Tips to Solve JEE Mains Maths Paper in Exam Hall
Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main 2026 ( JEE Main )
Exam On - 21 Jan '26 - 30 Jan '26
Mathematics in JEE Main is often considered the most time-consuming and scoring section. Despite having prepared well, students face difficulty inside the exam hall. Check the tips and tricks to solve the JEE Mains maths paper 2026 to help you turn this section to your advantage.
Tips to Solve JEE Main Maths Paper Effectively in the Exam Hall
Tips to Solve JEE Main 2026 Maths Section: NTA will hold the JEE Main 2026 exam for session 1 from January 21 to 30, 2026. The JEE Mains exam has 3 subjects- Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The JEE Main exam analysis shows that students who appear for the exam often find the mathematics section the toughest in the exam. Since the exam also has negative marking, it becomes important for students to get the exact answer right. Candidates have to focus more on the accuracy than the number of attempts. In this article, we have explained the best tips to solve JEE Main maths section to maximise the candidate's scores in the upcoming JEE Main exam.
Check latest updates: JEE Main 2026 City Intimation SOON: Live Updates on NTA Session 1 Exam Date & Hall Ticket
1. Understand the Nature of the JEE Main Maths Section
Before attempting the paper students must understand the paper pattern, difficulty level and then prepare a strategy that works best for them. The JEE Main Mathematics section tests the students on their conceptual clarity, analytical thinking and calculation speed. Mostly, these questions are lengthy and at times test more than 1 concept which further increases the difficulty levels. Because of the negative marking in the test the choice of which questions have to be attempted and which have to be left unattempted becomes essential.
2. Start With Easy Questions
Once the paper starts students must take a quick glance at the questions in the Maths section. In doing so, identify the questions of the topics you are most confident in, such as Coordinate Geometry, Calculus, or Algebra. This will help you build your confidence that will keep you motivated through the exam. This way, students can score easy marks before the fatigue sets in. It also helps in settling into the exam rhythm, which is crucial for a subject like Mathematics.
3. Manage Time Smartly During the Exam
JEE Main city intimation slip 2026 for session 1 will be available on the NTA official website jeemain.nta.nic.in, soon. JEE Mains City slip have details about the JEE Main exam city in which the candidate is allotted the centre to appear in the exam and the date of exam. It helps candidates to plan their travel to the JEE Main exam centre in advance. JEE Main city intimation slip is different from the admit card.
No. NTA has clearly mentioned that ot will not change the dates of JEE Main exam of there is a clash of dates with any other examinations.
Time management plays a decisive role in attempting the JEE Mains question paper. Students must allocate a fixed time for Mathematics and stick to it. If a question is taking longer than expected or involves more calculations, then you can mark it for review and move on. It is not recommended to spend time on one tough question and lose out on solving several doable ones.
4. Try to Avoid Lengthy Calculations
Many JEE Main Maths questions can be solved using shortcuts, direct formula, elimination method or approximation techniques; use them to save your time. Always try to look for smarter ways to solve JEE Main maths section. Candidates must keep in mind the time limit of the test inside the exam hall. Balancing both speed and accuracy is important to score well on the test.
5. Keep Accuracy Over Attempt
No. NTA has not allowed calculators of kind - virtual or physical inside the JEE Main exam hall. Candidates must not carry calculators or any other electronic device in the JEE Main examination centre.
NTA has announced the JEE Mains 2026 session 1 exam date. As per the schedule, NTA will conduct the JEE Main session 1 exam from January 21 to 30. NTA will conduct the exam in two shifts every exam day in approximately 300 test cities of India and abroad. Candidates can check details about exam dates and other schedule on the JEE Main official website jeemain.nta.nic.in.
The difficulty level of JEE Main 2025 April 2 shift 1 exam will be available after the exam concludes. Shiksha will provide the difficulty level and JEE Main paper analysis, students reaction based on feedback from students who are appearing in the exam.
The negative marking in the exam makes it important for students to decide which questions to attempt, where to guess and which ones to avoid. Even a small careless mistake or a misread/misinterpreted question will negatively impact the candidate's scores. To avoid this, students must always double-check the signs, limits, and final answers. If you are unsure about a question skip it rather than making a blind guess. Candidates must have a balanced approach between accuracy and attempts to improve their performance.
Also read: JEE Main City Intimation Slip 2026|How to download JEE Main Admit Card
6. Careful Use of Rough Work
Since the maths section in JEE Mains involves lengthy calculations. Students must do the rough work in an organised manner. Messy rough work will lead to confusion and may also lead to miscalculations and incorrect answers. Writing steps systematically reduces calculation errors and will also save time when rechecking answers.
JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme for Maths
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The following table provides an overview of the JEE Main maths exam pattern.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of exam | Online (CBT) |
| Duration | 3 hours for the entire paper; No sectional time limit |
| Number of question in maths | 25 Questions |
| Marks in mathematics | 100 marks |
| Types of questions | 20 MCQs + 5 Numerical |
| Marking scheme | +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 days ago
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JEE Main 2026 session 1 exam will be held between January 21 to 30. Around 12 days are left for the exams. Candidates can also appear for the JEE Main 2026 session 2 exams to be held between April 2 to 9.