JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Answer Key: Key Highlights

• Answer Key Release Date: April 11, 2026
• Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
• Exam Name: Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 Session 2 (April Session)
• Exam Dates: April 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8, 2026 (nine shifts total)
• Total Candidates Appeared: 11.23 lakh
• Exam Centres: 566 centres in 318 cities across India and 14 international centres
• Question Papers Released: April 9, 2026
• Provisional Answer Key Release Date: April 11, 2026
• Last Date to Raise Objections: April 13, 2026 at 11:50 PM
• Objection Fee: Rs. 200 per question (non‑refundable)
• Session 2 Result Expected: April 20, 2026
• Official Website: jeemain.nta.nic.in
• Marking Scheme: +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect, 0 for unattempted

How to Download JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Response Sheet and Answer Key

Candidates can follow these steps to access and download the JEE Main Session 2 provisional answer key and personal response sheet:

• Visit the official JEE Main portal at jeemain.nta.nic.in
• On the homepage, click on the link titled "JEE Main Session 2 Answer Key 2026" or "Answer Key / Response Sheet"
• You will be redirected to the candidate login window
• Enter your Application Number and Password or Date of Birth in the respective fields
• Click Submit to access your personal dashboard
• On the dashboard, click "View Question Paper" to see the complete question paper with all questions from your exam shift
• Click "View / Challenge Answer Key" to access the provisional answer key alongside your marked responses
• Compare your response sheet entries with the official correct answers provided in the provisional key
• Download both the answer key PDF and your response sheet PDF and save them for reference
• Take a printout of both documents, as the response sheet will be available only for a limited time

Candidates are advised to download their response sheet immediately as NTA keeps it available for a restricted window of one to two days only. Missing the download deadline means losing access to the only official record of attempted answers.

How to Calculate Your JEE Main 2026 Score Using the Answer Key

Once you have downloaded your response sheet and the provisional answer key, use the following official NTA marking scheme to calculate your estimated raw score:

• Award yourself +4 marks for every question where your marked response matches the correct answer in the key
• Deduct -1 mark for every question where your response does not match the correct answer
• Award 0 marks for all questions left unattempted

Score Formula: Total Score = (Correct Answers x 4) minus (Wrong Answers x 1)

The JEE Main 2026 exam is for 300 marks total, covering Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics with 30 questions each. Each subject carries 100 marks. Note that integer‑type questions do not carry negative marking, while multiple choice questions follow the standard -1 penalty.

JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Percentile: What Score Do You Need?

The NTA does not release results as raw marks. Instead, it converts marks into percentile scores using a normalization process that accounts for difficulty variation across shifts. The percentile tells you what percentage of candidates scored equal to or below your score in your specific session. Based on previous year trends and Session 1 data, here is the expected JEE Main 2026 marks vs percentile analysis for Session 2:

• 300 marks: 100 percentile (topper range)
• 250 marks and above: 99.95 to 99.97 percentile
• 200 marks: 99.57 to 99.68 percentile
• 180 to 200 marks: 99 percentile and above
• 150 to 180 marks: 98 to 99 percentile
• 120 to 150 marks: 95 to 98 percentile
• 110 to 120 marks: 95 percentile
• 80 to 100 marks: Around 90 percentile
• 70 marks: Approximately 88 to 91 percentile

It is important to note that these figures are indicative estimates based on previous year analysis. Shift difficulty plays a decisive role in percentile calculation. A tougher shift means fewer students score high, so a lower raw score can still yield a higher percentile. The official percentile will be released with the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 result on April 20, 2026.

JEE Main 2026 Percentile vs Rank: What Does Your Score Mean?

Understanding how percentile maps to All India Rank helps candidates plan their college and counselling strategy. Here is the approximate mapping based on previous year data with approximately 11 to 14 lakh total candidates:

• 100 percentile: AIR 1 (topper of the session)
• 99.9 percentile: AIR approximately 1,300 to 1,400
• 99 percentile: AIR approximately 11,000 to 14,000
• 95 percentile: AIR approximately 45,000 to 55,000
• 90 percentile: AIR approximately 95,000 to 1,10,000

For JEE Advanced 2026 qualification, the expected cutoff is approximately 87 to 90 percentile for the General category. For OBC‑NCL the expected cutoff is around 80 percentile, for SC around 60 percentile, and for ST around 47 percentile. These are projected estimates and the official cutoff will be released alongside the JEE Main Session 2 result.

