Difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced

Sat Feb 18, 2023

JEE Main and JEE Advanced are two of the most popular and competitive engineering entrance exams in India. JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for JEE Main and by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) for JEE Advanced.

The exams are designed to test the knowledge, skills and aptitude of aspiring engineering students, and are the gateway to admission into prestigious engineering colleges across India.

While both JEE Main and JEE Advanced are crucial for students seeking admission into engineering colleges, there are some key differences between the two exams. In this article, we will discuss the main differences between JEE Main and JEE Advanced.

Difficulty level difference

JEE Main is a relatively easier exam compared to JEE Advanced. JEE Main tests the basic understanding of concepts in physics, chemistry and mathematics, while JEE Advanced requires a deeper understanding of the concepts and more complex problem-solving abilities.

Eligibility: Main vs Advanced

JEE Main is open to all students who have completed their 10+2 education or are appearing for the exam. On the other hand, only the top 2.5 lakh candidates of JEE Main are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced.

Exam pattern

JEE Main has two papers – Paper 1 for B.E./B.Tech courses and Paper 2 for B.Arch/B.Plan courses. Both papers consist of objective-type questions, and the total marks are 300.

JEE Advanced, on the other hand, has two papers – Paper 1 and Paper 2 – each of which has three sections – Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The questions in JEE Advanced are of a more advanced level and require a greater depth of understanding.

Number of attempts

A candidate can appear for JEE Main a maximum of three times in consecutive years. There is no limit on the number of attempts for JEE Advanced, but a candidate can appear only two consecutive times.

Admission process

The JEE Main score is used for admission into NITs, IIITs, and other centrally funded technical institutions. JEE Advanced, on the other hand, is the gateway to admission into the IITs, which are among the most prestigious engineering colleges in India.

Syllabus

While the syllabus of JEE Main and JEE Advanced overlap to a large extent, JEE Advanced covers some additional topics and concepts that are not included in JEE Main. Candidates preparing for JEE Advanced need to have a deeper understanding of the concepts and be able to apply them in more complex problem-solving scenarios.

In conclusion, while JEE Main and JEE Advanced are both important engineering entrance exams in India, they differ significantly in terms of difficulty level, eligibility, exam pattern, number of attempts, admission process, and syllabus.

It is important for aspiring engineering students to understand these differences and choose the exam that is most suited to their abilities and career goals. Regardless of which exam they choose, however, it is important for students to prepare thoroughly and give their best effort to achieve their goals.

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Kalpit Veerwal
Founder & CEO, AcadBoost. IITB CSE '21, JEE 2017 AIR 1