Most important Maths chapters for JEE Main
These chapters come up the most in past JEE Main papers, heaviest first. Give them the most time.
- Conic SectionsLargest single block in Maths once the four conics are combined.
- Complex Numbers & Quadratic Equations
- Three Dimensional Geometry
- Continuity & DifferentiabilityFoundation
- IntegralsFoundation
- Sequences & Series
- Limits & DerivativesFoundation
- Binomial Theorem
- Applications of Derivatives
- Vector AlgebraFoundation
- Differential Equations
- Determinants
Class 11 Maths chapters
| # | Chapter | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Sets | Lower |
| 02 | Relations & FunctionsFoundation | Lower |
| 03 | Trigonometric FunctionsFoundation | Medium |
| 04 | Complex Numbers & Quadratic Equations | Very high |
| 05 | Linear Inequalities | Lowerestimate |
| 06 | Permutations & CombinationsFoundation | High |
| 07 | Binomial Theorem | Very high |
| 08 | Sequences & Series | Very high |
| 09 | Straight LinesFoundation | Medium |
| 10 | Conic SectionsLargest single block in Maths once the four conics are combined. | Very high |
| 11 | Introduction to 3D GeometryFoundation | Lowerestimate |
| 12 | Limits & DerivativesFoundation | Very high |
| 13 | StatisticsSmall syllabus, reliable question — strong marks per hour. | High |
| 14 | Probability | High |
Very highHighMediumLowerFoundation other chapters build on it
Class 12 Maths chapters
| # | Chapter | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Relations & FunctionsFoundation | Lower |
| 16 | Inverse Trigonometric Functions | Lower |
| 17 | Matrices | High |
| 18 | Determinants | Very high |
| 19 | Continuity & DifferentiabilityFoundation | Very high |
| 20 | Applications of Derivatives | Very high |
| 21 | IntegralsFoundation | Very high |
| 22 | Applications of Integrals | Medium |
| 23 | Differential Equations | Very high |
| 24 | Vector AlgebraFoundation | Very high |
| 25 | Three Dimensional Geometry | Very high |
| 26 | Linear Programming | Lowerestimate |
| 27 | Probability | High |
Very highHighMediumLowerFoundation other chapters build on it
Key topics in the heaviest chapters
Each one is a single study sitting. Work through them in order.
Sets
- Set operations and Venn diagrams
- Subsets, power set and cardinality
- Complement and De Morgan’s laws
Relations & Functions
- Cartesian product and relations
- Domain, codomain and range
- Standard functions and their graphs
Trigonometric Functions
- Trigonometric ratios, signs and periodicity
- Identities and transformation formulae
- General solutions of trigonometric equations
- Sine rule and cosine rule
Complex Numbers & Quadratic Equations
- Algebra of complex numbers, modulus and conjugate
- Argand plane, polar form and argument
- De Moivre’s theorem and roots of unity
- Nature of roots and the discriminant
- Relation between roots and coefficients
Linear Inequalities
- Solving linear inequalities in one variable
- Graphical solution in two variables
Permutations & Combinations
- The fundamental principle of counting
- Permutations, with repetition and with restrictions
- Combinations, and when order does not matter
- Circular arrangements and identical objects
Binomial Theorem
- Binomial expansion and the general term
- Middle term and the term independent of x
- Properties of binomial coefficients
Sequences & Series
- Arithmetic progression: nth term and sum
- Geometric progression and the infinite GP
- Arithmetic, geometric and harmonic means
- Special series and summation techniques
Straight Lines
- Slope and the forms of the equation of a line
- Angle between lines; parallel and perpendicular conditions
- Distance of a point from a line
Conic Sections
- Circle: equation, tangent and chord of contact
- Parabola: standard form, focus, directrix, latus rectum
- Ellipse: eccentricity, foci, and the b > a case
- Hyperbola: eccentricity, asymptotes, conjugate hyperbola
- Tangent and normal conditions across all conics
- Reducing a general second-degree equation by completing the square
Introduction to 3D Geometry
- Coordinates in space and the octants
- Distance and section formulae in three dimensions
Limits & Derivatives
- The idea of a limit and one-sided limits
- Standard limits and indeterminate forms
- Derivative from first principles
- Rules of differentiation
Statistics
- Measures of central tendency
- Mean deviation, variance and standard deviation
- Comparing dispersion with the coefficient of variation
Probability
- Random experiments, sample space and events
- Axiomatic probability and the addition rule
- Mutually exclusive and exhaustive events
Relations & Functions
- Types of relations and equivalence relations