Session 2 Paper Analysis: Overall Difficulty and Key Observations

The JEE Main 2026 Session 2 exam was rated overall as easy to moderate by students across multiple shifts. Mathematics was consistently flagged as the most challenging section across shifts, described as lengthy and time‑consuming. Physics and Chemistry were rated moderate overall.

Specific observations from the April 8 shift, the final day of the exam, include the following: Chemistry had more statement‑based questions, inorganic chemistry and physics questions were relatively straightforward, organic chemistry had tricky questions requiring careful reading, and Mathematics was lengthy with questions from Calculus, Vectors and 3D Geometry, Determinants, Matrices, Conic Sections, Integration, Sequences, Probability, Permutations, Differential Equations, and Binomial Theorem.

The average attempt by students across shifts was reported between 35 to 45 questions, suggesting moderate difficulty. For Session 2 with a moderate paper, 55 or more good attempts are considered safe, while 60 or more are considered ideal.

How to Raise Objections Against JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Answer Key

Candidates who identify any error or discrepancy in the provisional answer key must raise their challenge before April 13, 2026 at 11:50 PM. The objection process must be completed online at jeemain.nta.nic.in and a non‑refundable fee of Rs. 200 per question applies.

Follow these steps to challenge the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 provisional answer key:

• Visit jeemain.nta.nic.in and log in using your Application Number and Password
• On the dashboard, click the "Challenge Answer Key" link
• The list of all question IDs and the NTA‑assigned correct Option IDs will appear
• Select the Question ID where you believe the answer is incorrect
• Identify and select the Option ID you believe is the correct answer
• Upload supporting documentary evidence such as a textbook reference, NCERT page, or any authoritative source that substantiates your claim
• Pay the non‑refundable fee of Rs. 200 per question being challenged using Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI
• Review all submitted details carefully before clicking Submit
• Download and save the confirmation receipt of your objection

All submitted objections will be reviewed by a panel of subject experts appointed by NTA. If an objection is found valid, the answer key will be revised and the correction will be applied uniformly to all candidates who appeared for that specific paper. The final answer key will then be used to prepare the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 result.

What Happens After the Objection Window Closes on April 13?

After the objection deadline passes on April 13, 2026 at 11:50 PM, NTA will review all challenges with subject experts and release the JEE Main 2026 Final Answer Key. The final answer key cannot be challenged under any circumstances.

Based on the final answer key, NTA will calculate raw marks for all candidates and then apply the normalisation process to convert raw marks into percentile scores. For candidates who appeared in both Session 1 and Session 2, the best percentile score across the two sessions will be considered for preparing the final merit list and All India Rank (AIR).

The JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper 1 result is expected to be declared on April 20, 2026 on jeemain.nta.nic.in. The result will include the NTA score (percentile), subject‑wise scores, and All India Rank. Candidates who qualify for JEE Advanced 2026 based on the cutoff will proceed to register for JEE Advanced 2026. NIT, IIIT, and GFTI admissions will follow through the JoSAA counselling process based on the AIR.

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Important Dates Summary

• Exam Dates: April 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8, 2026
• Question Paper Release: April 9, 2026
• Provisional Answer Key and Response Sheet Release: April 11, 2026
• Last Date to Raise Objections: April 13, 2026 at 11:50 PM
• Session 2 Result Expected: April 20, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions on JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Answer Key

Q. When was the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 answer key released? The JEE Main 2026 Session 2 provisional answer key and response sheet were released on April 11, 2026 at jeemain.nta.nic.in.

Q. What is the last date to raise objections against the JEE Main 2026 answer key? Candidates must submit their objections by April 13, 2026 at 11:50 PM.

Q. What is the objection fee for JEE Main 2026 Session 2? The objection fee is Rs. 200 per question. It is non‑refundable even if the objection is accepted.

Q. How many marks are needed for 99 percentile in JEE Main 2026? Based on previous year trends, approximately 160 to 200 marks are typically required to achieve 99 percentile, though this varies based on shift difficulty and normalization.

Q. When will the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 result be declared? The JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper 1 result is expected on April 20, 2026.

Q. Will Session 1 or Session 2 score be used for the final rank? For the final merit list and JEE Advanced 2026 qualification, the best percentile score between Session 1 and Session 2 will be considered for all candidates who appeared in both sessions.

Q. What is the expected cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026? The expected General category cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026 qualification through JEE Main is approximately 87 to 90 percentile. Official cutoff will be released with the result.

For the latest updates on JEE Main 2026 Session 2 result date, final answer key, JEE Advanced registration, and JoSAA counselling schedule, keep checking the official NTA portal at jeemain.nta.nic.in.