Best NCERT Books for JEE Mains

Preparing for JEE Main can be overwhelming given the vast syllabus, the difficulty level, and the fierce competition. But one resource almost all top students agree on as indispensable is the NCERT textbooks for Classes 11 and 12. These books form the conceptual backbone for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and are strongly aligned with the JEE Main syllabus.

In this blog, we will try to answer this particular question and bring you a detailed guide on the top NCERT books for JEE Mains for Chemistry, Physics, and Maths recommended by IIT toppers. 

Which Are the Best NCERT Books for JEE Mains?

The NCERT books form the conceptual backbone for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and are strongly aligned with the JEE Main syllabus. Here’s a breakdown of which NCERT books students should focus on, class-wise, for each subject.

Subject	Class/Books	Important Topics / Focus Areas
Physics	Class 11: Physics Part 1 & Part 2 Class 12: Physics Part 1 & Part 2	Mechanics, Work & Energy, Rotational Motion; Thermodynamics; Oscillations & Waves; Electrostatics; Current Electricity; Magnetism; Electromagnetic Induction; Optics; Modern Physics
Chemistry	Class 11: Chemistry Part 1 & Part 2 Class 12: Chemistry Part 1 & Part 2	All three branches: physical, organic, and inorganic, focus on the NCERT theory and in-chapter problems
Mathematics	Class 11: Mathematics (single volume) Class 12: Mathematics (Part 1 & Part 2)	Algebra, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus (differential & integral), Vectors, Matrices, etc.

Why is the NCERT Book important for JEE Mains?

NCERT books help build a fundamental understanding of the topic, like Mechanics, Optics, and Electromagnetism. Here are some benefits why is the NCERT book for JEE mains: 

• Prepare with CBSE Curriculum: JEE Mains is based on the CBSE Syllabus, and the NCERT books are prescribed by CBSE itself.
• Clear Concepts: NCERT books explain concepts in a simple and clear manner, which is ideal for building strong basics. 
• Direct Question: Many questions, especially in  Chemistry, are directly picked or slightly modified from the NCERT.
• Standard and Reliable: These books are reviewed by subject experts, are error-free, and trustworthy.

Also Read: JEE Main Exam Dates 2025: Session 1 & 2 Exam Schedule

Are NCERT Books Enough for JEE Mains?

Building a strong foundation is the first step in preparing for JEE Mains, and NCERT books play an important role in this process. Most of the concepts asked in the exam are first introduced in school through NCERT textbooks. The JEE Mains paper mainly extends and applies the same ideas from Class 11 and 12 Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

Here’s why NCERT is considered essential for JEE Mains:

• Strong Conceptual Foundation: NCERT covers all the fundamental concepts you need before moving to advanced-level questions.
• Accurate and Reliable Content: The books are written by subject experts, ensuring error-free explanations and trustworthy information.
• Alignment with JEE Syllabus: Many topics in the JEE Mains syllabus directly match what is taught in NCERT textbooks.
• Preferred by Experts & Toppers: Most JEE toppers and educators recommend completing NCERT thoroughly before using other reference books.
• Simplified Explanation of Concepts: The language is easy to understand, making it ideal for strengthening your basic understanding.

Because of these reasons, mastering the NCERT is an essential part of JEE Mains preparation. Once concepts are clear, you can build speed, accuracy, and problem-solving skills using additional reference books and mock tests.

Are NCERT Books Enough for JEE Mains Mathematics?

For mathematics, the concepts that are covered in the NCERT class 11th and 12th textbooks would be enough, but the thinking and problem-solving ability that an exam like JEE Mains demands cannot be attained merely by relying on the NCERT textbooks. So, it would be good if you acquire theoretical knowledge through NCERT textbooks and then use other JEE preparatory materials to practice those concepts.

This is important because every year the JEE Mains paper has a question on vectors, statistics, or mathematical reasoning, which is taken directly from your NCERT. So, you need to create a balance between other prep materials and NCERT books for JEE Mains.

Are NCERT Books Enough for JEE Mains Chemistry?

For chemistry, 65-70% questions come from NCERT textbooks, and the rest can be solved easily if you have thoroughly gone through all the NCERT topics. So, for chemistry, the NCERT textbooks are sufficient. One question that is quite frequently asked is whether the NCERT is enough for JEE Mains organic chemistry.

