JEE Advanced is one of the most important exams for students who want to get into the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Every year, one IIT takes the responsibility of organizing this exam. Many students often ask: “Which IIT will conduct JEE Advanced this year?” and “Does the conducting IIT make the exam easier or harder?” This article answers these questions and more.
JEE Advanced is not just another test. It decides who gets into the top engineering colleges in India. With such high stakes, it’s natural to want every bit of information that can help you prepare better. One common belief is that the paper’s difficulty depends on which IIT is in charge.
In this article, you’ll learn how the exam is conducted, who sets the paper, and whether some IITs really make easier papers. If you’re preparing for JEE Advanced, this guide will clear up your doubts and help you plan smartly.
Which IIT Conducts JEE Advanced?
Every year, one of the older Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) takes charge of conducting the JEE Advanced exam. This responsibility is not fixed. It rotates among the top seven IITs, also known as the original or founding IITs. These are:
- IIT Bombay
- IIT Delhi
- IIT Kanpur
- IIT Kharagpur
- IIT Madras
- IIT Guwahati
- IIT Roorkee
These institutes take turns organizing the exam based on a rotation system decided by the Joint Admission Board (JAB), which is the top body responsible for decisions related to JEE Advanced.
Why Does the Organizing IIT Change Every Year?
The reason for rotating the responsibility is fairness and transparency. No single IIT should have full control over the process again and again. This rotation ensures that no pattern or bias develops. It also allows different IITs to bring in their own systems, processes, and improvements to the exam every year.
Each IIT gets its turn after a gap of a few years. For example:
- IIT Madras conducted the exam in 2017 and again in 2024.
- IIT Delhi organized the exam in 2013 and later in 2020.
- IIT Bombay was responsible in 2015 and then again in 2022.
This pattern shows that it usually takes 5 to 7 years before the same IIT conducts the exam again.
What Does the Conducting IIT Do?
The organizing IIT has a lot of responsibilities. It doesn’t just manage the question paper. In fact, most of the paper-setting work is handled by expert panels, which we will discuss later. Here are the main tasks of the conducting IIT:
- Creating the official JEE Advanced website: Each year, a new site is made by the organizing IIT for that year’s exam. All official information, application forms, announcements, and updates are posted here.
- Managing applications and registrations: The IIT manages the online registration portal where students apply for the exam, upload documents, and pay fees.
- Handling admit cards and exam centers: The conducting IIT is responsible for sending out admit cards and setting up exam centers across India and abroad.
- Paper printing and security: It ensures the question papers are securely printed, packed, and delivered to centers without leaks or errors.
- Coordinating with other IITs and authorities: It works with NTA, state authorities, and other IITs to ensure smooth conduct.
- Declaring results and rank lists: After the exam, the organizing IIT publishes answer keys, collects feedback, calculates marks, and finally announces the ranks.
List of IITs That Have Conducted the Exam in Recent Years
Let’s take a look at which IIT conducted JEE Advanced in which year:
| Year | JEE Advanced Organising Body |
| 2006 | IIT Kharagpur |
| 2007 | IIT Bombay |
| 2008 | IIT Roorkee |
| 2009 | IIT Guwahati |
| 2010 | IIT Madras |
| 2011 | IIT Kanpur |
| 2012 | IIT Delhi |
| 2013 | IIT Delhi |
| 2014 | IIT Kharagpur |
| 2015 | IIT Bombay |
| 2016 | IIT Guwahati |
| 2017 | IIT Madras |
| 2018 | IIT Kanpur |
| 2019 | IIT Roorkee |
| 2020 | IIT Delhi |
| 2021 | IIT Kharagpur |
| 2022 | IIT Bombay |
| 2023 | IIT Guwahati |
| 2024 | IIT Madras |
| 2025 | IIT Kanpur |
| 2026 | IIT Roorkee – expected |
| 2027 | IIT Delhi – expected |
This rotation system keeps the process transparent and balanced. No IIT conducts the exam for two years in a row.
Which IITs Set Easier Papers?
No IIT always sets an easy or tough paper. Experts from multiple IITs create the paper. However, JEE Advanced 2024, conducted by IIT Madras, was considered the easiest in recent years. While trends offer hints, the paper’s difficulty mainly depends on the expert committee, not the organizing IIT alone.
