IIT-JEE

Difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced

difference between jee main and jee advanced

Are you looking to understand the difference between JEE main and JEE advanced? This article will provide you with a comprehensive overview of both exams, including their syllabi, key differences, and more. 

With our easy-to-read article, you will quickly become an expert on the two most important entrance examinations for engineering aspirants. 

So, let’s dive in and understand JEE Main and JEE Advanced in detail.

Overview of JEE Main and Advance

JEE Main, formerly known as AIEEE, is an entrance exam conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for admission into various engineering courses in India. 

  • The exam is held twice a year in January and April, and students can take it up to three times.
  •  It consists of two papers: Paper 1 for B.E/B.Tech aspirants and Paper 2 for B.Arch and B.Planning aspirants. 
  • The exam is conducted online mode and consists of multiple-choice questions.

JEE Advanced is the second stage of the JEE exam. 

  • It’s conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) for admission into the prestigious IITs, NITs, and other engineering colleges. 
  • The exam is held once a year in the month of May and consists of two papers, which are conducted online mode.

The difference between jee main and jee advanced is that JEE Main is the first stage of the exam and serves as a qualifying exam for JEE Advanced. Students who clear JEE Main are eligible to appear for JEE Advanced. Additionally, JEE Main is held twice a year, while JEE Advanced is held only once a year.

In summary, JEE Main and JEE Advanced are two of the most important engineering entrance exams in India. 

What’s the difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced?

First of all, let’s start by understanding the basics of each exam. Later we will move on to understand the difference between jee main and jee advanced in different parameters.

  • JEE Main is the entrance exam for admission to undergraduate engineering courses in India. It is conducted twice a year and is usually conducted in April and May.
  •  It is a computer-based test and the question paper is divided into three sections: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. 
  • The exam is also known as the national-level engineering entrance exam.

On the other hand, JEE Advanced is the entrance exam for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). 

  • It is a much tougher exam than JEE Main and the questions are of a higher difficulty level.
  • It is a pen & paper-based exam and the question paper is divided into three sections: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
  •  The exam is conducted once a year and is usually conducted in May.

Now that we know the basics, let’s take a look at the differences between JEE Main and JEE Advanced. 

 Difference between jee main and jee advanced in terms of Question Type

  • JEE Main has multiple-choice questions, whereas JEE Advanced has numerical-based questions. 

 Difference between jee main and jee advanced in terms of Benefits & Importance

  • JEE Main is a necessary requirement for admission to the top engineering colleges in India. It is also a requirement for pursuing higher studies in engineering. 
  • JEE Advanced is a requirement for admission to the prestigious IITs. 

To conclude, JEE Main and JEE Advanced are two different exams that are important for aspiring engineers. They differ in terms of difficulty level, type of questions, and importance. 

JEE Main Syllabus vs JEE Advanced Syllabus

Do you wonder if jee mains and advanced syllabi same? Are you confused about the difference between jee main and jee advanced in terms of syllabi? It’s understandable, considering the two entrance exams are the benchmark for engineering admission in India. Both exams have different syllabuses and focus on different areas of knowledge.

JEE Main Syllabus vs JEE Advanced Syllabus

Difference between jee main and jee advanced in terms of subjects 

JEE Main is designed to test the basic knowledge of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM). The syllabus for JEE Main is based on the NCERT syllabus for classes 11th and 12th. It focuses on topics like sets, relations, and functions, trigonometry, matrices and determinants, probability, and calculus, among others.

JEE Advanced covers topics from the NCERT syllabus for classes 11th and 12th, but with a higher emphasis on advanced topics in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. It includes topics like vector calculus, wave optics, electrostatics, equilibrium and kinetics, organic chemistry, wave equations, etc.

So, to summarize the difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced, JEE Main is a basic exam that tests the fundamentals of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM), while JEE Advanced is a more difficult exam that tests the advanced knowledge of Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. While JEE Main syllabus is based on the NCERT syllabus of classes 11th and 12th, JEE Advanced syllabus focuses on advanced topics from the NCERT syllabus of classes 11th and 12th. 

JEE Main vs Advanced Difficulty

Difference between jee main and jee advanced in terms of the level of difficulty. When it comes to difficulty, the JEE Main is relatively easier than the JEE Advanced. 

  • The JEE Main is a computer-based exam that tests students on their knowledge of mathematics, physics, and chemistry. 
  • The exam is designed in such a way that students with basic knowledge of the subjects can easily clear the exam. 

The JEE Advanced, on the other hand, is a much tougher exam. 

