JEE Main · Chemistry · Polymers

Polymers: JEE Main previous year questions

Name: Polymers: JEE Main previous year questions
Creator: Lumi

46 questions in the 108 JEE Main shifts Lumi analysed, in 5 of 8 years. Pattern: Gone quiet. 0 came in 2024–26. Here is how it is asked and which ideas come back.

Questions: 46; in 46 of 108 shifts
Years asked: 5/8; last asked 2023
Since 2024: Quiet; 0 questions in 2024–26
Weighted estimate: –; history: 0.4 a shift on average, typically 0.0–0.7

Key findings

01
Asked in 5 of 8 years with analysed shifts and in 46 of 108 shifts: 46 questions, #67 of 196 topics. The years that asked it were 1.5 apart on average. Last asked in 2023.
02
64% of its questions since 2020 tested an idea no earlier year had asked; 14 repeated an idea from the year before.
03
The most repeated idea is Polymer Classification, asked 9 times in 9 shifts (2021, 2022, 2023), most often as “odd-one-out among polymers and monomers”.
04
JEE Main has asked 22 of the 51 ideas in this topic; 20 have never been asked, directly or inside another question.
05
Mostly asked as single correct (50%); 2% need a numerical answer, 78% are easy and 0% hard. It went down from 0.6 to 0.0 questions a shift since 2024.
06
The skill tested most is recall (91%), then conceptual (4%).

Questions a shift, year by year

Out of the 25 Chemistry questions in a shift. Years differ in how many shifts Lumi analysed, so each year is scaled to one shift.

Raw count: 2017: 1 in 1 shift · 2020: 3 in 12 shifts · 2021: 13 in 24 shifts · 2022: 20 in 24 shifts · 2023: 9 in 12 shifts · 2024: 0 in 18 shifts · 2025: 0 in 8 shifts · 2026: 0 in 9 shifts.

Up to 2023: 0.6; a shift, of 25
Since 2024: 0.0; -0.6
Usual gap: 1.5 yrs; between years asking it
Shifts with it: 46/108; 43% of analysed shifts

How it is asked

Difficulty, format and skill

Across all 46 questions on Polymers since 2017.

Difficulty

QUESTIONS

3610

Easy36 · 78%
Medium10 · 22%
Hard0 · 0%

Format

Single correct · 23 Q50%
Match the list · 15 Q33%
Diagram based · 2 Q4%
Two statements · 2 Q4%
Assertion–reason · 2 Q4%
Other · 1 Q2%
Numerical value · 1 Q2%

Skill tested

Recall · 42 Q91%
Conceptual · 2 Q4%
Calculation · 1 Q2%
Application · 1 Q2%

Repeats

New idea, or one asked before?

Each column is a year. Blue questions tested an idea no earlier year had asked; navy ones went back to an idea from an earlier year. 2017 is the first year, so everything in it counts as new. Heights are question counts, and Lumi analysed 1 to 24 shifts a year, so compare the split inside a column rather than heights across years.

’17’20’21’22’23’24’25’26

Idea asked for the first time
Idea asked in an earlier year

Coverage of the topic

JEE Main has asked 22 of the 51 ideas in this topic. 20 have never been asked yet.

22920

Asked directly22 · 43%
Touched inside another question9 · 18%
Never asked20 · 39%

Ideas come from Lumi’s JEE syllabus map. A never-asked idea is not a safe skip: across all of JEE Main, 22% of questions since 2024 tested an idea no earlier year had asked.

Drill down

Idea, year, question

Every idea JEE Main tested in this topic, with its eight years. Open one to read the questions.

