Which IIT Made the Easiest JEE Advanced Paper? Your Guide to Past Patterns
May, 1 2025
Ever heard people say, "This year the paper was so easy—I wish I'd gotten that set!"? Every JEE aspirant wonders if exam luck depends on which IIT sets the Advanced paper. It doesn’t help that groups on Telegram or X are full of seniors giving their own version of 'which IIT is chill.' But are some IITs actually known for setting easier papers?
This isn’t just a rumor-fest—there are real patterns buried in the years. For example, when IIT Guwahati set the JEE Advanced in 2016 and 2023, many toppers agreed those years felt a notch easier, especially compared to the 2015 or 2019 papers from IIT Bombay or IIT Roorkee, which saw lower average scores. That’s not to say any year is a breeze, but the numbers show wider cut-offs whenever Guwahati or Kanpur is in charge.
Still, before you bank on paper-setting luck, know this: the council rotates paper-setting duties every year and keeps strict rules so no single IIT can go "too easy" or "too tough". There’s always a quality check from a central group. The paper is meant to be unpredictable, so even if an IIT's track record looks friendly, it could flip the next time.
- How IITs Set the JEE Advanced Paper
- Years the Paper Felt Easier (and Who Set Them)
- Why 'Tough' or 'Easy' Years Happen
- What This Means for Your JEE Prep
- Tips: Stay Prepared No Matter Who Sets the Paper
How IITs Set the JEE Advanced Paper
First things first: not all IITs set the JEE Advanced every year. The responsibility rotates and each year, one IIT is in charge. For example, IIT Bombay set the paper in 2022, IIT Guwahati in 2023, and IIT Madras handled it in 2024. This rotation keeps things fair and unpredictable, so no batch can predict the paper's style just by knowing who's making it.
Here’s how the actual process works:
- A special team called the Organizing Institute is selected (like IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, etc.).
- That institute picks a group of top professors who know the JEE Advanced pattern inside out.
- Sub-groups focus on Physics, Chemistry, and Math, making sure each section is well-balanced and matches previous difficulty levels overall.
- Once the questions are drafted, they go through several rounds of review. Other IIT professors check for mistakes, clarity, and whether anything is too easy or too out-there.
- After all the double and triple checks, a finalized paper is sent to the Joint Admission Board, which includes members from all IITs, for a final green signal.
The entire point is to avoid wild swings in difficulty, and every single year they track stats to keep the exam at the right level of challenge. For example, they look at things like average scores in each subject, the number of high-scorers (above the 99 percentile), and time spent per question.
| Year | Organizing IIT | Mean Score (out of 360) |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | IIT Kanpur | 65 |
| 2019 | IIT Roorkee | 77 |
| 2020 | IIT Delhi | 69 |
| 2021 | IIT Kharagpur | 62 |
| 2022 | IIT Bombay | 55 |
| 2023 | IIT Guwahati | 78 |
The point is, while the JEE Advanced is tough no matter who’s setting it, the mechanism behind it focuses on balance and fairness. No single IIT gets to make or break your fate. The process is meant to make sure every year feels more or less equal for everyone taking the IIT JEE preparation journey.
Years the Paper Felt Easier (and Who Set Them)
This is the million-rupee question: which years did JEE Advanced genuinely feel easier, and who was behind those papers? Let’s not go by hearsay—let’s look at what actually happened. Specific stats and reactions from toppers tell us more than old rumors.
Check out this short table to see the trends:
| Year | Paper Setting IIT | General Feedback | Avg. Cut-off (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | IIT Guwahati | Easier, lots of direct questions | ~33% |
| 2017 | IIT Madras | Mixed, math was doable | ~31% |
| 2018 | IIT Kanpur | Straightforward physics | ~35% |
| 2023 | IIT Guwahati | Smoother paper, fewer surprises | ~35% |
| 2019 | IIT Roorkee | Tough, especially math | ~28% |
You’ll notice a pattern: whenever IIT Guwahati or IIT Kanpur set the JEE Advanced, students often reported more direct questions and a slightly higher cut-off. For example, in 2023 and 2016, many said key math and physics questions stuck to basics—less "twist," more NCERT-driven. Toppers said they had time to recheck answers and didn’t need to make wild guesses.
But don’t expect a landslide difference every time. Even during these "softer" years, the papers still filtered out rote learners from those who actually understood concepts. Also, in 2018 and 2023, some complained the math was straightforward but chemistry felt lengthy—so no free lunches here.
On the flip side, when IIT Bombay or IIT Roorkee was at the helm, stories of wild curveballs and strange question patterns surfaced. In 2015 and 2019, average scores dipped, and even toppers sweated over never-before-seen types of problems, especially in math.
If you’re prepping for JEE Advanced, takeaway is this: Yes, paper-setting IIT makes a difference year-to-year, but past "easy" years still demanded strong basics and good test stamina. Rely on trends, not rumors, and prep as if every IIT wants to catch you off guard!
Why 'Tough' or 'Easy' Years Happen
Every time a new JEE Advanced paper comes out, you’ll see people online arguing about how hard or easy it was. But what actually causes that swing? It’s not as random as most think. Let’s break it down.
