An annual engineering entrance exam in India, the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)-Advanced is regarded as one of the most difficult admission exams worldwide. Along with a few other top universities, it acts as the exclusive entry point to the Indian Institutes of Technology's (IITs) esteemed undergraduate programs.
The exam was first created in 1961 under the name IIT Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE). Since its creation, the exam has had a number of structural modifications, such as the inclusion of a screening test to the main exam between 2000 and 2005. With over 450,000 applicants at the time, this screening examination was designed to control the increasing number of applicants by allowing only the top 20,000 individuals to move on to the main exam. To make it easier to get into different central and state engineering institutes, the current two-tier structure was implemented, with JEE Main serving as the prerequisite for JEE Advanced.
Candidates must receive a minimum proportion of marks in each of the three subjects (mathematics, chemistry, and physics) as well as in the overall score in order to be listed in the JEE Advanced rank list.
In order to be included in the 2024 rank list, the following minimum qualifying percentages were required:
|
Category |
Minimum % in Each Subject |
Minimum % of Aggregate Marks |
|
Common Rank List (CRL) |
8.68% |
30.34% |
|
OBC-NCL / GEN-EWS |
7.80% |
27.30% |
|
SC / ST / PwD |
4.34% |
15.17% |
The qualifying marks, which are (35%) for General, (31.5%) for OBC/EWS, and (17.5%) for SC/ST/PwD students, determine the JEE Advanced 2025 cut-off. The Common Rank List (CRL) requires a minimum of €10%) in each topic and €35%) overall. The formal cut-offs for inclusion in the rank list were also released. Depending on the curriculum and the IIT, specific closing ranks will differ considerably.
Qualifying marks for the rank list:
|
Category |
Minimum % in Each Subject |
Minimum Aggregate % |
|
General |
10% |
35% |
|
OBC/EWS |
9% |
31.5%3 |
|
SC/ST/PwD |
5% |
17.5% |
Only the top 2,50,000 applicants (across all categories) who passed the last JEE (Main) exam are eligible to take JEE Advanced.
|
Year |
Registered Candidates |
Appeared Candidates |
Qualified Candidates |
|
2024 |
1,86,584 |
1,80,200 |
48,248 |
|
2025 |
1,87,223 |
1,80,422 |
54,378 |
One of the seven zonal Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) administers the test using a round-robin rotation method. IIT Roorkee, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, and IIT Guwahati are these zonal IITs. The Joint Admission Board (JAB) oversees the entire procedure. For example, IIT Kanpur administered the JEE Advanced 2025 exam.
Paper 1 of the JEE Advanced test is scheduled from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM IST, while Paper 2 is scheduled from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM IST. Candidates are recommended to arrive at the centre well in advance of the start time in order to finish the entry and verification procedures. Each paper lasts three hours.
Two required exams, Paper 1 and Paper 2, each lasting three hours, make up the Computer-Based Test (CBT) format used for JEE Advanced.
Structure: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) are covered in both papers.
Question Types: Although the exam style changes every year, it usually consists of a mix of matching-type questions, multiple-choice questions (MCQs) (single correct and multiple correct options), and numerical answer type (NAT) questions.
Marking System: The system is quite difficult because it gives positive points for right answers, zero points for questions that are left unanswered, and frequently negative points for wrong responses in particular question categories.
A wide range of subjects from the Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics curricula of Classes XI and XII are covered in the JEE Advanced syllabus. The 2024 curriculum and the 2025 syllabus are identical.
Major topics covered in the syllabus include analytical geometry, trigonometry, sets, relations and functions, algebra (including matrices and determinants), integral and differential calculus, and vectors.
General physics, mechanics, thermal physics, electricity and magnetism, electromagnetic waves, optics, and modern physics are among the subjects covered in physics classes.