Analysis of Difficulty Level vs. Organizing IIT
Here’s a table that shows how tough the papers were in different years:
| Year | Difficulty level | JEE Advanced Organising IIT |
| 2010 | Moderate | IIT Madras |
| 2011 | Moderate | IIT Kanpur |
| 2012 | Tougher than 2011 | IIT Delhi |
| 2013 | Moderate | IIT Delhi |
| 2014 | Moderate | IIT Kharagpur |
| 2015 | Difficult | IIT Bombay |
| 2016 | Difficult | IIT Guwahati |
| 2017 | Moderate | IIT Madras |
| 2018 | Tougher than 2017 | IIT Kanpur |
| 2019 | Tougher than 2018 | IIT Roorkee |
| 2020 | Moderate | IIT Delhi |
| 2021 | Moderate | IIT Kharagpur |
| 2022 | Moderate and lengthy | IIT Bombay |
| 2023 | Moderate | IIT Guwahati |
| 2024 | Easy | IIT Madras |
IIT Madras organized the exam in 2010, 2017, and 2024. All three papers were moderate or easy. In fact, 2024’s paper was the easiest in recent years. IIT Kanpur had moderate papers in 2011 and 2018, but many students found the 2018 paper harder than 2017.
IIT Delhi set moderate papers in both 2013 and 2020. IIT Kharagpur also gave moderate papers in 2014 and 2021. IIT Bombay gave a difficult and lengthy paper in 2022. In 2015, it was moderate.
So, while there are patterns, they are not fixed. Students should not expect an easy paper from any IIT just because of past trends.
JEE Advanced Year Wise Qualifying Statistics
Candidates must first clear the JEE Mains, which is comparatively easier, to appear for the JEE Advanced. The qualification rate historically hovers around 17%, reflecting the exam’s difficulty.
| Year | Appeared Candidates | Qualified Candidates | Qualifying Percentage | Allotted Seats |
| 2024 | 1,80,200 | 48,248 | 35% for the general category, 31.5% for OBC-NCL/EWS, and 17.5% for SC/ST/PwD | 59,917 |
| 2023 | 180372 | 43769 | 24.26% | 17340 |
| 2022 | 155538 | 40712 | 26.17% | 16635 |
| 2021 | 141699 | 41862 | 29.54% | 16296 |
| 2020 | 150838 | 43204 | 28.64% | 16061 |
| 2019 | 161319 | 38705 | 23.99% | 13604 |
How many Students Appeared for JEE Advanced 2024?
Students appearing in JEE Advanced have to clear JEE Mains first which is a relatively easier exam. The number of shortlisted candidates last year was 2,50,255. This number excludes the foreign and OCI/PIO candidates.
| Category | PwD Status | JEE Advanced Registered Candidates | Candidates appeared in both papers | Qualified | Allotted Seats |
| General | No | 40994 | 39176 | 13829 | 6517 |
| Yes | 686 | 632 | 177 | 100 | |
| GEN-EWS | No | 31369 | 30348 | 5363 | 1999 |
| Yes | 253 | 240 | 74 | 44 | |
| OBC-NCL | No | 69913 | 66612 | 9028 | 4652 |
| Yes | 772 | 732 | 181 | 95 | |
| SC | No | 30898 | 29058 | 10993 | 2604 |
| Yes | 146 | 130 | 28 | 12 | |
| ST | No | 14403 | 13396 | 4082 | 1307 |
| Yes | 53 | 48 | 14 | 10 | |
| Total | 189487 | 180372 | 43769 | 17340 |
Factors Influencing JEE Advanced Paper Difficulty
Many students try to guess the difficulty of JEE Advanced based on which IIT is conducting the exam. While the organizing IIT plays an important role in managing the exam, the difficulty of the paper depends on several other factors. These include how the question paper is created, who is on the setting committee, and the overall strategy to keep the exam fair and competitive.
Let’s look at the major factors that affect the difficulty level of the JEE Advanced paper.
1) Question Paper Setting Committee
The most important factor is the panel of professors who create the actual question paper. Each year, expert faculty members from various IITs form three subject-specific teams — one each for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. These professors are not limited to the organizing IIT. Instead, they come from different IITs across India.
2) Previous Year Trends and Feedback
The JEE Advanced paper also reflects past trends. The setting committee studies previous years’ papers and makes adjustments to maintain balance. For example, if the paper was extremely tough one year, the next year’s committee may try to reduce the difficulty slightly. On the other hand, if the previous year’s paper was too easy, they may include more challenging questions.
