JEE Main 2026 Session 2 paper analysis of all shifts

By Anushka Choudhary JEE & Engineering JEE Main April 1, 2026

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper Analysis (Apr 2 – 8) | All Shifts Difficulty Level & Expected CutOff

The JEE Main 2026 April session exams were conducted from April 02, 2026, to April 08, 2026 by NTA. The April Session is the second chance for JEE aspirants to clear the exam and get into the top engineering colleges of India. Session 1 was concluded in January 2026, and the JEE Advanced exam is expected to be conducted on May 17, 2026. Approximately 11 lakh students appeared for the JEE Main April exam, setting a new record.

This blog will provide detailed information on JEE Main 2026 Session 2 overall paper analysis for all 10 shifts. Based on student feedback and memory-based questions, we will shed light on subject-wise trends, toughest and easiest shifts, key topics, expected good attempts, and expected cutoff.

Check out the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 all shift analysis below:

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam Schedule & Pattern

The JEE Main exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency twice every year. The first session takes place in January and the second session in April. Get the complete overview of the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 exam, along with the paper pattern and structure.

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam Schedule

Check out the complete exam schedule of JEE Main 2026 April session set by NTA. In the table below, students will find the exam dates and timings of the exam in the table below.

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	JEE Main 2026 Session 2
Exam Dates for B.E/B.Tech	April 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8, 2026
Exam Dates for B.Arch/B.Plan	April 07, 2026
Shifts per Day	Two Shifts: Shift 1: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Shift 2: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Exam Mode	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Subjects	Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam Structure & Pattern

Below is the latest JEE Main 2026 exam pattern, structure, and marking scheme set by NTA for Session 2. To understand the exam pattern better and prepare for Session 2 without leaving a stone unturned, go through the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 question papers with solutions.

Particulars	Details
Total Questions	75 Questions
Section A (MCQs)	20 questions per subject (60 total)
Section B (Numerical Value)	5 questions per subject (15 total)
Total Marks	300
Marking Scheme	+4 for correct answer-1 for incorrect MCQs0 for unattempted questions
Syllabus Focus	NCERT Class 11 & 12
Question Types	Conceptual, numerical, and application-based

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 All Shifts Overall Analysis (April 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8)

As we know, the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 was conducted across 5 days for B.E./B.Tech. Tech (10 shifts) and 1 day for B.Arch/B.Plan (April 7). Based on initial student feedback and expert analysis, our experts will analyse the questions of each shift. And overall, it can be said that the majority of the shifts were of a moderate level overall. Students who have followed an effective JEE Main 2026 exam preparation strategy will find the moderate-level questions doable.

The table below has a detailed JEE Main 2026 Session 2 paper analysis of all shifts, with which subject was most difficult and which was easiest. This way, students can get a proper idea of what cutoff to expect based on the difficulty level. Check the combined difficulty analysis of all shifts below for Session 2. Students can also refer to JEE Main 2026 Session 1 paper analysis for better preparation.

JEE Main 2026 Paper 1 Shift-Wise Paper Analysis (B.E/B.Tech)

This table has a complete difficulty analysis of B.E./B.Tech JEE Main 2026 Session 2 exams. All 10 shifts have been analysed below:

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	Evening 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	Evening 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	Evening 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	Evening 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 but 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

JEE Main 2026 April Session Shift-Wise Analysis (April 2-8)

We have discussed the overall JEE Main 2026 Session 2 paper analysis and shift analysis difficulty-wise in the section above. Matrix experts have curated this section to help students get a proper idea of every shift conducted in JEE Main. This section includes a shift analysis of 10 shifts with details including difficulty level, key topics in the particular shift, and other key insights.

April 2 Shift 1 Paper Analysis (9 AM to 12 PM)

The overall difficulty of the April 2 Shift 1 paper is Easy to Moderate difficulty. In comparison with Session 1, Mathematics is easy to moderate in April 2 Shift 1 of the JEE Main Exam 2026. Most of the students find Math easier with slightly lengthy questions, where the Mathematics paper was 20% difficult, 40% easy, 40% moderate. The physics section is also easy in difficulty level, where 17% questgiions are difficult, 50% easy, and 33% moderate. Once again, the Chemistry section’s difficulty level was the easiest, where 10+ questions were from the Inorganic section.

