JEE main 2025: NTA Discontinues Choice in Section B, Reverts to Original Format

New Delhi, October 19, 2024: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced a major change to the format of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2025, discontinuing the option for candidates to select questions in Section B. This marks a return to the original exam structure, ending the flexibility introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a recent notification, the NTA confirmed that from JEE Main 2025 onwards, candidates will need to attempt all five questions in Section B for each subject, without any choice. “The optional selection of questions was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to ease the pressure on students amid unprecedented challenges,” the NTA stated. “With the WHO declaring the end of COVID-19 as a public health emergency on May 5, 2023, we are reverting to the original exam structure.”

The flexibility to select questions in Section B was implemented in 2021 to accommodate students during the pandemic, allowing them to attempt any 5 out of 10 numerical questions. However, starting from the 2025 examination, this option will no longer be available. Candidates appearing for JEE Main 2025 must answer all five mandatory questions in Section B for each of the subjects included in Paper 1 (B.E./B. Tech), Paper 2A (B. Arch), and Paper 2B (B. Planning).

The NTA also confirmed that the application process for the first phase of JEE Main 2025 will begin soon, with detailed information to be released on its official website. The return to the original format marks a shift to pre-pandemic norms, signaling a new era for JEE aspirants.