ideaAskedShareYears’17’20’21’22’23’24’25’26

OpenRepeated9 · 20%20%3/8243
- 10 Apr ’23 S1 · Q77
  Match List I with List II List I (Polymer) List II (Type / Class) (A) Nylon-2-Nylon-6 (I) Thermosetting polymer (B) Buna-N (II)…
  easyMatch the listAsked the year before
- 12 Apr ’23 S1 · Q80
  Match List I with List II LIST I (Examples) / LIST II (Type) A. 2-chloro-1,3- butadiene - I. Biodegradable polymer B. Nylon 2-nylon 6 -…
  easyMatch the listAsked the year before
- 13 Apr ’23 S2 · Q80
  Match List I with List II LIST I | LIST II A. Weak intermolecular forces of attraction | I. Hexamethylenediamine + adipic acid B. Hydrogen…
  mediumMatch the listAsked the year before
- 28 Jul ’22 S2 · Q46
  Match **List I** with **List II** List I (Polymer) | List II (Nature) A. $-\left[\mathrm{CH_2-C(Cl)=CH-CH_2}\right]_n-$ | I. Thermosetting…
  mediumMatch the listAsked the year before
- 29 Jul ’22 S2 · Q78
  Which of the following is NOT a natural polymer?
  easySingle correctAsked the year before
- 26 Jun ’22 S1 · Q78
  Which of the following sets are correct regarding polymer ? (A) Copolymer : Buna–S (B) Condensation polymer : Nylon–6,6 (C) Fibres :…
  easyOtherAsked the year before
- 29 Jun ’22 S1 · Q77
  The polymer, which can be stretched and retains its original status on releasing the force is
  easySingle correctAsked the year before
- 3 Aug ’21 S1 · Q47
  Match List I with List II : List I - Polymer : A. Bakelite ; B. HDP ; C. LDP ; D. Rayon List II - Type : I. Branched chain ; II. Linear ;…
  easyMatch the listNew idea
- 3 Aug ’21 S2 · Q49
  Read the question
  mediumSingle correctNew idea
OpenRepeated4 · 9%9%2/822
OpenRepeated3 · 7%7%2/82
OpenRepeated3 · 7%7%2/82
OpenRepeated3 · 7%7%2/82
Open2 · 4%4%1/82
Open2 · 4%4%1/82
OpenRepeated2 · 4%4%2/8
Open2 · 4%4%1/82
OpenRepeated2 · 4%4%2/8
OpenRepeated2 · 4%4%2/8
Open2 · 4%4%1/82
Open1 · 2%2%1/8
Open1 · 2%2%1/8
Open1 · 2%2%1/8
Open1 · 2%2%1/8
Open1 · 2%2%1/8
Open1 · 2%2%1/8
Open1 · 2%2%1/8
Open1 · 2%2%1/8
Open1 · 2%2%1/8
Open1 · 2%2%1/8

Squares are the 8 years with analysed shifts, 2017 to 2026. A number is the questions that year when there is more than one; the shade is scaled to one shift, so a year with more analysed shifts (1 to 24 a year) does not look darker. Share is of the level above.

Ideas

Every idea inside this topic

22 different ideas were tested; 12 came more than once.

Polymer Classification9×
odd-one-out among polymers and monomers
Match the list · 9 shifts
Neoprene Synthesis4×
match list on polymers and monomers
Match the list · 4 shifts
Buna-S (SBR) Monomers3×
structure of buna-s
Single correct · 3 shifts
Common Condensation Polymers3×
match list on polymers and monomers
Match the list · 3 shifts
Novolac Structure and Role3×
identify polymer from repeating unit
Single correct · 3 shifts · 1 numerical
HDPE vs LDPE and Ziegler-Natta Catalyst2×
identify polymer from preparation conditions
Single correct · 2 shifts
Common Addition Polymers2×
match list on polymers and uses
Match the list · 2 shifts
Natural and Synthetic Rubber2×
components for vulcanization of rubber
Assertion–reason · 2 shifts
Novolac Intermediate Formation2×
match list on polymers and commercial names
Match the list · 2 shifts
PHBV Monomers2×
identify example of polyester
Single correct · 2 shifts
Terylene (Dacron) Monomers2×
identify monomers of polymer
Assertion–reason · 2 shifts
Homopolymers vs Copolymers (Buna-S and Buna-N)2×
match list on polymers and monomers
Match the list · 2 shifts
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN / Orlon)1×
identify polymer used in a product
Single correct · 1 shift
Buna-N Monomers and Properties1×
true statement selection on buna-n
Single correct · 1 shift
Homopolymers vs Copolymers1×
odd-one-out among copolymers
Single correct · 1 shift
Melamine-Formaldehyde Polymer1×
identify monomers of polymer
Diagram based · 1 shift
Nylon 6 and Caprolactam1×
statement i/ii on polymer monomers
Two statements · 1 shift
Nylon-2-nylon-6 Monomers1×
biodegradable polymer from monomers
Single correct · 1 shift
Polyesters: Terylene vs Glyptal1×
which polymer is not a polyester
Single correct · 1 shift
Urea-Formaldehyde Resin1×
identify polymer for given use
Single correct · 1 shift
Novolac to Bakelite Transition1×
bakelite preparation mechanism type
Single correct · 1 shift
Nylon-6 Preparation1×
polymer formed by hydrolysis step
Single correct · 1 shift

