Toughest and Easiest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 (April) | Difficulty Ranking & Analysis
The JEE Main 2026 Session 2 April session was held successfully by the conducting body NTA (National Testing Agency). The Session 2 exam was scheduled from April 2, 2026, to April 8, 2026, and was conducted in 10 shifts, including Paper 1 and Papers 2A & 2B. More than 11 lakh students appeared and sat for the April session of JEE Main 2026 exam. Since the exam concluded, one question that has been circulating in every student’s mind is, “Which was the JEE Main April toughest shift in 2026?” and “Which Shift was the Easiest?”
If you are among the students who appeared for the April 2026 JEE Main exam, then finding out the easiest and toughest shifts will help in estimating your performance in the JEE Main 2026 result. This blog will provide a shift-wise, complete difficulty ranking of all 10 shifts and analysis for Session 2 exams based on memory-based questions from Matrix JEE experts.
Check out the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 all-shift analysis below:
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper Analysis (All Shifts) (Live)
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper Analysis (April 2 Shift 1) – Live
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper Analysis (April 2 shift 2) – Live
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper Analysis (April 4 Shift 1) – Live
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper Analysis (April 4 Shift 2) – Live
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper Analysis (April 5 Shift 1) – Live
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper Analysis (April 5 Shift 2) – Live
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper Analysis (April 6 Shift 1) – Live
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper Analysis (April 6 Shift 2) – Live
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper Analysis (April 7 Shift 2) – Live
- JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper Analysis (April 8 Shift 2) – Live
Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 April Exam
The JEE Main April 2026 toughest shift was the “April 6 Shift 1” Paper. It was concluded toughest after analysing all shifts from April 2 to April 8, 2026 very closely by the experts and recording students’ reactions after the exam. Session 2 of the JEE Main 2026 exam saw varying difficulty levels across all subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and had a good balance of tough and easy shifts. Almost all other shifts were moderately difficult, but only the April 6 shift 1 stood out as the toughest shift.
Based on the Matrix Academy’s expert analysis of all 10 shifts, the April 6 shift 1 paper carried questions with moderate difficulty but was the most time-consuming shift. The reason behind this is that the questions in the overall paper were lengthy, and students had no buffer time, making it difficult to attempt all the questions correctly on time.
As we analyse deeply, the estimated overall good attempt is expected to be just 48-54 out of 75 questions, which is the lowest among other shifts of the April session. And the expected cutoff is just 170 marks for 99 percentile. Students who appeared in both sessions should check out JEE Main 2026 Session 1 toughest and easiest shifts as well.
Why is the April 6 Shift 1 the Toughest Shift of Session 2?
To find out which was the toughest shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2, our experts have analysed the memory-based questions, student reviews and other factors. It can be said that the April 6 shift 1 paper was the only shift where all three sections were lengthy and time-consuming. No subject was in the easy-to-moderate level, and all three sections, including physics, chemistry, and mathematics, were rated as moderate and lengthy.
- April 6 Shift 1 Physics Analysis: The questions in the physics section of the April 6 shift 1 paper were moderate but quite lengthy. The average time to attempt the physics section was 50-60 minutes, which is the highest across all shifts. And the good attempts in physics dropped to 15-18 questions, whereas the average good attempts in other session 2 shifts are 20-25.
- April 6 Shift 1 Mathematics Analysis: Maths questions were not tough but just moderate level. But the biggest differentiator was that students took, on average, 5 minutes to attempt 1 maths question. Average noted attempts are only 8-12 questions, and the average time is 70-80 minutes.
- April 6 Shift 1 Chemistry Analysis: The chemistry section of the April 6 shift 1 paper is also moderate and lengthy. The average time taken for the chemistry section in this shift is 50-60 minutes. Usually, students take around 30-35 minutes to attempt the chemistry section and use the buffer time to attempt the maths section. This advantage was not given in this shift, making it the toughest.
The second hardest shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 is the April 4 shift 1 and April 5 shift 2. Again, due to the overall paper being lengthy.