Subject	Difficulty Level	Key Insights
Physics	Easy	Good Attempt: 23-25 Questions Questions Difficulty Level: Easy: 5 Moderate: 4 Moderate but lengthy: 3 Difficult: 2 V. Difficult: 1 Overall Time Taken: 45-50 Most Important Topic: Current Electricity Most Important Topics: 1. Current Electricity 2. Heat and Thermodynamics 3. Properties of Matter 4. Atoms and Nuclei 5. Measurements 6. Electrostatics 7. Effect of Current 8. Alternating Current
Chemistry	Easy	The overall difficulty level of Physics is Easy, and students commonly take 45-50 minutes to complete this section. Most of the questions are from In organic Section. Most commonly asked topics are: 1. Thermodynamics: 1–2 questions 2. Basics of Organic Chemistry: 1–2 questions 3. Periodic Table & Periodicity: 1–2 questions 4. Electrochemistry: 1–2 questions 5. Aldehydes, Ketones & Carboxylic Acids: 1–2 questions 6. Block Elements: 1–2 questions Average Time Taken: 40-50 minutes Good Attempt: 23-25
Mathematics	Easy to Moderate, but Lengthy	Questions Difficulty Level Breakdown: 1. Easy: 5 2. Moderate: 4 3. Moderate but lengthy: 4 4. Difficult: 2 5. Difficult: 1 The Math paper was overall easy to moderate, and 80% of the questions are easy to moderate range. Remaining 20% questiosn is lengthy and very difficult. Most Important Topics: 1. Matrices & Determinants 2. 3D Geometry 3. Vector Algebra 4. Differential Equations (1–2 questions), 5. Sequences & Series (1–2 questions) 6. Permutations & Combinations (1–2 questions), 7. Limits, 8. Continuity & Differentiability (1–2 questions), 9. Definite Integration & Probability (1 question).

April 2 Shift 2 Paper Analysis (3 PM to 6 PM)

The overall difficulty of the April 2 Shift 2 paper is moderate. In comparison with Session 1, Mathematics was definitely on the easier side but tougher than April 2 Shift 1 of the JEE Main Exam 2026. The Mathematics paper was 20% difficult, 40% easy, 40% moderate. It can be said that the overall paper was balanced overall, but not as easy as Shift 1. Maths was slightly lengthy, physics questions were calculative, and chemistry questions required lengthy calculations. Hence, students with good speed can solve the paper easily. In the JEE Main 2026 Session 2, April 2 shift 1 paper, it can be concluded that mathematics was the toughest section and physics easiest.

Subject	Difficulty Level	Key Insights
Physics	Easy to Moderate	Current Electricity (2 questions), Heat & Thermodynamics (2 questions), Properties of Matter (2 questions), Atoms & Nuclei (2 questions), Units & Measurements (1–2 questions), Electrostatics (1–2 questions), Magnetic Effect of Current (1 question). Good Attempts: 18-22 questions. Average Time Taken: 40-50 minutes.
Chemistry	Moderate	Coordination Compounds (2 questions), Thermodynamics (2 questions), Basic Organic Chemistry (2 questions), Electrochemistry (1–2 questions), Aldehydes, Ketones & Carboxylic Acids (1–2 questions), Periodic Table & Periodicity (1–2 questions), Chemical Kinetics (1 question), d- and f-Block Elements (1 question), Hydrocarbons (1 question). Good Attempts: 20-23 questions. Average Time Taken: 40-45 minutes.
Mathematics	Moderate but lengthy	Matrices & Determinants (2 questions), 3D Geometry (1–2 questions), Vector Algebra (1–2 questions), Differential Equations (1–2 questions), Sequences & Series (1–2 questions), Permutations & Combinations (1–2 questions), Limits, Continuity & Differentiability (1–2 questions), Definite Integration (1 question), Probability (1 question). Good Attempts: 14-16 questions. Average Time Taken: 60-75 minutes.

April 4 Shift 1 Paper Analysis (9 AM to 12 PM)

The April 4 Shift 1 exam was moderately difficult. The Mathematics section was Moderate and Lengthy, but one of the most time consuming session. Students took 75-85 minutes to solve the Math section of the Shift 1 exam on 4 April, where some students reported the Math section tougher and lengthier than the January Session. Physics was moderate to difficult, with a little bit more difficult in comparison with previous shifts. The Chemistry section on the April 4 Shift 1 was moderately difficult, with multiple direct questions from Organic and Physical Chemistry. It is expected that a score of 170-180 marks is equal to 99%ile.

A detailed analysis of the JEE Main 2026 exam, Shift 1, April 4, is mentioned below that clearly highlights the overall difficulty level and key insights of each subject.

Subject	Difficulty Level	Key Insights
Physics	Moderate to Difficult	The average time taken to solve the Physics section is 50-60 minutes. Difficult Questions: 4-5 Moderate Questions: 8-9 Easy Questions: 12-13 Commonly asked topics/chapters: Current Electricity, Modern Physics, Electrostatics, Ray Optics, and Laws of Motion, Semiconductors, Thermodynamics, and Magnetic Effects of Current.
Chemistry	Moderate	Difficult Questions: 7-8 Moderate Questions: 8-9 Easy Questions: 9-10 Good Attempt of Questions: 40-50 Minutes 3 to 4 statement-based questions. Most of the questions are from the Organic and Physical section. Commonly asked topics/chapters: Coordination Compounds, Electrochemistry, Basic Organic Chemistry, Periodicity, and Aldehydes, Ketones & Carboxylic Acids, Block Elements, Hydrocarbons, and Compounds Containing Nitrogen
Mathematics	Moderate and Lengthy	1. No. of Difficult Questions: 5 2. No. of Moderate Questions: 10: 3. No. of Easy Questions: 5 4. Average Good Attempt of Questions: 8- 11 Tougher and lengthier than the January Session exam. Although the overall paper was easy, but time consuming, with the highest average time of 75 to 85 minutes to solve it. Most of the questions are from the 12th-based NCERT syllabus. Important Topics 12-13 Questions: Commonly asked topics/chapters: algebra, calculus, and 3D geometry. Topics such as Matrices & Determinants, 3D Geometry, Limits, Continuity & Differentiability, and Differential Equations are the highlights of the paper. Vector Algebra, Sequences & Series, Permutations & Combinations, Probability, Parabola and Straight Lines

