JEE Main vs JEE Advanced – Difference Explained (2025 Guide)
Introduction
Every year, lakhs of students in India dream of getting admission into the prestigious IITs, NITs, and other top engineering institutes. To achieve this, aspirants must go through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), which is divided into two stages: JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
While both exams are interconnected, they are not the same. Many students get confused about the differences between JEE Main and JEE Advanced, their eligibility, exam patterns, difficulty levels, and scope.
In this article, we’ll explain the complete difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced (2025) to help you plan your preparation better.
What is JEE Main?
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Conducted by: National Testing Agency (NTA)
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Purpose: Entry to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and eligibility for JEE Advanced.
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Attempts Allowed: 3 consecutive years after Class 12.
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Mode: Online (Computer-Based Test).
👉 Official Website: https://jeemain.nta.ac.in
What is JEE Advanced?
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Conducted by: IITs (rotationally) under the guidance of JAB (Joint Admission Board).
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Purpose: Admission into IITs & ISM Dhanbad.
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Attempts Allowed: 2 consecutive years after Class 12.
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Mode: Online (Computer-Based Test).
👉 Official Website: https://jeeadv.ac.in
JEE Main vs JEE Advanced – Key Differences
Feature | JEE Main | JEE Advanced |
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Conducted By | NTA | IITs (rotationally) |
Purpose | Admission into NITs, IIITs, GFTIs + eligibility for JEE Advanced | Admission into IITs & ISM Dhanbad |
Eligibility | Class 12 pass with PCM | Top 2,50,000 rankers of JEE Main |
Attempts Allowed | 3 years | 2 years |
Exam Mode | Online (CBT) | Online (CBT) |
Exam Pattern | 2 Papers – Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), Paper 2 (B.Arch/B.Planning) | 2 Papers (Both compulsory) |
Syllabus | Based on NCERT Class 11 & 12 | More in-depth, analytical |
Difficulty Level | Moderate | High (conceptual & analytical) |
Acceptance | NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, State Colleges | IITs & ISM Dhanbad |
Exam Pattern
JEE Main (2025)
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Paper 1: For B.E./B.Tech aspirants
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Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
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300 Marks total
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Paper 2: For B.Arch/B.Planning aspirants
👉 Duration: 3 hours
👉 Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) & Numerical Value Questions
JEE Advanced (2025)
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Two Papers (Mandatory): Paper 1 & Paper 2
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Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
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More focus on conceptual clarity, application, and analytical skills
👉 Duration: 3 hours per paper
👉 Type: MCQs, Integer type, Matching, Paragraph-based
Eligibility Criteria
JEE Main Eligibility
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Passed Class 12 (PCM).
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No age limit.
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Maximum 3 attempts in consecutive years.
JEE Advanced Eligibility
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Must clear JEE Main and be among the top 2.5 lakh candidates.
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Should have passed Class 12 with PCM.
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Maximum 2 attempts in consecutive years.
Difficulty Level
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JEE Main: Moderate difficulty, mostly NCERT-based. Designed for testing speed + accuracy.
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JEE Advanced: Very challenging, tests deep understanding, problem-solving, and analytical ability.
Which Exam Should You Prepare For?
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If your goal is NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, or State Engineering Colleges → Focus on JEE Main.
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If your dream is IITs → You must first clear JEE Main (to qualify for Advanced) and then prepare intensively for JEE Advanced.
Tips to Crack JEE Main & Advanced
For JEE Main:
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Focus on NCERT textbooks.
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Practice previous year papers & mock tests.
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Work on time management.
For JEE Advanced:
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Build strong conceptual understanding.
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Solve IIT-level problems (books like HC Verma, Irodov, etc.).
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Focus on analytical & application-based questions.
Conclusion
Both JEE Main and JEE Advanced are crucial exams for engineering aspirants in India. While JEE Main is your gateway to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, it also acts as the eligibility filter for JEE Advanced. On the other hand, JEE Advanced is the only path to IITs, which are the dream institutions for lakhs of students.
If you are preparing for JEE, remember:
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JEE Main = Speed + Accuracy
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JEE Advanced = Concept + Depth
With the right strategy, consistency, and practice, you can crack both exams and secure a seat in your dream engineering college in 2025 🚀.
👉 Official Links:
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JEE Main: https://jeemain.nta.ac.in
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JEE Advanced: https://jeeadv.ac.in