How to Prepare for IIT JEE

Co-authored by Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.

Last Updated: January 3, 2023 Approved

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), formerly the India Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE) is a standardized test used for admission to engineering programs in India. The JEE, which replaced the IIT-JEE in 2013, is comprised of multiple-choice questions that test the applicant's knowledge in several engineering-related fields. The JEE is offered at two levels: JEE Main and JEE Advanced, the latter being required for certain selective programs. Like with any serious academic test, thorough preparation is key to earn a good score on the JEE.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Knowing the Exam

1
Understand the structure of the Main exam. The JEE Main lasts three hours and consists of 75 multiple-choice questions. The exam consists of three sections: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Each section contains 25 questions. All sections are weighed equally.^{[1]
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- For each question answered correctly, four points are awarded. For each incorrect answer, one point is deducted. No points are awarded or deducted for unanswered questions. Now the marking scheme has changed and there are 25 questions with +3 and -1 points and 5 questions with a numerical answer which do not have negative marking.
2
Understand the structure of the Advanced exam. The JEE Advanced is structured differently than the main exam. The advanced exam covers the same three topics: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. However, unlike the main exam, the advanced exam is divided into two three-hour long papers, each divided into three sections (one for each topic). The papers are organized as follows:
- Paper One: Each section contains 10 multiple choice questions with one correct answer, five multiple choice questions with one or more correct answers, and five questions that require the test taker to provide a single-digit answer.
- Paper Two: Each section contains eight multiple choice questions with one correct answer, eight questions that require responding to a reading passage, and several "matching list"-type questions.
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3
Know the topics covered by each test. Though both the JEE Main and JEE Advanced cover the same three subjects (physics, chemistry, and mathematics), the precise topics covered and the difficulty of the individual questions will vary between the two tests. To gain a sense for the topics you may be expected to know for each test, consult the official test syllabi for the Main and Advanced exams, both of which are available in free PDF form from official test resources online. Below are just a few examples of the topics you may encounter on the test — these lists are by no means complete or definitive:
- Physics: Kinematics, laws of motion, gravity, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics, electronic devices.
- Chemistry: States of matter, atomic structure, redox reactions, chemical kinetics, environmental chemistry, periodic groups, basic organic chemistry principles.
- Mathematics: Quadratic equations, mathematical induction, sequences and series, matrices, integral calculus, differential equations, coordinate geometry.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Using Study Aids

