How to Prepare for JEE Main 2026 at Home: Complete Study Plan

How to Prepare for JEE Main 2026 at Home: Complete Study Plan

Shivani PooniaUpdated on 16 Dec 2025, 10:53 AM IST

When you study at home for JEE Main 2026, it can feel like a tough task, especially if you're preparing without going to coaching. But if you use the proper method, with discipline, and the correct resources, it is possible to clear JEE Main 2026 by preparing from your home. There is one advantage about studying at home and that is flexibility. You can make your own study schedule, study at your own pace, and spend more time on topics you find difficult.

LiveJEE Main Admit Card 2026 LIVE: Exam hall ticket for BTech admission today? Marking scheme, test timingsJan 13, 2026 | 11:12 AM IST

JoSAA data over the past three years shows a steady fall in the closing ranks for Aerospace Engineering at IIT Bombay, indicating increased competition for the programme. As per the Joint Implementation Committee (JIC) 2025 report, 17,209 candidates opted for Aerospace Engineering last year. BTech Computer Science and Engineering remained the most preferred course at the institute with 28,705 choices, followed by Electrical Engineering with 24,123. Under the open category, the closing rank for IIT Bombay CSE declined by two positions to 66 in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Read More: JEE Main 2026: IIT Bombay Aerospace Engineering closing ranks fall steadily; course-wise seat matrix

JEE Main session 1 exams 2026 from January 21 to 29 in two shifts.JEE Main admit card 2026 soon at jeemain.nta.nic.in. (Image: Official Website)

Read More

This Story also Contains

  1. JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern
  2. Best Books for JEE Main 2026
  3. Time Table for JEE Main 2026
  4. Study Tips for JEE Main 2026
How to Prepare for JEE Main 2026 at Home: Complete Study Plan
How to Prepare for JEE Main 2026 at Home

In this guide, we will tell you everything about preparing for JEE Main exam 2026 at home, which will include useful study tips, best books to refer to, and key concepts that you need to focus on during your preparation.

Download E-books here:

JEE Main 2026 Exam Pattern

Before you begin your preparation, it’s important to know the latest JEE Main 2026 exam pattern. Check it below:

Particulars

Details

Mode of Exam

Computer-Based Test (Online)

Duration

3 hours (180 minutes)

Subjects

Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics

Questions per Subject

25 questions each (20 MCQs + 5 Numerical Value Questions)

Total Questions

75 (25 in each subject)

Total Marks

300 marks (100 per subject)

Marking Scheme

+4 for each correct answer −1 for each incorrect answer (MCQ & NVQ)

Language of Paper

English, Hindi, plus other regional languages as specified

Sessions

Two sessions: January 2026 & April 2026

Best Books for JEE Main 2026

You can check the recommended books for JEE Main 2026 below:

Subject

Book Title

Author / Publisher

Purpose / Highlights

Physics


NCERT Physics (Class 11 & 12)

NCERT

Builds strong fundamentals and conceptual clarity; must-read for all aspirants.

Concepts of Physics (Vol 1 & 2)

H.C. Verma

Excellent for theory, numerical practice, and understanding real-world applications.

Understanding Physics Series

D.C. Pandey (Arihant)

Topic-wise detailed explanations and high-level problem sets for JEE practice.

Chemistry

NCERT Chemistry (Class 11 & 12)

NCERT

Covers core concepts; many JEE questions are directly based on NCERT content.

Physical Chemistry

O.P. Tandon

Ideal for practising numerical and concept-based physical chemistry problems.

Organic Chemistry

M.S. Chauhan / Morrison & Boyd

Deep understanding of mechanisms and reaction types; perfect for advanced prep.

Concise Inorganic Chemistry

J.D. Lee

Best for learning periodic trends, coordination chemistry, and qualitative analysis.

Mathematics


NCERT Mathematics (Class 11 & 12)

NCERT

Strengthens basic concepts and formulas — essential starting point.

Objective Mathematics

R.D. Sharma

Excellent for building conceptual clarity and problem-solving accuracy.

Skills in Mathematics Series

Arihant Publications

Comprehensive for advanced problem-solving in calculus, algebra, and coordinate geometry.

Also Read:

Time Table for JEE Main 2026

  1. Create a Daily Routine: Plan for 6–8 hours of focused study initially, slowly increasing if possible. Start early in the morning when concentration is its most.

