JEE Main exam-day guide
JEE Main · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Printed JEE Main admit card
Download from the official NTA portal once released and print it before exam day. Carry at least two clean copies. Verify that the roll number, exam date, shift timing, centre address, and photograph are correct; if anything is wrong, contact the NTA helpdesk before the exam. Confirm the exact print requirements (colour versus black-and-white) with the provider.
Passport-size photograph matching the application
Carry a few recent photographs of the same specification used in the application, since centres may ask for one for attendance or verification. Confirm with the provider whether photographs are required on exam day.
Valid photo ID in original
Carry the original ID document whose number was declared in the application (commonly Aadhaar, PAN, passport, driving licence, voter ID, or school ID). A photocopy is generally not accepted. If the ID details differ from the application, resolve this with the NTA before the exam.
PwD or category certificate, if applicable
Candidates availing scribe or compensatory-time concessions are usually asked to carry the relevant original certificate. Confirm the accepted format and validity period with the provider.
Simple transparent ballpoint pen
The exam is computer-based, but a pen is useful for rough work and for signing the attendance sheet. Confirm the permitted pen type with the provider.
Know the reporting time and centre location
Reporting typically begins well before the shift starts, and gates are usually closed after a cutoff. Do a dry run to the centre a day earlier and plan to arrive with a buffer for traffic and security queues.
Dress simply and avoid prohibited items
Wear light, comfortable clothing without large buttons, zips, or elaborate embroidery. Leave behind watches, jewellery, metal objects, electronics, bags, and study material; most centres have no secure storage. Confirm the current dress-code instructions with the provider.
Plan for biometric and security checks
Expect photograph capture, fingerprint or biometric verification, and frisking before entry. Cooperate with staff and keep documents ready in hand to speed up the process.
Practise the CBT interface and mock test
Use the official mock test link to get comfortable with navigation, the question palette, the mark-for-review feature, and the on-screen calculator where permitted. This reduces time lost on exam day.
Carry water and a light snack for after the exam
Consumables are generally not allowed inside the test hall, so keep them outside or for after the shift. Confirm the centre's policy with the provider.
Read the information bulletin for the current session
The NTA updates rules each session, including allowed items, ID requirements, and timings. Read the bulletin for your specific session rather than relying on older guides; mark anything unclear as needs_review and verify it.
Emergency contact and backup plan
Save the centre address, a local contact, and the NTA helpdesk number on your phone. Arrange a backup mode of transport and a person who can help if something goes wrong on the morning of the exam.
Plan the day
Stop starting new topics. Revise formula sheets, short notes, and past mistakes. Take one or two full-length timed mock tests at the same time of day as your actual shift, then spend more time analysing errors than attempting new questions. Confirm your admit card details, print copies, and pack your documents in a single folder. Check the centre route and travel time, and plan your sleep schedule so you are alert during the shift window.
Do a light revision of high-yield formulas and previously flagged weak areas only. Visit or mentally rehearse the route to the centre. Lay out clothes, admit card, ID, photographs, and pen. Avoid heavy mock tests and late-night study. Eat familiar food, hydrate, and sleep for a full night; sleep is more valuable than one more chapter at this stage.
Eat a normal breakfast, recheck the admit card and ID, and leave early enough to reach the centre ahead of the reporting time. Avoid new material and avoid discussing difficult questions with other candidates, since this raises anxiety. At the centre, complete verification calmly, use the washroom before entering the hall, and settle at the workstation by reading the on-screen instructions carefully.
Read the instructions and confirm the question paper and shift details on screen. Use the first few minutes to scan the paper and plan order. Attempt strong sections first, use mark-for-review for uncertain questions, and keep an eye on the clock to reserve time for review. Do not spend too long on any single question; use rough work only on the sheets provided, and submit only after checking that no question is left unintentionally.
Rules to check
Carry the admit card and the original photo ID declared in the application; entry is generally refused without them. If any detail is mismatched, resolve it with the NTA before exam day, and confirm the accepted ID list with the provider.
Do not bring electronic devices, smart watches, calculators, Bluetooth devices, study material, or bags into the test hall. Possession can lead to cancellation, so leave such items at home; confirm the current prohibited-items list with the provider.
Follow all instructions from invigilators and cooperate with biometric verification, photography, and frisking. Any attempt to communicate with other candidates or use unfair means can result in disqualification for the session.
The exam is computer-based and scored by marking correct answers and applying the negative-marking scheme for incorrect MCQ answers; numerical-value questions follow the marking scheme stated in the information bulletin. Confirm the exact scheme for your paper with the provider.
Breaks are generally not permitted during the shift; use the washroom before entering and raise your hand if there is a genuine medical need, subject to invigilator approval. Confirm the centre's policy with the provider.
Do not tamper with the computer, keyboard, or rough sheets, and do not leave the hall before the shift ends except with permission. Hand over rough sheets if instructed before leaving.
Keep the admit card safe after the exam, since it may be required for later stages such as counselling or document verification. Follow the official NTA website for result and answer-key updates rather than unofficial sources.