JEE Main — How to Apply Online, Admit Card, Results & Counselling

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is India's largest engineering entrance exam, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It is the gateway to admission in NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and other centrally funded technical institutions. JEE Main scores also determine eligibility for JEE Advanced, which leads to admission in the IITs.

This guide covers everything — from registration and application to admit card download, result checking, and the JoSAA counselling process.

What Is JEE Main?

JEE Main is a national-level entrance examination for admission to undergraduate engineering programmes (B.E./B.Tech), architecture (B.Arch), and planning (B.Planning) courses. NTA conducts JEE Main in two sessions (January and April) each year, and candidates can appear in either or both sessions. The best score from the two sessions is considered for ranking.

Key facts:

• Conducting body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Papers: Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), Paper 2A (B.Arch), Paper 2B (B.Planning)
• Official website: jeemain.nta.ac.in

Eligibility Criteria

Before applying, make sure you meet these requirements:

• Age limit: No age restriction (as per latest NTA guidelines).
• Qualification: Candidates must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects, along with one of Chemistry, Biology, Biotechnology, or a Technical Vocational subject.
• Minimum marks: There is no minimum percentage required for appearing in JEE Main, but for NITs/IIITs admission, candidates typically need 75% in Class 12 (or top 20 percentile in their board). Relaxation applies for reserved categories.
• Attempts: A candidate can attempt JEE Main for three consecutive years from the year of passing Class 12.
• Nationality: Indian nationals, NRIs, OCI/PIO cardholders, and foreign nationals can apply.

Related: Check your board results via CBSE Board Exam Results or Board Exam Results — Check & Download.

How to Apply Online — Step-by-Step

JEE Main registration is entirely online at jeemain.nta.ac.in. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Registration

1. Visit jeemain.nta.ac.in.
2. Click "New Registration" on the homepage.
3. Enter your name, date of birth, email ID, and mobile number.
4. An OTP is sent to your email and mobile — verify both.
5. You receive your Application Number and Password. Save these securely.

Step 2: Fill the Application Form

1. Log in with your Application Number and Password.
2. Fill in personal details, academic qualifications, and choice of exam cities.
3. Select the paper(s) you wish to appear for (Paper 1, Paper 2A, Paper 2B).
4. Choose your preferred exam session (Session 1, Session 2, or both).

Step 3: Upload Documents

Upload scanned images of the following:

Step 4: Pay the Application Fee

Payment can be made via debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI.

Step 5: Submit and Print Confirmation

After payment, review all details and submit the form. Download and print the confirmation page for your records.

JEE Main Exam Pattern

Paper 1 — B.E./B.Tech

• Duration: 3 hours (4 hours for PwD candidates)
• Marking: +4 for correct MCQ, −1 for incorrect MCQ. Numerical questions have no negative marking.
• Section B: Each subject has Section B with 5 numerical-value questions (out of which any 5 are to be attempted — all are mandatory now as per recent pattern updates).

Paper 2A — B.Arch

Paper 2B — B.Planning

Important Dates

NTA announces the exact dates on jeemain.nta.ac.in. The general timeline is:

Always check the official NTA website for confirmed dates, as schedules may change.

How to Download the Admit Card

The JEE Main admit card is released on jeemain.nta.ac.in approximately two weeks before the exam.

1. Visit jeemain.nta.ac.in.
2. Click on "Download Admit Card".
3. Log in with your Application Number, Date of Birth, and Security Pin.
4. Download and print the admit card on A4 paper.
5. Verify all details — name, photograph, exam centre, date, and shift.

What to carry on exam day:

• Printed admit card
• Valid photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, PAN Card, Voter ID, or Driving Licence)
• Passport-size photograph (same as uploaded during registration)

Tip: You can also access your admit card and other exam documents via DigiLocker.

How to Check JEE Main Results

NTA publishes JEE Main results on the official portal. Results include your NTA score (percentile), subject-wise scores, and overall rank.

Steps to Check Your Result

1. Go to jeemain.nta.ac.in.
2. Click on "View Result / Score Card".
3. Log in with your Application Number and Date of Birth.
4. Your scorecard will display — download and save it.