  • It is an offline exam that tests students on their understanding and problem-solving skills.
  • The questions in the JEE Advanced are much more complicated and the paper is designed to challenge even the best of the candidates.
  •  It requires a student to have a strong understanding of the topics and a good grip on problem-solving skills.

In conclusion, 

  • JEE Main is considered an easier exam and is designed for students who have an average knowledge of the topics and limited preparation time. 
  • JEE Advanced is considered a much tougher exam and is designed for students who have a comprehensive knowledge of the topics and a great deal of preparation time.

Examination of JEE Main and JEE Advanced

Difference between jee main and jee advanced in terms of exams.

JEE Main is the first step for a student to enter into the IITs, NITs, and CFTIs. 

  • It is conducted both online and offline
  • The exam consists of two papers, namely, Paper-1 and Paper-2. Paper-1 is for admission to B.E/B.Tech courses and Paper-2 are for B.Arch/B.Planning courses. 

JEE Advanced, on the other hand, is the second step for admission to IITs. 

  • It is conducted only online and consists of two papers, namely, Paper-1 and Paper-2.
  •  It assesses the knowledge and aptitude of a student in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. 
  • The difficulty level of this exam is much higher than that of JEE Main. 

To summarise, the key differences between JEE Main and JEE Advanced are the difficulty level, mode of the examination, and syllabus. 

  • JEE Main is the first step towards admission to IITs, NITs, and CFTIs.
  • It is conducted both online and offline, and the syllabus covers topics from Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry. 
  • On the other hand, JEE Advanced is the second step towards admission, and it is only conducted online. 
  • The syllabus is more difficult than that of JEE Main and covers topics from the same subjects. 

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Highlights

 Difference between JEE main and JEE advanced in terms of important features. 

jee main vs jee advanced
  • The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). 
  • This exam is for admission to undergraduate engineering programs at the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs), and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs). 
  • The exam is divided into two papers – Paper 1 and Paper 2, with Paper 1 for admission to B.Tech/B.E. programs and Paper 2 for admission to B.Arch/B.Planning programs. 
  • The Joint Entrance Examination Advanced (JEE Advanced) is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). 
  • This exam is for admission to IITs and other prestigious engineering institutions like IISc and IIEST. JEE Advanced is conducted in two stages.
  • The first stage is an online exam and the second stage is an offline exam. The online exam is based on the syllabus of the All India Engineering Entrance Examination (AIEEE). 

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Eligibility Criteria

The primary difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced eligibility criteria lies in the age limit.  

Eligibility CriterionJEE MainJEE Advanced
Age Limit2523
Maximum Attempts3 Times in a calendar year1 Time in a calendar year
Qualification CriteriaCompletion of 12th75% minimum in qualifying exam

For JEE Main, the age limit is 25 years, while for JEE Advanced it is only 23. This means that students who are 25 years old or above cannot appear for JEE Advanced.

For JEE Main, students can appear for the exam three times in a calendar year, while for JEE Advanced, they can appear only once. 

When it comes to qualification criteria, both JEE Main and JEE Advanced have the same set of requirements. Students must have completed their class 12th or equivalent examination in the previous year to be eligible to appear for either of the two exams. Furthermore, they must have secured at least 75% marks in the qualifying exam to be eligible.

JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Number of Attempts

JEE Main 2023 exam will be held in two sessions. If a general category student is curious about the number of attempts for the exam, they can take part for three consecutive years from the year of passing Class 12. As far as the frequency of JEE Main exams and their advantages are concerned, these can be easily accessed from our website in a comprehensible way.

The two attempts of JEE Main 2023 presented the following advantages:

  • The second session of the exam allowed candidates to enhance their scores if their first session result was not satisfactory.
  • Moreover, any errors from the first session could be rectified in the following attempt, avoiding the necessity of taking a full year off.
  • Finally, those missing the first session were able to appear for the exam without having to wait for one more year.

In conclusion, two attempts in JEE Main 2023 provided candidates with a convenient and straightforward way to improve their scores and not have to waste a full year.

Number of Attempts for JEE exam

You can make two attempts in two successive years; hence, if you are successful in JEE Mains 2020, and take your first JEE Advanced attempt in 2021, you can apply for the exam again in 2022. If you do not participate in the exam in 2022, you will have used up your chances and won’t be able to apply for it anymore.

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JEE Main vs JEE Advanced Exam Pattern

JEE Main Exam Pattern is set in stone annually; NTA publishes the up-to-date pattern along with their yearly official notification. On the other hand, the JEE Advanced Exam Pattern is not fixed.

