What is the Difference Between JEE Main & JEE Advanced?
If you are confused between JEE Main and Advanced, check out this article to know about the major difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
Difference Between JEE Main and JEE Advanced - Despite certain similarities between JEE Main 2025 and JEE Advanced 2025, some major differences need to be understood by competitive exam aspirants. JEE Main Exam is regulated by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and JEE Advanced is regulated by the IITs on a rotational policy. One of the key differences between JEE Main and JEE Advanced that has to be figured out and known by all the students who wish to appear in the National level exams is that - JEE Main is the entrance exam that filters out the students who wish to appear for JEE Advanced. In this article, you will come across all the differences between JEE Mains and JEE Advanced.
Difference Between JEE Main and JEE Advanced
Some common differences between JEE Main and JEE Advanced have been listed below:
| Basis of Difference | JEE Main | JEE Advanced |
Courses | Admission for B.E. & B. Tech into NITs and other institutions all over the country. | Admission to the well-known IITs. |
Eligibility |
| The top 2.5 lakh scorers who qualify for JEE Mains are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced. |
Number of attempts | Students can sit any number of times in JEE Main | Students can only attempt twice for JEE Advanced that too for 2 consecutive years. |
Mode of exam |
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Paper type | MCQs and NAT | Papers 1 & 2 are conducted on an objective-type question basis. |
Syllabus | The JEE Main Syllabus 2025 PDF consists of classes 11 & 12 Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics | The JEE Advanced 2025 Syllabus has a few additional topics |
Admission | JEE Main aspirants get admitted into NITs and other reputed engineering colleges. | JEE Advanced aspirants get admitted into IITs & ISM Dhanbad. |
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Exam Pattern 2025
JEE Main Exam Pattern is set by the National Testing Agency. NTA releases the up-to-date EE Main exam pattern every year along with the official notification. However, the JEE Advanced exam pattern is not fixed. The conducting IIT changes the type of questions asked in JEE Advanced every year. The exam pattern of JEE Main and JEE Advanced exams have been elaborated below.
JEE Main Exam Pattern 2025
JEE Main exam is conducted in 3 different papers for B.E./B.Tech, B.Arch and B.Planning. Candidates sit for
Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech,
Paper 2A for B.Arch admission or
Paper 2 B for B.Planning admission
The JEE Main exam pattern was revised last year with the incorporation of internal choice amongst numerical-type questions. Candidates can check the latest NTA JEE Main Exam Pattern 2025 given below.
Specifications | JEE Main Exam Pattern 2025 for Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) | JEE Main Exam Pattern 2025 for Paper 2A (B.Arch) | JEE Main Exam Pattern 2025 for Paper 2B (B. Planning) |
Mode of Exam | Computer-based test | Mathematics and Aptitude- Computer-based test, Drawing- Pen and paper mode | Computer-based test |
Subjects |
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Duration of Exam | 3 Hours | 3.5 Hours | 3.5 Hours |
Type of Questions |
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Medium of Examination | English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu | English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu | English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu |
Total Questions Asked | 30 Questions (20 MCQs + 10 NAT) in every section | 82 (Mathematics- 30; Aptitude- 50; Drawing- 2) | 105 (Mathematics- 30; Aptitude- 50; Planning- 25) |
Total Questions to be Answered | 25 Questions (20 MCQs + 5 NAT) in each section | 77 (Mathematics- 25; Aptitude- 50; Drawing- 2) | 100 (Mathematics- 25; Aptitude- 50; Planning- 25) |
Marking Scheme |
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Total Marks | 300 | 400 | 400 |
JEE Advanced Exam Pattern 2025
JEE Advanced is conducted in two different papers- Paper 1 and Paper 2. Candidates must qualify both papers to qualify JEE Advanced. For B.Arch admission at IITs, candidates must also qualify AAT paper after JEE Advanced. Go through the detailed JEE Advanced Exam Pattern 2025 given below.
