National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology Joint Entrance Examination Syllabus 2026
National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology Joint Entrance Examination Syllabus
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Syllabus: Key Changes
The NCHMCT JEE 2026 syllabus has been revised with reduced weightage and a shorter time limit. The exam duration is now 2 hours, down from the previous 3 hours. The number of questions has also been reduced from 200 to 120.
As per the revised pattern, the NCHMCT JEE 2026 paper is divided into five sections.
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Exam Sections and Marks
The paper contains 120 multiple-choice questions. Most questions come from English Language and Aptitude for Service Sector.
| Section | Marks | Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Numerical Ability and Analytical Aptitude | 15 | Elementary Mathematics, Number System, Percentage, Profit & Loss, and more |
| Reasoning and Logical Deduction | 15 | Analytical Reasoning, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Puzzles, Series, etc. |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 15 | Static GK, Current Events, Sports, Science, Awards, and World Organisations |
| English Language | 45 | Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Synonyms/Antonyms, Paragraph Completion, etc. |
| Aptitude for Service Sector | 30 | Service orientation, hospitality awareness, and behavioral traits suitable for the industry |
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Syllabus: Numerical Ability and Analytical Aptitude
This section carries 15 marks. It focuses on elementary mathematics and basic numerical concepts.
The topics include Number System, Percentage, Profit & Loss, and related areas.
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Syllabus: Reasoning and Logical Deduction
This section also carries 15 marks. Questions are asked from analytical and logical reasoning topics.
Key areas include Analytical Reasoning, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Puzzles, and Series.
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Syllabus: General Knowledge and Current Affairs
This section carries 15 marks. Candidates must prepare on both static and current affairs topics.
The syllabus covers Static GK, Current Events, Sports, Science, Awards, and World Organisations.
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Syllabus: English Language
This is the highest weightage section with 45 marks. It tests basic English language skills.
Topics include Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Synonyms/Antonyms, and Paragraph Completion.
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Syllabus: Aptitude for Service Sector
This section carries 30 marks. It focuses on traits suitable for the hospitality and service industry.
The syllabus covers service orientation, hospitality awareness, and behavioral traits.
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Difficulty Level
The NCHMCT JEE is considered to have a moderate difficulty level and is often described as "student-friendly". Getting into top colleges requires good speed and accuracy.
Sections like Numerical Ability & Analytical Aptitude and Reasoning can be more challenging. The Service Sector Aptitude section is usually easier.
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Cutoff
The category-wise NCHMCT JEE Cutoff 2026 will be different for General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS candidates.
- General candidates may require 100-200 marks.
- SC/ST candidates may have a cutoff around 50-100 marks.
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Seats
The total number of seats for NCHMCT JEE is around 12,000 to 12,700. These seats are spread across approximately 80-90 participating Institutes of Hotel Management (IHMs).
The participating institutes include central, state, and private colleges. Specific figures vary slightly by year.
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Syllabus for Elementary Mathematics
The Elementary Mathematics section of the NCHMCT JEE covers a wide range of topics. The complete list of topics is given below.
| Topics | Topics |
|---|---|
| Elementary Mathematics | Number Systems |
| Arithmetic (Number Theory) | Square Roots |
| Cube Roots | Fractions and Decimals |
| HCF and LCM | Simplification |
| Variation | Chain Rule |
| Ratio and Proportion | Simple Interest |
| Logarithms | Average |
| Compound Interest | Percentage calculation |
| Unitary Method Questions | Age Questions |
| Clocks & Calendar-related questions | Speed (of cars, trains, etc) related questions |
| Profit and Loss | Calculate areas and volumes |
| Time and Distance related questions | Work and wage-related questions |
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Syllabus for Reasoning and Logical Deductions
The Reasoning and Logical Deductions section includes the following main topics. Candidates should prepare all of these for the exam.
| Topics | Topics |
|---|---|
| Analytical Reasoning | Direction and Distance related questions |
| Linear Arrangement | Coding and Decoding |
| Complex Arrangement | Series |
| Blood relations related questions | Symbols and notations |
| Alphabet Test | Data interpretation |
| Syllogism | Statements assumptions |
| Statements conclusions | Statements arguments |
| Statements action | Problems based on Visual Ability |
| Problems based on Symmetry | |
NCHMCT JEE Syllabus 2026: General Knowledge
The General Knowledge section of the NCHM JEE 2026 syllabus covers a broad set of topics. The list of topics is provided below.
