Should I drop 1 Year for JEE Main 2026? Check Study Plan for Repeaters

Should I drop 1 Year for JEE Main 2026? Check Study Plan for Repeaters

K Guna SahitiUpdated on 26 Nov 2025, 11:49 AM IST

Should I drop 1 Year for JEE Main - Many engineering aspirants often wonder if they should drop one year to attempt JEE Main exam can refer to this article to gain an understanding. It is understood that JEE Main is one of the most sought-after entrance examinations in India. So, candidates often feel the need to take as much time as possible preparing for the JEE Main exam. However, aspirants are advised to weigh their options regarding the JEE Main before reaching any conclusion. NTA will conduct JEE Main 2026 in two sessions, one in January and the second in April 2026. The JEE Main 2026 exam dates are January 21 to 31, while the session 2 will be from April 2 to 9, 2026. With careful planning, candidates will have enough time to prepare for JEE Main as well as class 12th board exams. This page deals with the burning question, “Should I drop 1 year for JEE 2026?”. Students can find the answers to all their queries here.

Should I drop 1 Year for JEE Main 2026? Check Study Plan for Repeaters
Should I drop 1 Year for JEE Main

Is the drop year worthwhile for JEE Main 2026?

While taking a drop for JEE Main can provide an opportunity to improve your score and get admission to a better college, it also poses certain challenges, such as the pressure to perform better in the next attempt and the gap year, which may have an impact on the candidate's career path. Recruiters might find this gap year to be a disadvantage. In this article, we will take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages of taking a drop for JEE Main to help you make a well-informed decision.

Also Check:

Appeared in JEE Main all sessions and haven't scored that well?

Most students choose to drop one year because they do not have a good rank to get into the top IITs, NITs or IITS. However, it may not be the ideal solution. Well, dropping one year is a waste of 12 months that could be used to pursue B.Tech in colleges other than NITs and IIITs or the IITs. There are plenty of good institutes and universities that take students through JEE Main and have a good ranking. It's better to apply for admission to these and complete your undergraduate as JEE Main marks or rank won't matter after admission.

There is also the option of applying for the JEE Main exam alongside the B.Tech first year and join a top college. Candidates should try for a good performance in their under graduation such that they stand a better chance of placements and higher education. Here are some colleges and universities that consider JEE Main scores.

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With so many options, it's best not to take a drop. Instead, it's wise to complete B.Tech and try for an M.Tech or an MBA seat in one of the IITs or NITs.

Know more about:

Should I drop 1 year for JEE Main as I have not appeared for JEE Main at all?

Candidates can opt for colleges that do not require a JEE Main score for admission. The admission can be conducted either using the candidate's 12th scores or the entrance exam of the university itself. Not all colleges and universities require JEE Main scores. Candidates can always opt for these institutes instead. Some examples of this would be

  • Sastra University also takes class 12 marks.

  • Tamilnadu offers a few seats to other state students on the basis of class 12 marks

  • Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab state take through class 12 marks and 15% of the seats are for outside-state students.

JEE Main 2026: Preparation Tips & Study Plan
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Statistics from previous years have shown that taking a drop is not an advisable idea as the number of students who have successfully cracked JEE Main after taking a drop of 1 year is less than 5%. The reason is fatigue on account of studying the same thing all over again and carrying the additional stress of having to do or die. So it's advisable to look for good options and build a good career rather than wasting one year.

In spite of all this, if candidates still wish to take a drop of one year for JEE Main, then the decision should be taken after careful consideration and consultation with parents and teachers.

Should I drop 1 year for JEE Main after 12th because of Board Exams?

Actually, studying for both class 12 boards and JEE Main is possible, leading to good results. Most students who write JEE Main are in this category and therefore, candidates can easily crack the exam if the planning is preparation is perfect. Many students do prepare for class 12 and JEE Main together as the topics and syllabus are pretty much the same.

Preparation Related:

Tips to crack JEE Main

Here are a few tips to crack the JEE Main in the first attempt while preparing for the board exam.

  • Segregate the JEE Main syllabus into common for class 12 and JEE Main.

  • Study for both, practice the exercises after the chapter is done.

  • Solve previous years question papers and use NCERT books to cement your concepts and fundamentals.

