Why PYQs matter#
Every JEE Main shift has a fresh paper, but the style repeats: the same units, similar kinds of numerical questions, and a strong link to NCERT in Chemistry. Solving past questions helps you:
- see which ideas in a unit are tested and which are rarely touched;
- learn the level of difficulty so you neither under-prepare nor over-prepare;
- practise the +4 and −1 marking, which applies to both MCQs and numerical value questions under the 2026 bulletin;
- build speed, because JEE Main gives 3 hours for 75 questions.
Where to get the JEE Main previous year question paper#
Use official sources first:
- jeemain.nta.nic.in: the site has a "Question Papers" section. As of October 2026 it lists the B.Tech papers from the April 2026 session (Session 2), shift by shift. NTA posts the final answer keys for each session as separate notices on the same site.
- Your own response sheet: when NTA displays provisional answer keys, each candidate can also see their question paper and recorded responses for a short period. If you write the exam, download them while they are available.
- NTA's official syllabus: before solving an old paper, check each question's topic against the current JEE (Main) syllabus.
Many publishers and websites also share compiled papers. If you use them, check answers against NTA's final answer keys, because unofficial keys sometimes contain errors. Do not rely on shared files that may have been altered.
How many years of JEE Mains PYQ to solve?#
A practical answer for most students:
| Stage | What to solve |
|---|---|
| While studying each chapter | All available questions on that chapter from the papers since 2024 |
| After finishing the syllabus | Older papers chapter-wise, skipping topics that are no longer in the syllabus |
| Last 6 to 8 weeks | Full shift papers from the most recent sessions, timed |
Why "since 2024"? From 2024, NTA has used a revised JEE (Main) syllabus; topics such as Mathematical Reasoning are no longer listed in the current Mathematics units. Older papers are still useful, but only for topics that remain.
Physics PYQs by chapter#
Group Physics questions by NTA syllabus unit and solve them in this order:
- Mechanics: Kinematics, Laws of Motion, Work, Energy and Power, Rotational Motion, Gravitation.
- Electricity and magnetism: Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetic Effects, Electromagnetic Induction and AC.
- Optics and Modern Physics: Optics, Dual Nature, Atoms and Nuclei, Electronic Devices.
- Heat, waves and the rest: Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, Oscillations and Waves, Properties of Solids and Liquids, Units and Measurements, Experimental Skills.
Write down every formula you needed in a question you got wrong. Physics mistakes are often a wrong sign or unit, not a missing concept.
Chemistry PYQs by chapter#
- Physical: solve PYQs on mole concept, Equilibrium, Thermodynamics, Electrochemistry, Solutions and Kinetics with a timer, because numericals take time.
- Inorganic: after each PYQ set, go back to the NCERT lines the question came from. You will notice how closely questions follow the text.
- Organic: solve PYQs on General Organic Chemistry first, then reactions of oxygen- and nitrogen-containing compounds, then Biomolecules. Keep a page of reactions you got wrong.
Maths PYQs by chapter#
- Calculus first: Limits, Continuity and Differentiability, Integral Calculus, Differential Equations.
- Coordinate and vector geometry: Straight lines, circles and conics, then Vector Algebra and Three Dimensional Geometry.
- Algebra: Matrices and Determinants, Sequence and Series, Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations, Permutations and Combinations, Binomial Theorem, Statistics and Probability.
In Maths, time yourself per question. If a question takes more than about four minutes in practice, note the faster method from the solution.
Year-wise papers: switching to full shifts#
Once the syllabus is done, stop solving by chapter and start solving complete shift papers:
- Sit for 3 hours without breaks or a phone.
- Score yourself using NTA's final answer key, with +4 and −1.
- Spend at least an hour on analysis: list each wrong or skipped question and why.
- Go back to the chapter for any repeated weak spot before the next paper.
How this fits your overall plan#
Use the priority tiers in our JEE Main chapter wise weightage guide to decide which chapters' PYQs to do first, choose one solid book from our list of the best books for JEE, and follow the timeline in how to prepare for JEE Main 2027. Keep track of exam dates in our JEE Main 2027 guide. Between PYQ sessions, take JEE practice and mock tests in the app. More guides are in the JEE category.