| Topics | Topics |
|---|---|
| General awareness of different and popular: | Books and authors |
| Famous personalities | Currencies |
| Animals | Inventions and discoveries |
| Languages | Music |
| Dances | World organisations |
| Disasters | Statistical data of the World |
| Prizes and awards | Fashion Events |
| Solar System | Earth |
| Natural calamities | Sports |
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Syllabus for English
The English section of the NCHMCT JEE syllabus covers the following topics. The complete list is given in the table below.
| Topics | Topics |
|---|---|
| Vocabulary | Synonyms |
| Antonyms | Analogies |
| Spelling mistakes | English proficiency |
| Idioms and phrases | One word substitution |
| Sentence formation | Sentence completion |
| Sentence Reconstruction | Sentence improvement |
| Rearrangement of words in a sentence | Rearrangement of the sentence in the paragraph |
| Paragraph formation | Paragraph completion |
| Fill in the blanks | |
NCHMCT JEE Syllabus 2026 for Aptitude for the Service Sector
Questions in the aptitude for service section are related to hotel management. Practicing NCHMCT Mock Tests and sample papers can help you understand the type and difficulty level of questions asked.
NCHMCT JEE Syllabus FAQs
What topics should I focus on for the English section?
The details of all the topics covered in the English Section are given above. Practice questions related to topics like direct & indirect speech, idioms & phrases, reading comprehension, etc. to perfect them.
Which section is most important in NCHMCT JEE?
The Reasoning and Aptitude for Service Sector sections are very important and should be given top priority when preparing. It is the second highest in weightage and is also considered one of the toughest among the 5 subjects.
Does the NCHMCT syllabus change every year?
No, the NCHMCT JEE 2026 syllabus does not change every year. The main topics in the syllabus usually stay the same, but there might be small changes each year.
NCHMCT JEE Exam Pattern 2026
The NTA has released the changed exam pattern for the NCHMCT JEE exam along with the official notification. Check section wise number of questions to be answered in the NCHM JEE 2026 exam below:
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Exam Pattern
The NCHMCT JEE 2026 exam has 120 questions in total. The exam is divided into five sections.
| Sections | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Numerical Ability and Analytical Aptitude | 15 |
| Reasoning and Logical Deduction | 15 |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | 15 |
| English Language | 45 |
| Aptitude for Service Sector | 30 |
| Total | 120 |
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Syllabus: Student Opinions
Students often ask how hard the NCHMCT JEE exam is. Some say it is very hard, but others find it easy.
A Quora user, Mayank Rao answered: I simply ran through all the questions and found the question paper damn easy. To be honest English, logical reasoning and mathematics sections were solved in matter of couple of minutes ( 45 mins) to be exact.
Students also ask which book to prefer for NCHMCT JEE preparation. A Quora user, Aakash Sangar, answered: I personally suggest that the ultimate guide for hotel management NCHMCT JEE entrance examination by Arihant publications, is the best book of all hospitality and hotel management entrance examinations.
Best Books for NCHMCT JEE 2026: Subject-wise
The following books are recommended for each subject in the NCHMCT JEE 2026 exam.
| Subject | Name of Book | Author/Publication |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | TATA McGraw-Hill | Rajiv Mehrishi |
| Arihant General English for all Competitive Exams | SC Gupta | |
| Pearson’s English | Thrope | |
| Wren and Martin | PC Wren | |
| Numerical Ability & Aptitude | Quantitative Aptitude | RS Aggarwal |
| 30 Day’s Wonder Math | S Chand | |
| Quantitative Aptitude question papers for banks and other government entrance exams | - | |
| Quantitative Aptitude E-book | RS Aggarwal | |
| Logical Reasoning & Deductions | Verbal Reasoning Book | RS Aggarwal |
| Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning | RS Aggarwal | |
| 501 Challenging Logical Reasoning Practice Book | - | |
| General Knowledge & Current Affairs | Competition Review Yearbook 2021 | Disha Experts |
| Lucent’s GK | Vinay Karana | |
| Pearson India Yearbook | Thrope | |
| Pratiyogita Darpan | Upkar Prakashan | |
| Manorama Year Book 2021 | KM Mathew and M Mathew | |
| Aptitude for Service Sector | Hotel Management Entrance Exam Guide | Jawahar Book Center |
| Hotel Management Catering Technology | VVK Subburaj | |
| Hotel Management Entrance Exam Guide | Dr. R P Datson | |
| Ramesh Hotel Management Entrance Exam Guide | RPH Editorial | |
| 10 Mock Tests for Hotel Management Entrances | Dharmendra Mittal | |
| Hotel Management Entrance Exam Guide | Gladvin Rego | |
| How to Prepare for the Hotel Management Entrance Examination | Thrope | |
| Arihant Study Package for Hotel Management and Hospitality Administration | Arihant Experts | |
| R Gupta’s Book for Hotel Management | RPH Editorial Board |
NCHMCT JEE 2026 Preparation
The NCHMCT exam is scheduled for April 25. Students have 2 months left to prepare for the test.