  • Revision is crucial. While practising with the JEE Main mock tests, study and brush up the subjects simultaneously.

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JEE Main Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
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Questions related to JEE Main

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to JEE Main ?

Hello,

Yes, you may get a chance to correct it.
NTA usually opens a correction window before each session. In previous years, candidates were allowed to change their photo if it did not follow the guidelines, including background issues.

For JEE Main 2026 also, the correction window is expected. When it opens, you will be able to upload a proper photo with a plain white background.

What you should do now:

  • Keep checking your JEE Main login for any correction option.

  • Keep a correct photo ready (white background, clear image).

  • If NTA flags your photo, you can update it during the correction period.

So yes, you should get a chance to fix it once the correction window opens.

Hope it helps !

Hello,
The JEE main 2027 will include three subjects: Physics, chemistry and Mathematics.
PHYSICS:
Units and Measurements: kinematics, laws of motion, work, energy & power: rotational motion & moment of inertia: gravitation: properties of solids and fluids: thermodynamics: kinetic theory of gases: oscillations & waves: electrostatics: current electricity; magnetism & magnetic effects of current; electromagnetic induction & alternating current; optics; atoms and nuclei; modern physics topics.
CHEMISTRY:
Physical chemistry (basic concepts, mole concept, stoichiometry; atomic structure; chemical bonding; thermodynamics; equilibrium; chemical kinetics; solutions and chemical reactivity), inorganic chemistry (periodic table, classification of elements including p-, d-, f-block, coordination compounds), and organic chemistry including basics of hydrocarbons, organic compounds containing halogens/oxygen/nitrogen etc.
MATHEMATICS
Sets, relations & functions; complex numbers and quadratic equations; matrices and determinants; permutations & combinations; sequences & series; limits, continuity & differentiability; integral and differential calculus; coordinate geometry (lines, circles, conics); 3D geometry; vector algebra; trigonometry; statistics & probability.

Hope this helps you.

That's the most efficient approach to preparation! The entire JEE Main Syllabus is fundamentally based on the topics covered in the NCERT Class 11th and 12th textbooks for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

Here's what you need to know:

  • NCERT is the Core: Approximately 60-70% of the JEE Main syllabus directly comes from the NCERT books. You must consider these textbooks as your foundation and cover every single topic and exercise.

  • Minor Overlaps/Additions: While most of the syllabus aligns, JEE Main sometimes includes a few concepts or deeper applications (especially in complex numbers, differential calculus, and some physics derivations) that extend slightly beyond the direct NCERT text, requiring extra practice.

  • Chemistry Exception: Physical and Inorganic Chemistry are almost 100% covered by NCERT. For Organic Chemistry, mastering the reactions and mechanisms taught in the NCERT is critical before moving to advanced texts.

You can download the PDF containing the complete, topic-wise JEE Main syllabus to cross-reference with your NCERT chapters here: https://engineering.careers360.com/download/ebooks/jee-main-syllabus . This linkage is your best study guide!

start by finishing the scoring topics in physics, chemistry and maths.. and revise them deeply through examples and pyqs.. spend 60% of ur time on topics that frequently appear in exam and the remaining 40% on weak areas.. give one mock test every week, analyze mistakes and create a revision book as well as formula book to keep revising the formulae and the mistakes.. plan ur schedule one week ahead and plan the concepts u want to study.. keep small milestones and reward urself constantly to maintain ur motivation.

‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ In case you want to have access to the handwritten notes made by the JEE toppers, the most convenient manner is certainly by means of proper platforms which share the study material in a legal way. A good number of toppers have their notebooks uploaded on some educational apps or YouTube channels, and a few coaching institutes may offer compilation notes either for free or upon registration. Also, you can visit official JEE preparation forums where students share their handwritten notes for the convenience of others without any charges.

When you are downloading notes, it is always better to check if the source is trustworthy and the files are genuine because if you take the incomplete or incorrect notes, it will have an impact on your preparation. A more secure choice would be to look at the toppers' plans and brief notes that are written in the form of books or PDFs by the known coaching institutes. Never forget to combine such notes with the questions of previous years and mock tests so that your preparation will be complete. ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