Mamona
Mamona Majumder
Deputy Manager
Updated on Oct 15, 2026 11:09 IST
JEE Aspirants often come across the suggestion from toppers and experts that NCERT books are a must for JEE preparation. But how and why do NCERT books play an important role in JEE Main and JEE Advanced preparation? We will discuss this in this article. Often underestimated by students, NCERT books are the backbone of JEE preparation.

Every JEE aspirant has heard these words - "In JEE, it is important to have a strong hold of the concepts and basics". But how to get a strong hold of concepts and basics of all the chapters in the JEE syllabus? The one answer to this is - NCERT books. Know how below.

JEE Main and JEE Advanced Preparation

Role of NCERT Books in JEE Main and JEE Advanced Preparation

Role of NCERT Books in JEE Main and JEE Advanced Preparation: NCERT books are often underestimated by the IIT JEE aspirants. But there is a reason why all the experts and the JEE toppers recommend NCERT books for JEE Main and JEE Advanced preparation. The reasons are: NCERT books have a language that easily explains the concepts of each topic, and the NCERT books have examples explaining the concepts. Various chapter examples and solved questions help the students understand the basics of all the topics. Also, the NCERT books are most aligned to the IIT JEE Mains and Advanced syllabus. The JEE exam has various questions that are derived from the concepts in the NCERT books. Especially in Chemistry, where questions are directly asked from the NCERT books.

With JEE Main being the initial stage and JEE Advanced as the final gateway to the IITs, the competition is fierce, and the syllabus is huge. The NCERT books play a crucial role in laying the foundation and developing conceptual clarity, which is essential for JEE Advanced. JEE Advanced may not have direct and easy questions, but the solutions to these tough questions often lie in the application of simple and basic concepts that can only be learned from the NCERT books.

Table of contents
  • Importance of NCERT in JEE Preparation
  • Subject-wise Role of NCERT Books in JEE Main and JEE Advanced Preparation
  • Role of NCERT in JEE Main vs JEE Advanced
  • Limitations of NCERT Books in JEE Preparation
  • How to Use NCERT Effectively for JEE Main and JEE Advanced Preparation
  • Expert & Toppers’ Opinions on Role of NCERT in JEE Prep

Importance of NCERT in JEE Preparation

NCERT textbooks of classes 11 and 12 cover the CBSE syllabus, and since the JEE syllabus is pretty much aligned with the CBSE syllabus, NCERT books naturally cover a huge portion of the JEE syllabus.

  • The base of any topic, or you can say the groundwork for any concepts, is built by studying the NCERT books.
  • NCERT book questions sometimes come as it is in the JEE Mains exam. Every year, at least one or two questions in JEE Chemistry are directly from the NCERT books.
  • NCERT provides clear definitions, formulas, and conceptual explanations that help build a foundation for JEE Main 2027 and JEE Advanced level problem solving.
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What are some books to prepare for JEE Advanced chemistry?
A: 
  • Organic Chemistry by Morrison and Boyd for Organic Chemistry
  • Concise Inorganic Chemistry by J. D. Lee for Inorganic Chemistry
  • Modern Approach to Chemical Calculations by RC Mukherjee
  • NCERT Chemistry Class 11 and 12
  • Problems in Physical Chemistry for JEE (Main & Advanced) by Narendra Awasthi
Q:   What topics are included in JEE Advanced 2027 syllabus?
A: 

The syllabus of JEE Advanced exam includes topics from class 11 and 12 Physics, Chemistry and Maths. The syllabus is similar to what students study in their school during class 11 and 12. However, the difficulty level of questions is at par. Candidates can check the exact syllabus for JEE Advanced exam at Shiksha portal or the official website jeeadv.ac.in.

Q:   Where can I find JEE Advanced 2027 syllabus?
A: 

The syllabus for JEE Advanced 2027 will be released soon by IIT Delhi in the official website. Candidates preparing for IIT JEE 2027 can study by referring the previous year syllabus as the topics/chapters do not change every year.

