How To Handle Tough Topics in JEE Main Mathematics

How To Handle Tough Topics in JEE Main Mathematics

5 mins read23.8K Views Comment
Updated on Jan 17, 2025 12:11 IST

By Aman Goel

JEE is all about preparing thoroughly with all concepts and excellent practice along with speed, accuracy and pressure handling. One needs to strike a balance of all these factors to ace JEE. Having at least two subjects perfect is essential for JEE or having all three prepared decently is great too. Physics is generally the more conceptual one and chemistry always has more learning. It is mathematics that is more inclined to calculations in JEE Mains and a mix of concepts and solving in JEE Advanced.

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Acing mathematics is especially important because mathematics comes with a little less ambiguity comparatively and if you understand it nicely, it will shoot your scores high. Certain topics in mathematics are easier and practice bases. For example, matrices, determinants, ellipse, hyperbola, 3D geometry, limits, etc. A few others like probability, permutations, and combinations, straight lines, etc. are bigger ones and have a lot of twists in them since they are much more concept-based than others. A good imagination power is needed to ace these topics as you need to find answers to problems that have different scenarios almost always! Here is a list of a few topics which are a bit tough and have a greater weightage too:

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  1. Permutations and combinations
  2. Straight lines
  3. Vectors
  4. Definite integration
  5. Probability
  6. Complex numbers

Here are a few tips on how you must handle these tough and tricky topics while preparing for JEE mathematics:

Find the correct books for each unit

Mostly you won’t get all chapters nicely given in a single book and so it is best to get the best from each book. Coordinate geometry consists of straight lines, circles, parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola. Straight lines and circles are conceptual and have a good weightage in JEE. These chapters seem to be simple but the questions asked from them are twisted at times and you need to practice a lot of tricky questions to understand how to ace them in the actual exam. Coordinate geometry is best given in Arihant books and so you can go for their coordinate geometry book by SK Goyal to understand these chapters and practice them nicely. Similarly, for permutations and combinations and probability or algebra in general, Cengage books are a better choice. These chapters involve a lot of tricky word problems which might get complicated if you haven’t practiced nicely.

Q:   How would I know my JEE Advanced exam centre?

A:

Candidates will only know their allotted JEE Advanced exam centre after the release of the admit card. There is no way to determine the test centre prior to this. The examination authority assigns a test centre in the city of the candidate's first preference, as specified in the application form. Therefore, candidates can be assured that they will receive a test centre in their chosen first-preference city. However, the specific venue details will be available only on the admit card. Once the JEE Advanced admit card is released, candidates should promptly check their test city and centre information. To avoid any confusion, it is recommended that candidates visit the centre at least once before the exam day.

Q:   How to crack JEE Mains in first attempt?

A:

Hi aspirant!

Clearing the JEE Main exam in first attempt is not a difficult task. If we see the year over year statistics, the ratio of students who clear JEE Main in first attempt is high in comparison to students who dropped a year after class 12. One thing that makes it easy to clear JEE Main with class 12 is that students are in regular touch of most JEE syllabus. To score good marks in JEE Main in the first attempt, it is advised that you study class 11 and 12 topics thoroughly, clear all the concepts and solve mock test papers. Also, NCERT books which you study in class 11 and 12 are the best books for JEE Main preparation. Students must study NCERT properly and solve all the questions in the book and do not memorize the concepts as some students do rather understand the concepts.

Hope this cleared your doubt. Best wishes!

Q:   What is the minimum score or rank required in JEE Advanced to get into a good IIT?

A:

The definition of a good IIT can be subjective. The candidates who wish to get admisison to the first generation of the IITs like IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, and IIT Roorkee must have a high score of 250+ marks out of 360 marks. However, this is not applicable for all courses offered by these IITs. Every course and IIT has different demand and seat ratio which effects the admission of the candidates. Hence it is very difficult to say what will be the minimum score or rank required in JEE Advanced to get into a good IIT.