April 4 Shift 2 Paper Analysis (3 PM to 6 PM)

The April 4 Shift 1 exam was of an easy-to-moderate level overall. The Mathematics section was Moderate and Lengthy, but one of the most time consuming session. Students took 70-80 minutes to solve the Math section of the Shift 2 exam on 4 April. Physics was easy to moderate with direct formula-based questions. The Chemistry section on the April 4 Shift 2 was easy to moderate with direct NCERT-based questions asked, and students were able to attempt 22 questions on average. It is expected that a score of 200+ marks is equal to 99%ile.

A detailed analysis of the JEE Main 2026 exam, Shift 2, April 4, is mentioned below that clearly highlights the overall difficulty level and key insights of each subject.

Subject	Difficulty Level	Key Insights
Physics	Easy to Moderate	The average time taken to solve the Physics section is 40-50 minutes. Difficult Questions: 4-5 Moderate Questions: 8-9 Easy Questions: 12-13 Important topics/chapters: The high-weightage chapters contributing to nearly 50–60% of the Physics paper include Current Electricity, Heat and Thermodynamics, Properties of Matter, Atoms & Nuclei, Units & Measurements, Electrostatics, Magnetic Effect of Current, Alternating Current, Laws of Motion, Gravitation, Wave Optics, Dual Nature of Radiation, and Semiconductor.
Chemistry	Easy to Moderate	The average time taken to solve the Physics section is 45-50 minutes. Difficult Questions: 4-5 Moderate Questions: 8-9 Easy Questions: 12-13 Important topics/chapters: The high-weightage chapters contributing to around 50–60% of the Chemistry section include Chemical Bonding, Coordination Compounds, Organic Chemistry (GOC + Isomerism), p-Block Elements, Mole Concept, Thermodynamics, Chemical Equilibrium, Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics, Aldehydes, Ketones & Carboxylic Acids.
Mathematics	Moderate and lengthy	The average time taken to solve the Physics section is 70-80 minutes. Difficult Questions: 5 Moderate Questions: 10 Easy Questions: 10 Important topics/chapters: Matrices and Determinants, Differential Equations, 3D Geometry, Vector Algebra, Sequences and Series, Permutations and Combinations, Limits, Continuity and Differentiability, Probability, Definite Integration, and Binomial Theorem.

April 5 Shift 1 Paper Analysis (9 AM to 12 PM)

The overall difficulty level of April 5 Shift 1 was Moderate. The Physics section was Easy to Moderate but lengthy, while Chemistry was Easy to Moderate. Once again, the difficulty level of Mathematics was Moderate but Lengthy, where some questions took 3-5 minutes to solve. Find the complete analysis of the April 5 shift 1 paper in the table below.

Subject	Difficulty Level	Key Insights
Physics	Easy to Moderate	1. Number of Easy Questions: 9-10 2. Number of Medium Questions: 8-9 3. Number of Difficult Questions: 7-8 4. Good Attempt at Questions: 23-25 5. Average Attempt of Questions: 20-21 6. Average Time taken to Solve: 50-60 minutes. Important Topics/Chapters: Current Electricity, Heat & Thermodynamics, Properties of Matter, Atoms & Nuclei, Units & Measurements, Electrostatics, and Magnetic Effects of Current, modern physics and electrodynamics.
Chemistry	Easy to Moderate	1. Number of Easy Questions: 10–12 2. Number of Medium Questions: 8–10 3. Number of Difficult Questions: 3–5 4. Good Attempt at Questions: 23-25 5. Average Attempt of Questions: 20-22 6. Average Time taken to Solve: 35-40 minutes. Important Topics/Chapters: 10-12 questions from Coordination Compounds, Thermodynamics, Chemical Bonding, Periodicity, and Basic Concepts of Chemistry
Mathematics	Moderate but lengthy	1. Number of Easy Questions: 10 questions 2. Number of Medium Questions: 10 questions 3. Number of Difficult Questions: 5 4. Good Attempt at Questions: 16-18 5. Average Attempt of Questions: 11-13 6. Average Time taken to Solve: 60-70 minutes. The Mathematics section was moderately difficult and lengthy. Most of the student facing time managment issue while solving the Mathematics section. Important Topics/Chapters: Matrices & Determinants, 3D Geometry, Vector Algebra, Sequences & Series, and Permutations & Combinations, Probability and Binomial Theorem, Calculus (Limits, Derivatives, and Applications)

April 5 Shift 2 Paper Analysis (3 PM to 6 PM)

The JEE aspirants whose examination is in this shift confirmed that the overall paper was modern and lengthy. Out of 3 subjects, Physics was the Easiest but Lengthy. The Physics section contains questions from Current Electricity, Thermodynamics, Properties of Matter, and Modern Physics (Atoms & Nuclei). The Mathematics section was Moderately difficult, with an average time of 60 minutes. A good attempt was 14-16 questions out of 25 in Mathematics. In the Chemistry section, the difficulty level was Moderate but Lengthy with a dominance of Inorganic chemistry. Below is the subject-wise complete shift analysis of the April 5 shift 2 paper.

