlights What's New in 2026 Paper Structure Paper 1 Sections Paper 2 Sections Marking Scheme Partial Marking Explained 8-Year Analysis Marks vs Rank Subject Weightage Chapter Weightage Strategy Tips FAQs

Introduction to JEE Advanced 2026

JEE Advanced is India's most competitive engineering entrance examination and the only gateway to the prestigious B.Tech, integrated, and dual-degree programmes offered by the IITs. The 2026 edition is being conducted today, Sunday, 17 May 2026, by IIT Roorkee. The complete and final pattern stands released on jeeadv.ac.in.

What sets JEE Advanced apart is that its pattern is not fixed by convention — each conducting IIT introduces small but meaningful tweaks. For 2026, IIT Roorkee has finalised a notable shift: the two papers are now asymmetric. Paper 1 carries 48 questions, Paper 2 carries 54. The total marks remain at 360. Partial-marking penalties have been softened to –1 across multi-correct sections, and Integer Type questions in Paper 2 now carry –1 negative marking (earlier, no penalty applied).

A total of 2,50,182 candidates from JEE Main 2026 have qualified to appear today. The qualifying cutoff for General category stood at 93.4123549 percentile. Centres are operational across India and several overseas locations.

Confirmed Today · 17 May 2026

What's New in JEE Advanced 2026

Three confirmed changes from the 2024–2025 pattern

  • Asymmetric paper structure: Paper 1 now has 16 questions per subject (48 total). Paper 2 has 18 questions per subject (54 total). Earlier years used identical counts in both papers. Total marks remain 360.
  • Multi-correct penalty reduced from –2 to –1: Wrong answers in multi-correct MCQs now cost just one mark. Partial marking is now a stronger tool than in any past year.
  • Integer Type in Paper 2 now penalised: Integer Type questions in Paper 2 (Section 4) carry –1 negative marking. Previously these had zero negative. Attempt only when confident in your computed answer.
Implication: The exam is slightly longer (54 questions in Paper 2 vs the historical 51) but each question carries a marginally lower weight. The softer –1 penalty on multi-correct questions rewards attempting partial answers more aggressively than ever before. Conversely, the new –1 on Paper 2 integers means blind guessing on numericals is now risky.

JEE Advanced 2026: Key Highlights

FeatureDetails
Conducting Body (2026)IIT Roorkee
Exam Date17 May 2026 (Sunday) — being held today
Mode of ExamComputer-Based Test (online only)
Number of PapersTwo: Paper 1 and Paper 2 (both compulsory)
Duration of Each Paper3 hours (4 hours for PwD candidates)
Paper 1 Timing9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Paper 2 Timing2:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Total Questions102 — Paper 1: 48 / Paper 2: 54
Subjects CoveredPhysics, Chemistry, Mathematics
LanguagesEnglish and Hindi (can switch during exam)
Total Marks360 marks (180 per paper)
Candidates Eligible2,50,182 (top JEE Main 2026 qualifiers)
Official Websitejeeadv.ac.in

Paper Structure: How Each Paper is Organised

Both papers cover Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. In 2026, the papers are asymmetric — Paper 1 is shorter (48 questions), Paper 2 is longer (54 questions), but both carry 180 marks each.

SubjectP1 QuestionsP1 MarksP2 QuestionsP2 MarksCombined Marks
Physics16601860120
Chemistry16601860120
Mathematics16601860120
Total4818054180360
Key change in 2026: Paper 1 and Paper 2 are asymmetric — Paper 1 has 16 questions per subject (48 total) while Paper 2 has 18 questions per subject (54 total). Total marks remain 360 as in 2024 and 2025.
Morning Session: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Paper 1: Section-Wise Structure

Based on confirmed JEE Advanced 2026 pattern

SectionQuestion TypeQuestionsPositiveNegativeMax / Subject
Section 1Single Correct MCQ (SCQ)4+3–112
Section 2Multi-Correct MCQ (partial marking)4+4–116
Section 3Numerical Value Type4+4016
Section 4Match the Column (Single Correct)4+4–116
Per Subject Total16——60
16
Questions / Subject
48
Total Questions
60
Marks / Subject
180
Total Marks
Afternoon Session: 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Paper 2: Section-Wise Structure