- One-one, onto and bijective functions
- Composition of functions
- Invertible functions
Inverse Trigonometric Functions
- Principal value branches
- Domains and ranges of the inverse functions
- Properties and identities
Matrices
- Types of matrices and the conditions for operations
- Matrix multiplication and why it is not commutative
- Transpose, symmetric and skew-symmetric matrices
- Invertibility and elementary operations
Determinants
- Properties of determinants
- Minors, cofactors and the adjoint
- Inverse of a matrix using the adjoint
- Consistency of a system of linear equations
- Area of a triangle and the collinearity condition
Continuity & Differentiability
- Continuity at a point, and classifying discontinuities
- Differentiability, and why it implies continuity but not conversely
- Chain rule on nested and composite functions
- Implicit and parametric differentiation
- Logarithmic differentiation
- Rolle’s and Lagrange’s mean value theorems
Applications of Derivatives
- Rate of change and related rates
- Increasing and decreasing functions
- Tangents and normals
- Maxima and minima: first and second derivative tests
- Absolute extrema on a closed interval
Integrals
- Standard integrals worth knowing cold
- Integration by substitution
- Integration by parts and the ILATE order
- Partial fractions
- Definite integral properties, especially the symmetry ones
- Definite integral as the limit of a sum
Applications of Integrals
- Area under a curve
- Area between two curves
- Handling regions below the axis
Differential Equations
- Order, degree and formation of a differential equation
- Variable separable equations
- Homogeneous differential equations
- Linear equations and the integrating factor
Vector Algebra
- Types of vectors and when two vectors are equal
- Scalar (dot) product and its uses
- Vector (cross) product and its uses
- Scalar triple product and coplanarity
Three Dimensional Geometry
- Direction cosines and direction ratios
- Equation of a line in vector and Cartesian form
- Equation of a plane, and the meaning of the normal vector
- Angle between lines, planes, and a line and a plane
- Shortest distance between skew lines
- Foot of perpendicular and image of a point in a plane
Linear Programming
- Formulating an LPP: objective function and constraints
- Feasible region and the corner point theorem
Probability
- Conditional probability
- Independent events versus mutually exclusive events
- Total probability and Bayes’ theorem
- Random variables and probability distributions
How to use this list
- Foundations first. Relations & Functions, Trigonometric Functions, Permutations & Combinations and Straight Lines look small, but later chapters depend on them.
- Then the very high chapters. They earn the most marks per hour. Revise them more than once.
- Never drop a chapter just because its tier is lower. One question can be the difference in rank.
- Track it. Mark each chapter as started, done or due for revision, so you always know what is left.
How we rank chapters
We compared published analyses of past JEE Main papers from 2020 to 2025. The sources agree on which chapters come up most, but not on exact percentages, so we show tiers instead of numbers that look more precise than they are.
Chapters marked estimate have thin data, so treat their tier as a rough guide. Chapters marked Foundation may carry fewer direct questions, but other chapters depend on them. Do not skip them.
The chapter list follows the current NTA syllabus. The official 2027 syllabus comes with the information bulletin on jeemain.nta.nic.in. We update this page when it changes.
Questions students ask
How many chapters are in JEE Main 2027 Maths?
JEE Main Maths has 27 chapters: 14 from Class 11 and 13 from Class 12. The full list is on this page.
Which JEE Main Maths chapters have the highest weightage?
The heaviest are Conic Sections, Complex Numbers & Quadratic Equations, Three Dimensional Geometry, Continuity & Differentiability and Integrals. In all, 12 Maths chapters are in the very high tier for JEE Main. Give them the most time, but finish the foundation chapters first.
Which Maths chapters should I study first?
Start with the foundation chapters: Relations & Functions, Trigonometric Functions, Permutations & Combinations, Straight Lines and Introduction to 3D Geometry. Later chapters build on them, even when they carry fewer direct questions. Then spend most of your time on the very high and high weightage chapters.
Is this the official JEE Main 2027 Maths syllabus?
It follows the current NTA syllabus. The official 2027 syllabus is published with the information bulletin on jeemain.nta.nic.in, and we update this page when it changes.