JEE Advanced Exam Analysis: Last 5-Year Trends

The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced is the second and most crucial stage for candidates aiming for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Conducted annually by one of the IITs under the guidance of the Joint Admission Board (JAB), it is considered one of the toughest undergraduate entrance exams in the world.

Over the last five years, JEE Advanced has seen shifts in exam format, difficulty level, participation rates, and cut-off scores. Analysing these trends provides valuable insights for students preparing for JEE Advanced 2026.

1. JEE Advanced Overview (2021–2025)

• Number of Papers: Always two compulsory papers (Paper 1 & Paper 2) in CBT mode.

• Eligibility: Top 2,50,000 rankers in JEE Main are eligible.

• Changing Organisers: Conducted by a different IIT each year (rotation system).

• Purpose: Admission to 23 IITs across India.

2. Registration & Attendance Trends (2019–2025)

3. JEE Advanced Cut-off Trends (Last 5 Years)

4. Difficulty Level Trends (2021–2025)

5. JEE Advanced Toppers List (2021–2025)

2025 (Top 10 CRL)

Category-Wise Topper List (2025)

Top Female Rankers by Zone

2024 (Top 10 CRL)

2023 (Top 10 CRL)

2022 (Top 10 CRL)

2021 (Top 10 CRL)

6. Key Observations from Last 5 Years

• Mathematics remains the most challenging subject, often determining ranks.

• Physics difficulty varies yearly — conceptual and application-based in most years.

• Chemistry is comparatively scoring, especially when NCERT-focused.

• Cut-offs fluctuate based on paper difficulty and candidate performance.

7. Preparation Tips for JEE Advanced 2026

1. Master Concepts – Focus on deep conceptual clarity, not just formulas.

2. Time-bound Practice – JEE Advanced is as much about speed as accuracy.

3. PYQ Analysis – Solve at least last 10 years’ JEE Advanced papers.

4. Subject Balance – Don’t over-focus on one subject; aim for uniform scoring.

5. Mock Tests – Take advanced-level mock tests regularly to simulate real pressure.

Studying JEE Advanced trends over the last 5 years gives aspirants a clear idea of expected difficulty, cut-offs, and preparation focus areas.
For JEE Advanced 2026, aim for consistent improvement, master problem-solving under pressure, and maintain a balanced preparation across all three subjects.

FAQs – JEE Advanced Trends (Last 5 Years)

Q1. Why should JEE Advanced aspirants study past year trends?

Studying trends helps aspirants understand difficulty shifts, cut-off patterns, and subject-wise weightage, enabling smarter preparation strategies for JEE Advanced 2026.

Q2. Who topped JEE Advanced 2025?

Rajit Gupta (IIT Delhi Zone) and Saksham Jindal (IIT Delhi Zone) jointly secured the top position with 332 marks out of 360.

Q3. Which subject is generally the toughest in JEE Advanced?

Mathematics has consistently been the toughest subject over the last five years, requiring strong problem-solving speed and conceptual clarity.

Q4. What was the cut-off for JEE Advanced 2025?

For the General category, the qualifying aggregate percentage was 35%, with a minimum of 87 marks out of 360.

Q5. How many students appeared for JEE Advanced 2025?

Approximately 2.4 lakh candidates appeared out of the ~2.5 lakh who registered.