Subject-wise Role of NCERT Books in JEE Main and JEE Advanced Preparation

Check below the role of the NCERT books in JEE Main and Advanced preparation:

Maths Physics Chemistry
NCET Maths textbooks are particularly good for revising formulas and solving basic problems. NCERT Physics textbooks have clear definitions, formulas, and conceptual explanations. NCERT Chemistry shine in JEE. Almost all chemistry questions in JEE Mains are heavily inspired by NCERT, and many questions are directly lifted from NCERT.
Especially helps in building the groundwork for algebra, trigonometry, calculus, and coordinate geometry. Especially useful in building the foundation for mechanics, electricity, and modern physics. Especially the named reactions, mechanisms, and standard examples from NCERT frequently appear in JEE exams.
The disadvantage here is that the NCERT Maths textbook problems are too basic for the JEE level. Excellent for fundamentals, but not enough for cracking JEE. The only disadvantage of the NCERT Physics books is that they lack JEE-level questions No disadvantages here. NCERT Chemistry is indispensable for JEE Mains and Advanced.
Staying updated about the latest educational events is just a click away
Enter Mobile Number

Role of NCERT in JEE Main vs JEE Advanced

Although NCERT is equally important for JEE Mains and Advanced preparation, the extent of usefulness of the textbooks varies for both. Check the comparison below:

Role of NCERT in JEE Main Prep Role of NCERT in JEE Advanced Prep
NCERT is extremely important for JEE Main. For JEE Main aspirants, the NCERT books should be revised multiple times before the exam. NCERT will give a base to the candidates for the concepts, but for JEE Advanced level preparation, it is insufficient.
In the Maths and Physics of JEE Main, most questions directly need the application of NCERT concepts. In JEE Advanced Maths and Physics, candidates need to learn the concepts for NCERT, but candidates have to practice the application of multiple concepts to a single JEE Advanced level question. This is what makes JEE Advanced level questions trickier.
The chemistry section is often dominated by direct NCERT-based questions. 60% to 70% of JEE Main Chemistry is directly NCERT-based. In Chemistry, especially in Inorganic, NCERT continues to be the holy grail.

Hence, from the above comparison, it is clear that NCERT is the Bible for JEE Mains, but for JEE Advanced preparation, NCERT is never enough.

Also Read:

Explore colleges based on JEE Advanced

Mumbai
#3 NIRF
₹8.00 L
Chennai
#1 NIRF
₹8.00 L
Delhi
#2 NIRF
₹8.00 L
Kharagpur
#5 NIRF
₹8.00 L

Want better recommendations?

There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
Kanpur
#4 NIRF
₹8.00 L
Hyderabad
#7 NIRF
₹8.00 L
Roorkee
#6 NIRF
₹8.00 L
Varanasi
#10 NIRF
₹8.00 L
Guwahati
#8 NIRF
₹8.00 L
Indore
#12 NIRF
₹8.00 L
Confused about which college or exam to opt for?assitentRcpRhsImage
  • Chat with our counselor
  • Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
View allCollections

Limitations of NCERT Books in JEE Preparation

Candidates should not ignore NCERT books while preparing for JEE. However, they should also not be solely relied on. Along with the NCERT books, candidates should also balance out their preparation with advanced level books for JEE level practice. There can be limitations in NCERT books for JEE preparation such as given below:

  • In NCERT books, there will be few questions that will require application of multiple concepts to solve a problem.
  • Deeper concepts of JEE Advanced level are not covered by NCERT books.
  • Questions are limited in the NCERT books.

How to Use NCERT Effectively for JEE Main and JEE Advanced Preparation

Here are some tips on how to use the NCERT books for JEE 2027 preparation:

  • NCERT books must be used for the understanding of the basics and concepts:
  • Start with NCERT and then move to the reference books.
  • NCERT books should be used to get hold of the definitions, formulas, derivation and reactions in the Chemistry subject.
  • Keep revising NCERT, especially for JEE Advanced chemistry preparations.
  • Reise NCERT books once in the final months before the JEE Main and JEE Advanced exams.
  • Complete solving each and every question in the NCERT books, even the examples.

Explore more B.Tech exams with upcoming dates

SRMJEEE 2027 Notification

30 Oct '26

IEMJEE 2026 Exam Dates - Phase 3

1 Jun '26 - 31 Oct '26

DTU LEET 2026 Exam Date

31 Oct '26

SAT India Exam (November) Attempt

7 Nov '26

JEE Main...

24 Oct '26 - 22 Nov '26

Check live updates

AEEE 2027 Phase 1 Registration...

1 Nov '26 - 30 Nov '26

GITAM GAT 2027 registration fo...

1 Nov '26 - 30 Nov '26

NTA CSIR NET December 2025 Exa...

18 Dec '26

KALSEE 2026 Application Form S...

1 Jan '27

VTUEEE 2027 Phase 1 Exam

9 Jan '27 - 10 Jan '27

Expert & Toppers’ Opinions on Role of NCERT in JEE Prep

Experts and toppers swear by the fact that NCERT books are important to get hold of the basics. Especially when it comes to Chemistry, in JEE Mains, questions come directly from the textbooks. In recent JEE Main papers, direct questions from NCERT have included bond angles, reaction products, and periodic trends; all word-to-word from the NCERT textbook.

