6 Major Changes in the JEE Main 2025 Exam

JEE Main 2025 Updates: NTA has made several changes in the JEE Main 2025 exam that every JEE aspirant must know before the exam. JEE Main session 1 is scheduled between 22 Jan to 31 2025 for which the applications closed on November 22, 2024. 

Read the full article to get an insight into JEE Main 2025 update and revamp your preparation according to the latest changes.

NTA Introduces 6 Important Changes in JEE Main 2025

This year, NTA has made some relevant changes to the JEE Main 2025, to make the exam more transparent and fair for the competitors. Candidates need to take note of the changes as it will help them to recreate their preparation strategy for improved performance.

1. Revised JEE Main 2025 Exam Pattern

As per the new exam pattern, the optional questions from section B (Numerical Value Questions) are removed. There will be only 5 questions in this section and all are compulsory. Therefore there will be a total of 75 questions in JEE including 20 multiple-choice questions and 5 numerical value-based questions. 

Students have to solve the entire paper without any choice in the question paper for JEE Main 2025 paper 1 in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and only Mathematics for JEE Main 2025 paper 2.

2. Changes in Marking Scheme

Till last year the Numerical Value Questions did not have negative marks. Students are required to enter the nearest integer value for that question and no marks are deducted for unanswered questions or incorrect answers. Whereas from JEE Main 2025 session 1, the numerical value questions will also face negative marking like the multiple choice questions. Four marks will be awarded for the correct answer while one mark will be deducted for the wrong answer and no marks for unanswered questions or marks for reviewing. 

Students should solve the multiple-choice and numerical value-based questions more cautiously to combat the impact of negative marking in JEE scores.

3. Revised Tie-Breaking Policy for JEE Main 2025 

NTA has made major changes to the JEE Main tie-breaking policy for candidates who score the same marks in the JEE Main examination. Age and application number are no longer considered for tie-breaking. In addition, the same rank will be awarded to the candidate if the tie doesn’t break after applying all the rules. The rules of the new tie-breaking policy are:

• Marks in Mathematics: The candidate scoring more marks in mathematics will rank higher.
• Marks in Physics: If the tie persists the candidate scoring more marks in Physics will be ranked higher.
• Marks in Chemistry: If the tie remains, the candidate securing more marks in chemistry will rank higher in the JEE exam.
• Lower Ratio of Incorrect to Correct Answers: The overall low ratio of incorrect to correct answers will be ranked higher.
• Lower Ratio of Incorrect to Correct Answers in Mathematics: If the tie remains, the lower ratio of incorrect to correct will get a higher rank.
• Lower Ratio of Incorrect to Correct Answers in Physics:  The lower ratio of incorrect answers to correct answers is considered to break the tie.
• Lower Ratio of Incorrect to Correct Answers in Chemistry: If the tie remains unresolved, the lower ratio of incorrect answers to correct answers is considered.
• Allotment of Same Rank: The same rank will be provided to the candidates, if the tie remains unresolved.

4. Age Limit Elimination From JEE Eligibility Criteria

The age limit restriction has also been removed from JEE Main 2025, opening doors to students who want to pursue engineering for IITs after a year or more gap. As per the new rule, the candidate who meets the eligibility criteria of minimum qualification is eligible to apply for the JEE Main exam, regardless of age.

5. Reduction in JEE Main 2025 Exam Syllabus

NTA has revised the JEE Main 2025 syllabus to streamline it with the current NCERT books and make it more relevant. Some topics are removed while some are added to all three subjects. The overview of the reduced JEE Main Exam Syllabus is as follows: 

• Changes in Physics Syllabus: Topics such as Scalars & Vectors, Vectors Addition & Subtraction, Scalar & Vector Products, Unit Vectors, and Resolution of Vectors are removed. While topics like Physics and Measurement, Work, Energy, and Power, Motion in a Vertical Circle, Rotational Motion, Gravitation, Thermodynamics, Electrostatics, Current Electricity, and Magnetism are added.
• Changes in Chemistry Syllabus: Chapters such as States of Matter, Surface Chemistry, and General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Metals are eliminated whereas some topics from p-Block elements such as uses & properties of Boron, Aluminum, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Halogens are simplified.
• Changes in Mathematics: No significant change has been made to the mathematics syllabus for JEE Mains.

6. Reduction in Number of Examination Centres

NTA has also reduced the number of examination centres for JEE Main 2025. Last year there were 300 examination centres while this year only 284 are there. The details of the reduced number of exam centres are given below:

• In Odisha, the examination centres were reduced from 23 to 17.
• Three cities have been removed from Tamilnadu state as exam centres while two new centres have been added.
• Andhra Pradesh lost 12 cities as JEE Main exam centre.
• Two exam centres have been added for Telangana state to accommodate its large population.
• Maharashtra has witnessed two additions and two deletions.

Students will face inconvenience after the reduction in the number of exam centres as they will find it difficult to find a centre near their home.

How do the Changes in JEE Main Impact the JEE Aspirants?

With the removal of optional questions and introduction of negative marking in numerical value questions, candidates will have to be more cautious about the preparation as no room will be left for negligence. Any mistake in the JEE exam can result in negative markings and impact the overall score. 

However, the change in age limit and tie-breaking policy will result in fair decision-making because more students will get the opportunity to appear for the JEE exam irrespective of their age and the serving candidates will be ranked higher when there is a tie between the two candidates.

Conclusion

After learning about the changes made by NTA for the JEE Main 2025 exam, it’s time to revise your preparation strategy and elevate your preparation. IIB Career Institute is a leading JEE coaching centre which offers JEE classes for 11th, 12th, and repeater students. The institute provides comprehensive JEE preparation programs with the latest JEE syllabus to take your exam preparation to the next level.