Last Updated: 22 March 2026Verified for JEE 2026
ExamJEE
Difference Between JEE Main and JEE Advanced
JEE Main and JEE Advanced are the two stages of the Joint Entrance Examination for engineering admissions in India. JEE Main is the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced and for admission to NITs, while JEE Advanced is for IIT admission.
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced — Comparison Table
| Aspect | JEE Main | JEE Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs | Admission to IITs |
| Conducting body | NTA | One of the IITs (rotational) |
| Eligibility | Class 12 passed/appearing | Top 2.5 lakh JEE Main qualifiers |
| Attempts | 3 consecutive years | 2 consecutive years |
| Mode | Computer-based (CBT) | Computer-based (CBT) |
| Papers | 1 paper, 3 hours | 2 papers, 3 hours each |
| Difficulty | Moderate | High to Very High |
| Total candidates | ~12-15 lakh | ~1.5-2 lakh |
Key Points to Remember
You must qualify JEE Main to be eligible for JEE Advanced
JEE Main uses percentile-based ranking; JEE Advanced uses aggregate marks
JEE Advanced has unique question types: multi-correct, matrix match, integer
Top 250 ranks in JEE Advanced can choose any branch at any IIT
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