To crack IIT-JEE in your first attempt, create a focused study schedule, use reliable study material, and strengthen your problem-solving skills. Give equal attention to all subjects, revisit challenging questions, and practice time management with mock tests. Consistency and expert guidance are key to success.
How to Crack IIT in First Attempt: Study Plan, Strategy & Expert Tips
Among the 12 lakh JEE aspirants, every student wants a proven strategy on how to crack the IIT JEE on the first attempt. But why do only a fraction of students successfully clear the IIT JEE on the first attempt? Research shows that first-attempt qualifiers focus on completing the syllabus early, regular mock tests and a structured study plan. The competition is fierce, and success requires a well-planned strategy.
In this guide, we will explore how to crack IIT in first attempt, sharing expert-backed techniques to help you succeed. Additionally, if you’re wondering, “Can I crack JEE on my second attempt?”, we will discuss strategies to improve your chances. All the 6 study strategies discussed are based on the Matrix Toppers’ journey and the advice given by them.
Is it Possible to crack IIT-JEE in the First Attempt?
IIT JEE is one of the most challenging exams due to its vast syllabus and increasing competition year by year. It is possible to crack JEE in the first attempt by following proven topper strategies along with consistency and discipline. If you wish to get the taste of success in the first attempt, follow these tips for effective preparation:
- Early Preparation: It is advisable to start JEE preparation in class 11 or before. This allows time to solidify the concepts.
- Regular Mocks: One mock a week with proper error analysis is a game-changer.
- Consistent Revision: Regularly revising every concept, formulas and derivation weekly and monthly will help retain the information.
- Importance of Right Guidance: Guidance from mentors plays a major role in cracking the IIT JEE on the first attempt. Coaching helps with quality study materials and JEE-level practice questions.
How to Crack IIT JEE in First Attempt: 6 Proven Strategies by Matrix Toppers
Cracking the IIT JEE exam in the first attempt is not about studying for hours every day. It is more about doing the right amount of smart work along with effective, proven strategies. The approach of a toppper focuses on gainingclarity on what to study, where to study from and how to study. Below are 6 proven strategies backed by Matrix toppers and Matrix JEE experts. Students are advised to include these strategies in their preparation plan to level up their study quality.
1. Create a Realistic Study Schedule for JEE Preparation
The very first IIT JEE preparation tip is maintaining a proper schedule.
Tracking your day with the help of a proper schedule is something that one should always consider if the target is to crack IIT on the first attempt.
From the first day of your IIT-JEE preparation, you should make a routine and strictly follow it throughout the preparation, as organised work is way better than randomly trying to focus on multiple tasks.
For optimum output of your study, divide your study time into different slots and fix breaks among them. It will give your mind a quick refreshment before you go for your next slot of study.
A dedicated and focused self-study of 6-7 hours is enough to crack JEE. But make sure that your study is focused, so avoid doing other things or daydreaming during the study.
Besides it, don’t compromise your sleeping schedule. You have heard from many aspirants that they study during night hours and sleep during the daytime. But, for effective output, fix your sleeping schedule between 11 pm and 6 am (might differ as per individual’s routine). Also, ensure that you start studying after a break of 25-30 minutes after you have your lunch and dinner.
By following a structured schedule, you can maintain consistency, which is critical to cracking the IIT-JEE on the first attempt.
2. Choosing the Right Study Material
The resources and study material you follow play a significant role in determining your selection in JEE. If you are preparing for IIT-JEE through self-study, go for the best study material only.
Don’t go beyond a maximum of one book per subject. Or, if you have taken a proper course from a coaching institute, follow the instructions of your teachers and the material they suggest. Otherwise, for theory, limit yourself to the class notes only.
Many aspirants need to avoid going through different books for the same subject. Those who sincerely solve the questions from the suggested workbooks and revise them occasionally are more likely to get selected.
