JEE Main 2025 tie-breaking rule changes; NTA drops application, age criteria

NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has again revised the tie-break rule for Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2025. In the latest update, candidates' ages and JEE Main 2025 application numbers will no longer be considered when assigning ranks to candidates with identical scores. Instead, rankings will be based solely on students' performance in the exam. If candidates are evenly matched on performance, they will be awarded the same JEE Main rank. JEE Main 2025 Live

The testing agency released the JEE Main 2025 exam dates on Monday evening, October 28. According to the official schedule, the JEE Main 2025 Session 1 is tentatively set to take place from January 22, while Session 2 is likely to be held between April 1 and 15.

The NTA has opened the registration window for JEE Main 2025 and eligible candidates can fill out the application form by November 22 on the JEE new official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in.

The JEE Main 2025 will be conducted in two phases. The exam will have two papers: Paper 1 for admission to Bachelor of Engineering (BE) and Bachelor of Technology (BTech) programmes, and Paper 2 for admission to Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) and Bachelor of Planning (BPlanning) programmes.

As per the criteria, there is no age restriction for candidates appearing in JEE Main 2025 now. Candidates who have passed their Class 12 or equivalent examination in 2023, 2024, or are appearing in 2025 are eligible to take the JEE Main 2025 exam, regardless of their age. However, they must still meet any specific age requirements set by the institutes to which they seek admission.

JEE Main 2025: Tie-breaking rule

In the event of a tie between candidates with the same total NTA score, the following criteria will be used to resolve it, in order:

• Higher NTA score in Mathematics

• Higher NTA score in Physics

• Higher NTA score in Chemistry

• Lower ratio of attempted incorrect answers to correct answers across all subjects in the test

• Lower ratio of attempted incorrect answers to correct answers in Mathematics

• Lower ratio of attempted incorrect answers to correct answers in Physics

• Lower ratio of attempted incorrect answers to correct answers in Chemistry

• If a tie still persists, candidates will be awarded the same rank.