Subject	Difficulty Level	Key Insights
Physics	Easy to Moderate	1. Easy Questions: 12-13 2. Moderate Questions: 8-9 3. Difficult Questions: 4-5 4. Average Time Taken: 50-55 minutes 5. Average Attempt of Questions: 18-20 Questions 6. Good Attempt at Questions: 22-24 Important Topics/Chapters: Current Electricity, Thermodynamics, Properties of Matter, Modern Physics (Atoms, Semiconductor), Electrodynamics.
Chemistry	Moderate	1. Easy Questions: 9-10 2. Moderate Questions: 8-9 Questions 3. Difficult Questions: 7-8 questions 4. Average Time Taken: 55-60 minutes 5. Average Attempt of Questions: 20-21 questions 6. Good Attempt at Questions: 23-24 questions 7. 6 questions out of 25 were assertion reasoning-based. Important Topics/Chapters: Coordination Compounds, Thermodynamics, Electrochemistry, Basic Organic Chemistry, Carbonyl Compounds, Periodicity.
Mathematics	Moderate but lengthy	1. Easy Questions: 10 questions 2. Moderate Questions: 10 questions 3. Difficult Questions: 5 questions 4. Average Time Taken: 60-65 minutes. 5. Average Attempt of Questions: 10-12 questions 6. Good Attempt at Questions: 14-16 questions Important Topics/Chapters: Matrices & Determinants, 3D Geometry, Vector Algebra, Differential Equations, Calculus (mixed), Algebra.

April 6 Shift 1 Paper Analysis (9 AM to 12 PM)

Matrix Academy took multiple students’ reviews and found that the overall difficulty level of the Shift 1 exam on April 6 is moderately lengthy. Till now, it is the most difficult exam shift of Session 2. The Mathematics section was moderately tough and lengthy, with an average time of 60-70 minutes to solve it. In Chemistry, the difficulty level is close to a moderate level, where 18 to 19 questions were from the easy to moderate level category. Physics was also moderately difficult, where more than 20 questions were from the easy to moderate category. Check out the complete shift analysis of the April 6 shift 1 paper below.

Subject	Difficulty Level	Key Insights
Physics	Easy to Moderate, but Lengthy	No. of Easy Questions: 12-13 No. of Moderate Questions: 8–9 No. of Difficult Questions: 4-5 Good Attempt at Questions: 15-18 Average Attempt of Questions: 13-15 Average Time Taken: 50-60 minutes Important Topics/Chapters: Current Electricity, Heat & Thermodynamics, and Modern Physics (Atoms, Nuclei, and Dual Nature), Electrostatics, Magnetism, and Semiconductor.
Chemistry	Moderate but Lengthy	No. of Easy Questions: 9-10 No. of Moderate Questions: 8–9 No. of Difficult Questions: 7–8 Good Attempt at Questions: 18-20 Average Attempt of Questions: 13-15 Average Time Taken: 50-60 minutes Important Topics/Chapters: Thermodynamics, Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics, Periodicity, and Chemical Bonding, along with Organic Chemistry chapters such as General Organic Chemistry (GOC), Aldehydes, and Amines.
Mathematics	Moderate but lengthy	No. of Easy Questions: 10 No. of Moderate Questions: 10 No. of Difficult Questions: 5 Good Attempt at Questions: 14-16 Average Attempt of Questions: 8-12 Average Time Taken: 60-70 minutes Important Topics/Chapters: Matrices & Determinants, Calculus (Limits, Differentiation, and Integration), 3D Geometry, and Vector Algebra. Algebra topics such as Sequences & Series and Permutations & Combinations.

April 6 Shift 2 Paper Analysis (3 PM to 6 PM)

Matrix Academy reviewed feedback from multiple students and observed that the overall difficulty level of the April 6 Shift 2 exam was moderate, with a well-balanced mix of questions across all three subjects. Mathematics stood out as the most challenging section due to its lengthy and calculation-heavy nature, with students spending nearly 60–70 minutes on it. Chemistry was moderate and scoring, featuring mostly easy to moderate, NCERT-based questions. Physics turned out to be the easiest section, consisting largely of direct, formula-based questions that could be solved quickly. Overall, the paper was manageable within the given time, although time management was especially important for Mathematics.