Never follow very basic-level or very-high-level books; do what the exam wants. If you still need clarification and are still thinking about how to crack the IIT JEE in the first attempt, our experts at Matrix IIT Sikar (the best IIT coaching institute in Sikar) have designed the best course for IIT-JEE aspirants. We follow the modern teaching methodology to help your children crack the IIT-JEE in the first attempt.
You can enrol in either our classroom programs or distance learning programs.
This ensures you don’t waste time and energy on irrelevant resources while mastering the essential topics.
3. Strengthen Problem-Solving Skills for JEE Maths, Physics and Chemistry
Since the JEE exam involves numerical and analysis-based questions, the better you are at problem-solving, the more will be the chances of your selection in it.
Always keep the most fundamental concept in mind, as this practice will strengthen your grasp of the topic and help you solve the most difficult questions in the exam.
Applying the direct formulas does not work out in such questions. So, while practising, first carefully read what is given in the question, what is asked, and most importantly, the assumptions taken.
For your daily routine, make sure you have a quick revision of your class notes after the class. Also, revise the previous chapters for roughly 30 minutes per subject. If you have short notes, you will save much time during question practice.
Give at least 75% time of your daily self-study for question practice. With this, you will not only brush up on the concept you have learned, but also it will boost your confidence in question-solving.
Moreover, take a separate time for revision of class notes daily. Before solving the homework problems from the modules, make sure you have gone through the class notes and the example questions discussed in class. These IIT JEE preparation tips will help you remember topics for a longer period.
4. Avoid Neglecting Chapters or Topics
During your IIT-JEE preparation, you should keep in mind that all three subjects (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) have equal weightage in the exam.
So, never make the mistake of neglecting a specific subject. If you don’t like a particular topic, clear the basic concepts at least and do the questions from your class notes.
The same thing applies to the different chapters of a subject. Irrespective of the weightage, going through every chapter as a single question can create a difference of hundreds in the JEE ranking.
In JEE Main, some of the easiest questions are from the chapters that most students skip. This tip can make your IIT-JEE preparation strategy better and more effective.
Besides, if you are good at a subject, don’t stop regular practice and revision, no matter how good you are at it. This tip can be beneficial in scoring a good rank in JEE Main, as it is now conducted twice a year.
So, you will know your strong and weak subjects from the subject-wise percentile in your first attempt at JEE Main. Work on your weak subjects to improve your rank on the second attempt, but practice your strong subjects.
5. Reattempt Difficult Questions (Error Analysis)
The next IIT-JEE preparation tip is reattempting the questions.
This trick is the top secret to cracking IIT-JEE, as every student gets stuck on some questions, but only a few try to reattempt those questions.
To make your IIT-JEE preparation strategy effective, follow these steps:
- While solving an exercise for the first time, the questions in which you got stuck, mark them with a circle.
- Make sure you discuss those questions with your instructor and reattempt them at home.
- Now, there will be a few questions where you will get stuck again; mark them with any other symbol.
- After every revision, mark the questions you get stuck with with a symbol so you can revise them quickly at the time of your final revision for the JEE exam.
Among such questions, some would be solved with a unique approach; remember the logic behind that approach, as a similar question can be asked with a bit of a twist.
6. Subject-Wise Time Management in JEE Exam
Weekly tests are the best way to track your progress. So, try to appear in every test, give your best input, and max out your score irrespective of the difficulty of the question paper.
Make sure you have properly revised your module questions 3-4 times. From one month before your JEE exam date, start solving previous years’ question papers within a time limit.
While solving, set a time duration for each subject, like 25-30 minutes for chemistry, 1.5 hours for mathematics, and the rest for physics.
To crack the IIT JEE in the first attempt or make your IIT-JEE preparation more effective, you can also take the IIT-JEE test series of Matrix IIT Sikar, which is the best coaching for Sikar. Matrix also provides the All India Open Test Series to track your progress before JEE examinations.
Coming to the end of our list of six tips to crack IIT JEE in the first attempt, we want to convey that these tips to crack IIT JEE in the first attempt will work if you are consistent and regularly prepared. Although it is a challenging task, Matrix IIT Sikar Academy is here to support you with different learning programs and mock tests.