Understanding Percentile vs Rank

JEE Main uses NTA Percentile Score (not raw marks) for ranking:

• Percentile score indicates the percentage of candidates who scored equal to or less than you. A percentile of 95 means you scored better than 95% of all candidates.
• Formula: Percentile = (100 × Number of candidates scoring ≤ your score) / Total candidates in the session
• When two sessions are conducted, percentile is normalised across both sessions to ensure fairness.
• The All India Rank (AIR) is determined from the normalised percentile. In case of a tie, NTA uses tie-breaking criteria (higher percentile in Mathematics > Physics > Chemistry > older candidate).

JoSAA Counselling Process

The Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) conducts centralised counselling for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs based on JEE Main and JEE Advanced ranks.

How JoSAA Counselling Works

1. Registration: Visit josaa.nic.in and register using your JEE Main/Advanced roll number.
2. Choice filling: Select and arrange your preferred institutes and branches in order of priority.
3. Seat allotment: JoSAA conducts multiple rounds of seat allotment based on your rank, preferences, and seat availability.
4. Accept seat: If allotted a seat, report to the allotted institute with required documents and pay the seat acceptance fee.
5. Withdraw/Float/Freeze: You can freeze (accept the current seat), float (accept but wait for a better option), or slide (accept but want a better branch in the same institute).

Documents Required for Counselling

• JEE Main/Advanced scorecard
• Class 10 and 12 marksheets and certificates
• Category/EWS/PwD certificates (if applicable)
• Aadhaar card and photo ID
• Passport-size photographs

Tip: Apply for scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal after securing admission.

JEE Main Cutoffs for NITs and IIITs

Cutoff ranks vary each year depending on the number of candidates, difficulty level, and seat availability. Here are approximate general category closing ranks for popular institutes:

These are indicative figures. Actual cutoffs depend on the year's competition. Check josaa.nic.in for official cutoff data.

JEE Advanced Eligibility Through JEE Main

JEE Main also serves as the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced (for IIT admission). To be eligible:

• You must be among the top 2,50,000 candidates (across all categories) in JEE Main.
• You must have passed Class 12 (or equivalent) in the current or previous year.
• You can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of two times in consecutive years.
• There is an age limit of 25 years (with relaxation for reserved categories).

NTA releases the JEE Advanced eligibility cutoff along with JEE Main results. Qualifying candidates can then register at jeeadv.ac.in.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I appear for both JEE Main sessions?

Yes. NTA conducts JEE Main in two sessions each year. You can appear for one or both. If you take both, the better percentile score is considered for ranking.

What is the difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced?

JEE Main is for admission to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. JEE Advanced is only for IIT admission. You must qualify JEE Main (top 2,50,000) to be eligible for JEE Advanced.

Is there negative marking in JEE Main?

Yes, for Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), there is −1 for each wrong answer and +4 for each correct answer. Numerical-value questions have no negative marking.

How is the JEE Main All India Rank (AIR) calculated?

AIR is based on your NTA percentile score, which is normalised across sessions. Tie-breaking is done using subject-wise percentiles (Maths > Physics > Chemistry) and then age (older candidate gets preference).

Can I change my exam centre after submitting the application?

NTA may open a correction window for a limited period after the application deadline. During this window, you can modify your exam city preferences and other details. Monitor jeemain.nta.ac.in for correction window announcements.

What if I lose my JEE Main admit card?

You can download it again from jeemain.nta.ac.in by logging in with your Application Number and Date of Birth. Keep a digital copy on your phone as backup.

Is Aadhaar mandatory for JEE Main registration?

Aadhaar is required for Indian nationals. Candidates from Assam, Meghalaya, and J&K can use alternate IDs like Passport, Ration Card, or Bank Passbook.

Summary

JEE Main is the first step toward engineering admission in India's top institutions. Register early at jeemain.nta.ac.in, prepare thoroughly across Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, and stay updated on important dates. After results, participate in JoSAA counselling at josaa.nic.in to secure your seat in NITs, IIITs, or GFTIs — or qualify for JEE Advanced to target the IITs.

Useful links: Check Board Exam Results · DigiLocker Guide · National Scholarship Portal