How To Prepare For JEE Mains And Advanced Exam 2020

A national level entrance exam for admission to engineering colleges across India for B.E, B.Tech, B. Architecture and B. Planning courses, the Joint Engineering Examination (JEE) is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

It comprises two entrance tests - the JEE Mains and the JEE Advanced.

The JEE Mains is for those students who wish to pursue undergraduate engineering courses in premier engineering colleges across the country.

Those candidates who score a certain amount of marks (cut-off marks) in the JEE Mains can write the JEE Advanced.

The JEE Advanced is for admission to undergraduate engineering or architecture courses at any one of the 23 IITs in India.

While several lakh students appear for the JEE Mains, only 2.5 lakh qualify to appear for the JEE Advanced.

In this article, we will give you tips to prepare for JEE Mains and Advanced exam 2020 along with the syllabus, exam patterns and schedules for the both the exams. We will also share tips from experts on how to crack JEE.

How to prepare for JEE Main

When to start preparing for JEE Main 2020

The second session of the JEE Main is scheduled to be conducted in April 2020. With just about two months left, kick-starting an intense daily study routine is a must to pass the exam.

Good preparation would require, on average, six hours study time a day. However, don't limit yourself to a daily target - do more if you can.

Plan a six-hour study schedule with breaks in between. This schedule can include about four to five hours of self-study and revisions. The remaining time can be used to take up mock or sample tests.

But, before you begin preparing for JEE Mains 2020, it is extremely important to check and understand the syllabus.

What is included in the JEE Main 2020 syllabus?

The syllabus for JEE 2020 has been announced by the NTA. The syllabus is based on the CBSE Class XI and XII curriculum.

For Engineering, the main subjects are

• Maths
• Physics
• Chemistry

For Architecture, the subjects included are

• Maths
• Aptitude
• Drawing

This year the JEE Mains comprise three papers

• Paper 1 for B. E and B. Tech courses
• Paper 2 for B. Architecture courses
• Paper 3 for B. Planning courses

Candidates can choose either Paper 1 or Paper 2 or both. However, those applying for Architecture / Planning courses must appear for the Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) as well.

JEE Mains Paper 1 Syllabus

Physics

Section A - Theory (Weightage in exam: 80%)

• Physics and Measurement
• Laws of Motion
• Rotational Motion
• Properties of Solids and Liquids
• Kinetic Theory of Gases
• Kinematics
• Work, Energy and Power
• Gravitation
• Thermodynamics
• Oscillations and Waves
• Electrostatics
• Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
• Electromagnetic Waves
• Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation
• Electronic Devices
• Current Electricity
• Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents
• Optics
• Atoms and Nuclei
• Communication Systems

Section B - Practical (Weightage in Exam: 20%)

• Experimental Skills

Chemistry

Section A - Physical Chemistry (Weightage in exam: ~35%)

• Some Basic Concepts in Chemistry
• Atomic Structure
• Chemical Thermodynamics
• Equilibrium
• Chemical Kinetics
• States of Matter
• Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure
• Solutions
• Redox Reactions and Electrochemistry
• Surface Chemistry

Section B - Inorganic Chemistry (Weightage in exam: ~30%)

• Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties
• Hydrogen
• p-Block Elements
• Coordination Compounds
• General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements
• s-Block Elements (Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals)
• d and f-Block Elements
• Environmental Chemistry

Section C - Organic Chemistry (Weightage in exam: ~35%)

• Purification and Characterisation of Organic Compounds
• Hydrocarbons
• Organic Compounds Containing Oxygen
• Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen
• Organic Compounds Containing Halogens
• Polymers
• Chemistry in Everyday Life
• Some Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry
• Biomolecules
• Principles Related to Practical Chemistry

Mathematics

• Sets, Relations and Functions
• Matrices and Determinants
• Mathematical Induction
• Sequences and Series
• Integral Calculus
• Coordinate Geometry
• Vector Algebra
• Trigonometry
• Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations
• Permutations and Combinations
• Binomial Theorem and Its Simple Applications
• Limit, Continuity and Differentiability
• Differential Equations
• Three-dimensional Geometry
• Statistics and Probability
• Mathematical Reasoning

