JEE Main Paper 2 is India's gateway to B.Arch and B.Planning programmes at the most prestigious government architecture institutions, including School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) Delhi, the NITs, and other Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs). Unlike NATA, which serves a broad network of 600+ B.Arch colleges, JEE Paper 2 is the single qualifying exam for a smaller, more selective set of institutions. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in two sessions every year (January and April), it draws approximately 2.5 lakh candidates annually across Paper 2A (B.Arch) and Paper 2B (B.Planning).
JEE Paper 2 at a glance
Source: jeemain.nta.nic.in (NTA, T1 Official). Always verify before applying.
Paper 2A vs Paper 2B: which to choose
JEE Main Paper 2 has two distinct papers. Most students appear for Paper 2A (B.Arch). Paper 2B targets a separate planning-focused career path. You can register for both in the same session.
Paper 2A: B.Arch
5-year professional degree- Part 1: Maths100 marks
- Part 2: Aptitude200 marks
- Part 3: Drawing (pen-paper)100 marks
- Total400 marks
For students aiming at SPA Delhi, NIT Calicut, NIT Trichy, VNIT Nagpur, and other top government B.Arch programmes.
Paper 2B: B.Planning
4-year degree- Part 1: Maths100 marks
- Part 2: Aptitude200 marks
- Part 3: Planning MCQ (CBT)100 marks
- Total400 marks
For students aiming at B.Planning programmes at SPAs, SPA Delhi, NIT Calicut, and select other CFTIs. No drawing test required.
Eligibility criteria
NTA sets the eligibility conditions. These apply uniformly across all institutions participating in JoSAA counselling for B.Arch and B.Planning.
Academic qualification
Passed or appearing in 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as main subjects. Students from Commerce or Arts without PCM are not eligible for Paper 2A or 2B.
Minimum aggregate (General / OBC-NCL)
75% aggregate in 10+2. Alternatively, be in the top 20 percentile of candidates in your state board in the applicable year.
Minimum aggregate (SC / ST / PwD)
65% aggregate in 10+2. The top 20 percentile criterion also applies here.
Appearing candidates
Students appearing in Class 12 board exams in 2026 may apply provisionally. Marksheets and certificates must be submitted during JoSAA document verification.
Age limit
No upper age limit is prescribed by NTA from 2022 onwards. Individual institutions participating in JoSAA may have specific policies; verify at the college website.
Number of attempts
JEE Main can be attempted a maximum of 3 consecutive years from the year of Class 12 or equivalent. Both sessions in a single year count as one year of attempts.
Exam pattern 2026
JEE Paper 2A is a 3-hour exam with three parts. Parts 1 and 2 are computer-based. Part 3 (Drawing) requires pen-and-paper sketching at the exam centre. Paper 2B replaces Part 3 with a computer-based Planning section.
Part 1: Mathematics
MCQ (4 correct options)
20 questions · 4 marks each · -1 negative marking
Numerical (integer answer)
10 questions (attempt 5) · 4 marks each · No negative marking
Mode: CBT (computer-based test)
Part 2: Aptitude test
50 MCQ questions
4 marks each · -1 negative marking
Topics covered
Visualisation, objects in space, architectural awareness, textures, colour, materials
Mode: CBT (computer-based test)
Part 3A: Drawing test (B.Arch)
- 2 questions · 50 marks each
- Pen and paper at exam centre
- 90 minutes
- No negative marking
Tests spatial visualisation, drawing and design ability, aesthetic sensitivity, proportion.
Part 3B: Planning MCQ (B.Planning)
- 25 MCQ questions · 4 marks each
- Computer-based (CBT)
- 60 minutes
- -1 negative marking
Covers planning aptitude, general awareness, social sciences, urban and rural development concepts.
