JEE (Advanced) does not publish its pattern in advance. Two papers, three hours each, both compulsory — and the number of questions, their kinds and their marks are revealed on the front page of the paper you are sitting. Anyone who tells you the exact pattern for next year is guessing. What the recent papers did, though, is public.
What the papers did, 2021–2025
| Year | Paper 1, per subject | Paper 2, per subject |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4 single, 3 comprehension, 6 multiple, 3 numerical | 6 multiple, 5 comprehension, 3 numerical |
| 2022 | 6 multiple, 8 numerical, 4 matching | 4 single, 6 multiple, 8 numerical |
| 2023 | 4 single, 3 multiple, 6 numerical, 4 matching | 4 single, 3 multiple, 6 numerical, 2 comprehension |
| 2024 | 4 single, 3 multiple, 6 numerical, 4 matching | 4 single, 3 multiple, 6 numerical, 2 comprehension |
| 2025 | 4 single, 3 multiple, 6 numerical, 3 matching | 4 single, 4 multiple, 8 numerical |
Between 16 and 19 questions per subject in a paper, over those years. Five kinds of question appear, and each is marked differently.
The five kinds, and how each is typically marked
| Kind | Typical marking | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Single correct | +3, −1 | The familiar one. Guess only when you can rule options out. |
| Multiple correct | +4 full; +3, +2, +1 partial; −2 for any wrong option | Leaving out an option you are unsure of keeps the credit for the ones you are sure of. |
| Numerical value | +4, usually 0 for wrong | With no negative marking, always attempt. |
| Matching list | +4, −1 | Four lists, one combination; marked as a whole. |
| Comprehension | varies | Two or more questions off one passage, each with its own scheme. |
"Typically" is doing real work in that table. Confirm the scheme on the front page of your paper on the day. It takes thirty seconds and can be worth more than a question.
Partial credit, worked through
A multiple-correct question has three right options: A, B and D.
- You mark A and B: two of three right, none wrong → +2.
- You mark A, B and D: all right → +4.
- You mark A, B and C: C is wrong → −2 for the whole question.
The instinct from MCQs — pick something for every option you are unsure of — is exactly wrong here. Partial credit rewards leaving off what you cannot justify.
Numericals: attempt them
In the recent papers numerical questions carried no negative marking. A blank and a wrong answer both score zero, so there is nothing to lose by committing to your best value. Enter it to the precision the paper asks for.
What we do with this
Our Advanced mocks mix these kinds in the proportions the recent papers used, and mark every question by its own scheme — partial credit included — so by exam day you have already learned how to attempt each kind. The JEE (Advanced) page has the syllabus as we hold it and how the year is planned.
Sources
The section instructions on the front of each year’s Paper 1 and Paper 2, published in the JEE (Advanced) archive by the organising IIT.
Updated 28 September 2026. Checked against the official sources on 28 September 2026.