Using Official Resources

1
Use official mock tests. The simplest, most effective way to prepare for the JEE is simply to do the test itself. Mock tests are available for free from the official JEE website. These tests mirror the actual JEE in terms of structure, format, and content and can be accessed entirely through your computer — no physical testing materials are required. Completing mock tests gives you the valuable experience of working through the JEE (and, in the process, finding your strengths and weaknesses) in advance of the actual exam.
- Note that while mock tests mimic computer-based versions of the JEE almost perfectly, paper-based versions of the JEE will require you to record your answers by hand on an official answer sheet — for obvious reasons, online mock tests can't replicate this part of the testing experience.
2
Use question papers from past exams. Another important resource for applicants looking to pass the JEE are the question papers from past tests (freely available on the official JEE website). Unlike the mock tests, which have questions specifically made for them, JEE question papers contain the exact questions included on past exams, making them a very valuable resource.
- Because the JEE is relatively new (the exam replaced the old IIT-JEE in 2013), only question papers from 2014 are available. However, since the test is offered multiple times per year, as of late 2014, eight papers have been published, offering plenty of practice material. In addition, question papers for the old IIT-JEE (also available online) will cover most of the same topics.
3
Consult the official JEE FAQ for general questions. This article covers most of what a JEE aspirant will need to prepare for the exam, but it's not intended to be a substitute for official JEE test resources. If you're ever unsure about some aspect of the JEE (like, for instance, how to apply, what the eligibility requirements are for public students, and so on), try consulting the JEE FAQ. The FAQ can provide you with the answers to frequently asked questions about the JEE, thus ensuring that you don't have to waste any valuable study time finding the answers elsewhere.
4
Keep up-to-date with official bulletins. Over time, the JEE can (and has) changed. Tests may be rescheduled, results may be re-interpreted, and the topics covered may change. To ensure that you have the absolute best chance of doing well on the JEE, stay up to speed with official JEE bulletins, which are published as they are released on the official JEE website.
- As an example of the sort of valuable information that may be released in a JEE bulletin, one recent bulletin contained important information on test takers' eligibility for admission to various Indian engineering and architectural programs.
5
Keep in mind the new changes in the JEE Mains Exam. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will no longer be responsible for conducting JEE Mains Exam. There is a newly formed authority, National Testing Agency (NTA) which is the in-charge for conducting JEE Mains Examination from 2019 onwards.
- The exam will be organized twice a year (January and April) in a computer-based mode
- The syllabus, exam pattern, language, and fees of the examination will not change
- Students can appear either once or twice for the exam.
- Only the best score of the two will be taken into consideration for admissions
- There will be multiple sittings of the exam. A student is free to choose the test dates, centre and schedule within a test period
- The highest level of encryption will be used to make the exam more secure. Thus, it will be free from paper-leakage issues and other malpractices
- Every candidate will get a unique question paper which will be decided by a software that would randomly pick up questions. This will minimize the chances of cheating
- NTA plans to use new age tools like Artificial Intelligence to set questions and prepare answer key
- Psychometric Analysis of previous years' tests will be undertaken by the exam conducting authority
- JEE Advanced will be conducted only once a year by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) as was done earlier.

Using Unofficial Resources

1
Use third-party question resources. The official JEE site is generally the most reputable source for test prep materials, but it is far from the only place to find sample questions, practice tests, and other valuable resources. A variety of third-party organizations and agencies also provide JEE test prep materials (some are for free; others cost money). However, since these third parties may not always be reputable or certified, it's important to use discretion and only rely on sources that appear legitimate when studying for the JEE.
- One great source for JEE test questions is Khan Academy. This relatively well-known academic site offers free educational material on a huge variety of topics and even has a page dedicated specifically to JEE test prep
2
Buy test prep books. In addition to online resources, JEE test prep materials are also available in physical form. Test prep books, brochures, pamphlets, and more are available at academic bookstores. The price (and legitimacy) of these materials can vary — try to choose materials that are officially certified by JEE-administering agencies and contain practice tests, questions from old tests, and so on.
- It's also a wise idea to pick books that contain full solutions with explanations (and not just answers) for every question — this way, if you don't understand a question, you'll get the luxury of being walked through the question step-by-step, rather than having to piece the solution together based off the final answer.
3
Review your notes from school. If you've been a diligent student, you may have access to great test-prep resources and not even realize it! Dig up your notes from physics, chemistry, and mathematics classes you've attended and review them, taking time to highlight important topics for further review. If you have access to old problems, consider going through some of these as well for extra practice.
- Some students may find it useful to read old textbooks directly — if this is the case for you, feel free to. However, for many, the "dense" way material is presented in many textbooks can make it almost impenetrable, so this may not be a great use of your test prep time.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Using Your Study Time Wisely