Paper 2 carries 18 questions per subject — two more than Paper 1

SectionQuestion TypeQuestionsPositiveNegativeMax / Subject
Section 1Paragraph / Comprehension Based4+208
Section 2Single Correct MCQ (SCQ)4+3–112
Section 3Multiple Correct Questions5+4–120
Section 4Integer Type Questions5+4–120
Per Subject Total18——60
18
Questions / Subject
54
Total Questions
60
Marks / Subject
180
Total Marks
Key difference between papers: Paper 1 Section 4 uses Match-the-Column (+4/–1). Paper 2 Section 1 uses Paragraph-based (+2/no negative). Integer Type questions in Paper 2 now carry –1 negative marking in 2026 — earlier years had zero negative on numerical-type questions in Paper 2.

Overall JEE Advanced 2026 Exam Pattern

Combined summary of both papers

PaperQuestions / SubjectTotal QuestionsMarks / SubjectTotal Marks
Paper 1164860180
Paper 2185460180
Total34102120360

Marking Scheme: Full / Partial / Zero / Negative

Section-wise marking rules for both papers — JEE Advanced 2026

Section TypeCorrectWrongUnattemptedPartial Marking?
Paper 1 — Single Correct MCQ+3–10No
Paper 1 — Multi-Correct MCQ+4–10Yes (+1/+2/+3)
Paper 1 — Numerical Value+400No
Paper 1 — Match the Column+4–10No
Paper 2 — Paragraph Based+200No
Paper 2 — Single Correct MCQ+3–10No
Paper 2 — Multi-Correct MCQ+4–10Yes (+1/+2/+3)
Paper 2 — Integer Type+4–10No
Key insight for 2026: Multi-Correct MCQs now carry a milder –1 penalty (down from –2 in earlier years), making them safer to attempt. Integer Type questions in Paper 2 now have –1 negative marking — attempt only when confident in the computed answer.

Partial Marking Logic Explained (Multi-Correct MCQs)

JEE Advanced's unique scoring system — wrong-answer penalty is now –1 in 2026

All Correct
All 4 correct options selected, no wrong option marked
+4
3 of 4 Correct
3 correct chosen, 1 missed, no wrong option
+3
2 Correct, None Wrong
2 correct out of 3+ correct options, no wrong marked
+2
1 Correct, None Wrong
1 correct option marked, no wrong option selected
+1
Any Wrong Marked
Even 1 wrong option selected, along with any number of correct
–1
Unattempted
No option selected — question left blank
0
Strategy: With the –1 penalty (milder than –2 in past years), partial marking in Multi-Correct questions is now a stronger tool. Mark only the options you are 100% sure about. If 2 out of 3 options look correct and 1 is doubtful, secure your +2 by marking only the 2 confirmed ones.
8-Year Analysis · ABJ Sir · Competishun

JEE Advanced 2018–2025: Toughness, Topper Scores & Marks vs Rank

A verified audit of 8 years — built on 2,253 official JIC anchor points from jeeadv.ac.in. Scores from 2019 (max 372) and 2020 (max 396) normalised to /360 for fair comparison.

The 8-Year Picture

Single most reliable signal of paper toughness: AIR-1's score.

🔴 Toughest
2022
IIT Bombay
AIR-1 Score314 / 360
Difficulty9.5 / 10 (V.Tough)

Most punishing paper in the 8-year window. Every section was lengthy and tricky. Even toppers couldn't escape the difficulty.

🟢 Most Scoring
2024
IIT Madras
AIR-1 Score355 / 360
Difficulty7.0 / 10 (Moderate)

Chemistry was unusually scoring — a great equaliser. Even AIR-1000 cleared 233/360, the highest in 8 years.

Spread of 41 marks between the toughest and easiest top scores over 8 years. Consecutive years routinely swing 20–35 marks. Any year-to-year prediction must account for this variance — anchoring expectations to a single prior year is risky.

Difficulty & Topper Score Snapshot

All 8 years at a glance — conducting IIT, data-anchored difficulty, AIR-1 raw score, and verdict.