Easiest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 April Exam
The easiest shift of JEE Main 2026 session 2 is April 2, shift 1, based on expert analysis. This was the most student-friendly JEE Main exam and was the first shift of JEE Main 2026 session. 2 exams. The overall good attempt range of this shift is 58-65 questions, which is the highest minimum attempt if compared to other shifts of the April session. The 99 percentile is expected at 210-215 marks for this shift. Some students found the April 4 shift 2 paper the easiest, with a good attempt range of 55-65 questions out of 75. But the majority of students voted that April 2 shift 1 was easiest. And based on memory-based questions, Matrix JEE experts have concluded the April 2 shift 1 to be the easiest shift of JEE Main 2026 April session.
Why is the April 2 Shift 1 the Easiest Shift of Session 2?
The April 2 shift 1 was the most manageable shift of the April session. All three sections were of an easy-to-moderate level, and students did not find any section to be lengthy. Overall, this shift was the most doable and had the highest buffer time between sections.
- April 2 Shift 1 Physics Analysis: The physics section was quite easy, where students were able to finish the section in 45 minutes with 23-25 average attempts. The questions were direct, and a clear formula application was required.
- April 2 Shift 1 Chemistry Analysis: Students on average needed 30-40 minutes to attempt the chemistry section, and average attempts are noted as 23-25 questions, which is the highest in this session. As other shift chemistry sections are lengthy in nature.
- April 2 Shift 1 Mathematics Analysis: Only 20% of the maths questions in this shift were lengthy and difficult. Students were able to make an average attempt of 19-22 questions.
Therefore, the answer to the question which shift of JEE Main April 2026 was easiest is April 2 Shift 1 paper.
JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift Difficulty Ranking (Toughest to Easiest)
In this section, based on the student feedback and subject-wise difficulty of each shift, Matrix JEE experts have made this table. We have ranked all 10 shifts of the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 exam from the toughest to easiest in descending order. Students can refer to their respective shifts and analyse if their shift was tougher or easier compared to other shifts.
Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech)
| Rank | Date & Shift | Overall Difficulty Level | Key Reason |
| 1 (Toughest) | April 6 Shift 1 | Moderate to Tough | High time pressure; all three sections were lengthy, especially mathematics. |
| 2 | April 2 Shift 2 | Moderate | Balanced paper; moderate difficulty across subjects |
| 3 | April 4 Shift 1 | Moderate | Physics and Maths were calculative and slightly lengthy |
| 4 | April 8 Shift 2 | Moderate | Balanced paper; Maths lengthy but manageable |
| 5 | April 5 Shift 2 | Moderate | Lengthy Mathematics; overall time-consuming |
| 6 | April 6 Shift 2 | Easy to Moderate | Balanced and less lengthy compared to tougher shifts |
| 7 | April 5 Shift 1 | Easy | Straightforward questions; easier across sections |
| 8 | April 4 Shift 2 | Easiest | Most balanced and scoring shift with lower difficulty |
| 9 Easiest) | April 2 Shift 1 | Easy to Moderate | More direct questions; relatively scoring paper |
Paper 2A (B.Arch) & Paper 2B (B.Plan)
| Rank | Paper | Overall Difficulty Level | Key Reason |
| 1 (Toughest) | Paper 2B (B.Plan) | Moderate | Lengthy mathematics and data interpretation questions increased the time pressure. |
| 2 | Paper 2A (B.Arch) | Easy to Moderate | Aptitude and drawing were manageable; Maths had some moderate questions. |
JEE Main 2026 Session 2 All Shifts Difficulty Level
Let us look at the subject-wise difficulty trends of all 10 shifts of the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 exam. The table below is based on the memory-based questions received and expert analysis of the questions. All 10 shifts from April 2, 2026, to April 8, 2026, are covered with overall difficulty level and subject-wise difficulty level. Here are some key observations based on the table below:
- A clear pattern can be observed that mathematics was the toughest subject across all shifts and easy to moderate in only April 2 shift 1 paper.
