JEE B.Arch exam-day guide
JEE B.Arch · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed JEE Main Admit Card (B.Arch/B.Planning Paper 2)
Download from the official NTA portal once released and print on A4. Carry more than one copy. Verify that the paper shown is Paper 2 (B.Arch/B.Planning) and that the session and date match your allotment. If the admit card format or number of copies is unclear, confirm with the provider before travel day.
Original photo ID matching the admit card
Carry the original government photo ID whose details were entered in the application (commonly Aadhaar, PAN, passport, driving licence, or school ID). Photocopies are generally not accepted. The exact list of accepted IDs and any exemption for candidates without Aadhaar should be confirmed with the provider.
Passport-size photograph
Keep one or two recent photographs matching the one uploaded in the application. They are often used for the attendance sheet; the exact size and number required should be confirmed with the provider.
Transparent water bottle
A clear, label-free bottle is the usual norm at computer-based centres. Confirm the centre's specific bottle policy, since some venues restrict even transparent bottles.
Simple analog or transparent-frame pen/pencil for rough work
Rough work is done on the sheets provided at the centre, and no personal paper is allowed. Carry a basic pen or pencil only if the centre permits it; confirm the permitted stationery list with the provider.
Know your reporting time and gate-closing time
Reporting is typically well before the start, and entry usually closes before the exam begins. Note both times from your admit card and plan to arrive at least an hour early to absorb security and frisking queues.
Confirm the exam city and centre route in advance
Visit or map the route the day before. Account for traffic and for the fact that the centre may be far from your stay. Keep the admit card address handy for cab or auto drivers.
Rehearse the computer-based interface and mock test
Practise the on-screen calculator, the question palette, and the review/mark-for-review flow using the official mock link. Paper 2 also has drawing-type questions; check how they are presented and answered on screen.
Check the syllabus split and question count for Paper 2
Paper 2 combines Mathematics, Aptitude, and Drawing (B.Arch) or Planning (B.Planning). Confirm the exact subject combination and duration for your paper from the information bulletin, since these have changed across sessions.
Prepare drawing practice material at home, not at the centre
Drawing questions are answered on screen or as per the interface; do not bring drawing sheets, scales, or colours unless the bulletin explicitly allows them. Confirm the allowed-items list with the provider.
Plan food, medication, and a light layer
Eat a normal breakfast, carry any prescribed medicine with a doctor's note if needed, and wear comfortable clothes with a light layer for air-conditioned halls. Avoid heavy or unfamiliar food on exam day.
Leave prohibited items at home
Do not carry phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, calculators, or study material. Most centres have no secure storage, so plan to travel without them or leave them with a companion.
Plan the day
Shift from new learning to consolidation. Revisit formula sheets for Mathematics, revise aptitude topics such as series, blood relations, and spatial reasoning, and do one timed full-length Paper 2 mock under exam conditions. Review every wrong answer and note the error type (concept, calculation, or misread). Stop starting new topics. Confirm your admit card is downloaded and printed, check the reporting time, and plan the route and backup transport. Sleep on a normal schedule rather than cramming overnight.
Do a light revision of high-yield formulas and one or two drawing or aptitude question types. Pack the transparent bottle, ID, admit card copies, and photographs in a single bag. Charge nothing electronic that is banned, and set two alarms. Walk or map the route if possible, check weather and traffic advisories, and decide your departure time with a buffer. Eat a familiar dinner and aim for seven to eight hours of sleep. Avoid group discussions or last-minute panic revision.
Eat a normal breakfast, dress in comfortable layers, and leave with enough buffer to reach the centre at least an hour before the gate closes. Carry only permitted items. At the centre, complete frisking and document checks calmly, locate your seat and system, and read the instructions on screen. Use the pre-exam time to test the mouse, keyboard, and on-screen calculator rather than to start solving mentally.
Read the full paper once and sequence sections: do Mathematics and aptitude questions you are confident about first, mark uncertain ones for review, and reserve time for drawing or planning questions. Watch the on-screen clock and set internal checkpoints, for example finishing the first pass with a third of the time left. Use rough sheets for calculations and label them. For drawing questions, plan composition and proportion before committing. Do not leave any question blank if there is no negative marking for that section; where negative marking applies, guess only when you can eliminate options. Submit before time and verify the submission confirmation screen.
Rules to check
Carry the printed admit card and the original photo ID that matches your application. Entry is generally refused without both, and the exact accepted ID list should be confirmed with the provider.
Reach the centre before the gate-closing time printed on the admit card. Late entry is usually not permitted once the exam has started, and there is no re-entry after you leave the hall.
Do not bring phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, calculators, or study material into the exam hall. Possession can lead to debarment, and centres generally do not provide storage.
Follow all frisking and biometric or photography checks. Cooperate with invigilators, and raise any system or seating issue immediately rather than waiting.
Rough work must be done only on the sheets provided, and all sheets are usually collected at the end. Writing on the admit card, ID, or body is not allowed.
Breaks are generally not permitted during the computer-based test; plan water intake and restroom use before entry. Any medical accommodation must be arranged in advance and confirmed with the provider.
Scoring and marking scheme, including negative marking for MCQ sections and the treatment of drawing or planning questions, should be checked against the current information bulletin, since it can change between sessions.
Do not discuss or share question content after the exam. Unfair means, impersonation, or communication with other candidates can lead to cancellation of your result.