Candidates must aim to score as high as possible in the exam to be able to get a seat in the first generation of the IITs as these IITs see the most demand and craze among students in academia.

For vectors too Cengage would be a better choice. Coming to integral calculus, Arihant by Amit M Agarwal would be a good choice. These topics would need time, patience and a lot of practice. Thus, do a lot of problems from them and keep in touch with these chapters on a more frequent basis. Units like trigonometry or statistics are easier and can be done from either publication books.

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Practice to perfect your concepts

The above mentioned tougher topics are the ones that require a thorough understanding of concepts and finally exceptional practice. You should never leave a touch of such chapters. Try doing a practice sheet of them every week or so. The best way to revise your concepts for these topics is by doing subjective questions. For that, you could pick really old JEE papers where there used to be a lot of subjective questions. With such questions, you can revise many concepts in a single question. You should start with basic theory and then do a lot of solved examples to understand the concept application. Once that is done, practice a lot of mains level problems and then go for the tougher ones. This way you would be able to do things nicely.

Practice mock tests

The tougher topics often are given in tests mixed with some other topics too. You could get a question that consists of concepts from more than one chapter. For this reason, you need to practice a lot of miscellaneous questions and mock tests. Mock tests truly teach you how to handle miscellaneous problems. Not only that, but they also teach you how to handle pressure during exams which is the most important thing during the exam.

Q:   How many months are required to prepare for JEE Mains exam?

A:
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 2-3 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.

Q:   Is self study enough for JEE Advanced preparations?

A:

Self-study can definitely be enough for preparing for JEE Advanced, but it largely depends on how disciplined, focused, and systematic your approach is. Many students who successfully crack JEE Advanced have done so through self-study, but it requires dedication, strategic planning, and good time management.

  1. Choose the right study materials. Books like HC Verma (Physics), IIT Chemistry series (Chemistry), and Cengage or TMH for Mathematics are popular among JEE aspirants. Additionally, refer to previous years' question papers and mock tests.
  2. JEE Advanced is known for testing deep conceptual understanding. So, focus on building strong foundations in basic concepts before moving on to advanced problems.
  3. Make a realistic timetable and stick to it. Divide time wisely between topics and practice. Set weekly or monthly goals to track your progress.
  4. Initially, focus on understanding the concepts, and then move to solving problems of varying difficulty. Mock tests and solving previous year papers can be especially useful.
  5. Consistency is key. Devote a set amount of time each day to study, even if it's just a few hours. Avoid large gaps between study sessions.
  6. Regularly assess your understanding by taking mock tests and solving previous year papers. This will help identify weak areas and refine your strategy.
  7. Since you're studying independently, maintaining motivation can be challenging. Break down larger tasks into smaller chunks, celebrate small achievements, and stay focused on your goals.

Self-study can work as effectively as coaching if you're self-disciplined and proactive about addressing doubts. However, many students find that a mix of self-study and structured coaching works best because coaching can provide direction, mentorship, and strategies for tackling competitive exams. Ultimately, the key is to maintain consistency, focus, and clarity in your preparation approach.

Q:   Is one month sufficient for JEE Main preparation?

A:
One month is not sufficient for JEE Main preparation if a student has not started preparing or have not studied earlier for the exam. As the syllabus of JEE Main is vast, studying all the topics and remembering them take a lot of effort. However, class 12 student can get a decent score in JEE Main if time after the bard exam is devoted exclusively for the JEE preparation. Since most topics of JEE Main and class 12 are similar, students need to revise all the topics and solve previous year JEE Main question papers. Start solving JEE Main mock test papers at last 3-4 days before the exam to make yourself comfortable with the exam.

Q:   What is a safe score for JEE Advanced to get an IIT?