- The overall April session is moderate and lengthy.
- The greatest difficulty variation is observed in the physics subject.
| JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift Analysis (April 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8) | |||||
| Date of JEE Main 2026 April Exam | Shift | Overall Difficulty Level | Physics Difficulty Level | Chemistry Difficulty Level | Mathematics Difficulty Level |
| 2 April 2026 | Morning Shift (9 AM – 12 PM) | Easy to Moderate | Easy | Easy | Easy to Moderate, but Lengthy |
| 2 April 2026 | Afternoon Shift (3 PM – 6 PM) | Moderate | Easy to moderate | Moderate | Moderate (lengthy) |
| 4 April 2026 | Morning Shift (9 AM – 12 PM) | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate | Moderate but Lengthy |
| 4 April 2026 | Afternoon Shift (3 PM – 6 PM) | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Moderate but lengthy |
| 5 April 2026 | Morning Shift (9 AM – 12 PM) | Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Moderate but lengthy |
| 5 April 2026 | Afternoon Shift (3 PM – 6 PM) | Moderate and Lengthy | Easy to Moderate | Moderate | Moderate but lengthy |
| 6 April 2026 | Morning Shift (9 AM – 12 PM) | Moderate but Slightly Lengthy | Easy to Moderate, but Lengthy | Moderate but Lengthy | Moderate but Lengthy |
| 6 April 2026 | Afternoon Shift (3 PM – 6 PM) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate and lengthy |
| 8 April 2026 | Evening Shift (3 PM – 6 PM) | Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Moderate | Moderate and lengthy |
JEE Main 2026 Paper 2A & 2B Shift-Wise Paper Analysis (B.Arch/B.Plan)
Check out the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 paper analysis of the B.Arch and B.Planning papers, which were held in one shift on April 7, 2026.
| JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift Analysis (April 7) | |||
| JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift | Drawing/Planning | Aptitude | Mathematics |
| 7 April 2026 – Paper 2A (B.Arch) | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate to Tough |
| 7 April 2026 – Paper 2B (B.Plan) | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Moderate to Difficult and Lengthy |
How Does Easiest & Toughest Shift Affect JEE Main Percentile?
The NTA (National Testing Agency) uses the normalisation process to ensure a fair assessment of the performance of students across different shifts. There is a common myth that the tougher the shift, the lower the percentile a student will get. The scores across shifts with variation in difficulty are normalised and then released as final percentiles. Hence, lower raw scores do not always mean lower percentiles in tougher shifts, and no one is at an advantage or disadvantage.
Impact of Toughest Shift of April 6 Shift 1 on JEE Percentile
The Matrix JEE experts have explained here whether the toughest shift affects JEE Main percentile or not:
- The JEE Main final percentile is not a reflection of raw score but a performance evaluation compared to others in the same shift.
- If you have appeared in the tougher shifts, do not worry. The shift is tough for all students, and the average marks also drop compared to other shifts.
- Hence, the marks are assessed with students who gave the same shift and not other shifts.
- After deriving all percentiles for individual shifts, they are converted to a common scale to ensure fairness.
Therefore, a student scoring 170 in a tough shift and another scoring 200 in an easy shift might end up with a similar percentile, because each is evaluated relative to their own competition.
Impact of Easiest Shift on JEE Percentile
If you appear for a relatively easier shift, students usually make a larger number of attempts, and the average scores will also be higher compared to the average score in tougher shifts.
- There will be increased competition for easier shifts within the shift. This implies that the higher the competition, the higher the cutoff.
- If a student from the tougher shift is scoring 160 marks and a student from the easier shift scores 189 marks, then due to the difference in competition, both will end up having a 98 percentile.
- In easier shifts, as competition is high, a small mistake can make a huge drop in percentile, as the number of students scoring in a similar percentile range is higher.
- Hence, getting in the top percentile is tougher in easier shifts.
