For the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2020, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is introducing major changes in the examination pattern. The JEE Main new pattern 2020 introduces non MCQs, has fewer number of questions, and a new paper. A list of all the changes, and the new exam pattern are explained here.
The first change is that now JEE Main 2020 will have three separate papers – one for BE/B.Tech aspirants, one for B.Arch aspirants, and one for B.Plan aspirants. Earlier there used to be paper 1 for BE/B.Tech aspirants, and paper 2 for B.Arch as well as B.Plan aspirants. This change has been introduced as per the opinion of subject experts, and separate eligibility criteria for B.Arch and B.Plan courses.
Then, the second change is the complete pattern of BE/B.Tech paper. Earlier there used to be three sections namely Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, with thirty questions each. Now, the sections are the same, but they will each have twenty five questions. These twenty five questions will further be divided into twenty multiple choice questions that is questions with options, and five questions will be such that they will have numerical type answers. Students will have to type in the answers. So overall there will be 75 questions, divided into 60 MCQs, and 15 non-MCQs.
After that, the third change is the new pattern of JEE Main 2020 for B.Arch students. Until last year this exam had part I mathematics with thirty MCQs, part II aptitude test with 50 MCQs, and part III drawing test with one question with sub-questions. Now this time there will be the same parts, but now part I mathematics will have twenty five questions, divided into twenty MCQs and five numerical type answers, then part II aptitude test shall be same as before, but part III drawing test will have two questions.
And the fourth change is the whole new paper for B.Plan. It will have part I mathematics with twenty five questions, split into twenty multiple choice questions and five numerical type ones. Then there will be part II aptitude test with fifty MCQs. And then there will be part III planning based questions with twenty five questions all MCQs.
Fifth change has been observed in the exam schedule. The notice for JEE Main new pattern also illustrates the exam schedule. BE / B.Tech exam will be held in the first shift from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, and in the second shift from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. Same will be the case for B.Arch. However B.Plan exam will be held in a single shift, from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. Students who will take the B.Arch as well as B.Plan exam will appear for the exam from 2.30 pm to 6 pm.
An obvious missing quotient in this notice is the marking scheme. It is evident that the marking scheme for non MCQs will be different, but it is not clear what it will be. JEE Advanced also has numerical answer type questions, wherein there is no negative marking.
JEE Main 2020 will be held twice a year – in January and April. The Jan session exam is scheduled to be held from January 6, 2020, to January 11, 2020. The application form for the same was supposed to be released today, but was deferred by a day. Initially it was not clear why this happened but now it seems that these exam change details probably caused it. This notification that contains exam pattern change also clarifies that registration for JEE Main Jan 2020 will start on September 3, 2019, and end on September 30, 2019. Fees can be paid until October 1, 2019. JEE Main Apr 2020 will be held from April 3, 2020, to April 9, 2020.
In case students are wondering where is the JEE Main new pattern official notification, they are apprised that the notice can be seen at https://nta.ac.in/Download/Notice/Notice_20190902120505.pdf. Notice that this is happening was available briefly at nta.ac.in, but was taken down. However at the time of writing this news, the notification is still live at the direct link. It is probable that since the date of notification is September 3, 2019, it will be available for public use from tomorrow. For immediate reference, a copy of the same is shown below.
Readers are encouraged to share their views and opinions in comments below.
