JEE or Joint Entrance Exams have become overly competitive and challenging in the recent few years. Talking about JEE, you will come across the names of two specific examinations. Those are JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
Both JEE Main and JEE Advanced are interrelated exams. However, they do differ in certain aspects. The first JEE Mains and JEE Advanced difference are regarding the bodies which conduct them. JEE Main is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission in various technical institutions like National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Centrally Funded Technical Institutes (CFTIs), and Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs). On the other hand, JEE Advanced is conducted only by IITs. JEE Advanced is specifically for students to take admissions in the 23 IITs across India.
Students qualifying the JEE Main are eligible to appear for the JEE Advanced. Often there arises confusion regarding the conceptual difference between JEE Main and Advanced. Let us discuss the differences.
Difference in Syllabus Between JEE Main and JEE Advanced
The Maths, Physics and Chemistry syllabus for JEE Advanced is not the same as that of JEE Main. First, let us have a look at how the JEE Main Math syllabus is different from that of JEE Advance.
Math Chapters that are Included in the JEE Main Syllabus, but Excluded from JEE Advance Syllabus:
Trigonometry and the Sums related to Heights and Distance.
Statistics: Calculating mean, median, mode (of grouped as well as ungrouped data), measures of dispersion, calculating variance, standard deviation of grouped and ungrouped data.
Probability: Probability line, events and types of events, probability distribution, Bayes theorem, and so on.
Sets, Relations, and Functions: Set unions, intersections, complements, power sets, different types of relations and equivalence relations, and the algebraic properties of sets.
Mathematical Reasoning: Tautology, contradiction, contrapositive, converse, statements and logical operations.
Now, Let Us Talk about the Syllabus difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced in Physics.
These are the chapters present in JEE Main syllabus but not included in JEE Advanced syllabus:
Communication System: Amplitude, frequency modulation, propagation of electromagnetic waves, various mediums of transmission, signal bandwidth, and the block diagrams of the basic elements which form a part of the communication system.
Electronic Waves: Definition of electronic waves along with their characteristics, transverse nature of these waves and application of electromagnetic waves, detailed analysis of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Electronic Devices: Solar cell, LED (Light-emitting diode), semiconductors, and semiconductor diodes, photo-diode, forward and reverse bias, Zener diode, voltage regulator, junction transistor, transistor as an amplifier, transistor as a switch, its characteristics, actions, and the oscillator.
There is only one Physics chapter which forms a part of JEE Advance syllabus but is not included in JEE Main. It is Thermal physics where you learn about Kirchoff’s law, radiation in a black body, absorptive and emissive power, Newton’s law of cooling, Stefan’s law and Wein’s displacement.
Given below is the Syllabus difference between JEE Main and Advanced in Chemistry. The topics which are there in JEE Main but not in the Advance exam:
Biomolecules: Definition of bio-molecules and its classifications along with functions, nucleic acids, chemical composition of DNA and RNA along with their respective functions
Chemistry in Everyday Life: Details about chemical agents like soap and detergents, artificial sweetening agents, preservatives, and chemicals in edibles. The chapter also includes cleansing action, usage of chemicals in medicines (such as analgesics, tranquillizer, antibiotics, disinfectants, antimicrobials, antihistamines, antifertility drugs, antiseptics, etc.)
Another JEE Mains and JEE Advanced difference are Regarding the Chemistry Topics included in the Advance Exam but not in the Main:
Nuclear Chemistry: Properties of alpha, beta, and gamma rays, radioactivity, kinetics of radioactive decay, and carbon dating, nuclear fusion and fission, proton-neutron ratio, and its role in nuclei stability
Electrochemistry: Electronic conduction, electrolytic conduction and equivalent conductivity, conductors, non-conductors, Faraday’s law of electrolysis, and Deniel cell. Other topics are - electrochemical series, batteries, Kohlarusch’s law, Nernst equation, concentration cells, and production of chemicals, Arrhenius theory of electrolytic dissociation
One more JEE Advanced and JEE Main difference is between their formats. JEE Main consists of 2 Papers. Paper 1 is for such students who are willing to pursue B.E. or B.Tech. Paper 2 is for students who want to take up a Bachelor in Architecture or Business Planning. Paper 1 of JEE Main can be answered by students through offline as well as online mode. Paper 2, on the other hand, cannot be taken online.
JEE Advanced has 2 papers as well. But both Paper 1 and Paper 2 are mandatory for all candidates, unlike JEE Main.
Other Difference between JEE Mains and JEE Advanced
One key difference between JEE Main and Advance is that the former is relatively easier than the other. JEE Advance covers a more exhaustive syllabus while JEE Main covers topics mostly taught in 11th and 12th standards of CBSE schools.
JEE Advance also measures the problem-solving capability of a particular candidate and whether he or she is able to apply theoretical knowledge to practical issues.
JEE Mains and JEE Advanced difference in Terms of Eligibility
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has recently reformed the eligibility criteria for JEE Advanced, with effect from 2020:
To appear for JEE Main, a candidate has to qualify Class 12 board or equivalent exam with at least 75% marks or be among the top 20% candidates in that exam. For SC and ST students, the minimum score will be 65%. Only about 2.5 Lakh students qualifying JEE Main can appear for JEE Advanced.
A candidate can appear thrice for consecutive years in case of JEE Main. For JEE Advanced, only two consecutive attempts are allowed.
There is no age limit specified under JEE Main criteria. However, there could be age limitations set by respective institutes. To appear for JEE Advanced 2020, a candidate must have been born on or after 1st October 1995. For SC, ST, and PwD candidates, a five-year relaxation has been announced.
Any individual who may have taken admission earlier in an IIT or ISM (Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad) cannot appear for JEE Advanced.
JEE Mains and JEE Advanced difference in terms of eligibility criteria has to be kept in mind before applying for any of these exams. Moreover, you should also make sure to check the eligibility criteria set by the institution that you are planning to join.
Another JEE Mains and JEE Advanced difference is that JEE Advanced assesses theoretical, practical as well problem-solving skills of a candidate. Thus, some questions in JEE Advance do have multiple correct answers. A candidate is supposed to select as many correct answers from the option as possible. Only partial marks will be awarded if all the correct answers are not selected.
Some questions in JEE Advanced also carry negative marking if someone answers them incorrectly. The marking scheme will be detailed in the question paper itself. For JEE Mains, 1 mark is deducted for every wrong answer. Each question carries 4 marks respectively.
One more JEE Mains and JEE Advanced difference is that the former can be answered in Hindi, English as well as the Gujarati language. On the contrary, JEE Advanced is available only in Hindi and English language.
There is also a significant and interesting difference between JEE Main and JEE Advanced. JEE Advance usually comes up with new types of question patterns each year. For example, in 2018, students were asked to find the positive or negative numerical value of a fraction. Suppose the question says 4/5. You will have to answer 0.80.
So, there is certainly a considerable amount of conceptual difference between JEE Advance and Main. You need to be theoretically correct in your JEE Main. While in JEE Advanced, along with being theoretically correct, you will also have to be prompt, logical, accurate, and efficient.
