If you’re preparing for India’s most competitive engineering entrances, understanding the difference between JEE Mains and JEE Advanced is the first step toward planning your path. While both exams fall under the JEE umbrella, their purpose, difficulty, and outcomes are quite different.
As JEE Advanced 2025 results are already out, thousands of qualified candidates are now going through the JoSAA Counselling process. Bookmark these for official updates:
- nta.ac.in – JEE Main notifications
- jeeadv.ac.in – JEE Advanced info
- josaa.nic.in – Seat allotment & counselling status
JEE Mains vs JEE Advanced: Key Differences
| Criteria | JEE Mains | JEE Advanced |
| Conducting Body | NTA (National Testing Agency) | IITs (on a rotational basis) |
| Purpose | Admission to NITs, IIITs, GFTIs + qualifying exam for JEE Advanced | Admission to IITs only |
| Eligibility | 10+2 with PCM | Top 2.5 lakh JEE Main scorers + 75% in boards or top 20 percentile |
| Attempts Allowed | 3 attempts/year | 2 attempts in 2 consecutive years |
| Exam Papers | Paper 1 (for BE/BTech); Paper 2 for B.Arch/B.Planning | Paper 1 and Paper 2 (both mandatory) |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate | High — deeper conceptual understanding needed |
| Question Pattern | MCQs and numerical value-based | Complex MCQs, numerical, and assertion-based (varies each year) |
| Marking Scheme | +4/-1 (MCQs); no negative in numerical section | Varies every year, includes partial and negative marking |
| Medium | 13 languages including English & Hindi | English and Hindi only |
| Institutes Covered | NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, some private colleges | 23 IITs across India |
Summary:
- JEE Main is the entry point for most engineering colleges and the qualifier for JEE Advanced.
- JEE Advanced is exclusively for admission into IITs and demands a more analytical approach.
JEE Advanced 2025 Counseling: Round 3 Seat Allotment
The JoSAA Counselling 2025 process is underway, and Round 3 Seat Allotment date has been announced.
Key Counselling Dates:
- Round 3 Seat Allotment Result: July 2, 2025
| JoSAA 2025 Counselling Round | Seat Allotment Date |
|---|---|
| JoSAA 2025 round 1 seat allotment date | 14 June 2025 – OUT |
| JoSAA 2025 round 2 seat allotment date | 25 June 2025 – OUT |
| JoSAA 2025 round 3 seat allotment date | 2 July 2025 |
| JoSAA 2025 round 4 seat allotment date | 6 July 2025 |
| JoSAA 2025 round 5 seat allotment date | 11 July 2025 |
| JoSAA 2025 round 6 seat allotment date | 16 July 2025 |
Steps to Follow :
- Visit josaa.nic.in
- Log in using your credentials
- Check seat allotment result
- Choose one of the options:
- Freeze: Accept the allotted seat
- Float: Keep this seat, but wait for a better one
- Slide: Wait for an upgrade in the same institute
- Upload required documents
- Pay the seat acceptance fee
Documents Required for :
- JEE Advanced Admit Card
- Class 10 & 12 Mark Sheets
- Category Certificate (if applicable)
- Passport-sized photograph
- Valid ID Proof
Institutes You Can Get Through JEE Advanced
Here are some of the top IITs that participate in JoSAA counselling:
| IIT Name | NIRF Rank 2024 | Known For |
| IIT Madras | #1 | Research & innovation |
| IIT Bombay | #3 | Computer Science & entrepreneurship |
| IIT Delhi | #2 | Placements & tech culture |
| IIT Kanpur | #4 | Core engineering excellence |
| IIT Kharagpur | #5 | Architecture, Civil, and Law |
| IIT Roorkee | #8 | Civil & Water resources |
Final Thoughts
If you’re planning your engineering future:
- Start with JEE Main and aim high — top ranks open the door to JEE Advanced.
- If you’ve cleared JEE Advanced 2025, make the most of JoSAA counselling — every round counts.
Track official deadlines closely and prepare all required documents in advance.
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