From the very first day of joining IIT-JEE and NEET coaching at the junior college level, one question continues to remain in the minds of aspirants—are NCERT books alone enough to clear JEE or NEET and achieve success?
The truth is, NCERT books can certainly help in reaching the cut-off, but relying on them alone is not sufficient to stand out in the competition and secure better ranks.
Why NCERT is Valuable in JEE/NEET Preparation
Simple Language and Accuracy
No other books explain concepts with such clarity as NCERT. The simple language, neat illustrations, and accurate explanations make it the best choice for building strong fundamentals. This base helps students understand concepts thoroughly and apply them effectively in problem-solving.
Helps Answer Half of the Questions
In the actual JEE and NEET exams, more than half of the questions directly rely on conceptual clarity. NCERT prepares you well for these areas, especially for straightforward problems where applying the basics is enough.
Strong Foundation but Limited Scope
The limitation with NCERT is its minimal problem models. While it strengthens your basics, it doesn’t give enough practice with tricky, complex, and multi-step problems that demand applying multiple concepts together—exactly the kind of questions that decide higher scores and ranks.
Beyond NCERT: What More You Need to Secure Top Ranks
Additional Reference Books
Along with NCERT, using 2–3 subject-wise reference books is essential. These books expose you to a wide range of problem models, improving your application skills and ability to tackle tougher questions.
Regular Test Practice
Attempting questions from coaching tests or assignments that go beyond NCERT helps you get familiar with the types of problems that may appear in the exam but are not covered in the textbook.
Previous Year Papers
Practicing past exam papers is non-negotiable. It gives you an overview of the problem patterns, difficulty levels, and recurring concepts. This practice bridges the gap between NCERT knowledge and actual exam expectations.
Final Word
NCERT is indispensable—it forms the backbone of JEE and NEET preparation. But if you want to rise above the cutoff and secure a competitive rank, you need to go beyond NCERT with additional books, extensive practice, and exam-oriented preparation. Balancing both will give you the edge to succeed.