Important topics for JEE Mains - topic-wise weightage

Physics

• Modern Physics - 14%
• Optics (Ray and Wave) - 10%
• Heat and Thermodynamics - 10%
• Electrostatics - 8%
• Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Current - 8%
• Current Electricity - 7%
• Gravitation and Rotational Mechanics - 7%
• Current Electricity - 7%
• Magnetism and Magnetic Effects of Current - 6%

Chemistry

Inorganic Chemistry I and II

• Chemical Bonding - 8%
• Complete p-Block - 7%
• Coordination Compounds - 4%

Organic Chemistry I & II

• GOC - 6%
• Alkyl Halide, Alcohol and Ether - 7%
• Practical Organic Chemistry - 4%

Physical Chemistry I & II

• Mole Concept - 5%
• Ionic Equilibrium - 5%
• Thermodynamics and Thermochemistry - 4%
• Atomic Structure - 3%
• Electrochemistry - 5%
• Surface Chemistry - 4%

Mathematics

• Differential Calculus - 18%
• Integral Calculus - 13%
• Co-ordinate Geometry - 14%
• Statistics and Probability - 15%
• Vector and 3-D - 10%
• Matrices and Determinants - 7%
• Trigonometry - 6%
• Sequence and Series - 6%

Difficult topics for JEE Mains

Physics

• Mechanics
• Sound Waves
• Wave Optics
• Fluids and Surface Tension
• Modern Physics
• Heat and Thermodynamics

Chemistry

• Ionic Equilibrium
• Electrochemistry
• Equivalent Concept
• Gaseous State and Solid state
  
• Transition elements and coordination chemistry
  

Mathematics

• Complex Numbers
• Permutation and Combinations
• Probability
• Application of derivatives
  
• Application of integrals
  
• Statistics & probability
  
• Mathematical Reasoning
  

JEE Mains Paper 2 Syllabus

Mathematics: (same as Paper 1 syllabus)

Drawing and Aptitude:

Part I

• Awareness of Persons, Buildings, Materials
• Objects and Texture Related to Architecture and Build-Environment
• Visualising Three-dimensional Objects From Two-dimensional Drawings
• Visualising Different Sides Of Three-dimensional Objects
• Analytical Reasoning Mental Ability (Visual, Numerical and Verbal)

Part II

• Three-dimensional Perception: Understanding and appreciation of scale and proportion of objects, building forms and elements, colour texture, harmony and contrast
• Design and drawing of geometrical or abstract shapes and patterns in pencil; Transformation of forms both 2D and 3D union, subtraction, rotation; Development of surfaces and volumes; Generation of plan, elevations and 3D views of objects; Creating two-dimensional and three-dimensional compositions using given shapes and forms
• Sketching of scenes and activities from memory urbanscape (public space, market, festivals, street scenes, monuments, recreational spaces and so on.), landscape (riverfronts, jungles, trees, plants and so on.) and rural life.

Aptitude Awareness Test (AAT)

• Freehand Drawing
• Geometrical Drawing
• Three-dimensional Perception
• Imagination and Aesthetic Sensitivity
• Awareness of Architecture (general architecture awareness)

What is the JEE Mains 2020 pattern?

The JEE Mains exam pattern for the year 2020 is as follows:

Paper I Pattern (B.E/ B. Tech)

• The exam duration is three hours (4 hours for those with 40% disability)
• There are three sections - Physics, Chemistry and Maths
• This is an online exam
• There are 25 questions in each section (total 75 questions)
• 20 multiple choice questions (MCQ) and 5 questions for which the answer is a numerical value
• Total marks is 300 (100 for each subject)
• 4 marks is awarded for every correct answer
• 1 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer. However, marks are not deducted for numerical value answer type questions
• The exam is conducted in English and Hindi. For cities in Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, candidates can opt to write the paper in Gujarati.