Subject	Difficulty Level	Key Insights
Physics	Easy to Moderate	No. of Easy Questions: 9–10 No. of Moderate Questions: 10–11 No. of Difficult Questions: 3–5 Good Attempt at Questions: 20–23 Average Attempt of Questions: 18–22 Average Time Taken: 40–50 minutes Important Topics/Chapters: Current Electricity, Heat & Thermodynamics, Properties of Matter, Electrostatics, Magnetic Effects of Current, Alternating Current, Modern Physics (Atoms, Nuclei, Dual Nature), Ray Optics, Semiconductors
Chemistry	Moderate	No. of Easy Questions: 12–13 No. of Moderate Questions: 8–9 No. of Difficult Questions: 3–4 Good Attempt at Questions: 21–24 Average Attempt of Questions: 18–22 Average Time Taken: 35–45 minutes Important Topics/Chapters: Coordination Compounds, Thermodynamics, Basic Organic Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Periodicity, Chemical Bonding, d & f Block Elements, Hydrocarbons, Aldehydes & Ketones, Nitrogen Compounds, Mole Concept, Equilibrium, Chemical Kinetics
Mathematics	Moderate but lengthy	No. of Easy Questions: 10 No. of Moderate Questions: 10 No. of Difficult Questions: 5 Good Attempt at Questions: 14–16 Average Attempt of Questions: 8–12 Average Time Taken: 60–70 minutes Important Topics/Chapters: Matrices & Determinants, Calculus (Limits, Differentiation, and Integration), 3D Geometry, Vector Algebra, Sequences & Series, Permutations & Combinations, Probability

April 7 Shift 2 Paper Analysis (12 PM to 6 PM) – B.Arch/B.Planning

The JEE Main 2026 April 7 shift 2 exam finished at 6 PM for B.Arch and B.Plan papers and 6:30 PM for students giving both papers together. Matrix Academy educators have analysed the difficulty of the shift based on the memory questions received from students. In Paper 2A (B.Arch), the overall difficulty level was observed as easy to moderate. And the average number of attem pts out of 77 questions is 48–52. For Paper 2B (B.Plan), the overall difficulty level is also moderate. The expected cut-off of 90 percentile is expected at 170–180 marks.

Paper / Section	Subject	Difficulty Level	Topics Appeared in JEE Main 2026 April 7 Shift 2
Paper 2A (B.Arch)	Mathematics	Moderate to Tough	Calculus (Limits, Differentiation), Matrices & Determinants, Vector Algebra, 3D Geometry, Sequences & Series (lengthy, calculation-based)
	Aptitude Test	Moderate	Guggenheim Museum, First Five-Year Plan, NITI Aayog Chairman, Garden City concept, Mezzanine floor, Zaha Hadid, Gol Gumbaz, Golden Temple, Statue of Equality, Jawahar Kala Kendra, Match the Following (Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta, Greek/Roman/Byzantine architecture), Mirror Image, Colour wheel, Non-verbal reasoning
	Drawing Test	Easy to Moderate	Fallingwater (scene-based drawing), Logo Design (World Peace using geometric elements), perspective & composition
Paper 2B (B.Plan)	Mathematics	Moderate to Difficult (Lengthy)	Calculus, Matrices & Determinants, Vector Algebra, 3D Geometry, Sequences & Series (time-consuming numerical problems)
	Aptitude Test	Easy to Moderate	Architecture GK (Guggenheim Museum, Gol Gumbaz, Golden Temple), NITI Aayog Chairman, First Five-Year Plan, Mirror Image, Pattern Recognition, Match the Following, Colour wheel, spatial reasoning
	Planning	Easy to Moderate	Urban planning concepts, Land-use classification, Traffic & transportation, Map-based questions, Smart city concepts, basic planning terminology

April 8 Shift 2 Paper Analysis (3 PM to 6 PM)

The JEE Main 2026 April 8 Shift 2 exam finished at 6 PM for B.E./B.Tech (Paper 1). Matrix Academy educators have analysed the difficulty of the shift based on the memory-based questions received from students. The overall difficulty level of the paper was observed to be moderate. Mathematics was moderate to lengthy and the most difficult section, while Physics was easy to moderate and scoring, and Chemistry was moderate with a mix of NCERT-based and conceptual questions. The average number of attempts out of 75 questions was around 58–63. The expected cut-off for 99 percentile is around 200–210 marks.

