Joint Entrance Examination (Main) Paper 2
Prepare for JEE Main Paper 2 with the latest exam updates, B.Arch and B.Planning syllabus, exam pattern, eligibility criteria and preparation resources.
JEE Main Paper 2 Study Material
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JEE Main Paper 2 is the National Testing Agency's entrance test for undergraduate architecture and planning programmes. It has two separate papers: Paper 2A for B.Arch and Paper 2B for B.Planning. Its ranks are used for B.Arch and B.Planning seats at NITs, Schools of Planning and Architecture and other centrally funded institutes through JoSAA, and many state and private colleges also accept the score.
This guide covers the JEE Main 2027 cycle. NTA has not yet released the 2027 Information Bulletin, so the pattern, fees and eligibility below are taken from the JEE (Main) 2026 Information Bulletin and will be updated when the new bulletin is out. Paper 2 is a different exam from JEE Main Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech); this page deals only with Paper 2A and 2B.
JEE Main Paper 2 2027
Particular | Details |
|---|---|
Conducting body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
Papers | Paper 2A (B.Arch) and Paper 2B (B.Planning); you can take one or both |
Sessions | Two sessions: January and April (best Total NTA Score counts) |
Session 1 dates | Expected 22 to 24 and 28 to 30 January 2027 (tentative, per NTA's exam calendar) |
Mode | 2A: Mathematics and Aptitude on computer, Drawing on paper. 2B: fully computer-based |
Total marks | 400 for each paper |
Duration | 3 hours for one paper; 3 hours 30 minutes for 2A and 2B together |
Age limit | No age limit set by NTA for the exam |
Official website |
JEE Main Paper 2 2027 Notification and Important Dates
NTA usually opens Session 1 registration in late October or early November and publishes the Information Bulletin on the same day. As of 11 October 2026, the 2027 bulletin has not been released. The table shows the 2026 schedule for reference and the 2027 dates reported so far.
Event | 2026 cycle (official) | 2027 cycle |
|---|---|---|
Session 1 registration | 31 October to 27 November 2025 | Expected late October to November 2026 |
Session 1 exam window | 21 to 30 January 2026 | 22 to 24 and 28 to 30 January 2027 (tentative) |
Session 2 registration | From the last week of January 2026 | Expected February 2027 |
Session 2 exam window | 2 to 9 April 2026 | Expected April 2027 |
Paper 2 final result | May 2026 | To be announced |
Tentative dates come from NTA's examination calendar and earlier schedules and can change. Track the notices on jeemain.nta.nic.in and your registered email. The exact date and shift of your Paper 2 appear on the city intimation slip and admit card.
Paper 2A vs Paper 2B: Which One Should You Take?
Both papers share the same Mathematics and Aptitude sections. Only Part III differs, and that one section decides which programme the rank is valid for.
Point | Paper 2A (B.Arch) | Paper 2B (B.Planning) |
|---|---|---|
Part III | Drawing Test (2 questions, pen and paper) | Planning-based questions (25 MCQs on computer) |
Total questions | 77 | 100 |
Rank used for | B.Arch admission | B.Planning admission |
Class 12 subjects | Physics and Mathematics compulsory | Mathematics with at least 50% marks |
If you are unsure between architecture and planning, you can register for both papers. They are then held together in one 3 hour 30 minute sitting, and you share the Mathematics and Aptitude sections.
JEE Main Paper 2 Eligibility
Qualification and year of passing
For the 2026 exam, candidates who passed Class 12 in 2024 or 2025, or who were appearing in 2026, were eligible. On the same logic, the 2027 exam is expected to admit those who passed in 2025 or 2026 or are appearing in 2027; confirm this in the 2027 bulletin.
Admission requirements
B.Arch: Class 12 with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects plus one more listed subject, and at least 45% aggregate, or a 10+3 Diploma with Mathematics and 45% aggregate.
B.Planning: At least 50% in Mathematics and 50% aggregate in the qualifying exam.
NITs and other JoSAA institutes: 75% aggregate in Class 12 (65% for SC, ST and PwD), or a place in the top 20 percentile of your board.
There is no age limit for appearing in the exam, but institutes can apply their own age rules.