For example, in an easy shift, a student may need 190–200 marks to reach 99 percentile, whereas the same percentile in a tough shift may require significantly fewer marks.
Toughest Shift Comparison of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 vs Session 2
Let us compare the toughest shifts of both JEE Main 2026, Session 1, held in January, and Session 2, held in April. It is not possible for now to assess which is the toughest combined session. As per JEE Main Session 1 shift analysis, the toughest shift was Jan 28 Shift 1 paper. And the toughest shift of the JEE Main 2026 April session is the April 6 shift 1 paper. However, when we analyse student feedback, paper patterns, and subject-wise difficulty across shifts, a few clear trends emerge. From the table below, it can be said that the April 6 Shift 1 paper can be tougher compared to Jan 28 Shift 1 paper. But this analysis can be subjective due to the difference in the nature of difficulty in the two sessions. Session 1’s toughest shift is more conceptually demanding, whereas Session 2’s toughest shift was more time-intensive.
| Parameter | Session 1 – January 28 Shift 1 | Session 2 – April 6 Shift 1 |
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult (Lengthy) | Moderate to Tough (Very Lengthy) |
| Nature of Difficulty | Conceptual + Lengthy | Primarily Lengthy + Calculative |
| Mathematics | Moderate to Difficult, extremely lengthy (70–80 mins) | Moderate but very lengthy and most time-consuming (60–70 mins) |
| Physics | Easy to Moderate, balanced | Moderate, calculative, and slightly lengthy |
| Chemistry | Moderate and lengthy | Moderate and NCERT-based but lengthy with numericals |
| Most Difficult Section | Mathematics | Mathematics |
| Good Attempts | 40 – 50 questions | 40–50 questions |
| Difficulty Pattern | Uneven (Maths-heavy difficulty spike) | Uniform (all subjects lengthy) |
| Expected 99 Percentile Marks | 175 marks | 170–180 marks |
Easiest Shift Comparison of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 vs Session 2
In the January 2026 JEE Main exam, the easiest shift is the Jan 22 Shift 1 paper, and the easiest shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 is the April 2 Shift 1 paper. Let us compare the key parameters like student feedback and subject-wise difficulty to compare both the easiest shifts of Session 1 and 2. It can be said that the April 2 Shift 1 paper was easier compared to the January 22 Shift 1 paper. The session 2 shift 1 paper of April 2nd had all direct NCERT-based questions, and students had an ample amount of buffer time. Whereas the Session 1 easiest shift had some moderate-level questions, and not all questions were direct, formula-based.
| Parameter | Session 1 – January 22 Shift 1 | Session 2 – April 2 Shift 1 |
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate (Relatively Easy) | Easy to Moderate (Most Scoring) |
| Nature of Difficulty | Conceptual + Balanced | Direct, Formula-Based, Scoring |
| Mathematics | Moderate, slightly lengthy | Easy to Moderate, slightly lengthy but manageable |
| Physics | Moderate, mixed difficulty | Easy, formula-based, quick to solve |
| Chemistry | Easy to Moderate, NCERT-based | Easy, direct NCERT-based |
| Most Difficult Section | Physics / Mathematics (varies by student) | Mathematics |
| Good Attempts | 50–60 questions | 58–64 questions |
| Difficulty Pattern | Balanced across subjects | Uniformly easy with slight maths lengthiness |
| Expected 99 Percentile Marks | 190–200 marks | 210–215 marks |
What Makes a JEE Main Shift Toughest or Easiest?
Whether a JEE Main shift is tough or easy is determined by many factors. A shift is considered tough when the overall paper is lengthy and time-consuming, with a larger number of difficult questions. Here are the factors that are considered while analysing the toughest and easiest shifts of the JEE Main 2026 exam:
- A JEE Main shift becomes the toughest if the mathematics section is lengthy with heavy calculations.
- If all three sections are time-consuming, the shift is considered tough as it leaves no room for buffer time.