A:

It is a very relatable thing. A good score in JEE Advanced will depend on various factors one of them being the cutoff. Further, the cutoff will depend on various factors like the difficulty level, paper pattern, number of seats in the IITs, number of candidtaes taking the exam and so on. Therefore, it is difficult to say what will be a safe score. However, 300+ is a safe score in JEE Advanced if the total marks in the paper is 360.

JEE Advanced 2024 cutoff has been the highest in the past 6 year. This year the cutoff marks has been 109 marks for the Common rank list (CRL) out of 360 marks. For the GEN-EWS and OBC-NCL rank list the cutoff marks is 98; for SC/ST/Common-PwD/GEN-EWS-PwD/OBC-NCL-PwD/SC-PwD/ST-PwD is 54 marks and for Preparatory course rank lists it is 27 marks.

Q:   Can we prepare in 6 months for JEE Mains as well as JEE advance?

A:

JEE Mains and JEE Advanced are no cake walk. Candidates prepare for these exams for years. However, it may be possible to prepare for both JEE Mains and JEE Advanced in 6 months, but it requires a well-structured plan, dedication, and efficient study techniques. Here are some tips to help you get started:

  • Understand the Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Familiarize yourself with the syllabus and exam pattern for both JEE Mains and JEE Advanced. This will help you prioritize topics and allocate time effectively.
  • Create a Study Plan: Develop a detailed study plan that covers all the important topics in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Allocate specific time slots for each subject and stick to the schedule.
  • Focus on Core Topics: Concentrate on the core topics that carry more weight in the exams. For JEE Mains, focus on Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Optics in Physics; Physical Chemistry and Organic reactions in Chemistry; and Calculus, Algebra, and Coordinate Geometry in Mathematics.
  • Use Quality Study Material: Choose the right study materials and reference books. Stick to one or two reliable sources to avoid confusion and ensure thorough understanding.
  • Practice Regularly: Solve previous years' question papers and take mock tests regularly. This will help you get accustomed to the exam pattern and improve your time management skills.
  • Revise Consistently: Regular revision is crucial to retain concepts and formulas. Make short notes for quick revision and focus on weak areas.
  • Stay Healthy and Positive: Maintain a healthy lifestyle with proper sleep, nutrition, and exercise. Stay positive and motivated throughout your preparation journey.

A few general tips for handling tough topics of JEE mathematics:

  • Don’t panic whatsoever.
  • Tough topics can also be easily solved if you have your basic concepts clear.
  • On starting a question from these topics, try noting down every small detail and then proceed. Scribbling in the rough might make you do calculation mistakes.
  • Try making a note of any different concept or out of the box question that you come across while practicing from any of these chapters. You should see such notes before the exam as that will help you in revising twisted concepts.
  • Do solve the past years’ papers to get an idea of the kind of questions that can be asked in the exam. That will help you in preparing accurately.
  • Don’t leave the tougher topics for the end. Doing them at the end will make you panic and you wouldn’t be able to give proper time to them due to the same.
  • During the exam also, do the tougher questions earlier.

JEE Mains and Advanced are different in terms of mathematics. The Mains level mathematics will be lengthy and all practice-oriented. If you have practiced nicely and you know the formulas nicely, you will do well. For JEE Advanced mathematics you need a bit more. You need to have all the concepts done nicely as the questions would not be mere formula putting. You have to derive things or use them from very basics to a much higher level. Just give sufficient time to each question and you will be able to get it. Draw diagrams and imagine things nicely for coordinate geometry problems. Correlate things with real-life situations in probability and permutations and combinations. Definite integration and complex numbers can get hard at times but practice and concepts are the keys! All the best!

About the Author:

Aman Goel

Aman Goel is a co-founder at a Tech Start-up. He holds a BTech in Computer Science Engineering from IIT Bombay with a JEE Advanced AIR 33 (Year 2013).

During his free time, he enjoys writing articles/blogs. He is an Entrepreneur, Coder, Speed-cuber, gamer, and fan of Air crash investigation!

 

 

 

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