The National Testing Agency (NTA) is soon opening the registration portal for JEE Main, India’s leading engineering entrance examination for premier technical institutes. All aspiring candidates are strongly advised to acquaint themselves with six major changes introduced by the NTA, as these will significantly influence the exam format, eligibility requirements, and overall preparation strategy.
These updates are designed to streamline the examination process and establish greater consistency in the evaluation and ranking system. With the exam date approaching, a thorough understanding of these revisions is paramount for engineering hopefuls aiming for admission into prestigious institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs).
Revised Exam Pattern: No More Optional Questions
The JEE Main exam pattern has reverted to its pre-pandemic structure. A significant adjustment is the elimination of optional questions in Section B, a feature previously added to alleviate candidate stress. Now, students are required to attempt all 25 questions in each of the three subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
For Paper 1, specifically designed for B.Tech aspirants, the examination will comprise 75 questions in total, distributed as 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and 5 numerical value questions (NVQs) per subject. This removal of optional questions ensures that all candidates are evaluated on the same fixed set of questions, promoting a more uniform assessment.
Negative Marking Introduced for Numerical Value Questions
A critical change this year is the application of negative marking to Numerical Value Questions (NVQs). Previously, penalties for incorrect answers were limited to MCQs, with NVQs being exempt. Under the updated marking scheme, incorrect responses in NVQs will now result in a deduction of marks.
This alteration necessitates heightened caution when tackling numerical problems, as errors will directly impact the total score. Aspirants must focus on enhancing their precision and accuracy to maximize their performance.
New Tie-Breaking Rules Emphasize Performance
The criteria for resolving ties in JEE Main ranks have also been overhauled. Earlier, factors such as a candidate’s age and application number were used to break ties between candidates with identical scores. These subjective factors have now been discontinued.
The revised rules prioritize a candidate’s subject-wise performance and error ratios. Candidates with an equivalent overall score will be ranked higher based on their scores in Mathematics, followed by Physics, and then Chemistry. If a tie still persists, the ratio of incorrect to correct answers across all subjects will be scrutinized, with further analysis into individual subjects in the same sequential order. Should a tie remain after applying all these criteria, the affected candidates will be assigned the same rank.
Age Limit Abolished for Eligibility
The age restriction for JEE Main applicants has been completely removed. This means that candidates of any age who fulfill the academic qualification requirements are now eligible to apply, without regard to their age. This change creates expanded opportunities for older aspirants or those who may have paused their education before returning to pursue engineering.
The elimination of the age limit broadens access to the examination, enabling a more diverse group of candidates to compete for admission into India’s esteemed engineering institutions.
Reduction in Exam Centers and Cities
The total number of JEE Main exam centers has been reduced from 300 last year to 284 for the upcoming examination. This reduction impacts both domestic and international locations. Specifically, international centers have decreased from 24 to 14, with several cities in countries such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Hong Kong no longer hosting the exam.
Within India, certain states have also experienced notable changes: Odisha’s exam cities have been reduced from 23 to 17, Andhra Pradesh saw a loss of 12 centers, while Telangana gained two new cities. Tamil Nadu removed three cities but introduced two new ones. Maharashtra, despite some removals, experienced a slight net increase in its number of exam centers.
Important Note: Candidates must meticulously review the updated list of exam centers to choose the most convenient location during their registration process.
Syllabus Trimmed for Focused Preparation
The JEE Main syllabus has been streamlined with the removal of certain topics, aligning with adjustments made by the NTA in previous years. In Physics, chapters covering Scalars & Vectors, Vector Addition and Subtraction, Scalar & Vector Products, Unit Vectors, and Resolution of Vectors have been entirely removed.
Chemistry has seen the deletion of entire chapters, including States of Matter, Surface Chemistry, and General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Metals. Additionally, several topics related to P-Block elements have been either simplified or completely removed.
The Mathematics syllabus remains consistent with last year’s curriculum, which had already seen the removal of complex topics like Complex Numbers, Quadratic Equations, Coordinate Geometry, and Three Dimensional Geometry.