YearConducting IITDifficulty*AIR-1 ScoreVerdict
2018IIT Kanpur7.75 (Mod)337 / 360P1 easy, P2 hard
2019IIT Roorkee8.25 (Mod-T)346 / 372Maths brutal; Physics moderate
2020IIT Delhi8.75 (Tough)†352 / 396COVID year; relaxed 5% cutoff
2021IIT Kharagpur8.5 (Tough)348 / 360Lengthy, calculation-heavy
2022IIT Bombay9.5 (V.Tough)314 / 360Toughest in 8-year window
2023IIT Guwahati8.0 (Mod-T)341 / 360Physics + Maths brutal
2024IIT Madras7.0 (Mod)355 / 360Most scoring; Chem unusually easy
2025IIT Kanpur7.75 (Mod-T)332 / 360Physics nightmare

* Data-anchored difficulty values derived from rank-distribution patterns (LOO cross-validation across 8 years). † 2020 was widely rated 7.0–8.0 publicly, but its rank distribution behaved as 8.75 due to COVID-affected candidate pool and relaxed cutoffs.

Source: Official JIC reports (jeeadv.ac.in) for 2018–2025. Scores normalised to /360 where max marks differed (2019: 372, 2020: 396).

Marks Required for Key Ranks

All scores normalised to /360 for direct comparison. Verified official JIC data, not estimates. Red column = toughest paper (2022). Green column = most scoring paper (2024).

AIR20182019*2020*20212022202320242025
AIR-1337335320348314341355332
Top 100272261254285236284300278
Top 500233220214237192242258234
Top 1k213199191212170219233208
Top 3k177168153168132174192165
Top 5k158152134145115153172145
Top 10k13012710711392125146120
Top 20k991008081689711994

* 2019 (raw max 372) and 2020 (raw max 396) scores linearly normalised to /360 for fair comparison. Raw AIR-1: 2019 = 346/372, 2020 = 352/396.

Source: Official JIC reports (jeeadv.ac.in) for 2018–2025.

The rank-compression zone is AIR 1,000–10,000. In this band, 1 mark can swing rank by 20–35 positions. A student scoring 175/360 in 2024 sits at ~AIR 6,000; the same 175 in 2022 fetches ~AIR 1,500. Same marks, completely different fate. Accuracy beats attempts.

AIR-1 Score Trend: 8-Year View

Topper marks (normalised to /360) — the cleanest signal of paper toughness across years.

355
/ 360 · 2024
Peak (Most Scoring)
314
/ 360 · 2022
Trough (Toughest)
41
marks
8-Year Spread
337
/ 360
8-Year Median
Pattern to know: Consecutive years routinely swing 20–35 marks in topper score. Predicting 2026 from 2025 alone is risky. The 8-year median AIR-1000 score is 205/360 — that's the real benchmark, not the year-specific cutoffs floating online. Target 200+/360 to enter the Top-1000 zone safely regardless of paper difficulty.
Subject-wise priority for 2026: Physics has overtaken Maths as the highest-variance subject in the last 4 years (2022–2025). Toppers in 2024–2025 cleared Maths comfortably but lost time in Physics integers. Errors in Physics compound disproportionately on rank.

Source: Official JIC reports (jeeadv.ac.in) for 2018–2025. Scores normalised to /360 where max marks differed. Analysis by ABJ Sir, Competishun · competishun.com

Subject-Wise Topic Weightage (5-Year Average)

Based on JEE Advanced 2021 to 2025 papers

Physics: High-Yield Topics

TopicAvg Questions (Both Papers)Approx WeightageDifficulty
Mechanics (Rotation, NLM, Work-Energy)8 to 1023 to 28%High
Electromagnetism7 to 920 to 25%High
Modern Physics4 to 512 to 15%Moderate
Thermodynamics and KTG3 to 49 to 12%Moderate
Optics3 to 49 to 12%Moderate
Waves and SHM2 to 36 to 9%Moderate

Chemistry: High-Yield Topics

TopicAvg Questions (Both Papers)Approx WeightageDifficulty
Organic Chemistry (Mechanisms, Carbonyls)11 to 1332 to 38%High
Physical Chemistry (Equilibrium, Thermo, Kinetics)10 to 1228 to 35%High
Inorganic Chemistry (Coordination, Periodic)9 to 1126 to 32%Moderate