Students also ask how to prepare for NCHMCT in a month. To this, another Quora user, Gaurav Josh, answered: I think 1 month is more than enough for this exam. I had written it in 2018 and secured an AIR of around 250.
8-Week NCHMCT JEE Preparation Plan
This is a week-by-week study plan for the NCHMCT JEE. The exam has 120 questions: 45 in English Language, 30 in Service Sector Aptitude, 15 in Numerical Ability, 15 in Reasoning & Logical Deduction, and 15 in GK & Current Affairs.
Week 1: Foundation Building
Start with the basics of every section. Make short notes as you study.
- English: Grammar rules, vocabulary (synonyms/antonyms), reading comprehension basics.
- Service Sector Aptitude: Hospitality basics, service attitude, customer handling scenarios.
- Numerical Ability: Arithmetic basics — percentage, profit & loss, ratio, time-speed-distance.
- Reasoning: Series, analogy, coding-decoding, blood relations.
- GK: Static GK — awards, books-authors, sports, important days.
- Target: Solve 50–60 questions per section.
Week 2: Foundation + Speed Building
Build speed while keeping accuracy. Read the newspaper daily and learn 30 new words each day.
- English: Tenses, error spotting, sentence improvement, cloze test, idioms.
- Service Sector Aptitude: Personality traits for service industry, teamwork, ethics in hospitality.
- Numerical Ability: SI-CI, average, time & work, pipes & cisterns.
- Reasoning: Direction sense, ranking, alphabet test, syllogism.
- GK: Indian history (tourism places), geography (tourist spots), polity basics.
- Target: Solve 1 previous year paper sectional-wise.
Week 3: Concept Strengthening
Focus on tougher concepts and start taking sectional tests. Revise notes from Weeks 1 and 2.
- English: Para jumbles, one-word substitution, fill in blanks, RC practice.
- Service Sector Aptitude: Attitude towards difficult customers, hotel front office & housekeeping scenarios.
- Numerical Ability: Mensuration, number system, simplification, HCF-LCM.
- Reasoning: Puzzles (floor-based, seating), logical Venn diagrams.
- GK: Current affairs from the last 6–8 months — tourism, awards, summits.
- Target: Take 2 sectional tests and analyse them.
Week 4: Mixed Practice + Weak Areas
Revise the full syllabus once. Solve 1 full mock test and analyse it in detail.
- English: Advanced RC (inference-based), vocabulary revision.
- Service Sector Aptitude: Case-study type questions, service recovery, cultural sensitivity in hospitality.
- Numerical Ability: Data interpretation (tables, bar, pie), algebra basics.
- Reasoning: Input-output, inequalities, critical reasoning.
- GK: Revise static GK and monthly current affairs capsules.
Week 5: Intensive Practice
Practice daily across all sections. Take 2 full mocks and revise weak topics immediately.
- English: Daily 2 RC passages + grammar mix sets.
- Service Sector Aptitude: Daily 20–25 MCQs.
- Numerical Ability: Speed math + DI sets.
- Reasoning: 30–40 questions daily.
- GK: Daily current affairs + quiz.
Week 6: Mock Test Focused
Take 3 full mocks, one every 2 days. Do a deep error analysis after each mock.
- English: Focus on accuracy and time management.
- Service Sector Aptitude: Practice situational judgement questions.
- Numerical Ability: Revise all formulas and quick tricks.
- Reasoning: High-level puzzles and logical sets.
- GK: Revise last 12 months of current affairs + tourism-related GK.
Week 7: Revision + Peak Performance
Revise all key topics and take 3–4 full mocks. Focus only on weak areas and formula revision.
