JEE Main 2027 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme: 75 Questions, 300 Marks, CBT

JEE Main 2027 will again be a computer-based test with 75 questions in Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), and every question carries the same marking scheme: +4 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong one. This guide explains the JEE Main 2027 exam pattern and marking scheme in plain English, using the National Testing Agency (NTA) public notice of 24 October 2026 and the JEE (Main) 2027 Information Bulletin. If you want to feel the pattern rather than just read about it, take a full JEE Main mock test online in the same 75-question, 3-hour format.

JEE Main 2027 at a glance

NTA will hold JEE (Main) 2027 in two sessions. Here are the key facts from the official notice and bulletin:

Session 1 applications run from 24 October to 22 November 2026 on jeemain.nta.nic.in, with a late-fee window from 23 to 26 November 2026. Dates can change, so always confirm on the official website before you plan.

JEE Main 2027 exam pattern: Section A and Section B

Each of the three subjects has two sections:

• Section A: 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) per subject. You pick one option out of the given choices.
• Section B: 5 numerical value questions per subject. There are no options; you type the answer as a number.

That gives 25 questions per subject and 75 in total. Since every question is worth 4 marks, each subject carries 100 marks and the paper carries 300.

How numerical answers are entered

The bulletin says that for each Section B question you enter the integer value of the answer using the mouse and an on-screen virtual numeric keypad, and the answer should be rounded off to the nearest integer. You cannot type with the physical keyboard, so practise clicking digits quickly and checking what you entered before moving on.

JEE Main 2027 marking scheme

The marking scheme is the same for Section A and Section B:

Two points students often miss:

• Numerical questions have negative marking too. In some earlier years wrong numerical answers were not penalised, but NTA's 2027 notice clearly states there is negative marking in both Section A and Section B. A wild guess in Section B can now cost you a mark.
• "Marked for Review" with no answer scores zero. Marking a question only helps you find it again; it does not earn or lose marks unless an answer is filled in.

What the marking scheme means for your strategy

With +4 for a right answer and -1 for a wrong one, a guess between four options is a gamble. If you can rule out two options with confidence, an educated guess often makes sense; if you have no idea, leaving it blank is safer. Numerical questions deserve even more care, because you cannot eliminate options at all.

One practical approach:

1. First pass (about 90 minutes): attempt every question you can solve quickly and confidently in all three subjects.
2. Second pass (about 60 minutes): go back to longer questions you marked for review.
3. Last 20-30 minutes: check numerical entries, clear any answer you now doubt, and make only educated guesses.

Your exact split will differ, and the only way to find yours is to sit full-length, timed papers. Track three numbers after every mock: attempts, accuracy and marks lost to negative marking. If wrong answers are costing you more than 15-20 marks, you are guessing too much.

Exam-day rules worth knowing

• Calculators, log tables, smart watches and similar items are not allowed in the exam hall.
• Rough sheets and a ballpoint pen are provided at the centre, so practise your rough work on plain paper at home.
• Only one application per candidate is allowed. Appearing more than once in the same session using different application numbers is treated as unfair means.

Who can appear in JEE Main 2027?

As per the bulletin, students who passed Class 12 (or equivalent) in 2025 or 2026, or who are appearing in 2027, are eligible. Students who passed Class 12 in 2024 or earlier are not eligible for JEE Main 2027. For full eligibility conditions, the NTA score and percentile method, and reservation rules, read the latest Information Bulletin on jeemain.nta.nic.in.

How to practise the JEE Main 2027 pattern

Knowing the pattern is step one; getting used to it under a ticking clock is step two. A good JEE Main mock test should copy the real paper: 75 questions with 20 MCQs and 5 numerical questions per subject, 3 hours, +4/-1 on both sections, a question palette with "Marked for Review", and an on-screen keypad for numerical answers.

The XEAL Education Works JEE Main 2027 mock test follows exactly this format. For Rs 9 you get one year of access with one full test every week, and your result with a chapter-wise report is sent to your e-mail so you can see which chapters are pulling your score down. Preparing for medicine as well? We also run a NEET UG 2027 mock test in the same computer-based style. You can read more exam guides in our articles section.

Ready to test yourself on the real pattern? Take a full JEE Main mock test online this week and use the report to plan your next seven days.