Mathematics: High-Yield Topics

TopicAvg Questions (Both Papers)Approx WeightageDifficulty
Calculus (Integration, Differentiation, DEs)9 to 1126 to 32%High
Algebra (Complex, Sequence, Matrices)7 to 920 to 26%High
Coordinate Geometry5 to 715 to 20%Moderate
Vectors and 3D Geometry4 to 512 to 15%Moderate
Probability2 to 36 to 9%Moderate
Trigonometry1 to 23 to 6%Easy
Chapter-Level Breakdown

Chapter-Wise Weightage (2020 to 2025 Average)

Detailed chapter-level data based on 6 years of JEE Advanced paper analysis

Physics: Chapter-Wise Weightage

ChapterAvg QuestionsWeightageClass
Rotational Motion3 to 49 to 12%11
Electrostatics3 to 49 to 12%12
Current Electricity2 to 36 to 9%12
Electromagnetic Induction2 to 36 to 9%12
Modern Physics (Atomic, Nuclear)2 to 36 to 9%12
Laws of Motion / NLM2 to 36 to 9%11
Magnetism and Magnetic Effects2 to 36 to 9%12
Wave Optics26%12
Thermodynamics and KTG26%11
Gravitation1 to 23 to 6%11
Fluid Mechanics1 to 23 to 6%11
SHM and Waves1 to 23 to 6%11
Ray Optics1 to 23 to 6%12
Capacitance13%12
Kinematics13%11

Chemistry: Chapter-Wise Weightage

ChapterAvg QuestionsWeightageCategory
Aldehydes, Ketones, Carboxylic Acids3 to 49 to 12%Organic
Chemical Bonding2 to 36 to 9%Inorganic
Coordination Compounds2 to 36 to 9%Inorganic
Electrochemistry2 to 36 to 9%Physical
Chemical Thermodynamics2 to 36 to 9%Physical
Chemical Kinetics26%Physical
Equilibrium (Ionic + Chemical)26%Physical
Alcohols, Ethers, Phenols26%Organic
Amines and Diazonium1 to 23 to 6%Organic
d and f Block Elements1 to 23 to 6%Inorganic
Solutions and Colligative Properties1 to 23 to 6%Physical
Aromatic Chemistry1 to 23 to 6%Organic
s and p Block Elements1 to 23 to 6%Inorganic
Biomolecules and Polymers13%Organic

Mathematics: Chapter-Wise Weightage

ChapterAvg QuestionsWeightageClass
Definite Integration3 to 49 to 12%12
Limits, Continuity, Differentiability2 to 46 to 12%12
Matrices and Determinants2 to 36 to 9%12
Probability2 to 36 to 9%12
Complex Numbers2 to 36 to 9%11
Vector Algebra2 to 36 to 9%12
Conic Sections26%11
Differential Equations1 to 23 to 6%12
3D Geometry1 to 23 to 6%12
Application of Derivatives1 to 23 to 6%12
Permutations and Combinations13 to 6%11
Sequences and Series13 to 6%11
Quadratic Equations13%11
Inverse Trigonometric Functions1 to 23 to 6%12
Priority insight: Mechanics + Electromagnetism = 50%+ of Physics. Organic + Physical Chemistry = 65%+ of Chemistry. Calculus + Algebra = 50%+ of Maths. Master these core areas first for maximum return on study time.

Class 11 vs Class 12 Distribution

SubjectClass 11 WeightageClass 12 WeightageInsight
Physics40 to 45%55 to 60%Class 12 dominates via EM Induction, Modern Physics
Chemistry40 to 45%55 to 60%Organic Chemistry (Class 12) carries highest weight
Mathematics35 to 40%60 to 65%Calculus, Vectors, 3D push Class 12 dominance
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Strategy Tips Based on the 2026 Pattern

Question Selection Logic

  • Single Correct MCQs: Highest-accuracy zone. Aim for 90%+ accuracy. Solve these in the first round.
  • Multi-Correct MCQs (Paper 2 carries 5 such questions worth 20 marks): The –1 penalty in 2026 makes partial marking the highest-leverage tool. Mark only options you are 100% sure about.
  • Numerical Value Type (Paper 1) and Integer Type (Paper 2): Paper 1 numericals have zero negative — safe to attempt. Paper 2 integers now carry –1, so attempt only with confirmed computation.
  • Match the Column (Paper 1) and Paragraph (Paper 2): Tricky but doable. Paragraph questions in Paper 2 carry no negative marking — attempt all four.