Subject	Difficulty Level	No. of Easy Questions: 12–13 No. of Moderate Questions: 8–9 No. of Difficult Questions: 4–5 Good Attempt at Questions: 21–23 Average Attempt of Questions: 19–22 Average Time Taken: 35–40 minutes Important Topics/Chapters: Current Electricity, Thermodynamics, Properties of Matter, Atoms & Nuclei, Electrostatics, Magnetic Effects of Current, Electromagnetic Induction, Alternating Current, Rotational Motion, Work, Power Energy, Semiconductor Electronics, Waves
Physics	Easy to Moderate	No. of Easy Questions: 12–13 No. of Moderate Questions: 8–9 No. of Difficult Questions: 4–5 Good Attempt at Questions: 21–23 Average Attempt of Questions: 19–22 Average Time Taken: 35–40 minutes Important Topics/Chapters: Current Electricity, Thermodynamics, Properties of Matter, Atoms & Nuclei, Electrostatics, Magnetic Effects of Current, Electromagnetic Induction, Alternating Current, Rotational Motion, Work, Power, Energy, Semiconductor Electronics, Waves
Chemistry	Moderate	No. of Easy Questions: 10 No. of Moderate Questions: 10 No. of Difficult Questions: 5 Good Attempt at Questions: 17–19 Average Attempt of Questions: 14–17 Average Time Taken: 60–70 minutes Important Topics/Chapters: Matrices & Determinants, 3D Geometry, Vector Algebra, Differential Equations, Limits, Continuity and Differentiability, Definite Integration, Probability, Sequence & Series, Permutations & Combinations, Complex Numbers, Parabola, Straight Lines.
Mathematics	Moderate and lengthy	No. of Easy Questions: 10 No. of Moderate Questions: 10 No. of Difficult Questions: 5 Good Attempt at Questions: 17–19 Average Attempt of Questions: 14–17 Average Time Taken: 60–70 minutes Important Topics/Chapters: Matrices & Determinants, 3D Geometry, Vector Algebra, Differential Equations, Limits Continuity and Differentiability, Definite Integration, Probability, Sequence & Series, Permutations & Combinations, Complex Numbers, Parabola, Straight Lines.

Most Difficult Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2

Based on overall student feedback and trend analysis, April 6 Shift 1 emerged as the toughest shift of the session. Mathematics remained the most challenging section across all shifts, with higher difficulty and lengthy calculations contributing significantly to the overall toughness of this shift. Students can also get better insights by checking the toughest and easiest shifts of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 exam.

Most Easiest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2

The easiest shift of JEE Main Session 2 has been identified after the complete exam analysis by experts. Based on overall student feedback and trend analysis, April 2 Shift 1 emerged as the easiest shift of the session. Chemistry remained the easiest section across all shifts, with a majority of direct NCERT-based questions, making it highly scoring for students.

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Expected Cutoff Trends

Here are the expected cutoff trends for the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 exam, which was conducted from April 2 to 8. Based on the paper analysis done of all 10 shifts and the expected normalisation process, below are the expected JEE Main 2026 cutoff figures for all categories.

Category	Expected Cutoff Percentile	Expected Safe Score (Marks out of 300)
General (UR)	93.5 – 95 percentile	140+ marks
EWS	80 – 83 percentile	100+ marks
OBC-NCL	79 – 82 percentile	90+ marks
SC	61 – 63 percentile	60+ marks
ST	48 – 51 percentile	45+ marks
PwD	0.001 – 1 percentile	Varies

JEE Main 2026 April Session Expected Marks vs Percentile

Also, check the expected marks vs. the percentile range. NTA will soon release the provisional answer keys, and students can calculate their marks based on them. Use the marks calculator tool that will help with accurate calculations. Check which expected percentile range you fall in based on the marks below:

Marks Range	Expected Percentile
210+ marks	99+ percentile
170 – 210 marks	98 – 99 percentile
130 – 170 marks	95 – 98 percentile
100 – 130 marks	90 – 95 percentile
80 – 100 marks	85 – 90 percentile
Below 80 marks	Below 85 percentile

Want to find out your JEE Main 2026 Session 2 rank? Use the JEE Main rank predictor tool made by our experts. Find out the expected rank based on your expected percentile in the Session 2 exam.

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Answer Key & Response Sheet

Students can note that the provisional answer key and final response sheet will be released within 1-2 weeks after the exam is finished. Students should regularly follow the NTA website for the latest updates. Once the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 answer key is released, students can challenge the answers if needed.

Importance of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper Analysis

As we know, the JEE Main exam is conducted in multiple shifts, and each shift has a different difficulty level. This is why NTA uses the normalisation process. For proper evaluation of performance, students can refer to the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 paper analysis of each shift to get an idea about what to expect in the results.

Good-attempt estimate: Helps get an estimate of the good number of attempts for the shift.
Normalisation process: Helps identify variations in difficulty levels across the 10 shifts and provides an estimate of where you will stand.
Percentile estimate: The paper analysis provides deep insights into the type of questions and answers to the questions. This helps in estimating what percentile range the student can be in.
Cutoff prediction: Due to the paper analysis and expected normalisation, we can predict the cutoff for the 2026 Session 2 exam.

Overall, paper analysis is something every student is curious about as soon as the exam concludes. It is useful for students whose exam is scheduled later. It is also useful to analyse percentile, rank, and expected marks. With paper analysis, students can get an idea if the cut-off will fall compared to the previous session or increase.

JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Jan 21, 22, 23, 24, 28 Paper Analysis

The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 started on 21st Jan and ended on 29th Jan, 2026. A complete, detailed JEE Main 2026 Session 1 paper analysis was done for all shifts by Matrix JEE experts to help students enhance their preparation. If we talk about JEE Main 2026 Session 1 paper analysis, the maths section was unexpectedly lengthy, the physics section was moderate level, and the chemistry section was moderate and lengthy. Check out the detailed JEE Main 2026 January session paper analysis of both shifts of all JEE Main 2026 Session 1 exam dates 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, and 29 done by Matrix JEE experts:

FAQs

Was the JEE Main April session 2026 tougher than the January session?