The three main branches of the chemistry curriculum are as follows:
The total score for JEE Advanced 2025 is probably going to be 360 based on the anticipated pattern and current trends (2021 to 2024).
|
Particular |
Detail |
|
Total Aggregate Marks |
360 |
|
Marks for Paper 1 |
180 |
|
Marks for Paper 2 |
180 |
|
Maximum Marks per Subject |
120 |
|
Maximum Marks for Physics |
120 (60 in Paper 1 + 60 in Paper 2) |
|
Maximum Marks for Chemistry |
120 (60 in Paper 1 + 60 in Paper 2) |
|
Maximum Marks for Mathematics |
120 (60 in Paper 1 + 60 in Paper 2) |
|
Number of Compulsory Papers |
Two (Paper 1 and Paper 2) |
|
Exam Mode |
Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
Seats
Undergraduate programs at 23 IITs as well as additional institutions like IISc, IIPE, and RGIPT are open to applicants through JEE Advanced. According to the JoSAA 2024 seat matrix, there are roughly 17,760 B.Tech. seats available at all IITs.
Reservation: According to Government of India regulations, seats are set aside for a number of categories, including candidates from the General Economically Weaker Section (GEN-EWS), OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and Persons with Disabilities (PwD).
Supernumerary Seats: In accordance with the Ministry of Education's directives, supernumerary seats are also given to female candidates.
Exam Toughness
Because of its intense competitiveness and demanding character, JEE Advanced is considered one of the most difficult entrance tests in the world. The test is intended to assess the candidate's capacity for profound problem-solving, analysis, and reasoning in addition to their knowledge. The poor qualification-to-seat ratio about one in three qualified candidates are able to get a seat at an IIT is caused by the extremely limited number of seats (around 18,000) for the large number of applicants (roughly 1.8 lakh).
Criticism
JEE Advanced's fierce competition and the tremendous pressure it puts on students are frequently the main points of complaint. Social and economic disparities in preparation may result from the requirement for specialised coaching due to the perceived difficulty and the ever-changing paper layout.
Coaching
Due to the exam's complexity and high stakes, a vast, multibillion-dollar private coaching industry has emerged throughout India. In order to prepare students for the different question patterns of the JEE Advanced, coaching centres concentrate on specific test-taking methodologies and in-depth problem-solving techniques.
A candidate may only attempt JEE Advanced twice in two consecutive years, according to the usual eligibility requirements.
Attempt Limit Reversion: After a brief time of deliberation and announcement, the Joint Admission Board (JAB) decided to go back to the previous limit of two attempts in two consecutive years.
Special Exception (2025): In accordance with a Supreme Court order, a unique one-time relaxation was implemented for the 2025 exam, permitting applicants who had dropped out of their IIT studies between November 5 and November 18, 2024, to sign up for a third try.
Board Marks Criteria: In addition to meeting qualifying JEE Advanced requirements, students must obtain a minimum of 75% aggregate marks in their Class XII board examination (or be in the top 20 percentile) in order to be admitted to IITs.
|
Category |
Date of Birth Requirement |
Relaxation |
|
General (Open) / OBC-NCL / GEN-EWS |
Born on or after October 1, 2001 |
Not Applicable |
|
SC / ST / PwD |
Born on or after October 1, 1996 |
5 years of age relaxation |
Additionally, the applicant must rank in the top 2,50,000 JEE (Main) B.E./B.Tech. applicants (across all categories). paper (Paper 1).
The cost differs depending on the region and category. For a recent exam (like JEE Advanced 2025/2026), Indian nationals usually pay the following:
|
Category (Indian Nationals) |
Registration Fee |
|
Female Candidates (All Categories) |
₹ 1600 |
|
SC, ST, and PwD Candidates |
₹ 1600 |
|
All Other Candidates |
₹ 3200 |
How to register:
JEE Advanced has a complicated marking system that is updated annually. Here are the general guidelines, though:
For Multiple Correct MCQs (for +4 marks), an example of a previous marking scheme is as follows:
Since the grading scheme is presented at the beginning of the question booklet and is subject to annual variation by the organising IIT, on the day of the exam, always refer to the precise instructions provided in the question paper itself.
The Impact of JEE
JEE Advanced is a national development initiative rather than only an examination. It chooses the most talented individuals for the IITs, whose main goal is to establish a top-notch learning environment that promotes excellence in science and technology. Faculty and graduates from IIT have gone on to hold important positions throughout the world and have had a significant influence on society.