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By rohit.pandey1
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Updated on 16 May 2026, 12:52 IST
JEE Advanced 2026 is conducted by IIT Roorkee on May 17, 2026 in two compulsory papers — Paper 1 (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) and Paper 2 (2:30 PM – 5:30 PM). The total marks across both papers is approximately 360, with each paper carrying 180 marks. Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics each carry equal marks of approximately 60 per paper.
The JEE Advanced Marking Scheme is not uniform — it varies by question type and section. Single-correct MCQs carry +3 for correct and −1 for wrong. Multiple-correct MCQs carry +4 for all correct options, partial marks (+1/+2/+3) when some correct options are selected without any wrong option, and −2 if even one wrong option is marked. Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions carry +4 for correct with zero negative marking.
The exact section-wise marking scheme, including the number of questions per section and total marks, is printed on the official question paper and displayed on screen at the start of the exam. IIT Roorkee does not publish this in advance.
The JEE Advanced marking scheme below is based on the confirmed JEE Advanced 2025 pattern. IIT Roorkee has not announced any change to the marking structure for 2026.
| Parameter | Details |
| Conducting Institute | IIT Roorkee |
| Exam Date | May 17, 2026 |
| Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Number of Papers | 2 (both compulsory) |
| Paper 1 Timing | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Paper 2 Timing | 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM |
| Duration Per Paper | 3 hours (4 hours for PwD) |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| Total Marks (Both Papers) | ~360 (180 per paper) |
| Marks Per Subject Per Paper | ~60 |
| Question Types | Single MCQ, Multiple Correct MCQ, NAT, Match the List |
| Negative Marking | Yes — varies by question type |
| Partial Marking | Yes — in Multiple Correct MCQ sections |
| Official Website | jeeadv.ac.in |
The JEE Advanced marking scheme is significantly more complex than JEE Main. Unlike JEE Main which has a uniform +4/−1 rule, JEE Advanced uses four different types of marking depending on the question type and section:
| Mark Type | When Applied |
| Full Marks | All correct options selected (Multiple Correct) or correct answer given |
| Partial Marks | Some but not all correct options selected — only in Multiple Correct MCQ sections |
| Zero Marks | Question left unattempted — applies to all question types |
| Negative Marks | Wrong answer selected — −1 for Single MCQ and Match the List; −2 for Multiple Correct MCQ |
This variable marking structure is why JEE Advanced rewards conceptual clarity over guessing. One wrong attempt in a Multiple Correct MCQ costs −2 marks, which can drop a student's rank by 100–300 positions depending on the competition.
| Section | Question Type | Questions | Full Marks | Partial Marks | Negative Marks | Unattempted |
| Section 1 | Single Correct MCQ | 4–6 | +3 | N/A | −1 | 0 |
| Section 2 | Multiple Correct MCQ | 6–8 | +4 | +3, +2, +1 | −2 | 0 |
| Section 3 | Numerical Answer Type (NAT) | 4–6 | +4 | N/A | 0 | 0 |
| Section 4 | Match the List / Matching Type | 4 | +3 | N/A | −1 | 0 |
Total Questions per Subject (Paper 1): ~18 Total Marks per Subject (Paper 1): ~60 Total Marks for Paper 1: ~180
| Section | Question Type | Questions | Full Marks | Partial Marks | Negative Marks | Unattempted |
| Section 1 | Single Correct MCQ | 4–6 | +3 | N/A | −1 | 0 |
| Section 2 | Multiple Correct MCQ | 6–8 | +4 | +3, +2, +1 | −2 | 0 |
| Section 3 | Numerical Answer Type (NAT) | 4–6 | +4 | N/A | 0 | 0 |
| Section 4 | Match the List / Matching Type | 4 | +3 | N/A | 0 | 0 |
Total Questions per Subject (Paper 2): ~18 Total Marks per Subject (Paper 2): ~60 Total Marks for Paper 2: ~180
IIT Roorkee does not publish the exact number of questions or section-wise marks before the exam. The structure above is based on the JEE Advanced 2025 pattern. The actual 2026 pattern will be visible on screen at the start of the exam on May 17, 2026.
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Each of the three subjects — Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics — carries equal weightage in JEE Advanced. This equal distribution applies across both papers.
| Subject | Paper 1 Marks | Paper 2 Marks | Total Marks |
| Physics | ~60 | ~60 | ~120 |
| Chemistry | ~60 | ~60 | ~120 |
| Mathematics | ~60 | ~60 | ~120 |
| Total | ~180 | ~180 | ~360 |
Equal subject distribution means weak performance in even one subject cannot be compensated by exceptional performance in the other two. The JEE Advanced rank list uses a combination of aggregate and per-subject cutoffs, so all three subjects must be prepared equally.