3) Difficulty Balancing Across Subjects
The paper is divided into three subjects — Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. The committee tries to make sure that no one subject feels too hard or too easy compared to the others. In some years, Physics might be very tough but Chemistry might be easier. In other years, the difficulty might be spread more evenly.
4) Type of Questions Chosen
JEE Advanced includes a variety of question types: multiple choice, numerical value, and match-the-column type. Some years, the paper may include more numerical value questions, which are harder because there is no guessing. Other years, the paper may focus more on concept-based MCQs.
5) Balancing Competition and Cutoffs
Finally, the difficulty is also influenced by the need to control competition and rank distribution. If the paper is too easy, the cutoffs rise, making it harder to get a good rank. If the paper is too tough, the cutoffs fall, but many students may struggle to attempt even half the questions. The committee aims to keep the difficulty at a level where only well-prepared students perform well, but not so hard that most students are demotivated.
How To Prepare For JEE Advanced: Step-by-Step Preparation Strategy
Preparing for IIT requires smart planning, hard work, and consistency. You don’t need to study all day, but you must study every day with a clear goal. Here is a step-by-step strategy that students in Class 11, Class 12, and drop-year students can follow to crack JEE.
1) Starting Early (Class 11 & 12 Students)
Starting your preparation early gives you an edge. It helps you understand concepts better and gives more time for practice.
- Why starting early is crucial: JEE includes topics from both Class 11 and 12. Starting early helps you cover the syllabus slowly and thoroughly without stress.
- Balancing school and JEE prep: Follow your school syllabus but study it deeply. Focus on concepts rather than rote learning. Make time daily for JEE practice.
- Build strong fundamentals: Don’t rush. Learn every topic step by step. Focus on understanding rather than memorizing. Basics of Physics, Chemistry, and Math must be very clear.
2) Study Plan for 1-Year & 2-Year Preparation
Your preparation plan depends on how much time you have before the exam. Here are two detailed strategies.
1-Year Plan (for droppers or Class 12 students)
- Phase 1: Concept Building (Months 1–4)
Focus on understanding all topics from Class 11 and 12. Use NCERT and basic reference books. Attend coaching or online classes regularly. Make short notes. - Phase 2: Problem Solving & Speed (Months 5–8)
Start solving more questions. Practice daily from question banks and previous year papers. Work on speed and accuracy. Begin taking chapter-wise and subject-wise tests. - Phase 3: Full-Length Mocks & Revision (Months 9–12)
Revise all important topics. Take full-length mock tests weekly. Analyze mistakes and improve weak areas. Focus on time management.
2-Year Plan (for Class 11 students)
- Year 1: Strong Foundation + NCERT Focus
Cover Class 11 syllabus completely. Focus on understanding and solving basic problems. Stick to NCERT and simple question banks. Do not ignore school studies. - Year 2: Advanced Problem Solving + Test Series
Cover Class 12 topics and revise Class 11. Practice high-level questions. Join a test series and take regular mock tests. Start solving JEE Advanced-level problems.
3) Daily & Weekly Study Routine
A consistent daily routine is key to success.
- Ideal daily study hours: Aim for 6–8 focused hours a day. Some students may need more, depending on their pace.
- Subject-wise time allocation: Study all three subjects daily or at least two. Rotate subjects to avoid boredom.
- Importance of breaks: Take small breaks between study sessions. Avoid studying for more than 2 hours at a stretch. Short breaks help your brain stay fresh.
- Weekly planning: At the start of the week, set small goals. At the end of the week, review your progress and plan the next steps.
4) Choosing the Right Study Material
The right books and resources make a big difference in your preparation.