Paper II Pattern (B. Arch)

• The exam duration is three hours (4 hours for those with 40% disability)
• The paper has three sections -Maths, Aptitude and Drawing
• Maths and Aptitude tests are conducted online; drawing is an offline exam
• There are 25 questions for Maths, 50 for Aptitude and 2 for Drawing (total 77 questions)
• In Maths, there are 20 MCQ and 5 questions for which the answer is a numerical value
• In Aptitude test, there are only MCQs
• Total marks is 400 (100 for Maths, 200 for Aptitude and 100 for Drawing)
• 4 marks is awarded for every correct answer
• 1 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer; however, marks are not deducted for numerical value answer type questions

Paper III Pattern (B. Planning)

• The exam duration is three hours (4 hours for those with 40% disability)
• This is an online exam
• The paper has three sections - Maths, Aptitude and Planning based questions
• There are 25 for Maths, 50 for Aptitude and 25 for Planning (total 100 questions)
• In Maths, there are 20 MCQ and 5 questions for which the answer is a numerical value
• In Aptitude and Planning, there are only MCQs
• Total marks is 400 (100 for Maths, 200 for Aptitude and 100 for Planning)
• 4 marks is awarded for every correct answer
• 1 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer; however, marks are not deducted for numerical value answer type questions

What is new in JEE Mains exam pattern

• The pattern of separate papers for B.E / B. Tech, B. Arch and B. Planning has been introduced for JEE Mains 2020. Candidates can choose which one they wish to attempt; they can even write all three.
• There will be 25 questions in Physics, Chemistry and Maths (it was 30 earlier)

How to study for JEE Mains

Let us now go through some key preparation tips, for the JEE Mains, which will help you study effectively and productively.

• Prepare a study plan / timetable: A well-prepared study plan is an important requisite for your JEE Mains preparation. Make sure you prepare a schedule that gives you ample time to cover the basic concepts from all subjects. Follow your timetable rigidly to make full use of the study hours.
• Prepare from good study material: The best source for studying all topics are the NCERT textbooks. Studying from the NCERT textbooks gives you a good understanding of all the basic concepts and fundamentals. While studying, make lists and notes of key elements such as formulas, terms, methods or other important facts that you might come across.
• Practise mock tests: Regular revision and practice are important to check progress and help recall everything. Another essential part of the preparation strategy is taking mock tests regularly. All these help identify weak areas of preparation and the type of questions to expect, and how to solve complex problems and manage time.

Subject-wise JEE Main 2020 preparation tips

Physics

• It is important to understand the basic concepts to be able to solve numericals. So, avoid mugging. Sub-topics from Modern Physics and Optics are important and familiarity with these concepts can enable high scoring in this section.

Chemistry

• This subject involves a combination of concepts, theory, problems and chemical equations. Being thorough with names, symbols, reactions and diagrams is a must. Familiarity with equations helps in solving problems.
• For Inorganic Chemistry, studying from NCERT textbooks helps. Inorganic chemistry is comparatively easy as there are no problems to solve or formulas needed to answer questions.
• For Physical Chemistry, focus on solving numericals.

Mathematics

• Solving the maths paper requires problem-solving skills. A good understanding of basic concepts and formulas is a must. So, practise and re-practise. Create shortcuts for easy calculations - this will help save time during the exam.

JEE Main 2020 Exam Dates and Schedule (April Session)

• Online application release date - 7 February
• Last date to submit application (extended date) - 12 March (by 5 pm)
• Application form correction - 13 to 16 March
• Issuance of Admit Card - 20 March
• JEE Main Exam -5, 7, 8, 9 and 11 April
• Announcement of results - 30 April

How to prepare for JEE Advanced

Important topics for JEE Advanced

The JEE Advanced syllabus is also based mainly on the Class 11 and 12 CBSE curriculum.

Most of the syllabus for the JEE Advanced is covered under the JEE Main syllabus, except a few topics that are unique to this exam.

