How to attempt JEE Mains 2026 questions to maximize score
Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main 2026 ( JEE Main )
Exam On - 21 Jan '26 - 30 Jan '26
JEE Main is the dream of every engineering aspirant. Most of the students start preparing for the exam from class 8th while some realize their interest and caliber after class 10th board exams. Through JEE Main, every aspirant wishes to bag a seat in one of the prestigious engineering institutes, IITs to be specific. Now, to bag a seat in one of the 25 (Indian Institutes of Technology), IITs it is important to nail the exam with a good score.
NTA (National Testing Agency), the exam conducting authority conducts JEE Main in January and April for admission to the BTech & BArch/Bplan courses offered at the National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs) and other centrally funded technical institutes (CFTIs). JEE Main also serve the purpose of screening test for JEE Advanced 2026 for admission at Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
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Read More: JEE Mains Previous Year Question Paper PDFs with Solutions
| Download JEE Main Previous Year Question Paper with solution |
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Scoring well in JEE Main 2026 requires a lot of practice and hard work. The article will talk about every aspect that can help a candidate score well in JEE Main 2026. Now, before we move on to the strategies to get a good JEE Main score, let us first under the exam pattern.
The time period required to complete the JEE Main preparation depends mainly on the students. Every student has their own pace of study. Ideally, 6-month time is good enough to complete the JEE Main preparation. Students who have started preparing from class 11 or 12 can easily prepare for JEE Main in 6 months considering the topics of JEE syllabus have already been studied in classes 11 and 12.
JEE Main preparation is most effective with classes 11 and 12 as almost 90-95 percent of topics are similar in both exams. This way students can easily complete the entire JEE Main syllabus as well as the syllabus of classes 11 and 12. After the board exams, students get 1-2 months' time where they can focus entirely on JEE Main. Students who have started late for the JEE Main exam can make a 6-month plan where in the first three months they have to focus on revising the syllabus studied in classes 11 and 12. In the next two months focus on solving questions of JEE Main and analyzing the mistakes being made, if any. The last month should be focused on solving mock tests and JEE Main previous year question papers.
JEE Main difficulty level is similar to class 12 board exams. Syllabus of JEE Main is similar to class 11 and 12 syllabus. The questions asked in exam are tricky and need an in-depth understanding of subjects. They need to have conceptual understanding of every topic to score well in exam. Those who study NCERT can get a decent score in JEE Mains.
- JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern Highlights
- How to attempt JEE Main 2026 questions?
- How to score well in JEE Main 2026?
- FAQs related to JEE Main 2026 How to attempt questions and maximize your score
JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern Highlights
The first move when planning to prepare for JEE Main is to have a clear understanding of JEE Main 2026 exam pattern. Only then should candidates move toward the exam syllabus. JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 (BTech) of JEE Main comprises objective questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, having equal weightage. Each question is set to have four options. A negative marking of 1/4th marks also comes attached, for incorrect answers.
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Total Questions in JEE Mains Paper-1 (BTech)
There will be a total of 90 questions in JEE Main Paper-1. The paper is conducted by the NTA for admission to BTech courses. Check the table below for the details related to the total questions in JEE Mains Paper-1 (BTech):
| Subjects in Paper |
Section-A |
Section-B |
Question Paper Design |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics Physics Chemistry |
20 |
5 |
|
How to attempt JEE Main 2026 questions?
According to Ramesh Batlish, faculty from a renowned coaching institute, "Students should attempt the exam in the following sequence: Chemistry → Maths → Physics (Though it certainly depends on the strength of the student’s i.e. which subject the candidate is good with)."
Candidates can check JoSAA opening and closing ranks on the official website. They have to enter the details asked to check the list of courses and colleges based on the OR and CR of each counselling round.
Going by previous years’ trends, students generally prefer to attempt Chemistry first as it involves more fact-based questions followed by Maths and Physics. Attempting the exam in sequence would help in securing essential marks. The idea is to ensure to solve fact-based questions first and then move on to those involving calculations.
He further suggests a few tips and tricks to secure high marks in JEE Main. Read below.
How to score well in JEE Main 2026?
Scoring good marks in JEE Main is certainly possible with the appropriate strategy. The student should keep in mind the sections and topics where he/she can score maximum marks.
Chemistry
It is always a good idea to start with questions of inorganic chemistry, for example, reading well through chapters like P, S-block and Classification of elements and periodicity in the property.
Questions from these chapters are mostly direct and based on direct knowledge of the concepts. Students should focus on important topics like Chemical Bonding & the periodic table, Redox reactions, Carbonyl Compounds & their derivatives etc.
Physics
While attempting Physics, the students must prioritize modern physics (atomic physics, nuclear physics, and the special theory of relativity). There are a number of regular questions from this section. This part has 10 – 15% of the questions. You can solve questions from this section using the direct formula, which also saves you time. Around 20 – 25% of questions are from electricity and magnesium which are the most scoring. If you are well versed with the correct formulas and concepts regarding the direction of the electric and magnetic field (Like the Application of Gauss law, the application of Biot-Savart law, Faraday‘s law, right hand and left thumb rule for current, electric field and magnetic field direction) then you can sort out at least two options from four choices.