Idea	Times	Shifts	Format	Numerical
Polymer Classificationodd-one-out among polymers and monomers	9	9	Match the listRecall	–
Neoprene Synthesismatch list on polymers and monomers	4	4	Match the listRecall	–
Buna-S (SBR) Monomersstructure of buna-s	3	3	Single correctRecall	–
Common Condensation Polymersmatch list on polymers and monomers	3	3	Match the listRecall	–
Novolac Structure and Roleidentify polymer from repeating unit	3	3	Single correctRecall	1
HDPE vs LDPE and Ziegler-Natta Catalystidentify polymer from preparation conditions	2	2	Single correctRecall	–
Common Addition Polymersmatch list on polymers and uses	2	2	Match the listRecall	–
Natural and Synthetic Rubbercomponents for vulcanization of rubber	2	2	Assertion–reasonConceptual	–
Novolac Intermediate Formationmatch list on polymers and commercial names	2	2	Match the listRecall	–
PHBV Monomersidentify example of polyester	2	2	Single correctApplication	–
Terylene (Dacron) Monomersidentify monomers of polymer	2	2	Assertion–reasonRecall	–
Homopolymers vs Copolymers (Buna-S and Buna-N)match list on polymers and monomers	2	2	Match the listRecall	–
Polyacrylonitrile (PAN / Orlon)identify polymer used in a product	1	1	Single correctRecall	–
Buna-N Monomers and Propertiestrue statement selection on buna-n	1	1	Single correctRecall	–
Homopolymers vs Copolymersodd-one-out among copolymers	1	1	Single correctRecall	–
Melamine-Formaldehyde Polymeridentify monomers of polymer	1	1	Diagram basedRecall	–
Nylon 6 and Caprolactamstatement i/ii on polymer monomers	1	1	Two statementsRecall	–
Nylon-2-nylon-6 Monomersbiodegradable polymer from monomers	1	1	Single correctRecall	–
Polyesters: Terylene vs Glyptalwhich polymer is not a polyester	1	1	Single correctRecall	–
Urea-Formaldehyde Resinidentify polymer for given use	1	1	Single correctRecall	–
Novolac to Bakelite Transitionbakelite preparation mechanism type	1	1	Single correctConceptual	–
Nylon-6 Preparationpolymer formed by hydrolysis step	1	1	Single correctRecall	–

Times and shifts count every analysed shift. Across JEE Main, 78% of questions since 2024 went back to an idea an earlier year had asked; the rest were new. All repeated ideas

Every question

Polymers questions, year by year

The newest 40 show their opening words as they appeared in the official paper; older ones name the idea they tested. Open one for its options and the official answer.

Questions from the official JEE Main Paper 1 shifts published by NTA (CBSE for 2017). Questions NTA dropped are left out. Topic and idea tags, counts and notes are Lumi’s.

Key findings

Questions a shift, year by year

Difficulty, format and skill

Difficulty

Format

Skill tested

New idea, or one asked before?

Coverage of the topic

Idea, year, question

Every idea inside this topic

Polymers questions, year by year

JEE Main 20239 questions in 9 shifts

JEE Main 202220 questions in 20 shifts

JEE Main 202113 questions in 13 shifts

JEE Main 20203 questions in 3 shifts

JEE Main 20171 question in 1 shift

More topics in Polymers