Physics

• General Physics
• Mechanics
• Electricity and Magnetism
• Thermal Physics
• Optics
• Modern Physics

Chemistry

Physical Chemistry

• Basic Concepts
• Energetics
• Gaseous and Liquid States
• Electrochemistry
• Atomic Structure and Chemical Bonding
• Chemical Kinetics
• Chemical Equilibrium
• Surface Chemistry
• Nuclear Chemistry
• Solid State
• Solutions

Inorganic Chemistry

• Isolation / Preparation and properties of Non-metals
• Preparation and Properties of Compounds
• Ores and Minerals
• Transition Elements (3d Series)
• Principles of Qualitative Analysis
• Extractive Metallurgy

Organic Chemistry

• Basic Concepts
• Practical Organic Chemistry
• Carbohydrates
• Amino Acids and Peptides
• Preparation, Properties and Reactions of Alkanes
• Preparation, Properties and Reactions of Alkenes and Alkynes
• Characteristic Reactions (of Alkyl halides, Aldehydes, Ketones and so on)
• Reactions of Benzene
• Phenols
• Properties and Uses of Important Polymers

Maths

• Algebra
• Matrices
• Probability
• Trigonometry
• Analytical Geometry
• Differential Calculus
• Integral Calculus
• Vectors

Important chapters for JEE advanced - topic-wise weightage:

Paper I

Physics

• Fluid Mechanics 11 - 12%
• Modern Physics 9 - 10%
• Optics 11 - 12%
• Electromagnetic Induction 21 - 22%
• Thermodynamics 14 - 15%

Chemistry

• Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids 14 - 15%
• Atomic Structure 14 - 15%
• Organic Chemistry 11 - 12%
• p-Block Elements 13 - 14%
• Hydrocarbons 13 - 14%

Mathematics

• Application of Derivatives 14 - 15%
• Circles 9 - 10%
• Parabola 11 - 12%
• Definite Integral 11 - 12%
• Matrices 11 - 12%

Paper II

Physics

• Capacitance 10%
• Magnetism 12%
• Rotational Dynamics 30%
• Alternating Current 7%
• Current Electricity 7%
• Electrostatics 7%

Chemistry

• p-Block Elements 22%
• Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen 10%
• Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers 10%

Mathematics

• 3D Geometry 20%
• Application of Derivatives 19%
• Definite Integrals 14%
• Theory of Equations 10%

What is the JEE Advanced 2020 pattern?

The JEE Advanced exam comprises two papers - Paper 1 and 2

Both Paper 1 and 2 have 3 sections - Physics, Chemistry, and Maths.

However, this exam does not have a fixed pattern and the number of questions vary every year. The type of questions asked are, however, fairly similar every year.

The marking scheme consists of full and partial marks, and zero marks. Candidates appearing for this exam must write both Paper 1 and 2.

JEE Advanced 2020 pattern

Paper 1

• The exam duration is three hours
• This is an online exam
• Number of questions: 5 in Physics (15 marks), 8 in Chemistry (32 marks), and 5 in Maths (15 marks)
• Negative marking of 1 in Physics and Maths, and 2 in Chemistry. Zero for questions not attempted
• The exam is conducted in English and Hindi

Paper 2

• Number of questions: 6 in Physics (18 marks), 8 in Chemistry (32 marks), and 4 in Maths (12 marks)
• Negative marking of 1 in Physics, 2 in Chemistry; zero in Maths

Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT)

Those who pass JEE Advanced are eligible to apply for Architecture Aptitude Test (AAT) for admission into B.Arch.

AAT paper pattern

• There is only one paper
• The exam duration is three hours
• Questions are asked from Maths, Aptitude Test and Drawing
• Number of questions: 30 in Maths (120 marks), 50 in Aptitude test (200 marks), and 2 in Drawing (70 marks)

How to prepare for JEE Advanced

Like the other competitive exams, preparing for the JEE Advanced requires a good study strategy. Here are a few tips on how to crack JEE advanced:

• Owing to the short time available for the exam, candidates must make the best use of the time available. So, schedule a study plan to include time for study, revisions and practice.
• Go through the syllabus to not waste time on topics that are not included in the JEE Advanced syllabus. Remember that this curriculum is not the same as the JEE Main.
• Give equal importance to all the three subjects during your preparation. Questions in all sections of the paper tend to be tricky and analytical.
• Use simple and reliable books for preparation. As always, the NCERT textbooks are highly recommended.
• Another significant requisite for a study plan is to take up mock tests and JEE Advanced sample papers. This practice will help learn how to solve numericals and manage time during the exam.
• Make notes and lists of formulas, reactions and so on for easy revision.
• Although time is a key factor, avoid extremely long hours of study and lack of sleep. Instead, study in a focussed manner and take those much-needed breaks.