- English: Revise all grammar rules, vocab and RC techniques.
- Service Sector Aptitude: Revise important hospitality terms and attitude questions.
- Numerical Ability: Quick revision + 50 mixed quant questions per day.
- Reasoning: Revise key reasoning types and shortcuts.
- GK: Revise notes + 100–150 GK MCQs per day.
Week 8: Final Polish (Last 10–14 Days)
Keep revision light. Take 1 mock every 2 days. In the last 3 days, do very light revision and rest fully before the exam.
- English: Light revision + 1 RC daily.
- Service Sector Aptitude: Light practice + confidence building.
- Numerical Ability: Only revision + mock analysis.
- Reasoning: Only revision + mock analysis.
- GK: Rapid revision using flashcards or apps.
NCHMCT JEE FAQs
Is a calculator allowed in NCHMCT JEE?
No. Electronic items such as mobile phones, calculators, and smart watches are not allowed inside the entrance hall. Candidates must carry a printed admit card and a valid government photo ID; entry is not allowed without them.
What is the pass mark for NCHMCT JEE?
Passing marks are not officially declared. Qualification depends on rank and category.
- General: A score of 100+ marks is generally considered a safe qualifying range.
- OBC and EWS: Typically qualify with 80–90 marks.
- SC/ST: May qualify with 60–70 marks.
How many seats are in NCHM JEE?
The total number of seats is around 12,000 to 12,700. There are roughly 90 participating colleges, including central, state, and private institutes, offering BSc (Hospitality & Hotel Administration) programs.
For the 2024 cycle, seats were around 12,707. Recent data points to 12,627 seats across roughly 80 institutes.
What is the average package of NCHMCT?
Graduates earn an average of ₹19 lakhs per year. Salaries mostly range from ₹12.2 lakhs to ₹47.5 lakhs per year. The top 10% of employees earn more than ₹27.9 lakhs per year.
Is NCHMCT JEE Easy?
The NCHMCT JEE has a moderate difficulty level. It is often described as student-friendly.
Getting into top colleges requires good speed and accuracy. The Numerical Ability & Analytical Aptitude and Reasoning sections can be more challenging. The Service Sector Aptitude section is usually easier.
NCHMCT JEE Cutoff
The category-wise NCHMCT JEE Cutoff 2026 will be different for General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS candidates. Previous trends suggest General candidates may require 100-200 marks.
- General: 100-200 marks
- SC/ST: 50-100 marks
Number of Seats
The total number of seats for NCHMCT JEE is around 12,000 to 12,700. These seats are across approximately 80-90 participating Institutes of Hotel Management (IHMs).
This includes central, state, and private colleges. Specific figures vary slightly by year.
English Section Topics
The details of all the topics covered in the English Section are given above. Practice questions related to the topics to perfect them.
- Direct & indirect speech
- Idioms & phrases
- Reading comprehension
Most Important Section
The Reasoning and Aptitude for Service Sector sections are very important and should be given top priority when preparing. It is the second highest in weightage.
It is also considered one of the toughest among the 5 subjects.
Syllabus Changes
No, the NCHMCT JEE 2026 syllabus does not change every year. The main topics in the syllabus usually stay the same.
There might be small changes each year.
Allowed Items in Exam Hall
Candidates should carry a printed admit card along with a valid government photo ID. Entry will not be allowed without them.
Electronic items such as mobile phones, calculators, or smart watches are not allowed inside the entrance hall.
Passing Marks
The NCHMCT JEE passing marks are not officially declared. Qualification depends on rank and category.
- General: 100+ marks is generally considered a safe qualifying range
- OBC and EWS: typically qualify with 80-90 marks
- SC/ST: may qualify with 60-70 marks
Seat Distribution Details
The total number of seats for NCHMCT JEE (National Council for Hotel Management Joint Entrance Examination) is around 12,000 to 12,700. There are roughly 90 participating colleges.
These include central, state, and private institutes. They offer BSc (Hospitality & Hotel Administration) programs.
| Cycle | Seats | Institutes |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 12,707 | - |
| Recent data | 12,627 | Roughly 80 |
Average Package
Employees who graduate from NCHMCT JEE earn an average of 19 lakhs. This mostly ranges from 12.2 lakhs per year to 47.5 lakhs per year.
The top 10% of employees earn more than 27.9 lakhs per year.