Negative marking in JEE Advanced 2026 is not uniform across all sections. Understanding exactly where negative marking applies and where it does not is critical for an optimal attempt strategy.
| Question Type | Negative Marking? | Penalty | Strategy Implication |
| Single Correct MCQ | Yes | −1 for wrong answer | Attempt only when 70%+ confident |
| Multiple Correct MCQ | Yes | −2 for any wrong option selected | Most dangerous — never guess |
| Numerical Answer Type (NAT) | No | 0 for wrong answer | Can attempt even with partial confidence |
| Match the List | Yes (Paper 1) / No (Paper 2) | −1 (P1 only) | Check which paper before attempting |
Multiple Correct MCQ sections carry the highest risk in JEE Advanced. The partial marking rule works as follows:
This is the single most misunderstood rule in JEE Advanced. Partial marks are only awarded when every option selected is correct — even if not all correct options are selected. The moment one wrong option is selected, the full −2 penalty applies regardless of how many correct options were also selected.
Most students do not fully understand how partial marking works in practice. Here are concrete examples:
Example Question: A Multiple Correct MCQ has options A, B, C, D. The correct answers are A, B, and C.
| Student's Response | Marks Awarded | Reason |
| A, B, C (all correct, none wrong) | +4 | All correct options selected — full marks |
| A, B (both correct, one correct missed) | +2 | Partial — 2 correct options, none wrong |
| A, C (both correct, one correct missed) | +2 | Partial — 2 correct options, none wrong |
| A (correct, two correct missed) | +1 | Partial — 1 correct option, none wrong |
| A, D (one correct, one wrong) | −2 | Full penalty — wrong option selected |
| A, B, D (two correct, one wrong) | −2 | Full penalty — wrong option selected |
| D only (one wrong) | −2 | Full penalty — wrong option |
| No response | 0 | Unattempted — no penalty |
In Multiple Correct MCQs, it is always safer to select fewer options than you are sure about rather than adding a doubtful option. Adding one wrong option wipes out all partial credit and adds a 2-mark penalty.
To understand how negative marking affects rank, consider this scenario:
Student A — Conservative approach (skips doubtful questions):
Student B — Aggressive approach (attempts all questions):
Same number of questions attempted — 95-mark difference purely due to negative marking. At JEE Advanced scoring levels, 95 marks can separate a rank of 500 from a rank of 5,000.
| Parameter | JEE Advanced 2025 (IIT Kanpur) | JEE Advanced 2026 Expected (IIT Roorkee) |
| Total Marks | 360 | ~360 |
| Marks Per Paper | 180 | ~180 |
| Single MCQ | +3/−1 | +3/−1 (expected) |
| Multiple Correct | +4/partial/−2 | +4/partial/−2 (expected) |
| NAT | +4/0 | +4/0 (expected) |
| Match the List | +3/−1 (P1), +3/0 (P2) | Same pattern expected |
| Number of Questions | ~48 per paper | ~48–54 per paper |
| Pattern Change | No major change from 2024 | No change announced |
IIT Roorkee has not announced any change to the marking scheme for 2026. The pattern is expected to remain consistent with 2025. Final confirmation will come from the question paper on exam day.
Understanding how the marking scheme has evolved over the years helps candidates spot any potential pattern shifts:
| Year | Conducting IIT | Total Marks | Key Pattern Feature |
| 2019 | IIT Roorkee | 372 | Introduced multiple NAT variants |
| 2020 | IIT Delhi | 396 | Higher NAT weightage |
| 2021 | IIT Kharagpur | 360 | Returned to ~360 marks |
| 2022 | IIT Bombay | 360 | Stable pattern |
| 2023 | IIT Guwahati | 360 | Increased Match the List questions |
| 2024 | IIT Madras | 360 | No major change |
| 2025 | IIT Kanpur | 360 | No major change — pattern stabilised |
| 2026 | IIT Roorkee | ~360 | No change announced |
Since 2021, the total marks have stabilised at approximately 360. IIT Roorkee last conducted the exam in 2019 and introduced significant NAT variants that year. Students should be prepared for potential minor section-level variations since the same institute tends to bring slightly different section compositions.
