From 2026, JEE Main will not allow calculators in the exam. This means students will have to do all the calculations by hand, either mentally or on paper. Both physical and virtual (on-screen) calculators are banned.
This rule will affect both speed and accuracy. Without a calculator, students may take more time to solve long numerical questions or problems that need many steps. Mistakes in addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division may happen more often if one is not used to manual work. But at the same time, regular practice can make students faster and more confident with numbers. Manual calculation also improves understanding of formulas and concepts.
For speed, students who depend on calculators may find it harder to complete all questions in time. They will need to practice mental math, quick simplification, and use of tricks like estimation and remembering standard values such as squares, cubes, and trigonometric ratios. Over time, this practice can make them nearly as fast as before, but it needs effort.
For accuracy, students must be careful while doing rough work. One small calculation mistake can give the wrong final answer. So it is better to stay calm and double-check important steps. Accuracy is more important than rushing through.
Overall, the ban on calculators will make JEE Main more about logic, manual accuracy, and time management. Since this rule is for everyone, it will not make the exam unfair. The students who practice manual calculations more will have an advantage.
Official website:
https://jeemain.nta.ac.in