JEE Main Exam Pattern

SpecificationJEE Main Exam Pattern for Paper 1 (B.E/B.Tech)JEE Main Exam Pattern for Paper 2 (B.Arch)JEE Main Exam Pattern for Paper 2B (B.Planning)
Exam ModeCBTMathematics and Aptitude- CBT Mode, Drawing- Pen and paper modeCBT
SubjectsPhysics, Chemistry and MathematicsAptitude Test, Mathematics and DrawingMathematics, Aptitude Test, and Planning Based Objective Type
Total Questions Asked30 Questions (20 MCQs + 10 NAT) in each section82 (Mathematics- 30; Aptitude- 50; Drawing- 2)105 (Mathematics- 30; Aptitude- 50; Planning- 25)
Total Questions to be Answered25 Questions (20 MCQs + 5 NAT) in each section77 (Mathematics- 25; Aptitude- 50; Drawing- 2)100 (Mathematics- 25; Aptitude- 50; Planning- 25)
Type of QuestionsMathematics- 20 MCQs + 10 NAT;Physics- 20 MCQs + 10 NATChemistry- 20 MCQs + 10 NATMathematics- 20 MCQs + 10 NAT;Aptitude- 50 MCQs;Drawing- 2 questionsMathematics- 20 MCQs + 10 NAT;Aptitude- 50 MCQs;​Planning-based questions- MCQs
Medium of ExamEnglish, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, UrduEnglish, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, UrduEnglish, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu
Duration of Exam3 Hours3.5 Hours3.5 Hours
Total Marks300400400
Marking SchemeFor MCQs: +4 for each correct response; -1 for each incorrect response; Unattempted questions will not be marked.For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct response, no negative marking for incorrect answers or unattempted questions.For MCQs: +4 for each correct response; -1 for each incorrect response; Unattempted questions will not be marked.For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct response, no negative marking for incorrect answers or unattempted questions.For Drawing Test: 2 questions of 100 marksFor MCQs: +4 for each correct response; -1 for each incorrect response; Unattempted questions will not be marked.For Non-MCQs: +4 for each correct response, no negative marking for incorrect answers or unattempted questions.

JEE Advanced Exam Pattern

SpecificationsJEE Advanced Pattern for Paper 1JEE Advanced Pattern for Paper 2JEE Advanced Pattern for AAT
Exam ModeCBTCBTOffline
SubjectsPhysics;Chemistry;​MathematicsPhysics;Chemistry;MathematicsFreehand Drawing; Geometrical Drawing; Three Dimensional Perception; Imagination and Aesthetic Sensitivity; Architectural Awareness
Type of QuestionsMCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)Numerical type QuestionsMCQs, Numerical type, Sketching, Drawing, etc.
Medium of ExamEnglish and HindiEnglish and HindiEnglish
Duration of Exam3 Hours3 Hours3 hours

It is clear from the above discussion that JEE Main and JEE Advanced are two different exams governed by two different bodies. The eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, difficulty level, and other aspects of these two exams are different from each other. Hence, one needs to be well-prepared for both these exams in order to succeed in their respective fields.

Make sure to prepare a systematic study plan and stick to it to ensure all topics are covered in time.

We wish all aspirants of JEE Main and JEE Advanced all the best in their preparation. With hard work and dedication, you can surely make your dream of getting into the IITs/NITs come true.

FAQs on Difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced

Q1. What is the difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced?

To be eligible for the JEE Advanced exam, you need to pass the JEE Main exam and attain the minimum qualifying marks with a satisfactory All India Ranking. In essence, JEE Main acts as a gateway to qualify for the JEE Advanced exam.


Q2. Are the syllabi different for both JEE Main and JEE Advanced?

The syllabus of both JEE Mains and Advanced has undergone a slight modification. JEE Advanced covers some topics that are not included in JEE Main Physics


Q3. Is JEE Main helpful enough for IIT?

Obtaining a score of 250 or more in JEE Main is considered to be a good performance while scoring between 85-95 percentile in JEE Mains is considered ideal for securing admission into NITs and IITs through the examination.


Q4. Which of these is a more difficult exam?

JEE Main and JEE Advanced are national-level exams, but JEE Advanced is significantly more challenging than JEE Main.


Q5. When should I start planning and preparing for JEE exams?

In general, it takes around two years (comprising of Class 11 and 12) of serious and diligent preparation to get ready for the JEE examination.

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