| Confidence Level | Single MCQ | Multiple Correct MCQ | NAT | Match the List |
| 90%+ sure | Always attempt | Attempt — mark only sure options | Always attempt | Attempt |
| 70–90% sure | Attempt | Attempt — mark only very sure options | Attempt | Attempt cautiously |
| 50–70% sure | Skip | Skip | Attempt (no negative) | Skip |
| Below 50% | Skip | Never attempt | Attempt if can narrow down | Skip |
| Step | Action | Why |
| 1 | Scan all three subjects in Paper 1 — identify NAT questions | No negative marking — attempt these first |
| 2 | Attempt Single MCQ questions where confidence is high | +3/−1 — good risk/reward at high confidence |
| 3 | Attempt Multiple Correct MCQs — mark only certain options | Partial marks available — do not add doubtful options |
| 4 | Return to Match the List questions — check if Paper 1 or Paper 2 | Paper 1 has −1, Paper 2 has 0 |
| 5 | Revisit skipped questions in final 20 minutes — reconsider NATs | Additional attempts with no penalty |
Repeaters who appeared in JEE Advanced 2025 should note the following:
After the exam on May 17, 2026, follow these steps to calculate an estimated score:
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The JEE Advanced 2026 marking scheme varies by question type. Single-correct MCQs carry +3/−1. Multiple-correct MCQs carry +4 for all correct, partial marks (+1/+2/+3) for partially correct with no wrong options, and −2 for any wrong option. Numerical Answer Type questions carry +4 with zero negative marking. Total marks across both papers is approximately 360.
Yes, but not for all question types. Single-correct MCQs carry −1 for wrong answers. Multiple-correct MCQs carry −2 for wrong answers. Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions have zero negative marking. Match the List questions carry −1 in Paper 1 and zero in Paper 2. Unattempted questions carry zero marks in all sections.
No. Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions carry +4 for a correct answer and zero marks for an incorrect or unattempted answer. This makes NAT questions the safest to attempt in JEE Advanced — candidates can attempt them even with partial confidence without risking negative marks.
The total marks in JEE Advanced 2026 is approximately 360 — approximately 180 per paper. Each subject (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) carries approximately 60 marks per paper and 120 marks total across both papers. The exact marks may vary slightly as IIT Roorkee reveals the final scheme on exam day.
Partial marks are awarded in Multiple Correct MCQ sections only when every option selected by the candidate is correct — even if not all correct options are selected. Marking 2 out of 4 correct options (with no wrong option) gives +2 marks. Marking any one wrong option immediately invites the full −2 penalty regardless of other correct options marked.
Unattempted questions carry zero marks in all sections across both Paper 1 and Paper 2. There is no penalty for not attempting a question. This makes leaving a question blank the safest option when confidence is below the threshold needed to make a positive expected-value attempt.
Yes, it is expected to be the same. IIT Roorkee has not announced any change to the marking scheme for 2026. The 2025 pattern (conducted by IIT Kanpur) will serve as the reference. However, the exact section composition — number of questions per section and total marks — is only revealed on the official question paper on exam day.
Download the candidate response sheet (May 21) and provisional answer key (May 25) from jeeadv.ac.in. Match each response against the key and apply the section-specific marking rules. Add Paper 1 and Paper 2 totals for the estimated combined score out of 360. Use Infinity Learn's JEE Advanced Rank Predictor for an estimated AIR.
Match the List questions typically carry +3 for a correct match and −1 for a wrong answer in Paper 1. In Paper 2, the pattern is +3 for correct and 0 for wrong — no negative marking. Always verify which paper a Match the List question belongs to before deciding the attempt strategy.
For Single Correct MCQs, guessing at 50% confidence is mathematically borderline — the expected value is (0.5 × 3) − (0.5 × 1) = +1 mark, which is technically positive. However, given rank sensitivity, most experts recommend skipping unless confidence is 70%+. For Multiple Correct MCQs, never guess even at 50% confidence — the −2 penalty makes the risk extremely unfavourable.
Each paper typically has 4 sections per subject — Section 1 (Single MCQ), Section 2 (Multiple Correct MCQ), Section 3 (Numerical Answer Type), and Section 4 (Match the List). Since there are 3 subjects per paper, each paper has approximately 12 sections in total. The exact number of questions per section is revealed on exam day.
If all four options are marked and the correct answer requires all four, the candidate gets +4. If only three options are correct and all four are marked (one wrong), the −2 penalty applies immediately. Marking all four options is almost always a risky strategy unless the candidate is certain all four are correct.
The marking scheme for most section types is identical between Paper 1 and Paper 2. The key difference historically is in the Match the List section — Paper 1 typically carries −1 for wrong answers while Paper 2 carries 0. Apart from this, the marking rules for Single MCQ, Multiple Correct MCQ, and NAT sections are the same in both papers.
Negative marking has a disproportionate impact on rank at the competitive end of JEE Advanced. Losing 20 marks to avoidable negative marking (approximately 10 wrong Multiple Correct MCQs) can shift a rank from 500 to 2,500 in the General category. This is why top rankers typically attempt fewer questions with higher accuracy rather than attempting everything.
The official JEE Advanced 2026 marking scheme is printed on the question paper displayed on screen at the start of the exam on May 17, 2026. Before the exam, the Information Brochure at jeeadv.ac.in provides the general pattern. Post-exam, the provisional answer key released on May 25 confirms the section-wise marking applied for result computation.