Recommended Books for JEE Mains Physics
| Name of the Book | Author/Publication | Why the Books are the Best for JEE Mains Physics |
| NCERT Textbook | NCERT | It covers up almost everything. It is the best book for the basic concepts and practice. |
| Concepts of physics (Vol. 1 and 2) | HC Verma | They provide the best exercises along with the basic concepts. |
| Fundamentals of Physics | Halliday, Resnick, & walker | This book helps in clearing all the concepts of Physics important for JEE Mains. |
| Understanding PhysicsIt’s a set of the following books:Electricity & Magnetism Mechanics (Vol. 1 & 2) Optics & Modern Physics Waves & Thermodynamics | D C Pandey – Arihant Publications | This set of books is very popular among the students and one of the best books for JEE Mains. This explains the concepts, derives the formula, and provides a number of solved examples and exercises to solve. |
| Understanding Physics | Freedman and Young | This book explains all the concepts in detail and provides exercises for practice. |
| Problems in Physics | SS Krotov | This book is popular for its exercise questions. |
| Physics Vol-1 and Vol-2 by for Theory and Non-Trivial Problems | Resnick Halliday | Book for understanding concepts and practising questions. |
| Problems on General Physics | I E Irodov | A lot of questions are provided for practising. |
Recommended Books for JEE Mains Chemistry
| Name of the Book | Author/Publication | Why the Book is the Best for JEE Mains Chemistry |
| NCERT Textbook | NCERT | It covers up almost everything. It is the best book for the basic concepts and practice. |
| Modern Approach to Chemical Calculations | R C Mukherjee | Physical Chemistry Numericals are the best in this book. |
| Organic Chemistry | O P Tandon | Each and every topic is well explained in this book. |
| Concise Inorganic Chemistry | J. D. Lee | This is the best book for the concepts of Inorganic Chemistry. |
| Concept of Physical Chemistry | P Bahadur | Along with the concepts, there are many exercises to solve. |
| Physical Chemistry | P.W. Atkins | This book is best for extra exercises. |
| Organic Chemistry | Morrison & Boyd | This book is best for extra exercises. |
| Numerical Chemistry 22/e | P Bahadur | This is one of the best books for JEE Mains recommended by toppers. |
Recommended Books for JEE Mains Mathematics
| Name of the Book | Author/Publication | Why the Book is the Best Maths Book for JEE Mains |
| NCERT Textbook | NCERT | It covers up almost everything. It is the best book for the basic concepts and practice. |
| Objective Mathematics | RD Sharma | This book explains the concepts very well. They also have a lot of exercise questions. |
| Plane Trigonometry | S L Loney | This book is best for Trigonometry. |
| Algebra | Dr S K Goyal – Arihant Publications | This book is best for Algebra. |
| Differential Calculus | Amit M Agarwal – Arihant Publications | This book is best for understanding the concepts of Calculus. |
| Integral Calculus | Amit M Agarwal – Arihant Publications | This book is best for understanding the concepts of Calculus. |
| The Elements of Coordinate Geometry | S L Loney | This book is best for understanding the concepts of Coordinate Geometry and practising questions on Coordinate Geometry. |
| Play with Graphs | Amit M Agarwal – Arihant Publications | This book is best for practising graphs. |
| Complete Mathematics for JEE Main | Tata McGraw Hill | This is the best book for overall preparation. |
| New Pattern Mathematics for JEE Main | Arihant Publications | You will get a lot of exercises. |
Mock Tests & Previous Year Papers for IIT Preparation
Mock tests and previous year question papers play a very important role in your JEE preparation. Studying theory and solving questions are not enough. You must test yourself under real exam conditions. This helps you find your weak areas, improve your speed, and build confidence.
Why Mock Tests Are Non-Negotiable
Mock tests are just like the real exam. They follow the same pattern, time limit, and difficulty level. You should take mock tests regularly once you complete a decent portion of the syllabus.
- Builds exam temperament: You get used to sitting for 3 hours with full focus. This is important for both JEE Main and JEE Advanced.
- Improves time management: You learn how to divide your time between Physics, Chemistry, and Math. This helps avoid panic on the actual exam day.
- Identifies weak areas: After each test, you can see which topics need more revision. Work on these areas and take another test to check your improvement.
- Boosts accuracy and speed: With practice, you make fewer silly mistakes and solve problems faster.
Start giving full-length mock tests 4–6 months before the exam. Give at least one mock test per week. In the final 2 months, try to take 2–3 mock tests every week.
Conclusion
JEE Advanced is one of the toughest exams in the country, and the responsibility to conduct it rotates among the older IITs each year. While students often try to guess the difficulty based on the organizing IIT, the reality is that no IIT consistently sets an easy or hard paper. The paper is created by expert professors from multiple IITs, ensuring a fair and balanced approach.
Looking at past years, most papers have been of moderate difficulty, with only a few exceptions. IIT Madras set an easier paper in 2024, but this does not mean it will always do so in the future. Instead of focusing on which IIT is conducting the exam, students should concentrate on strong preparation in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
Remember, success in JEE Advanced depends more on your preparation than on organizing the IIT. Stay focused, practice regularly, and keep your concepts clear.