400
Total marks
3 hrs
Total duration
2
Sessions/year
JEE Paper 2 syllabus 2026
Part 1: Mathematics topics
| Topic | Key subtopics |
|---|---|
| Sets, relations, functions | Types of relations, inverse functions, binary operations |
| Complex numbers and quadratics | Argand plane, quadratic equations, arithmetic and geometric progressions |
| Matrices and determinants | Matrix operations, adjoint and inverse, system of linear equations |
| Permutation and combination | Fundamental principles, binomial theorem, mathematical induction |
| Coordinate geometry | Lines, circles, conics (parabola, ellipse, hyperbola) |
| 3D geometry and vectors | Direction cosines, planes, vector algebra, scalar and cross products |
| Differential calculus | Continuity, limits, differentiation, applications |
| Integral calculus | Integration by parts and substitution, definite integrals, area under curves |
| Statistics and probability | Mean, variance, standard deviation, probability distributions |
| Trigonometry | Identities, inverse trigonometry, height and distance problems |
Part 2: Aptitude test topics
3D visualisation and mental ability
Identifying 3D objects from 2D drawings, unfolding shapes, block configurations, mirror images.
Architectural awareness
Famous buildings, architects (Indian and international), architectural history, styles and materials.
Objects in space
Plan, elevation, section drawings. Rotation and transformation of objects. Shadow and perspective.
Textures and materials
Visual recognition of natural and man-made materials, surface finishes, and patterns.
Colour theory
Primary, secondary, tertiary colours. Colour harmonies and contrasts. Hue, saturation, value.
Analytical and logical reasoning
Pattern recognition, series, visual analogies, odd-one-out from architectural images.
Part 3A: Drawing test topics (B.Arch)
Sketching from observation
Drawing objects, scenes, or architectural elements from memory or observation. Proportion, form, and line quality are evaluated.
2D and 3D composition
Creating compositions using geometric shapes, forms, and patterns with clear spatial relationships.
Architectural design
Simple design problems: designing facades, interiors, or site layouts with given dimensions and programme requirements.
Perspective drawing
One-point and two-point perspective. Understanding of scale and depth in drawn space.
Source: NTA JEE Main information brochure. Verify current syllabus at jeemain.nta.nic.in.
Important dates 2026
JEE Main runs in two sessions. Confirm exact dates at jeemain.nta.nic.in before registering. Dates below are based on the 2025-26 cycle and historical patterns.
Best score of Session 1 and 2 counts for JoSAA counselling.
JoSAA counselling timeline
JoSAA seat allocation for SPAs and NITs typically runs from June to July after Session 2 results. Multiple rounds of choice-filling, seat allotment, and reporting take place. Register at josaa.nic.in when the process opens.
B.Arch colleges accepting JEE Paper 2
JEE Main Paper 2 is the qualifying exam for architecture and planning programmes at Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs). Admissions are centralised through JoSAA. Total B.Arch seats across these institutions: approximately 1,000.
SPA Delhi
New Delhi
NIT Calicut
Calicut, Kerala
NIT Trichy
Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
VNIT Nagpur
Nagpur, Maharashtra
NIT Hamirpur
Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh
MANIT Bhopal
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
SPA Bhopal
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
SPA Vijayawada
Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
Jamia Millia Islamia
New Delhi
JEE Paper 2 vs NATA: which exam to take
Many B.Arch aspirants are unsure whether to take JEE Paper 2, NATA, or both. The answer depends on which colleges you are targeting.
Take JEE Paper 2 if:
- → SPA Delhi is your primary target
- → You want admission at NIT Calicut, NIT Trichy, or VNIT Nagpur
- → Your PCM is strong and you can handle JEE-level Mathematics
- → You want centralised counselling across multiple top institutions
Take NATA if:
- → CEPT University, JJ Mumbai, or state architecture colleges are your targets
- → You prefer a drawing-heavy exam over competitive Maths
- → You want access to 600+ colleges across India
- → You are not aiming for SPA Delhi specifically
Coming soon
Practice for JEE Paper 2
ShapeVerse mock tests for JEE Paper 2 are in development, covering Aptitude MCQs (Part 2) with timed practice, section-wise analysis, and drawing prompts for self-evaluation. Free to use, no login required.
View all mock tests →