Mathematics
Matrices and determinants is a scoring topic of the mathematics syllabus of JEE. It is important to know the various types of matrices and their properties. Like if the question asks about the rank of the matrix then the matrix should be converted to echelon form and then the rank can be computed easily. Quadratic Equations are an important topic of JEE. It is a simple topic that can fetch good marks. It is important to know the formulae of the sum and product of roots. Whenever there is a question on the quadratic equation, one should first calculate the sum and product of roots. Most of the questions can be solved using these two values.
There are around 30 to 40 questions out of 90 that can be solved under the category “easy questions”. This enables a student to secure around 110 marks after assuming certain negative marks. Securing these numbers will ensure the student is among the first 2,40,000 aspirants and thus qualify for JEE Advanced.
Most important don’t panic you have done your best and now just wait for the final day!
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FAQs related to JEE Main 2026 How to attempt questions and maximize your score
Q. What is a good score in JEE Mains 2026?
A. A good JEE Main score is something that will make you eligible to appear for the JEE Advanced exam. A good score in JEE Main can be 250 . Check Marks vs Percentile here
Q. Is NCERT enough for JEE Mains 2026?
A. NCERT books and JEE Main syllabus cover almost all the topics for JEE Main 2026 preparation. Candidates have to be thorough with the class 11 and 12 syllabi of CBSE and also refer to important books for each of the subjects.
Q. Is JEE Mains 2026 registration started?
A. The JEE Mains 2026 registration started on October 31, 2025. The last date to apply is November 27, 2025. Interested candidates must fill and submit JEE Main 2024 application form within the given timelines.
Q. Will questions repeat in JEE mains?
A. Candidates must note that NTA prepares JEE question paper from a large question bank and the questions will be different for each shift. Since JEE Main 2026 will be held in two sessions, it is certain that the questions in one session will not be repeated in the subsequent sessions.
Q. From where can I download the JEE Main question paper PDF?
A. The JEE Mains question papers pdf are available in pdf format. Click here to download JEE Main question paper in a pdf file.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days ago
Chandigarh University typically starts B.E. admission counselling before the declaration of JEE Main Phase 2 results. This early counselling is mainly conducted through CUCET, allowing students to secure seats and plan their academic journey in advance. JEE Main scores, including Phase 2 results, ca
r
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, JEE Main-qualified students may receive scholarship-related advantages during counselling for B.E. Mechanical, Mechatronics, and Aerospace Engineering at Chandigarh University. Eligible candidates can be assessed under the Jee scholarship slabs, which can significantly reduce semester fees. Add
R
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 3 days ago
There is no minimum JEE main rankor percentile required to get admission into B.E. Computer Science Engineering at Chandigarh University.JEE scores are mainly used for scholarship eligibility, not as a strict admission cutoff. Students with higher All India Ranks can qualify for fee waivers under CU
s
Beginner-Level 1
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, it is possible to receive a scholarship for B.E. CSE specialisations such as AI & ML and IBM-aligned programs at Chandigarh University based on JEE Main performance. Scholarships are awarded according to All India Rank (AIR), which is derived from JEE percentile. Students securing AIRs within t
A
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, a good Phase 1 JEE Main score can make a student eligible for merit-based scholarship at Chandigarh University. Scholarships are allocated according to All India Rank (AIR): up to 25,000 AIR for 100% semester fee, 25,001-50,000 for 75% and so on. Phase 1 performance can secure early counseling
S
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 3 days ago
Chandigarh University does not specify a fixed JEE Main percentile cutoff to secure admission into B.E. CSE specialisations such as Full Stack Development or CSE (IoT & AI). JEE Main performance is mainly considered for scholarship eligibility, which is calculated using All India Rank rather than pe
R
Beginner-Level 3
Answered 3 days ago
Chandigarh University considers the best available JEE Main score submitted by the student for B.E. admissions, particularly for scholarship assessment. Students can apply after JEE Main Phase 1 and later update their application if they appear for Phase 2. CU follows a student-friendly approach, al
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 days ago
Yes, Chandigarh University allows students to update their application after JEE Main Phase 2 results, ensuring that the best rank or percentile is considered for admission, merit-based scholarships, and counseling. This flexible system benefits candidates who improve their performance in the second
A
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 4 days ago
- Candidates with JEE Main percentile 20 and above are given first priority in the REAP merit list. Then, candidates with JEE Main percentile less than 20 are considered.
- Second priority will be given to the class 12 marks.
- Candidates with DVoc qualifications will be given third priority
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 4 days ago
Candidates with JEE Main scores of 20 percentile and above are given priority in REAP merit list. If you do not have JEE Main score, you will get less priority in ranking.
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Contributor-Level 6