In India, engineering entrance exams serve as the primary benchmark for undergraduate technical admissions across central, state, and private universities. JEE Main and SRMJEEE stand out among the most widely attempted exams due to their broad acceptance and applicant volume. In 2024, over 12.2 lakh candidates registered for JEE Main, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), while an estimated 2+ lakh students appeared for SRMJEEE, administered by SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) across three testing phases.
JEE Main is a national-level CBT exam used for admissions to NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, featuring 90 questions across Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (75 to be attempted), with a total of 300 marks and −1 negative marking for incorrect MCQs. In contrast, SRMJEEE is an institution-specific entrance exam accepted across all SRM campuses. It includes 125 questions covering PCM/Biology, Aptitude, and English, offers no negative marking, and is scored out of 125 marks.
Due to the competitive advantage of diversified applications, many B.Tech aspirants take both exams to maximize their admission prospects—targeting government-funded institutions via JEE Main while keeping SRMIST as a parallel private university option.
- SRMJEEE vs. JEE Main – Exam Structure Overview
- Key Differences Between JEE Main and SRMJEEE
- Difficulty Level: How Hard Is Each Exam?
- Syllabus Comparison: JEE Main vs. SRMJEEE
- Number of Applicants & Competition Level
- Result Format: Percentile vs. Raw Score
- Admission Opportunities & College List
- Counselling Process & Seat Allotment
- Exam Strategy & Student Profiles
- Student Strategy: Should You Take Both Exams?
SRMJEEE vs. JEE Main – Exam Structure Overview
JEE Main and SRMJEEE differ significantly in terms of structure, evaluation criteria, and subject combinations. While JEE Main serves as a national-level gateway for admission to premier engineering institutions like NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, SRMJEEE functions as an institutional-level exam for SRM University campuses. The following sub-sections detail the core format, subject coverage, marking rules, and test logistics for both exams.
JEE Main 2025 Structure
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2025 is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in two sessions—usually in January and April. This exam is a key national gateway for admission to NITs, IIITs, and other prestigious institutes. In its latest pattern revision, JEE Main Paper 1 (B.Tech) now features 75 compulsory questions—25 each in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics—across two distinct sections within each subject.
- Exam Authority: National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Sessions: January & April
- Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
- Questions per Subject:
- Section A (MCQs): 20 questions
- Section B (Numerical Value Type): 5 compulsory questions
- Total Questions: 75 (25 per subject)
- Total Marks: 300 (100 per subject)
- Marking Scheme: +4 for correct, −1 for incorrect (MCQs and numerical)
- Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
- Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes), 4 hours for PwD candidates
- Languages Offered: 13 languages including English, Hindi, and regional options
This updated format eliminates optional numerical questions, making all 75 questions mandatory, while retaining the traditional +4/−1 marking scheme to evaluate precision and speed.
Check JEE Main Exam Pattern 2025
SRMJEEE 2025 Structure
The SRM Joint Engineering Entrance Exam (SRMJEEE) 2025 is conducted by SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) in three phases — tentatively scheduled in April, June, and July. The exam is relatively simpler and has a more flexible marking system without penalties.
- Exam Authority: SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST)
- Frequency: Thrice a year (Phase 1: April, Phase 2: June, Phase 3: July)
- Subjects:
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics or Biology (PCM for engineering, PCB for biotechnology)
- Aptitude
- English
- Total Questions: 125 questions
- Physics: 35
- Chemistry: 35
- Maths/Biology: 40
- English: 5
- Aptitude: 10
- Marking Scheme:
- +1 for every correct answer
- No negative marking
- Mode: Remote Proctored Online Test (RPOT) from home
- Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Total Marks: 125
- Medium: English only
Check SRMJEEE Exam Pattern 2025
Key Differences Between JEE Main and SRMJEEE
JEE Main demands stronger analytical ability and accuracy due to its negative marking and higher complexity. In contrast, SRMJEEE is more accessible academically, with no penalty and broader topic coverage including aptitude and communication—but offers admissions strictly within SRM University. Candidates often attempt both to maximize options: NIT/IIIT via JEE Main, and SRM via SRMJEEE.
Difficulty Level: How Hard Is Each Exam?
A comparative study of question complexity, analysis of recent shifts, and student feedback reveals notable differences in each exam's challenge.
JEE Main Difficulty Analysis
Candidates can check the difficulty level of JEE Main exam below.
- Conceptual DepthJEE Main requires a strong understanding in Physics and Maths beyond routine formulas. According to shift-wise analysis, Maths consistently posed the greatest challenge, with Phases like April 8, 2024 – Shift 2 being rated “tough” (average difficulty 2.15/3)Maths topics such as Calculus and Algebra drove up difficulty; Physics was deemed easy to moderate, while Chemistry remained comparatively simpler
- Time-Accuracy Pressure With 75 questions to solve in 3 hours and a 1 penalty per incorrect answer, candidates must balance speed with precision to preserve their percentile. Psychological stress under timed conditions leads many students to adopt strategic skipping of uncertain questions.
- Normalized Difficulty Despite efforts by NTA, variations in slot difficulty exist, leading to different top-scoring thresholds across shifts.