Once the complete paper analysis is successfully done, students can expect to find out if the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 was tougher or easier compared to Session 1.

How many attempts in JEE Main 2026 Session 2 are required for a 99 percentile?

To score around 99 percentile, students are expected to attempt 55-60 questions with high accuracy. With these attempts, students can expect a 200+ mark, which will be in the 99 percentile range.

What are the dates for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 exam?

The JEE Main 2026 Session 2 exam is scheduled to be conducted from April 2, 2026, to April 8, 2026, for B.E./B.Tech paper. The B.Arch/B. Plan paper will be conducted on April 7, 2026.

What is the expected cutoff for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 exam?

The expected cutoff for the General category is likely to be around 93 – 95 percentile, with variations based on overall performance and normalisation across shifts.

What is the overall difficulty level of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 2 April?

The JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 2 April exam overall difficulty level was easy to moderate. A total of 58–64 questions is considered a good attempt out of 75 questions.

How difficult was Mathematics in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 2, April?

The Mathematics section was easy and lengthy, but considered doable for most of the questions. Most of the students find 20% questions difficult, 40% easy, and 40% moderate. A good attempt in Mathematics was around 19-22 questions out of 25.

What is the overall difficulty level of Physics in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 2 April?

The Physics section is easy, and 10-15 questions demand conceptual clarity. A good attempt is around 23–24 questions out of 25.

What is the difficulty level of Chemistry in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 2 April?

Chemistry was the easiest section in JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 2 April. More than 10 questions were from Inorganic Chemistry, where the section was easily completed in 40-50 minutes with a good attempt of 23-25 questions out of 25.

What are the expected cutoff marks for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 2 April exam?

For 99 Percentile, the expected cutoff is around 210 marks. The cutoff marks are higher because the overall difficulty level of the exam was easy.

What is the cutoff for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 2 of the 2nd April exam?

The expected cutoff for JEE Main 2026 April 2 shift 1 is 110 marks, and students can expect 99 percentile at 199 + marks out of 300.

What was the overall difficulty level of the JEE Main 2026 Exam April 2 Shift 2?

The overall difficulty of the JEE Main 2026 2nd April Shift 2 exam is a moderate level based on experts’ and students’ feedback. The chemistry section was moderate, mathematics was lengthy, and physics was easy to moderate. Overall, the shift 2 paper is doable.

Which subject was the most difficult in the JEE Main 2026 Exam, April 2 Shift 2?

If compared to other sections, Mathematics is the most difficult subject in the JEE Main 2026 exam, April 2 shift 2. The Mathematics section is lengthy, calculation-based, and involves multiple problem-solving questions.

How difficult was the Mathematics section in the JEE Main 2026 Exam, April 2 Shift 2?

The Mathematics section in JEE Main 2026 April 2 Shift 2 was moderate to tough in difficulty. While most questions were conceptually straightforward, they were lengthy and calculation-intensive, making the section highly time-consuming.

How difficult was JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 4 April?

Session 2 Shift 1 of 4 April exam was moderately difficult. The Mathematics section was the most moderate and lengthy. The Physics section was moderate to difficult, while the Chemistry section was also surprisingly moderately difficult.

How difficult was the Chemistry section of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 4 April?

The Chemistry section was moderately difficult. The average time taken is around 45-50 minutes to solve this section. 3 to 4 questions were statement-based, and most of the questions were from Organic and Physical Chemistry.

Was the Mathematics section easy or difficult in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 4 April?

The Mathematics section’s difficulty level was moderate, but the paper was very lengthy. Students confirmed an average time between 75 and 85 minutes, which also limits the average attempt of good questions between 8 and 11. Some students find the Mathematics section tougher and lengthier than the January Session.

What is the overall good attempt of questions in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 4 April?

With good accuracy, a good attempt ranges between 45 and 55 questions for the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 4 April exam.

What is the overall difficulty level of the Physics section in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 4 April exam?

The Physics section was surprisingly moderate to difficult, with an average time taken of 50-60 minutes. 4-5 questions were difficult, 8-9 moderate, and 12-13 questions were easy.

What are the qualifying percentile marks for the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 4 April exam?

The expected qualifying percentile of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 4 April exam is 170-180 marks for 99 percentile.

How difficult is the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 2 of 4 April?

The difficulty level of the JEE Main exam 2026 Session 1 Shift 2 of 4 April is easy to moderate. Chemistry is easy, physics is moderate, and maths is moderate but lengthy.

What are the expected cutoff/qualifying marks for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 2 of 4 April exam?

The expected cutoff of JEE Main Session 2 Shift 2 of 4 April is around 200+ marks for the 99+ percentile.

Is Physics difficult in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 2 of 4 April?

The difficulty level of the Physics section is easy to moderate for the 2^nd shift on 4 April. Students mentioned 3-4 calculative questions, but the rest of them were direct formula-based.