Subject-wise study tips

Physics

• Questions from Mechanics and Electrostatics are more compared to other topics. Electrostatics, the most difficult of all topics, includes several concepts and formula. From topics like Heat and Thermodynamics, questions are usually numericals based on basic laws.

Chemistry

• Physical Chemistry is the most scoring part in the exam as the questions are usually more direct and not applied. About 40% of the questions are from Organic Chemistry. These questions are also more likely to be based on the application of a series of reactions.

Mathematics

• Complex numbers, Probability, Permutation and Combination are important and cover a major portion of algebra. Questions on Vectors and 3D can be time consuming; so, continue to practise these regularly. Topics like Calculus also warrant routine practice.

JEE Advanced Registration Schedule and formalities

• Application form availability: 1 to 6 May
• Last date for fee payment: 7 May
• Registration for AAT: 8 and 9 May
• Admission Card Issuance: 12 to 17 May
• JEE Advanced exam: 17 May
• JEE Advanced exam results: 8 June
• AAT Test: 12 June
• AAT Test results: 16 June

To register for JEE Advanced, candidates must fill the forms online with necessary personal and academic details and upload the required documents.

The exam fees can be paid either online or offline.

Once the fees have been paid - either online or offline - the final application form can be submitted. The candidate will then be directed to a confirmation page, which confirms that the application has been processed successfully. This page must be downloaded and printed, along with the admission card when issued, and kept carefully for future reference.

JEE Advanced 2020 cut-off

The cut-off for JEE Advanced refers to the minimum marks required for candidates to qualify for JEE Advanced 2020 rank list. The cut-off mark is usually announced about a month after the JEE Advanced exam is conducted, before the results are declared.

The cut-off mark is usually determined by certain factors such as cut-off trends from the previous year, candidates' general performance in the exam, the number of seats available for admission and the number of candidates who have written the exam.

JEE Mains and Advanced: Recommended books

Best reference books for JEE mains

• Concepts of physics by H.C Verma (Volume 1 and 2)
• Complete Physics for JEE Main by Irodov
  
• Understanding Physics by DC Pandey
  
• IIT Chemistry by O.P Tandon
  
• Complete Chemistry for JEE Main by NCERT
  
• Organic Chemistry by Morrison & Boyd
  
• Concise Inorganic Chemistry by J D Lee
  
• IIT Mathematics by R.D Sharma
  
• GRB numerical chemistry for JEE (Main & Advance) by Dr. P. Bahadur
  
• The Pearson Guide to Complete Mathematics for JEE by SL Loney
  
• Differential Calculus for IIT-JEE by Amit Agarwal
  
• Integral Calculus for IIT-JEE by Amit Agarwal
  

Best reference books for JEE Advanced

• Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday, Resnick & Walker
• Advance Physics by Nelkon and Parker
• Problems in Physics by S.S. Krotov
• Modern Approach to Chemical Calculations by R. C. Mukherjee
• University Chemistry by Bruce H. Mahan
• Organic Chemistry by Paula Bruice Yurkanis
• Problems in Calculus of One Variable by I.A. Maron
• Problems in Mathematics by V. Govorov, P. Dybov, N. Miroshin and S. Smirnova
• A Problem Book in Mathematical Analysis by G. N. Berman

Also read:

BITSAT Exam Syllabus And Paper Pattern - 2020

How To Prepare For BITSAT Exam

About the author:

Written by Amrita Gracias on 17 March 2020

Amrita Gracias holds a degree in English Literature from Stella Maris College, Chennai and a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism (specialising in Print Media) from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She takes to writing and editing when she isn't answering to the duties of motherhood!

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