Application Fee and How to Apply
The 2026 fee for a single paper (2A or 2B) in India was Rs. 1,000 for General male candidates, Rs. 900 for EWS and OBC-NCL male candidates, Rs. 800 for female candidates in these categories, and Rs. 500 for SC, ST, PwD and third-gender candidates. Processing charges and GST are extra. The 2027 fee will be confirmed in the new bulletin.
Register: Create your account on jeemain.nta.nic.in with a working mobile number and email ID.
Fill the form: Choose Paper 2A, 2B or both, your exam cities and medium of the question paper.
Upload documents: Photograph, signature and category or PwD certificate as specified in the bulletin.
Pay the fee: Pay online and download the confirmation page for your records.
Keep your Aadhaar and category certificates updated before applying. NTA issued an advisory on mismatched photographs and identity documents during the 2026 cycle, so check that details match across your documents.
JEE Main Paper 2 Exam Pattern
Part | Paper 2A (B.Arch) | Paper 2B (B.Planning) | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
I. Mathematics | 20 MCQs + 5 numerical | 20 MCQs + 5 numerical | 100 |
II. Aptitude Test | 50 MCQs | 50 MCQs | 200 |
III. Drawing / Planning | 2 drawing questions | 25 MCQs | 100 |
Total | 77 questions | 100 questions | 400 |
Objective questions carry +4 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong one, including numerical questions. The Drawing Test has no negative marking.
What this means for you
Aptitude is half the paper: With 200 of 400 marks, the Aptitude Test usually decides your rank more than Mathematics does.
Drawing is worth a quarter: Two questions carry 100 marks in Paper 2A, so regular timed sketching matters as much as any theory topic.
Guess carefully: A wrong answer costs 1 mark, so one wrong guess cancels a quarter of a correct one.
JEE Main Paper 2 Syllabus Summary
Section | Paper | Important topics |
|---|---|---|
Mathematics | 2A and 2B | Same 14 units as Paper 1: algebra, calculus, coordinate and 3D geometry, vectors, trigonometry, statistics and probability |
Aptitude Test | 2A and 2B | Buildings and materials, 3D visualisation from 2D drawings, analytical reasoning, mental ability, patterns, plans and elevations |
Drawing Test | 2A only | Sketching from memory: urbanscape, landscape, rural life, compositions |
Planning | 2B only | General awareness, social sciences, map reading, chart interpretation, basic statistics |
Selection Process and Counselling
Appear in one or both sessions: Your best Total NTA Score across the two sessions is used.
Get your All India Rank: NTA publishes separate ranks for Paper 2A and Paper 2B after Session 2.
Register for counselling: JoSAA covers NITs, SPAs and other centrally funded institutes; state and private colleges run their own processes.
Seat allotment: Seats are allotted on rank, category, home-state quota and your choice order.
B.Arch at IITs works differently. It needs JEE Advanced and the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT), not the Paper 2 rank.
Results and NTA Score
NTA converts raw marks into NTA Scores (percentiles) for each shift, so results from different shifts can be compared. After Session 2, it publishes a separate All India Rank for Paper 2A and Paper 2B using the better of your two Total NTA Scores. In 2026, final Paper 2 scores were declared in early May, a few weeks after the Paper 1 result.
Exam Day Essentials for Paper 2A
Admit card and photo ID: Carry the printed admit card and an original valid photo ID such as Aadhaar.
Drawing kit: NTA's syllabus asks candidates to bring their own pencils, geometry box, crayons and colour pencils for the Drawing Test.
No calculators: Calculators are not allowed in the exam hall.
Reporting time: Reach well before the gate-closing time printed on your admit card.
Always follow the instructions on your admit card, which can change from one cycle to the next.
How to Prepare for JEE Main Paper 2
Mathematics: Build concepts in high-frequency units first and practise numerical questions without options.
Aptitude: Practise 3D visualisation, views of objects and pattern questions daily; these improve with volume.
Drawing: Do one timed memory sketch a day and get feedback on proportion, perspective and shading.
Planning (2B): Read Class 9 and 10 social science basics and practise map and chart questions.
For timed practice, you can attempt JEE Main Paper 2 online tests on Testkart and use the section-wise analysis to see whether Mathematics or Aptitude is costing you more marks. Testkart study notes for the exam are useful for quick revision of formulas and aptitude concepts.
Cut-off Reference
Paper 2 admission depends on your rank and the closing rank of the institute and programme at counselling, not on a single qualifying score. Closing ranks change every year with seats and applicants, so treat previous figures as a benchmark only.