Check JEE Main Exam Analysis 2025
SRMJEEE Difficulty Level
Candidates can check the difficulty level of SRMJEEE exam below.
- Straightforward Content The SRMJEEE format emphasizes NCERT-based factual and formula-based MCQs, with minimal multi-step problem-solving. This was confirmed by multiple student reviews and expert opinions, noting it is “much easier than JEE Mains”
- Zero Negative Marking Advantage The absence of penalties encourages students to attempt all questions, increasing both attempted and scored questions—especially in Aptitude and English subsections.
- Subject-Specific Ease Physics and Aptitude are consistently rated as the easiest sections. Although Math/Biology can show moderate difficulty, it remains much easier than JEE Main’s equivalent papers
Check SRMJEEE Exam Analysis 2025
Strategic Implications
Interested candidates can check the strategic implications of JEE Main and SRMJEEE exam below.
- JEE Main aspirants must prepare for conceptual depth and practice complex problems under time constraints.
- SRMJEEE candidates can focus on speed and maximize accuracy, benefiting from the zero penalty format.
- Students opting for both exams should adjust preparation strategy accordingly—intensive for JEE Main, NCERT-strong for SRMJEEE.
Syllabus Comparison: JEE Main vs. SRMJEEE
A precise syllabus comparison sheds light on overlapping topics, unique additions, and structural differences. This ensures aspirants can allocate preparation time effectively for each exam.
Common PCM Coverage
Both JEE Main and SRMJEEE test core Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics topics based on NCERT standards. Shared units include:
These foundational topics account for approximately 70–80% overlap in both exams
Both exams are aligned with the NCERT curriculum for Classes 11 and 12, but they differ significantly in structural components:
- SRMJEEE offers students the flexibility to choose between Mathematics and Biology, making it suitable for those pursuing streams like Biotechnology or allied fields.
- JEE Main, on the other hand, is restricted to Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, and its questions tend to be more analytical and concept-intensive.
JEE Main also includes a higher proportion of complex numerical and application-oriented problems, making it comparatively more demanding.
Number of Applicants & Competition Level
JEE Main 2024 Statistics
Candidates can check the registration and appearance data of JEE Main exam below.
- Registrations & Attempts: In April 2024, approximately 11.79 lakh candidates registered for JEE Main Session 2, with an overall tally of 14.76 lakh unique registrants across both January and April sessions (country-wide)
- Selection for Advanced: Of these, roughly 2.50 lakh students cleared the qualifying percentile for JEE Advanced
- Seat Competition: With an intake of around 40,000 seats at NITs, IIITs and other central institutes, competition remains intense.
SRMJEEE 2024 Statistics
Candidates can check the registration and appearance data of SRMJEEE exam below.
- Estimated Candidate Pool: Over 2 lakh students appeared across the three exam phases in 2024, with Phase 2 alone seeing approximately 1.5–2 lakh aspirants, and around 60,000 shortlisted for counselling
- CSE Cut-Off at Kattankulathur: For the flagship CSE program, admissions closed around AIR 2,000–9,000.
- Other Branches: Specializations like ECE, EEE, and Mechanical saw closing ranks extend up to AIR 50,000+—reflecting broader competition across the SRM system.
Key Insights
- JEE Main has a significantly larger candidate base and tougher competition for limited central government seats, leading to very high cut-offs.
- SRMJEEE features comparatively fewer applicants, though top-choice branches (like CSE) still see fierce competition. Branches like Mechanical and Civil broaden the field up to AIR 50,000.
Result Format: Percentile vs. Raw Score
Candidates can check the result difference between SRMJEEE Result and JEE Main result in the table below.
Admission Opportunities & College List
JEE Main College Options
Candidates can check the college options for JEE Main exam below.
- Admission to NITs, IIITs, CFTIs, and top private institutes via the JoSAA counselling portal.
- Elite options include NIT Trichy, NIT Surathkal, IIIT Hyderabad, DTU, NSUT among others.
SRMJEEE College Options
Admission to SRM University campuses through SRMLive Counselling:
- Kattankulathur (Main)
- Ramapuram, Vadapalani, Tiruchirappalli (Chennai)
- NCR Ghaziabad, Sonepat, AP – Amaravati Seat pickup depends on SRMJEEE rank, phase, and college–branch preference
Counselling Process & Seat Allotment
Candidates can check the difference between the counselling process and seat allotment process of SRMJEEE and JEE Main exam below.
Exam Strategy & Student Profiles
- JEE Main requires a blend of time-bound analytical practice and precision in numerical questions with negative marking.
- SRMJEEE allows aspirants to focus on speed and accuracy, leveraging its zero-penalty MCQ format, especially in Aptitude and English.
- Many students prioritize JEE Main but use SRMJEEE as a backup or select SRM for branches like CSE where cut-offs remain competitive.
Student Strategy: Should You Take Both Exams?
- Backup Plan: Attempting SRMJEEE alongside JEE Main broadens admission options.
- Govt Institute Targeting: JEE Main is essential for NITs/IIITs for students aiming at public-funded engineering.
- Private University Option: SRMJEEE is a strong parallel choice for students open to top-tier private institutes.
State Board Focus: SRMJEEE’s NCERT-centric format is well-suited for state-board students less inclined toward intensive JEE Main preparation.
