Is the JEE Advanced 2015 the toughest IIT JEE paper ever?

The JEE Advanced 2015 exam is widely regarded as one of the toughest, if not the toughest, in recent history of the IIT JEE exams. Here are some key points that highlight its difficulty:

Increased Difficulty and Length

The exam had 120 questions spread across two papers, worth a total of 504 marks, which was an increase from the previous year's 350 marks. This made the exam more lengthy and challenging134.

Unusual Marking Scheme

The marking scheme was particularly stringent, with +4 marks for correct answers and -2 marks for incorrect answers or leaving a correct option blank. This scheme, combined with the absence of single-choice questions and the inclusion of integer type, matrix match, and multiple options correct type questions, added to the difficulty34.

Student and Expert Feedback

Students and experts alike described the paper as unexpectedly difficult and time-consuming. The paper's format and the negative marking scheme were cited as major factors that made it challenging for students to decide whether to attempt uncertain questions134.

Comparative Analysis

The topper of the 2015 JEE Advanced scored 469 out of 504 marks, which was a lower percentage compared to the previous year's topper, indicating the overall higher difficulty level of the exam4.

In summary, while it may be subjective to declare it the absolute toughest ever, the JEE Advanced 2015 was certainly one of the most challenging papers in recent years due to its unique and stringent format.