- If, along with maths, the physics section also has lengthy numericals, then the paper becomes tough.
- The tougher the paper, the lower the attempts.
- A shift is considered easy when at least one or two sections are scoring and straightforward.
JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Cutoff & Percentile
The expected JEE Main 2026 cutoff and percentile for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 will vary in all shifts due to different difficulty levels. The easier shifts will require more marks to get the same percentile, and tougher shifts will require lower marks for the same percentile. Below is the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 shift-wise expected cut-off and percentile:
Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech)
| Date & Shift | Difficulty Level | 99.9 Percentile (Marks) | 99 Percentile (Marks) | 95 Percentile (Marks) | Expected Qualifying Cutoff (93 Percentile) |
| April 2 Shift 1 | Easy | 259 | 185–190 | 140–150 | 125–135 |
| April 2 Shift 2 | Easy to Moderate | 240 | 180–185 | 135–145 | 119 |
| April 4 Shift 1 | Moderate | 233 | 175–180 | 130–140 | 115–120 |
| April 4 Shift 2 | Easy to Moderate | 240 | 185–190 | 140–150 | 120–125 |
| April 5 Shift 1 | Moderate | 252 | 180–185 | 135–145 | 120–125 |
| April 5 Shift 2 | Moderate to Tough | 242 | 170–175 | 125–135 | 110–120 |
| April 6 Shift 1 | Toughest (Lengthy) | 214 | 160–170 | 90–120 | 85–100 |
| April 6 Shift 2 | Tough | 244 | 170–180 | 120–130 | 106–115 |
| April 8 Shift 2 | Moderate | 220–235 | 200–210 | 145–160 | 130–145 |
Paper 2A (B.Arch) & Paper 2B (B.Plan)
| Category | B.Arch (Paper 2A) Expected Percentile | B.Plan (Paper 2B) Expected Percentile |
| General (UR) | 93 percentile | 93 percentile |
| OBC-NCL | 80 percentile | 79 percentile |
| EWS | 81 percentile | 80 percentile |
| SC | 61 percentile | 60 percentile |
| ST | 48 percentile | 46 percentile |
| UR-PwD | 0.01 percentile | 0.01 percentile |
Conclusion
As per expert analysis by Matrix JEE experts, the toughest shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 (April) is the April 6 shift 1 paper. And the easiest shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 (April) is April 2 shift 1 paper. The overall April paper was moderate and lengthy. Compared to Session 1, Session 2 is less time-consuming and difficult, apart from the April 6 shift 1. A key takeaway from this analysis is that mathematics remained the difficulty driver across all shifts.
Students should understand that shift difficulty does not directly impact percentile, as the normalisation process ensures fairness across all sessions. A lower score in a tough shift can still result in a high percentile if the relative performance is strong.
FAQs
The toughest shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 is April 6 Shift 1, as the paper was the most time-consuming. All three sections were lengthy, and there was no easy section.
The easiest shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 is April 2 Shift 1. All three sections were surprisingly direct and easy. Students were able to comfortably attempt all 75 questions within 3 hours.
No, shift difficulty does not directly affect the JEE Main percentile. NTA, which conducts the JEE Main exam, uses a normalisation process where performance is evaluated relative to students in the same shift.
Mathematics was the toughest subject across all 10 shifts of the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 exam. All the mathematics sections were time-consuming, and only the April 2 Shift 1 maths section was less difficult.
Good attempts in JEE Main 2026 Session 2, April 6 Shift 1, were around 40–50 questions, which is lower compared to other shifts.
For 99 percentile, the expected cut-off based on difficulty and analysis of all shifts ranges between 170 and 190, depending on the difficulty level of the shift.
April 6 shift 1 of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 exam had the lowest cut off as it was the toughest shift.
No, the Session 2 April exams are not tougher than the JEE Main Session 1 exams. The Session 1 exams are overall time-consuming, and there are more difficult questions. In Session 2, there is a good balance of tough and easy shifts.