Which is the toughest section in JEE Main 2026 April 4 shift 2 Session 2 exam?

Mathematics was the toughest section in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 April 4th Shift 2 exam.

What is the Mathematics section difficulty level in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 5 April exam?

The Mathematics section was lengthy and moderately difficult. With accuracy, a good attempt in the Math section was 16-18 questions. The average time taken by students to solve the Mathematics section was around 60-70 minutes.

How was Physics in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 5 April exam?

Physics was easy to moderately difficult. The section was mostly doable for most students, with 18-19 questions out of 25 in the easy-to-moderate level category.

What is the difficulty level of Chemistry in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 1 of 5 April exam?

Chemistry was super easy and time-saving, with an average time to solve of only 35-40 minutes. 20-21 questions were in the easy-to-moderate level category.

What are the qualifying percentile marks for the JEE Main 2026 Exam Session 2 Shift 1 of 5 April?

The expected qualifying percentile for 99 is around 210 marks.

Which subject was the most difficult and easiest in the JEE Main 2026 Exam Session 2 Shift 1 of 5 April?

Mathematics was the most difficult subject in the JEE Main 2026 Exam Session 2 Shift 1 of 5 April, followed by Physics and Chemistry.

What is the average number of question attempts in the JEE Main 2026 Exam Session 2 Shift 1 of 5 April?

The average number of question attempts is 60-70 out of 75 questions in the JEE Main 2026 Exam Session 2 Shift 1 of 5 April.

Was Chemistry easy or hard in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 2 of 5 April exam?

Overall, Chemistry was moderate but time-consuming to solve, which consumes students’ time. 18-19 questions are from easy to moderate- difficult, while 6-7 questions are difficult.

Was Physics easy in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 2 of 5 April exam?

Yes, Physics was the easiest in the Shift 2 of the 5 April exam, where the average number of attempted questions was 18-20.

How difficult was Mathematics in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Shift 2 of 5 April exam?

Mathematics was moderately difficult, but most of the students found it lengthy. A good attempt at questions was low, around 14-16, while the average question attempt was around 10-12.

What are the expected qualifying percentile marks for the JEE Main 2026 Exam Session 2 Shift 2 of 5 April?

For 200+, a JEE aspirant can expect a 99+ percentile in the Shift 2 of the 5 April exam.

Which subject is the most difficult in the JEE Main 2026 Exam Session 2 Shift 2 of 5 April?

Mathematics was the most difficult subject in the Shift 2 of the 5 April exam. Physics was easy but lengthy, while Chemistry was moderately difficult.

What is the good overall attempt of questions in the JEE Main 2026 Exam Session 2 Shift 2 of 5 April?

Attempting 52-60 questions was a good attempt at questions in the JEE Main 2026 Exam Session 2 Shift 2 of 5 April.

What is the overall difficulty level of the JEE Main 2026 Exam Session 1 Shift 1 of 6 April?

At the overall level, the Shift 1 exam on April 6 was a moderate level, but a little bit lengthy.
Mathematics: Moderate but Lengthy
Physics: Easy to Moderate, but Lengthy
Chemistry: Moderate but Lengthy

Was Chemistry easy or difficult in the JEE Main 2026 exam of 6 April Shift 1?

The Chemistry section of the JEE Main exam on 6 April, Shift 1, was moderate but slightly lengthy. Most of the students took 50-60 minutes to solve this section. The most common topics of the Chemistry section are Chemical Kinetics, Mole Concept, Coordinate Geometry, and Equilibrium.

How is the Physics section in the JEE Main 2026 exam of 6 April Shift 1?

The Physics section’s difficulty level is close to moderate. The average time taken is around 50-60 minutes, while the average number of question attempt was around 13-15 questions.

Is Mathematics difficult in the JEE Main 2026 exam of 6 April Shift 1?

The Mathematics section was moderately difficult and lengthier to attempt. Even 20 questions were in the easy to moderate difficulty level, but they are lengthy to solve. 60-70 minutes is the average time taken to solve the Mathematics section.

What are the expected qualifying percentile marks for the JEE Main 2026 exam of 6 April Shift 1?

The expected qualifying percentile marks for the JEE Main 2026 exam of 6 April Shift 1 are around 180-190 marks for the 99th percentile.

What is the most difficult subject of the JEE Main Exam 2026 Session 2, April 6 Shift 2?

Mathematics was the most difficult subject in the JEE Main 2026 Session 2, April 6 Shift 2, with multiple lengthy and calculation-intensive questions.

What is the difficulty level of Mathematics in the JEE Main Exam 2026 Session 2, April 6 Shift 2?

The Mathematics section was moderate to difficult and the most time-consuming. The questions in April 6 Shift 2 were calculation-intensive and lengthy, requiring strong time management.

How difficult was the JEE Main 2026 Exam Session 2, April 6 Shift 2?

As per the initial analysis, it can be said that Mathematics was the most difficult subject of the JEE Main 2026 April 6 Shift 2 exam due to its lengthy nature. Chemistry was moderate and scoring, while Physics was the easiest section. Both subjects were doable within the given time.

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