  2. Divide Your Day with Subjects: Allocate 2–3 hours per subject per day. Rotate subjects to avoid monotony and keep your brain fresh.

  3. Morning Routine: Keep the morning time for difficult topics or new concepts. Give time to NCERT and core reference books.

  4. Afternoon Routine: Practice numerical and objective questions. Also, try to solve previous years’ papers and topic-wise questions.

  5. Evening Routine: Do the revision of the topics that you studied in the morning. Create short notes or formula sheets for quick recall.

  6. Regular Mock Tests: Give 1–2 hours daily on mock questions or online quizzes. It enhances speed and accuracy.

  7. Weekly Test: Go for a full-length mock test every weekend, following exam conditions. Check mistakes and work on weak parts.

  8. Go for Breaks: Do take short breaks of 5–10 minutes after every hour you study and a long break after every 3 hours of studying.

  9. Time to Revise: Let the last 1–2 hours of the day remain for doing the revisions of formulas and and other crucial concepts.

  10. Check the progress: Once the week ends, check your progress. Alter the timetable on the basis of weak parts or upcoming exams.

Amity University-Noida B.Tech Admissions 2026

Among top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026

UPES B.Tech Admissions 2026

Ranked #43 among Engineering colleges in India by NIRF | Highest Package 1.3 CR , 100% Placements

Study Tips for JEE Main 2026

1. Pay attention to the Basics First

The way that we suggest building a solid foundation for engineering is to refer to NCERT books. You have to get clarity of the topics before going for difficult questions.

2. Daily Study Practice

Focus on practising the previous year's papers or any topic-based questions each day. With regular practice, your speed and accuracy will improve.

3. Make Sheets of Formulas

Make sheets of formulas that you have to do your revision daily, and add crucial points to it. This will let you do rapid revision before you go for exams.

4. Plan Your Study Time

Give fixed timings for studying, practice, and revision. It also helps to totally remove the distractions of social media and other activities. This ensures that you know your time will be well spent if you focus.

5. Work on Improving Weak Areas

Make sure to take time to check quizzes or tests, or question sets and know which topics you struggled with. Work systematically to strengthen those concepts to score better.

JEE Main Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
Select your preferred subject to view the chapters

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What’s the total number of questions in Paper 1?
A:

75 questions will be there, and there will be 25 in each subject.

Q: How many attempts can I take a year?
A:

You can take two sessions that will be in January & April of JEE Main 2026.

Q: Can I use a calculator during the exam?
A:

No,  the NTA cleared that calculators physical or on-screen will not be allowed in JEE Main 2026.

Articles
|
Upcoming Engineering Exams
Ongoing Dates
HITSEEE Application Date

5 Nov'25 - 22 Apr'26 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
SMIT Online Test Application Date

15 Nov'25 - 12 Apr'26 (Online)

Ongoing Dates
SNUSAT Application Date

19 Nov'25 - 31 Mar'26 (Online)

Certifications By Top Providers
B.Tech Engineering Technology
Via Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
Certificate Program in Machine Learning and AI with Python
Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Post Graduate Diploma Program in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Via Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi
Computer Fundamentals
Via Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore
Programming Basics
Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
C-Based VLSI Design
Via Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Udemy
 1525 courses
Swayam
 817 courses
NPTEL
 773 courses
Coursera
 697 courses
Edx
 608 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe

Questions related to JEE Main

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to JEE Main ?

Hello,

Yes, attendance is compulsory in Class XI and XII.

As per school and board rules, students must maintain minimum attendance, usually around 75%. Schools can stop students from appearing in board exams if attendance is short.

Even if a student is preparing for JEE or any other competitive exam

Hello,

You can find here the direct links to download the JEE Main last 10 years PYQ PDFs from the Official Careers360 website.

Kindly visit this link to access the question papers : Last 10 Years JEE Main Question Papers with Solutions PDF

Hope it helps !

Hello Harika,

Firstly, you cannot prepare for JEE in 8 days if you havent studied before. But still, You can try solving the previous year question papers. Here's a Link for the same

Previous Year Questions

HELLO,

If you are from General category with 57 percent in 12th then to appear for JEE Advanced you need to be in top percentile of your board as the eligibility for JEE advanced you need at least 75 percent in 12th or in the top 20 percentile of your

Hello aspirant,

The JEE Main 2026 admission card will include information about the exam location. On the other hand, students can use the JEE Main 2026 city notification slip, which was made available on January 8, 2026, to check the exam city beforehand. The second week of January 2026 is