Specifications | JEE Advanced 2025 Exam Pattern for Paper 1 | JEE Advanced 2025 Exam Pattern for Paper 2 | JEE Advanced 2025 Exam Pattern for AAT |
Mode of Exam | Computer based test | Computer based test | Offline |
Subjects |
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Duration of Exam | 3 Hours | 3 Hours | 3 hours |
Type of Questions | MCQ with single correct option, MCQ with one or more correct option (s), Numerical Value Answer | Numerical type Questions, Single-digit integer answer (0-9), MCQs with 4 options (one or more than one correct option) | MCQs, Numerical type, Sketching and Drawing, etc. |
Medium of Exam | English and Hindi | English and Hindi | English |
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Difficulty
JEE Main and JEE Advanced are two of the highly competitive national-level engineering entrance exams in the country. Although the level of difficulty of any entrance exam depends on each candidate’s preparation level when comparing both, the JEE Advanced is considered to be tougher than the JEE Main exam. Candidates should take a look at the sections below to know in detail about the difficulty level of JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
JEE Main Difficulty Level
JEE Main is considered to be relatively easier than JEE Advanced since it only evaluates the candidates based on the standard 11 and 12 syllabi.
The questions asked in the JEE Main exam are generally direct formula-based and easier in comparison to JEE Advanced.
JEE Main usually evaluates only the speed of the candidate with 75 questions asked in the exam.
JEE Advanced Difficulty Level
JEE Advanced is considered to be tougher than the JEE Main exam since it includes other topics than the ones from standards 11 and 12.
The questions asked in the JEE Advanced exam are concept-based, requiring in-depth knowledge of every topic.
The questions are also set using two or three concepts in one.
- JEE Advanced examines the speed as well as the problem-solving skills of the candidates.
Also Check, JEE Main Subject Wise Syllabus 2025 -
Related Links to Download JEE Main Question Paper PDF -
The table below features year-wise JEE Main Previous Year Papers PDFs with Solutions that students can practice thoroughly after revision.
Related Links:
For more latest Education News updates on JEE Main 2025 and JEE Advanced 2025 stay tuned to CollegeDekho.
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FAQs
How many candidates appear for the JEE Advanced entrance exam?
The top 250000 rank holders of the JEE Main exam are eligible to apply for the JEE Advanced entrance exam.
Which syllabus should the candidates focus on JEE Main or JEE Advanced?
Candidates must be aware that the JEE Main entrance exam is the qualifying examination for JEE Advanced. Only the top 250000 rank holders of JEE Main are eligible to appear for the JEE Advanced entrance exam. Hence, it is necessary for candidates to focus on both the JEE Main and JEE Advanced syllabus.
Is JEE Advanced compulsory to secure admission into IIT colleges?
Yes. Candidates are required to qualify the JEE Advanced exam to secure admission into IIT colleges.
Is JEE Advanced preparation different from JEE Main?
No. The JEE Advanced preparation is not very different from JEE Main. Candidates are required to study the same concepts and topics. The difference only comes when one solves mock tests and previous year question papers of JEE Main and JEE Advanced since both the exams have slightly different exam patterns.
Is JEE Main and JEE Advanced theory the same?
Yes. The theory of JEE Main and Advanced is on the similar lines. The questions and problems of JEE Advanced are of a higher level than the JEE Main entrance exam.
What is the time gap between JEE Main and Advanced?
Generally, there is a time gap of 40-50 days between JEE Main session 2 and JEE Advanced. During this time span, candidates can work upon their weak areas of JEE Main, revise all the crucial topics and attempt the JEE Advanced mock tests.
What extra is required for the JEE Advanced than JEE Main?
JEE Advanced requires in-depth understanding of the concepts and use of applications in solving questions. Attempting the JEE Advanced mock tests and previous year question papers is a necessary requirement. JEE Advanced examines the exam temperament of the candidates with 6 hours paper and 2 hour break between paper 1 and paper 2.
Is it compulsory to appear for both JEE Main and JEE Advanced?
No. It is not compulsory to appear for both the JEE Main and JEE Advanced exam. If candidates are content with an NIT or IIIT, JEE Main is sufficient. If candidates seek admission in an IIT, they need to appear for JEE Advanced and to attempt JEE Advanced they need to secure a top rank (within specified range) in JEE Main.
Is the JEE Main and JEE Advanced syllabus the same?
The syllabus of JEE Main and JEE Advanced is nearly 99% similar, however there are a few topics asked in the JEE Main exam which are not part of the JEE Advanced syllabus and vice versa.
What is the duration of the JEE Main and the JEE advanced exam?
The JEE Main exam is conducted for 3 hours whereas the JEE Advanced exam takes place for 3 hours each for both papers.