JEE Main Exam Pattern Revised by NTA

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced a revised exam pattern for the upcoming JEE Main Session 1, which will be held in January 2025. If you are preparing for this challenging entrance exam, it’s important to be aware of the recent changes in the exam format. Let’s dive into the new structure and what it means for you.

Key Changes in JEE Main 2025 Exam Pattern

One of the significant changes in the 2025 JEE Main exam is related to Section B in Paper 1 (B.Tech/B.E.), Paper 2A (B.Arch), and Paper 2B (B.Planning). Previously, Part B had 10 questions, and students had the option to choose 5 questions to answer. But from 2025 onwards, Part B will have only 5 questions and students will be required to attempt all of them. This change aims to simplify the exam structure, ensuring that all students answer the same set of questions, which will make the evaluation process fairer and more consistent.

Revised JEE Main 2025 Exam Pattern Explained

The updated JEE Main 2025 exam pattern is designed to reflect the pre-pandemic exam structure with a few changes:

Section Number of Questions Type of Questions Negative Marking
Mathematics 20 MCQs + 5 Numerical MCQs & Numerical Value Questions -1 for incorrect
Physics 20 MCQs + 5 Numerical MCQs & Numerical Value Questions -1 for incorrect
Chemistry 20 MCQs + 5 Numerical MCQs & Numerical Value Questions -1 for incorrect

Do Check: JEE Main 2025 Exam Pattern

Exam Format Details

  • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs): For each correct answer, you will get 4 marks. For each incorrect answer, 1 mark will be deducted. If a question is unanswered, there will be no penalty or marks awarded.
  • Numerical Value Questions: Each correct answer earns 4 marks, and for incorrect answers, 1 mark will be deducted. Unanswered questions will neither gain nor lose marks.

Important Changes to Note

  1. No Choice in Part B:
    • In previous years, students had the option to attempt only 5 questions out of 10 in Part B. From 2025, there will be only 5 questions in Part B, and you will have to attempt all of them. This eliminates the flexibility of skipping questions you find difficult.
  2. Negative Marking for Numerical Value Questions:
    • Previously, there was no penalty for incorrect answers in numerical value questions, but from 2025, there will be a 1-mark deduction for each wrong answer in this section as well.
  3. More Focused Approach:
    • With no option to skip questions, you will need to attempt every question. This will make the exam experience more uniform for all students, though it could be a bit challenging for those who are not confident in certain topics.

Do Check: JEE Main 2025 Exam Date

Marking Scheme for JEE Main 2025

Question Type Marks for Correct Answer Marks for Incorrect Answer Marks for Unanswered Questions
MCQs 4 marks -1 mark 0 marks
Numerical Value Questions 4 marks -1 mark 0 marks

How Will the Changes Affect You?

  1. Clarity in Approach: With no options to choose between questions, you will have a clearer, more structured approach. Knowing that all questions need to be attempted might reduce confusion and help you focus better.
  2. Higher Risk of Errors: Since you have to answer all questions, you might end up attempting questions you are not fully prepared for. This could result in more mistakes, lowering your score, especially if you are not confident in certain areas.
  3. Possibility of an Easier Exam: To balance out the changes, the exam might be set at a slightly easier level to ensure that students can perform well despite having to attempt all questions. However, if the exam becomes easier, the cutoff scores may rise, so you will still need to score well.
  4. More Time Per Question: With the reduction in the number of questions (from 90 to 75), you will have more time to focus on each question, which could help in improving accuracy and reducing stress during the exam.

Merit List Calculation

The merit list for JEE Main 2025 will be based on NTA Scores, not raw marks. These scores will be calculated from your performance in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. To ensure fairness, NTA will combine scores from all exam shifts and sessions, accounting for any differences in difficulty levels.

Also Check: JEE Main 2025 Eligibility Criteria

Bonus Marks in JEE Main

Bonus marks are awarded in specific cases if a question is found to be incorrect. Here’s how it works:

  • For MCQs: If an MCQ is wrong or has a mistake in its framing, all students will receive bonus marks for that question, regardless of whether they attempted it or not.
  • For Numerical Value Questions: If a numerical value question is incorrect, bonus marks will be given only to those who attempted the question. Students who skipped it will not get bonus marks.

Conclusion

The revised JEE Main exam pattern for 2025 introduces some major changes that will affect how you approach the exam. While the removal of question choice may seem difficult, it also simplifies the exam structure, ensuring fairness and consistency. Make sure to adjust your preparation strategy accordingly, and focus on improving your problem-solving skills across all topics. Good luck with your preparations, and remember to stay focused and calm on exam day!

FAQs

The main change is that Section B of Papers 1, 2A, and 2B will now have only 5 questions, instead of 10. All 5 questions must be attempted correctly to score full marks.

Yes, according to the revised pattern, for both MCQs and numerical questions, each correct answer will earn 4 marks, while an incorrect answer will result in a penalty of 1 mark.

The difficulty level is expected to stay similar, but there could be slight adjustments made by NTA to ensure fairness for all candidates.

The JEE Main 2025 exam will have a total of 75 questions: 25 questions each from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

Yes, if any question is found to be incorrect, bonus marks are given. For MCQs, all students will receive bonus marks. For numerical value questions, only the students who attempted the incorrect question will get the bonus marks.