First up, the team that sets the JEE Advanced paper changes every year. Each IIT has a slightly different take on difficulty and question style. For example, when IIT Roorkee did the paper in 2019, the matching-type questions sent many students into panic mode. On the flip side, IIT Guwahati’s papers (2016 and 2023) got a reputation for being “doable”—but even then, they weren’t a walk in the park.
There are official rules: The Joint Admission Board (JAB) keeps tabs so no paper is totally out of line. Still, the faculty team designs questions, sets marking schemes, and decides the paper structure. Sometimes, it just clicks for lots of test-takers—that’s when you see higher average marks and wider cut-offs.
- Paper structure: If there’s a new or rare question type, it usually spikes the 'toughness'. IIT Kharagpur’s 2018 “integer-type only” section confused many students.
- Quality checks: Every draft goes through reviews from other IITs, but individual styles can sneak through. A team that loves math puzzles? Expect longer, logic-based questions that year.
- Student preparation: Coaching centers guide students based on the recent trend—an easier paper can sometimes mean better-prepped students, not an easier exam.
To give you a bit more context, here’s a quick look at how the average scores changed when certain IITs handled the exam (stats based on opening and closing ranks):
| Year | Paper Set By | Average Marks (Approx.) | Common Feedback |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | IIT Guwahati | 99 | Accessible, few surprises |
| 2018 | IIT Kharagpur | 92 | Weird question types |
| 2019 | IIT Roorkee | 87 | Tricky, lengthy questions |
| 2023 | IIT Guwahati | ~110 | Major scoring spike |
So when you’re talking about an “easy” year, it’s really about a mix: who set the exam, what their question style is, and how ready students were. There’s no magic formula, but tracking these patterns definitely gives you an edge over people who just rely on the rumor mill.
What This Means for Your JEE Prep
So, does it even matter which JEE Advanced paper you'll get? Honestly, not as much as everyone claims. You can try guessing trends, but you can’t control who sets your question paper. What you can control is your prep game.
Let’s break it down using what’s actually happened:
- Even during so-called "easy years" (like 2016 by IIT Guwahati), only about 26,000 out of 1.5 lakh candidates actually cleared the exam. That’s around 17% success rate—so “easy” isn’t really easy!
- Papers set by IIT Bombay or IIT Roorkee have sometimes felt tougher, but toppers say the core concepts remain the same. If you’re thorough with the basics, even a tricky paper won’t catch you off guard.
- The JEE council always moderates the final paper. So, while people think certain IITs are nicer, the gap isn’t as wild as rumors make it sound.
| Year | Setting IIT | Average Score (%) | Total Qualifying |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | IIT Guwahati | 32.7 | 26,456 |
| 2017 | IIT Madras | 27.5 | 50,455 |
| 2019 | IIT Roorkee | 25.8 | 38,705 |
The bigger picture? Prepping for the easiest paper or the toughest one doesn’t really change your checklist. You need to:
- Master NCERTs and standard books—especially Maths, Physics, and Chem basics.
- Practice old papers from every year. See how question types shift, instead of hoping for a "friendlier" pattern.
- Give regular mock tests, because real anxiety spikes when you're not used to timed pressure, not just when the paper's tough.
- Don’t chase “prediction” videos or rumors about which IIT is setting the paper. Use that time to solve one extra practice set instead!
The short version: prep as if you’ll face the trickiest paper ever. That way, whatever happens, you’re sorted. Stop worrying about IIT names and focus on nailing the JEE Advanced basics—that’s what matters on the big day.
Tips: Stay Prepared No Matter Who Sets the Paper
No matter which IIT is setting the JEE Advanced paper, you can’t bank on luck. The real game changer is your actual prep. Don’t get caught up trying to predict which year will be “easy” or “tough”—that’s risky, and most years, the difference is smaller than you think. Here’s what actually works:
- Practice with Previous Year Papers: Grab official JEE Advanced question papers from at least the last five years. Mix it up—solve a 2016 Guwahati paper one day and a 2019 Bombay paper the next. Notice the pattern changes, but keep your problem-solving basic solid for every style.
- Mock Tests Should Be Varied: Don’t just do institute-made mocks. Include NTA’s sample tests and reputed online mocks to get a range of difficulty. Several coaching toppers recommend writing a full mock every weekend in the last two months.
- Review Topics with Consistent Weightage: Maths is almost always the longest. In Physics, Mechanics and Modern Physics take up to 40% of total marks. Chemistry alternates between heavy Organic and Physical. Track what’s trending but master the basics from NCERT and your reference books.
- Time Management Drills: The difference between scoring 80 and 120 often comes down to smart skipping of tough questions and sticking with strengths. Set a timer for each section and practice moving on when you feel stuck. This is key in both "easy" and "hard" papers.
- Stay Updated, But Don’t Overthink News: Keep an eye on any official announcements from the IIT council, but ignore rumors about “leaked difficulty levels.” Trust only updated news on the official JEE Advanced portal.
| Year | IIT Paper Setter | Average Score (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Guwahati | 40.1 |
| 2019 | Roorkee | 33.4 |
| 2023 | Guwahati | 43.0 |
Notice the small swings in average scores? It’s never a landslide. Focus on building IIT JEE preparation routines that stand strong in any storm—not chasing yearly rumors. No matter who’s making the paper, consistency wins.