Time Allocation per Paper (3 Hours)

  • Round 1 (90 minutes): Attempt all sure-shot questions across all 3 subjects. Build confidence.
  • Round 2 (60 minutes): Tackle borderline questions. Focus on Paragraph (P2) and Match-the-Column (P1) since these have higher attempt-safety.
  • Round 3 (30 minutes): Review marked questions. Double-check integer entries. Never attempt new questions in panic.

Subject-Order Strategy

  • Start with Chemistry: Most scoring subject for top rankers. Quick wins build momentum.
  • Move to Maths or Physics (whichever is your strength): Take the stronger subject in the second slot.
  • End with the toughest subject: Your buffer time goes here. Do not burn out on it first.
  • Watch Physics in 2026: 8-year data shows Physics has overtaken Maths as the highest-variance subject. Errors in Physics integers compound disproportionately on rank.

Important Points to Remember

  • JEE Advanced eligibility requires being in the top 2,50,000 candidates of JEE Main 2026.
  • Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 are mandatory. A single paper score will not be considered for rank.
  • No physical calculators, log tables, or formula sheets allowed. Everything via on-screen interface.
  • Exam is available in both English and Hindi — language can be switched anytime during the test.
  • PwD candidates get 1 additional hour per paper (4 hours total).
  • AAT (Architecture Aptitude Test) is a separate exam for B.Arch at IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, and IIT BHU.

Frequently Asked Questions

JEE Advanced 2026 is being conducted today, Sunday, 17 May 2026 by IIT Roorkee. Paper 1 runs from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and Paper 2 from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Both papers are mandatory and held on the same day.
Three confirmed changes: (1) Papers are asymmetric — Paper 1 has 16 questions per subject (48 total) while Paper 2 has 18 questions per subject (54 total). (2) Multi-correct MCQs now carry –1 negative (milder than –2 in past years). (3) Integer Type questions in Paper 2 now carry –1 negative marking. Total marks remain 360.
Both papers are mandatory. If you skip even one paper, you will be considered absent and will not receive a rank. Admission to IITs requires appearing in both Paper 1 and Paper 2.
Mark only correct options with no wrong selection: +1 for each correct option marked (max +4 if all correct). Mark even one wrong option: –1 regardless of correct ones marked. Unattempted: 0. The penalty was reduced from –2 to –1 in 2026, making partial marking a stronger tool than ever.
AIR-1 scores (normalised to /360): 2018 — 337, 2019 — 335, 2020 — 320, 2021 — 348, 2022 — 314 (toughest), 2023 — 341, 2024 — 355 (most scoring), 2025 — 332. The 8-year median is 337/360 with a 41-mark spread between toughest and easiest years.
The 8-year median for Top-1000 rank is around 205/360. The range across years is 170/360 (2022, toughest paper) to 233/360 (2024, easiest paper). Target 200+/360 to safely enter Top-1000 regardless of paper difficulty.
No. Physical calculators, log tables, and formula sheets are strictly prohibited. The on-screen test interface provides a basic virtual calculator and rough-sheet panel for working.
Yes. The exam is available in both English and Hindi. You can switch between languages at any time during the test using the on-screen toggle. This is a unique flexibility offered by JEE Advanced.
Physics: Mechanics (Rotation, NLM) and Electromagnetism together make up over 50%. Chemistry: Organic (Carbonyls, Amines) and Physical Chemistry (Thermo, Kinetics, Electrochemistry) cover 65%+. Mathematics: Calculus (Integration, Limits) and Algebra (Matrices, Complex Numbers) account for 50%+. These core areas have been consistent across the last 5 years.
Yes. Candidates aiming for B.Arch programmes at IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee, or IIT BHU must first qualify JEE Advanced, then appear separately for the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT). AAT has its own structure and timing.
Source: Official JEE Advanced 2026 Information Brochure at jeeadv.ac.in. 8-year topper score and marks-vs-rank data audited from official JIC reports for 2018–2025. Chapter-wise weightage based on Competishun's in-house analysis of JEE Advanced papers from 2020 to 2025. Analysis by ABJ Sir, Competishun.
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