Exam guide: JEE, NEET and MHT‑CET
The four entrance exams most of our students take at the end of Class 12. Patterns change from time to time, so please check the official notice for the year.
| JEE Main | JEE Advanced | NEET UG | MHT‑CET | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conducted by | NTA | The IITs (by rotation) | NTA | State CET Cell, Maharashtra |
| How often | Twice a year (Jan, April) | Once a year (May / June) | Once a year (May) | Once a year (April / May) |
| Mode | Computer-based | Computer-based | Pen and paper (OMR) | Computer-based |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Maths | Physics, Chemistry, Maths | Physics, Chemistry, Biology | PCM or PCB group |
| Paper | 75 questions, 300 marks, 3 hours (Paper 1) | Two compulsory papers, 3 hours each | 180 questions, 720 marks, 3 hours | 150 (PCM) / 200 (PCB) questions, 200 marks, 3 hours |
| Negative marking | Yes, −1 | Varies by section and year | Yes, −1 | No |
| Leads to | NITs, IIITs, GFTIs; qualifying exam for JEE Advanced | IITs | MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, all medical colleges | Engineering, pharmacy, agriculture colleges in Maharashtra |
JEE Main
The national engineering entrance, held in two sessions. A student can appear in both, and the better score counts. Paper 1 (for B.E./B.Tech.) has 25 questions each in Physics, Chemistry and Maths, a mix of multiple-choice and numerical-answer questions. Each is worth 4 marks, with 1 mark deducted for a wrong answer.
For admission to NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded institutes, a student also needs at least 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST), or a place in the top 20 percentile of their board.
JEE Advanced
The exam for the IITs, open only to the top performers in JEE Main (roughly the top 2.5 lakh). Both papers are compulsory. The question types and marking scheme change every year, and a single question often combines several concepts. Under current rules, a student may attempt it at most twice, in two consecutive years. IIT admission also needs 75% in Class 12 (65% for SC/ST) or a place in the top 20 percentile of the board.
JEE preparation therefore has to build problem-solving ability as well as speed.
NEET UG
The single entrance for MBBS, BDS and AYUSH courses in India, including AIIMS and JIPMER. 45 questions each in Physics and Chemistry and 90 in Biology (Botany and Zoology), all compulsory. A correct answer gets +4 and a wrong one −1.
Biology is half the paper and is almost entirely NCERT-based. Physics is where most students lose marks.
MHT‑CET
Maharashtra's entrance for state engineering, pharmacy and agriculture colleges. The syllabus is the State Board's, mostly Class 12 with part of Class 11. There is no negative marking, so speed and accuracy on straightforward questions matter most.
For a JEE or NEET student, CET needs only focused practice in the last few months.
Timeline from Class 10 to the entrance exam
Class 10 (now)
Aim for strong board marks, especially in Science and Maths, and start thinking about engineering or medicine. Our free Foundation course is designed for this year.
After the Class 10 boards
Choose the stream (PCM for JEE, PCB for NEET) and the college-plus-coaching arrangement for Class 11 and 12.
Class 11
Nearly half of JEE and NEET comes from the Class 11 syllabus. Many students underestimate this year.
Class 12, November to March
Registration for JEE Main (session 1 in January, session 2 in April), NEET (usually February to March) and MHT‑CET. Board exams in February to March.
Class 12, April to June
JEE Main session 2, MHT‑CET, NEET and JEE Advanced, followed by counselling and college admissions.
Articles by our faculty
How to choose JEE or NEET coaching after Class 10: a checklist for parents
Nine questions to ask any coaching institute before Class 11 admission: batch size, teachers, doubt time, tests, phones, hostel safety and extra help.
Read →Class 10Class 10 board exam preparation: a month-by-month plan for 2027
A practical Class 10 plan for CBSE, ICSE and Maharashtra SSC students: what to finish by December, how to use sample papers, subject tips for Maths and Science.
Read →JEE MainJEE Main marks vs percentile vs rank: how they are linked
What a JEE Main percentile means, how NTA calculates it across shifts, why marks for 99 percentile change each year, and how to estimate rank.
Read →Class 11 and 12How to balance Class 12 board exams with JEE or NEET preparation
How Class 12 boards and entrance exams overlap, the 75% rule for NITs and IITs, and a Class 12 plan covering boards, JEE Main, NEET and MHT‑CET.
Read →ChemistryInorganic Chemistry for JEE Main: a 30-day plan and how to remember it
Why Inorganic Chemistry gives the quickest marks in JEE Main, which chapters matter, a four-week plan, and a way to remember NCERT facts and exceptions.
Read →JEE MainJEE Main 2027 preparation strategy: what to do based on your current score
A JEE Main 2027 plan for Class 12 students from October to the January and April sessions, with different priorities depending on your current mock test score.
Read →NEETHow to prepare NEET Biology from NCERT, line by line
Biology is half the NEET paper and almost all of it comes from NCERT. How to read NCERT for NEET, handle statement questions and plan revision.
Read →For parentsPCM or PCB after Class 10: how to choose between engineering and medicine
For Class 10 students and parents: what PCM and PCB lead to, how competitive JEE and NEET are, and five practical ways to choose between them.
Read →ToppersToppers' Talk: how our JEE toppers prepared
Om Salunke (Maharashtra Rank 1, JEE Main Paper 2B), Zaid Sayyed (AIR 154) and Naman Boob (99.82 percentile) talk about their JEE preparation.
Read →Campus visits
See the classrooms, hostel and mess, and meet the teachers who will teach your child. Pick a day and a time between 9 am and 6 pm at the Ashoka Marg or Arjun Nagar campus.