IIT JEE Advanced 2026: Your Complete Exam Guide

Event	Date
JEE Advanced 2026 Exam Date	May 17, 2026 (Sunday)
Paper 1 Timing	9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
Paper 2 Timing	2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Registration Opens (Indian Nationals)	April 23, 2026
Registration Opens (Foreign Nationals)	April 6, 2026
Last Date to Apply	May 2, 2026
Admit Card Download	To be announced
Result Declaration	Expected: First week of June 2026
JoSAA Counselling	After result declaration

 Always check the official website — jeeadv.ac.in — for real-time updates. It is the only authentic source for all official communications.

Eligibility Criteria

Understanding who can appear for JEE Advanced 2026 is the first critical step. The criteria are strict and non-negotiable.

Academic Qualification

Candidates must have appeared in their Class 12 (or equivalent) board examination for the first time in either 2025 or 2026. Students who first appeared in Class 12 in 2024 or earlier are not eligible.

Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics must be compulsory subjects in Class 12.

JEE Main Performance

Only candidates who rank among the top 2,50,000 in JEE Main 2026 (across all categories, including General, EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and PwD) are eligible to register.

Age Limit

General, OBC-NCL, and EWS candidates must have been born on or after October 1, 2001. SC, ST, and PwD candidates receive a 5-year relaxation — they must be born on or after October 1, 1996.

Number of Attempts

A candidate can attempt JEE Advanced a maximum of two times, and those two attempts must be in consecutive years only. For example, if you appear in 2025 for the first time, 2026 is your final opportunity.

No Prior IIT Admission

Candidates who have previously been admitted to any IIT — even if they later withdrew — are not eligible to appear again.

Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals are exempt from qualifying JEE Main. They can apply directly for JEE Advanced under a separate supernumerary quota.

Registration Process

Once you’ve confirmed your JEE Main rank and eligibility, follow these steps:

Step 1 – Visit the Official Website: Go to jeeadv.ac.in and navigate to the registration portal.

Step 2 – Complete Online Registration: Fill in your JEE Main roll number, date of birth, and other required personal details.

Step 3 – Upload Documents: Submit scanned copies of your Class 10 certificate (for date of birth), Class 12 marks sheet (if applicable), category certificate, and a recent passport-size photograph.

Step 4 – Pay the Registration Fee: Fees vary by category. Payment is made online via debit/credit card or net banking.

Step 5 – Download Confirmation: Save the confirmation page as proof of successful registration.

Missing the registration window means waiting another year — so set calendar reminders well in advance.

Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

One of JEE Advanced’s most distinctive features is its unpredictable exam pattern. Unlike most competitive exams, the exact number of questions, total marks, and marking scheme are not disclosed before the exam day. They are revealed only when the paper begins.

What remains consistent year to year:

• The exam consists of two compulsory papers — Paper 1 and Paper 2
• Both papers are conducted on the same day
• Each paper is 3 hours long
• The mode is entirely Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Both papers cover Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics

Question Types (Based on Recent Years)

Three broad question types appear across both papers:

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with one or more correct answers: Partial marks are sometimes awarded for partially correct responses, but negative marking applies for wrong answers.

Numerical Value-Based Questions: Answers are entered as numbers. These carry no negative marking, making them relatively safer to attempt.

Matching List Questions: One correct option from a set of combinations. Negative marking applies here.

Critical Insight: Because the pattern changes every year, studying previous year papers from 2019 to 2025 gives you the best understanding of what to expect. Don’t prepare for one specific pattern — train yourself to adapt quickly.

Also Read: JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Registration Begins: Apply Online @ jeemain.nta.nic.in

JEE Advanced 2026 Syllabus

IIT Roorkee has officially confirmed no change in the JEE Advanced 2026 syllabus compared to the previous year. The syllabus is drawn from Class 11 and Class 12 NCERT curriculum, but goes significantly deeper in terms of application and complexity.

