Is HC Verma Enough for JEE Mains and Advanced?
Part of Best JEE Books by Subject: Maths, Physics and Chemistry for a Top 1000 Advanced Rank.
Almost every JEE senior says “do HC Verma”. Almost nobody explains what to do after it. So students finish HCV, feel ready, and then get hit by Advanced-level physics in their first big test.
This post is part of our JEE books guide. Here is what HC Verma is good for, where it stops, and the ladder I followed after it.
Short answer
- HC Verma is a great theory book. Do not ditch it.
- It has become too simple for the level of Advanced these days. On its own it will not get you to a top physics score.
- Use it for concepts and physical feel, then move to harder problem sources.
- My path: HCV, then Cengage and Ashish Arora’s Advanced Illustrations, then selected Irodov questions.
- For Mains alone, HCV plus good PYQs is a reasonable base. Check your own target score before deciding it is enough.
What HC Verma is actually good at
HCV explains physics in a clear, honest way. The theory is readable. The worked ideas build a physical picture, which is the thing many students lack when they jump straight to tricky problems.
In the past, HCV end-of-chapter numericals were considered very high level. That was partly because students had fewer resources. Today you have Cengage, SBD physics, online modules and more. The bar for “hard” has moved, and HCV now looks gentler next to those.
My view, from my own video on this: HC Verma ko completely ditch maarne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Use it, but do not make it your ceiling.
Where it falls short
Advanced always had hard questions. Earlier students just had fewer places to practise them. If you only do HCV, you will meet your first truly tough multi-concept problem inside a test, which is a bad place to meet it.
Common gaps:
- Not enough multi-step, multi-concept problems.
- Few questions that force you to choose between several approaches.
- Limited exposure to the Advanced question style (multi-correct, paragraph, integer type).
The ladder I followed
This is what I did, stated as my own experience. I wrote JEE in 2023 and scored 90+ out of 120 in physics.
- HC Verma for theory and feel.
- Cengage physics and Ashish Arora’s 700+ Advanced Illustrations for harder problems. DC Pandey is a fine alternative to Cengage, though I used Cengage.
- Selected Irodov questions. Not the whole book.
- Coaching modules for the push from roughly 90 to 100 and beyond.
My claim, as an estimate and not a guarantee: HCV plus tough Cengage questions plus selected Irodov can take you to around 90 to 100 out of 120 in physics. Your result depends on how well you revise and test.
I tried Pathfinder for only two or three questions and called it a waste of time. It has IPhO-level questions and beyond. I do not recommend it for most students.
How to use each step
| Step | Job | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| HC Verma | Theory, physical feel | Stopping here |
| Cengage and Arora | Hard problems at Advanced style | Trying to solve every question |
| Selected Irodov | Stretch | Starting too early, finishing the whole book |
| Modules and PYQs | Final push, exam pattern | Skipping analysis |
For the Cengage method, read how to use Cengage for JEE Advanced. For Irodov, read is Irodov worth it?.
Is HC Verma enough for JEE Mains?
For Mains, I would say HCV is a solid base, especially for theory. In my Cengage review I noted that for Mains you should lean on HC Verma and PYQs rather than Cengage physics. But “enough” depends on your target percentile. If you are aiming for a top score, add serious PYQ practice.
I do not have a video note giving a specific Mains-only syllabus coverage figure for HCV, so check chapter coverage against the official syllabus yourself.
If you have no coaching
HCV is even more useful if you study alone, because it can be your main theory source. Pair it with lectures and follow the no-coaching roadmap. Be careful about piling on extra books; see overrated JEE books.
A simple way to know if you need more than HCV
Do a chapter of HCV. Then attempt 15 to 20 Advanced PYQs of that chapter. If you get most right, move on. If you struggle, you need the next step in the ladder. The test tells you more than any opinion, including mine.
You can see the full physics list in best physics books for JEE Advanced.
A realistic weekly plan around HCV
Here is how I would slot HC Verma into a normal week, as a suggestion and not something from a video.
- Read the theory of one chapter section and write a few lines in your own words.
- Solve the in-text examples and a modest set of end-of-chapter questions, not all of them.
- Mark questions that took more than one attempt. Those are your real gaps.
- At the end of the chapter, switch to the next rung of the ladder so the concept gets tested at a harder level.
The mistake is treating HCV as a finish line. It is a base. If you find yourself on your third pass of the same chapter, you are probably hiding from harder problems.
How to tell your own level honestly
Students often say physics is their weak subject without any data. Use three numbers instead: how many Mains-level PYQs you solve correctly in a chapter, how many Advanced-style questions you can start without looking at hints, and how many silly mistakes you make on questions you understood. If the first number is low, stay on HCV and PYQs. If the first is high and the second low, you are ready for the next rung. If the third is high, the issue is process, not books.
Write these down per chapter. A simple notebook is fine. Over a month it tells you more than any book review, including this one.
FAQ
Is HC Verma outdated? Not as a theory book. It is too simple for Advanced difficulty by itself.
Should I solve all HCV questions? Do enough to be comfortable with the concept. Do not spend months on it. Use the time to move up the ladder.
HC Verma or Cengage first? HCV first for theory and feel, then Cengage for harder practice.
Do toppers skip HC Verma? I cannot speak for all of them. I used it for theory, then moved on.
Is Irodov necessary? Selected questions helped me. Whether you need it depends on your target. See the Irodov post.
Related reading
- Best JEE books by subject (hub)
- How to use Cengage for JEE Advanced
- Best physics books for JEE Advanced
- Is Irodov worth it?
- Overrated JEE books
- Crack JEE without coaching
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