1
Start as early as possible. When it comes to preparing for the JEE, the earlier you start, the better. Studying for the JEE is a serious undertaking, especially if you plan on taking the JEE Advanced. It's also one that can have a significant impact on your professional future — a great score on the JEE can make it much easier to get into the engineering program of your choosing. For these reasons, some people choose to start studying years before they'll need to actually take the JEE. Though this probably isn't necessary if you've been attentive to your studies, for the best score, you will probably want to begin as early as practical — at least a few months before your test date.
2
Spend the most time studying your weakest topics. As you study for the JEE, you'll want to devote some time to every topic, even if you're already confident that you know some of them very well. However, to get the best score possible, you'll want to devote the majority of your time to the topics that you're not confident in. Doing this ensures you get the biggest improvement possible from your studying effort.
- If you're not sure how to allocate your time, try reviewing your grades from school — spend your most time studying the subjects that you get the poorest marks in.
3
Eliminate your personal distractions as you study. In the months before the JEE, you want to make the most of your time — you don't want to waste an hour (or more) fooling around for every hour you spend studying. To avoid distractions like TV, video games, and other forms of digital entertainment, remove them from your life temporarily. For instance, if you're having a hard time giving up your video games, you may want to try leaving your game system at a friend's house until the test is over.
- Try to use the internet only for study purposes. Don't waste your study time on games or social networking until the exams are over. If you can't seem to overcome these online distractions, try downloading and installing a productivity app (most browsers will have these available for free in the browser store).
4
Time yourself as you take practice tests. When you practice individual problems in preparation for the JEE, a good rule of thumb is to take as long as you need to fully understand the problem and answer it correctly. However, when you take entire JEE practice tests, it's a smart idea to give yourself the same 180-minute time limit you would normally have to finish the test. Doing prepares you to account for the time limit when it will actually matter.
- You don't necessarily need to be able to complete the entire test within the time limit the first time you try to do so, but you should work to increase your speed so that you're able to finish the whole test in 180 minutes (with as few questions skipped as possible) by the date of the test.
5
Take care of your physical needs on test day. Past a certain point, additional studying prior to the JEE can actually be harmful. If you have to give up eating or sleeping properly in the days prior to the JEE to squeeze in last-minute studying, you're probably hurting your chances of getting the best grade that you can. Neglecting these basic physical functions can leave you drowsy and distracted on the day of the exam, making it tricky or even impossible to do your best. Take the time to relax, eat normally, and get plenty of sleep in the days before your test — if you've been studying all along, it's almost certainly the smartest thing to do.
- This advice isn't unique to the JEE. Neglecting your physical needs (especially sleep) before any test has been demonstrated to lower your score on average.^{[2]
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Expert Q&A

Question

Is there any way to make studying a little more fun?

Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.
Educational Consultant
Alexander Ruiz is an Educational Consultant and the Educational Director of Link Educational Institute, a tutoring business based in Claremont, California that provides customizable educational plans, subject and test prep tutoring, and college application consulting. With over a decade and a half of experience in the education industry, Alexander coaches students to increase their self-awareness and emotional intelligence while achieving skills and the goal of achieving skills and higher education. He holds a BA in Psychology from Florida International University and an MA in Education from Georgia Southern University.

Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.

Educational Consultant

Expert Answer

Try to turn studying into a game—it really is about having those reinforcements that encourage hard work and discipline. For example, after you're done studying, you can treat yourself to a nice dessert or watch a fun video on YouTube. You'll essentially tell yourself, "Hey, after I'm done with this, this is my reinforcement for having accomplished all that studying," and follow through with it.
Question

What tactic should I follow? What should I keep in mind while preparing?

Community Answer

First of all, if you have finished thoroughly with NCERT and done some advanced study, it is better to take the test series course in a reputed coaching institute. Look for shortcut tricks. Practice as many quality questions as you can.
Question

I want to study more, but I struggle to follow through. What should I do?

Community Answer

Make your plans realistic. Set smaller goals leading up to your ultimate goal. Reward yourself for reaching each small goal.

Warnings

Don't keep your work pending. You might not be able to catch up later.

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Never ever adopt your classmate's method of studying. Generally, students get influenced by their peers. Everyone is unique and you should study according to your comfort for best concentration.

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Whatever happens, don't take JEE too seriously. Even if you don't get in as an undergraduate you shall have another chance to join as a postgraduate student. Remember, missing out on JEE isn't the end of the world.

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Do a self-assessment - take mock tests regularly. Spend some time on the weak areas as noticed from the mock tests. Track your progress in a journal to notice what you have achieved.

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Don't ignore schoolwork, especially after the new rules are in place.

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