Read more: Avoid these silly mistakes while preparing for the IIT JEE exam and improve your score drastically!
Can I Crack JEE in the Second Attempt? Strategy for Improving Rank
If you didn’t succeed in the first attempt, don’t be discouraged. Many top rankers clear the IIT-JEE in their second attempt. Here’s how to maximise your chances:
- Analyse your previous attempt: Identify weak subjects and work on them.
- Revise with a structured plan: Focus on concepts you struggled with before.
- Take test series regularly: Enrol in Matrix IIT Sikar’s test series to improve accuracy.
- Stay motivated and disciplined: Consistency is key to success in the second attempt.
Matrix Expert Tips to Crack JEE in First Attempt
- Regularly revise class notes and previously learned topics.
- Enrol in mock test series to evaluate your preparation.
- Join a reliable coaching institute like Matrix IIT Sikar for personalised guidance and support.
Explore the offical Youtube channel of Matrix JEE Academy for more IIT JEE tips, strategies, and success stories: Matrix JEE.
Stay updated with the latest guidance for IIT aspirants and learn how Matrix JEE helps students achieve their dream of cracking JEE with expert mentorship.
Conclusion
Cracking IIT-JEE on the first attempt is challenging but achievable with the right study strategies and disciplined preparation. Students should focus on getting conceptual clarity, solve as many questions as possible and take mock tests every week. Learn from others’ mistakes and avoid them. Give equal focus and attention to all three subjects: mathematics, physics and chemistry. Save time by following the Matrix study plan. Attend classes regularly and be involved in group study sessions. Use the mentioned 6 study strategies and watch your score improve with time. Last but not least, Matrix toppers only advise students to never stop believing in themselves and keep their confidence high.
Want to increase your chances to crack IIT JEE exam on your first attempt? Checkout Matrix JEE Academy Sikar, the best IIT JEE Coaching in India, and get expert guidance from IIT Alumni and JEE experts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, it is possible to crack IIT JEE without coaching. But joining a coaching institute helps with developing consistent discipline, a research-backed study plan, and access to quality study materials. If you still choose to self-study for JEE, NCERT books, previous years’ question papers, and mock tests should be a priority. One can also join online test series and doubt-solving platforms.
A dedicated 6-8 hours of focused study sessions per day is ideal for JEE preparation. More than the number of hours, the quality of study and consistent revision play a crucial role in success. One tip from toppers is to join group study sessions to improve scores and increase the number of quality study hours.
An ideal study plan followed by JEE toppers is focused on getting conceptual clarity, regular practice questions, JEE-level mock tests and regular revision. Making a study plan is helpful, but following the plan consistently with discipline will help improve scores.
NCERT helps in building conceptual depth and is a crucial component in IIT JEE preparation. For IITJEE Chemistry, NCERT is a must. For Physics and Mathematics, additional reference books like HC Verma (Physics) and RD Sharma (Maths) are recommended along with the NCERT books.
JEE aspirants should aim to take at least 20-30 full-length mock tests before the exam. This will help in time management, accuracy improvement, and building exam confidence.
Yes, many students start their JEE preparation from class 12. But more study hours are needed. It is advised to prioritise important topics, focus on strong areas, and practice all previous year papers. Along with PYQs, regular mocks and solving practice questions every day.
The common mistakes made by JEE aspirnats inlcude:
1. Ignoring DPPs (Daily Practice Papers).
2. Skipping mock tests and not making an exam day strategy.
3. Not setting the timer while solving questions.
4. Relying on too many books. Toppers advise to keep limited resources – coaching materials and NCERT books are sufficient.
Absolutely, the second attempt is all about improving the JEE Main score and working on the weak areas. Keep an error analysis notebook and try to minimise errors. Take the help of mentors and try to work on improving mock scores. All focus must be on improving accuracy and avoiding the same mistakes. Do not leave any topic in the second attempt, and work on getting deep conceptual clarity.