Physics

Key areas include Mechanics (kinematics, Newton’s laws, work-energy theorem, rotational dynamics), Electricity and Magnetism, Optics, Modern Physics, Thermodynamics, and Waves. Special attention should be given to electrostatics, electromagnetic induction, and optics — consistently high-weightage topics.

Chemistry

Physical Chemistry dominates, covering topics like Chemical Equilibrium, Electrochemistry, Thermodynamics, Kinetics, and Atomic Structure. Organic Chemistry tests mechanisms and reactions — Aldehydes, Ketones, Amines, and Named Reactions are frequently asked. Inorganic Chemistry focuses on Coordination Compounds, P-Block and D-Block elements.

Mathematics

Calculus (Differential and Integral), Coordinate Geometry, Algebra (Matrices, Complex Numbers, Probability), and Vectors & 3D Geometry form the backbone. Integration and Differential Equations are consistently high-weight topics.

Download the official syllabus PDF directly from jeeadv.ac.in for the complete subject-wise topic list.

Preparation Strategy

Cracking JEE Advanced requires more than hard work — it requires smart, structured preparation.

Start Early and Build Strong Foundations

If you’ve already cleared JEE Main, you have the basics. JEE Advanced demands you go several layers deeper. Focus on conceptual clarity over rote memorization. Every formula has a derivation — understand it.

Use the Right Study Material

NCERT textbooks form your base, but they aren’t sufficient alone. For Physics, H.C. Verma’s Concepts of Physics is considered essential. For Mathematics, Problems in Mathematics by V. Govorov and Higher Algebra by Hall & Knight are popular among toppers. For Chemistry, J.D. Lee (Inorganic), O.P. Tandon (Physical), and M.S. Chauhan (Organic) are widely recommended.

Solve Previous Year Papers (2015–2025)

This is non-negotiable. Past papers reveal question styles, topic weightage, and the level of thinking required. Many questions follow similar concepts across years, even if the numbers change.

Take Full-Length Mock Tests

IIT Roorkee will release free official mock tests on jeeadv.ac.in. Take them in exam-like conditions — same timings, no phone, no breaks. Analyze your performance after every test: which topics cost you time, where did you make careless errors, and which question types are weakest.

Manage Time Within the Paper

With a variable marking scheme revealed only on exam day, quick adaptability is crucial. On exam day, scan both papers in the first 5–10 minutes. Identify and attempt the high-confidence, high-reward questions first. Don’t get stuck on a single problem for too long.

Balance Health and Preparation

JEE Advanced preparation is a marathon, not a sprint. Students who neglect sleep, exercise, and nutrition often experience burnout before the exam. Eight hours of sleep, short daily walks, and regular meals significantly improve focus and retention.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Neglecting Inorganic Chemistry: Many students focus heavily on Physical and Organic Chemistry and ignore Inorganic. This is a costly error — it consistently contributes meaningful marks.

Skipping NCERT: While JEE Advanced goes beyond NCERT, several Chemistry questions — especially in Inorganic — are directly or indirectly NCERT-based.

Not Reading Questions Carefully: JEE Advanced questions often contain subtle conditions. Rushing leads to avoidable errors, especially in multiple-correct MCQs.

Ignoring Negative Marking: Attempting every question is rarely wise. Know when to leave a question blank, especially in MCQ sections where negative marking applies.

Starting Preparation Post JEE Main Result: If you begin Advanced preparation only after the JEE Main result, you lose critical weeks. Parallel preparation for both exams — especially in the final months — is the smarter approach.

Key Takeaways

• JEE Advanced 2026 will be held on May 17, 2026, conducted by IIT Roorkee
• Only the top 2.5 lakh JEE Main 2026 qualifiers can register
• Registration for Indian nationals begins April 23, 2026, and closes May 2, 2026
• The exam comprises two 3-hour papers in CBT mode, both covering Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics
• The syllabus is unchanged from 2025 — no new topics have been added
• The exact marking scheme is revealed on exam day — practice adaptability
• Maximum two attempts allowed, both in consecutive years
• Always verify updates on the official website: jeeadv.ac.in