The answer to this is that conceptual knowledge, which is gained from NCERT Books, is enough, but to enhance your problem-solving potential, it’s recommended that you go through some additional JEE Mains prep materials. 

Are NCERT Books Enough for JEE Mains Physics?

For physics, you can say that the level is a bit higher than what your NCERT textbooks cover. But that doesn’t mean covering the NCERT syllabus is not important. It’s just that it won’t be enough if you wish to score well. So, start with NCERT and then use other prep materials to get a deeper knowledge of the topics covered. 

Also Read: How to Prepare for JEE Main?

What are the Benefits of NCERT Books?

Keep in mind that NCERT Books will undoubtedly help you get prepared for your upcoming JEE Main exams. However, you need to ensure that you’re going through the NCERT books properly so that you get the necessary knowledge as well as the information you’re seeking. Here are a couple of benefits of purchasing NCERT books for your upcoming JEE Mains or JEE Advanced exam:

• NCERT books are filled with great questions that will help you gain more knowledge
• The answer sheet attached at the end of each question book will help you ensure that you’re answering the questions correctly
• NCERT books will help you stay more competitive.

Other Best Books for JEE Mains

To help you through this journey towards scoring well in JEE Mains, apart from NCERT, we would like to refer to some other preparatory materials that will prove quite beneficial. Here are the best books for JEE Mains recommended by IIT toppers:

Physics	Chemistry	Mathematics
Concepts of Physics -Part I, HC Verma	Organic Chemistry, Robert T. Morrison and Robert N. Boyd	IIT Mathematics, M.L. Khanna
Concepts of Physics -Part II, HC Verma	Concepts of Organic Chemistry, O.P. Tandon	Degree level Differential Calculus, A Das Gupta
Practice Book Physics for JEE Main and Advanced, DC Pandey	Modern Approach to Chemical Calculations, R.C. Mukherjee	Mathematics for Class 11 and 12, R.D. Sharma
Problems in General Physics, I.E. Irodov	GRB Numerical Chemistry, P. Bahadur	Objective Mathematics for JEE, R.D. Sharma
Physics for JEE (Main and Advanced)-Vol 1 and 2, Resnick, Halliday, Walker	Concise Inorganic Chemistry, J.D. Lee	Problems in Calculus of One Variable, I.A. Maron
–	–	Higher Algebra, Hall and Knight

Important Topics for JEE Mains

Now that you are familiar with the best NCERT Books and preparation guides for JEE Mains, don’t forget to check out the following important section-wise topics for JEE Mains:

Physics	Chemistry	Mathematics
Modern Physics	Chemical and Molecular Bonding	Relations and functions
Alternating Current and Electromagnetic Induction	Electrochemistry and Redox reactions	Trigonometric Functions
Current Electricity	Chemical and Ionic Equilibrium	Matrices and Determinants
Optics	Atomic Structure	Limits, Continuity, and Differentiation
Electrostatics	Hydrogen	Conic Sections
Magnetism	Solutions and Colligative Properties	Sequences and Series
Kinetic Theory of Gases	Mole Concept	Differential Equation
Waves and Oscillations	Periodicity	Statistics
Fluid Mechanics	Coordination compounds	Straight lines and Family of lines
Heat and Thermodynamics	General Organic Chemistry	Vectors and 3D
Kinetics	Chemical Kinetics	Definite Integration
Law of motion	Metallurgy	Binomial Theorem
Work, Power, Energy	Solutions and Colligative Properties	Complex Numbers
Rigid Body Dynamics and Rational Motion	States of Matter	Probability

Also Read: The JEE Exam is For Which Stream?

Additional Things to Keep in Mind

We have already gone through how important NCERT textbooks of classes 11th and 12th are for JEE preparation, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any drawbacks to relying completely on NCERT. So, to give you an idea, let’s go through the few criteria where the NCERTs lack. 

1. We know how important practice is to score well in any exam, and this is definitely the case with JEE mains, which tests you on your mathematics, chemistry and physics-related knowledge. And as we all know, there aren’t enough practice Questions in the NCERT. So, even if you were able to build a strong foundation for yourself through NCERT,  you won’t be able to test your acquired knowledge. 
2. Another problem with relying completely on the NCERT is that you might skip the important points while going through the entire chapter. On this front, the good thing about JEE prep materials is that all such points are separately mentioned there, in order to grab your attention. 

Also Read: How to Read JEE Main Result: A Guide for Aspirants

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