JEE Main 2026: How to apply the 80/20 rule to ace Mains?

If you cover those chapters properly, you may not need to study the rest. I am not saying the numbers are accurate, but you can get the point that if we cover some important chapters, we can get more marks than trying to cover all chapters equally. We should be smart about our study, and try to have some expertise on some key chapters. In fact, we may have to identify topics in those chapters and then try and figure out from PYQ’s, which ones get repeated more. On that note, we can take a look at which chapters we should focus on.

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Take the example of Physics. In Class 11, there are Thermodynamics, Thermal Properties and Mechanical Properties. There are also 2D Motion and 1D Motion. In Class 12, there is also Electrostatics, Magnetism, and Semiconductors. it is clear that we do not see a lot of questions from chapters such as Rotation, which is generally a highly challenging and heavy chapter, while in regards to most chapter that include the word ‘errors’, Experimental chapters such as the Screw Gauge, Vernier Caliper or Galvanometer, or also Semiconductors, tend to get a ton of questions appearing throughout exams. Just look at how many questions emerge from either of the chapters.

These are subject-specific, diverse, and revisited. But when deciding where to focus your energy, it’s worth considering which offers higher rewards for less effort. In other words, think quality over quantity — and follow the brief with mindful precision.

Similarly, in Maths, there are standard chapters – Calculus, Conic Sections, and Vector 3D. There are Statistics, I tend to use these easy chapters as a place to start because one question almost always appears in each standard unit.

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We spend so much time reading P&C, but don’t get a lot of questions. And, the subject matter of chemistry has areas, like Inorganic, for instance, where we know we will get straight-forward questions and these don’t require a great deal of effort to understand.

So this is the basic premise: we can find chapters or concepts that are not at exactly 20 per cent, but we can locate them and receive some good marks concentrating only on these, and skipping other areas completely. This is the gist, not just more study, but intelligent study so we can maximize our results with limited effort.

In addition to this, time management and revision are something students should focus on too. Some candidates incorrectly study everything again, consequently, cannot retrieve it properly at exam time, leading to confusion. Fewer post-its and more mocks on the desk would be a far greater way of improving performance.

It is also important not to stress, as having a cool and positive mind will limit mistakes. The point is not to study or waste long hours in random studies, but to study with intent.

(The author is an IIT Delhi alumnus and HOD of physics at Vidyamandir Classes)