Rajit Gupta, the JEE Advanced 2025 topper, said that "For Chemistry, I also referred to NCERT books. I avoided too many external resources to stay focused and reduce distractions."

Prakhar Jain, JEE Advanced 2023 AIR 21, said: "The first books to refer to are always NCERT, after the class notes given by my teachers. They form the base of the subject. For JEE Advanced, NCERT is necessary but not sufficient..."

Videos you may like
About the Author
author-image
Mamona Majumder
Deputy Manager

Currently - Deputy Manager, Content

Role - News and Feature Writer, Content Editor

Expertise - Engineering Education and Counselling

Mamona Majumder specialises in news and feature writing and content editing. With

Read Full Bio
Download Important Dates for B.E. / B.Tech Exams

News & Updates

Latest NewsPopular News

Explore Other Exams

24 Oct '26 -

22 Nov '26

JEE Main 2027 Registration Ses...

23 Nov '26 -

26 Nov '26

JEE Main 2027 Registration Ses...

Oct '26

SRMJEEE 2027 Notification

Nov '26

SRMJEEE 2027 Registration Phas...

Feb '27

COMEDK Application Form 2027

Feb '27

COMEDK Mock Test Release Date ...

19 Oct '26 -

15 Mar '27

MET 2027 application form - Ph...

Mar '27

MET 2027 application form star...

Dec '26

BITSAT 2027 Application Form S...

Mar '27

BITSAT 2027 Form Correction Se...

19 Aug '26 -

20 Aug '26

TS EAMCET 2026 MPC Counselling...

12 Aug '26 -

17 Aug '26

TS EAMCET 2026 MPC Counselling...

The list of exams are recommended based on what other exams do the students in your area show interest in
qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 2 days ago

The JEE Advanced last round closing rank was 1434. Students with a valid JEE Advanced rank need to participate in the JoSAA round for admission to BTech in CSE course.

16214925
Divya Shakti Shukla

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 3 days ago

No, you can get admission at IIT Goa with a rank of 20,000 if you belong to the General AI category. For this category, the maximum rank accepted was 14290 for the BTech in Mechanical Engineering course. Hence, General AI category students need a rank of at least 14290 to be eligble for admission. C

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 weeks ago

IIT Tirupati BTech cutoff 2026 for the BTech course ranged from 6030 (CSE) to 17682 (Civil Engineering) in the last round (Round 5) for the General AI category. To know the IIT Tirupati cutoff category-wise for 2026 for the BTech course, see the table below. Please note that these are closing rank

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

You are not eligible for JEE (Advanced) 2027 because your first appearance for Class 12 was in 2025. For JEE (Advanced) 2027 candidates must have taken their Class 12 (or equivalent) examination for the first time in either 2026 or 2027. Since your first appearance was in 2025 you fall outside this

...Read more

S

Swati Pandey

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Yes, Indian students can apply for TU Munich Admissions directly after Class 12th, provided they meet the minimum qualifying JEE Advanced score requirement and other program-specific entry requirements.

Students without a JEE Advanced score, will either have to enroll in the Studienkolleg or complete

...Read more

A

Akash Gaur

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

Technical University of Munich generally accepts a JEE Advanced score only for the immediate academic intake to the year the exam was passed (usually within one year).

Universities like TU Munich assess students based on current admission rules, and hence using a scorecard older than admission year i

...Read more

A

Akash Gaur

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

No, the Technical University of Munich does not accept JEE Advanced scores for Master's programs. For entry to PG programs, students need to have completed a UG degree from a recognised Indian college or university, submit relevant documents, and meet the program-specific criteria.

Check TU Munich Ad

...Read more

A

Akash Gaur

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month ago

While evaluating opening and closing rank trends, JEE Advanced cutoffs, and branch allocation dynamics for civil engineering at IIT Bhubaneswar provides a helpful baseline for your academic planning, Lovely Professional University (LPU) serves as an excellent alternative to elevate your engineering

...Read more

A

Aston Martin

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 months ago

The IIT GANDHINAGAR JEE Advanced closing ranksfor the General (open) female only category in 2026 ranked from roughly 5,437 for computer Science and engineering up to 20270 for civil engineering.

m

mohan babu

Beginner-Level 1

Answered 2 months ago

IIT BHU CSE cutoff 2026 ranged from 1436 in the first round to 1439 in the last round for the General category under the All India quota. Hence, a rank of at least 1439 is needed to qualify for admission to the CSE course. Check the table below to know the overall cutoff range for other categories.

CategoryIIT BHU CSE cutoff 2026
General1436 - 1439
OBC601 - 601 (R1)
SC313 - 373
ST161 - 170
EWS245 - 245 (R1)
PWD66 - 66 (R1)

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10