Loading...
Loading...
JEE Main exam analysis is one of the most strategically valuable tools a candidate preparing for JEE Main 2027 can use. Every shift produces a real-world dataset: which chapters NTA tested, how difficult the questions were, how many a well-prepared candidate could reasonably attempt, and what score corresponded to which percentile under normalisation. This data, accumulated over multiple sessions and years, is more reliable than any coaching institute's prediction of "what will come" in the next paper.
This page provides the complete, shift-wise exam analysis for JEE Main 2026 Session 1 (January 21 to 29, 2026) and Session 2 (April 2 to 8, 2026), along with a year-wise difficulty trend from 2022 to 2026, subject-wise insights that hold consistently across sessions, and how to use this analysis to refine your JEE Main 2027 preparation strategy.
All analysis data on this page is compiled from student reactions, memory-based questions reported after each shift, and expert review.
Note for JEE Main 2027 Aspirants: JEE Main 2027 exam analysis will be published on this page within hours of each shift during Session 1 (January 2027) and Session 2 (April 2027). Bookmark this page.
Visit the JEE Main complete guide for dates, eligibility, application process, syllabus, and cutoff.
Before diving into the 2026 data, it is important to understand what exam analysis tells you and what it does not.
What exam analysis tells you:
What exam analysis does not tell you:
The consistent patterns across 2024, 2025, and 2026 are what matter for 2027 planning. Single-shift anomalies are noise. Multi-session trends are signal.
Session 1 of JEE Main 2026 was conducted across 6 exam dates with 2 shifts per day, resulting in 12 shifts in total. Approximately 8.5 to 9 lakh candidates appeared in Session 1.
| Parameter Session 1 Overall | |
| Exam Dates | January 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 2026 |
| Total Shifts | 12 (2 shifts per day) |
| Overall Difficulty | Easy to Moderate across most shifts |
| Toughest Shift | January 23, Shift 2 |
| Easiest Shift | January 22, Shift 1 (Morning) |
| Mathematics | Toughest section in 10 out of 12 shifts |
| Chemistry | Easiest and most scoring in 8 out of 12 shifts |
| Physics | Moderate in most shifts; formula-based |
| Good Attempts (Average) | 50 to 60 out of 75 |
| Date Shift Overall Mathematics Physics Chemistry | |||||
| Jan 21 | Shift 1 | Moderate | Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy |
| Jan 21 | Shift 2 | Moderate to Tough | Tough, lengthy | Moderate | Moderate |
| Jan 22 | Shift 1 | Easy to Moderate | Easy | Easy | Easy to Moderate |
| Jan 22 | Shift 2 | Moderate | Tough, lengthy | Easy to Moderate | Moderate |
| Jan 23 | Shift 1 | Moderate to Tough | Tough, lengthy, multi-step | Moderate | Moderate to Tough |
| Jan 23 | Shift 2 | Tough | JEE Advanced level, multi-step | Conceptual, no formula-based | Calculation-heavy |
| Jan 24 | Shift 1 | Moderate to Tough | Tough, very lengthy | Moderate, lengthy | Moderate (NCERT) |
| Jan 24 | Shift 2 | Moderate | Moderate to Tough | Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
| Jan 28 | Shift 1 | Moderate | Moderate, tougher side | Moderate | Moderate |
| Jan 28 | Shift 2 | Easy | Moderate | Easy | Easy |
| Jan 29 | Shift 1 | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Jan 29 | Shift 2 | Moderate | Moderate, lengthy | Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
The JEE Main 2026 paper analysis shows that Physics and Chemistry consistently provided scoring opportunities, while Mathematics remained the primary rank decider across all shifts.
The January 23 Shift 2 paper was notable for having questions in Mathematics that were described by students and experts as JEE Advanced-level in difficulty and length, with Chemistry being calculation-heavy rather than the usual NCERT-direct format.
Physics questions were mostly formula-based, Chemistry was largely NCERT-oriented, and Mathematics involved lengthy, calculation-heavy problems across most Session 1 shifts. Overall difficulty remained moderate across the majority of shifts.
Physics (Session 1 - Topics Tested Across Shifts)
| Topic Approximate Questions per Shift Frequency | ||
| Electrostatics and Current Electricity | 3 to 4 | Every shift |
| Modern Physics (Atoms, Nuclei, Dual Nature) | 3 to 4 | Every shift |
| Rotational Motion and Mechanics | 2 to 3 | Every shift |
| Wave Optics and Ray Optics | 2 to 3 | Most shifts |
| Thermodynamics and Heat | 1 to 2 | Most shifts |
| Electromagnetic Induction and AC | 1 to 2 | Most shifts |
| Simple Harmonic Motion | 1 | Most shifts |
| Magnetic Effects | 1 to 2 | Most shifts |
In Session 1, Physics topics tested most frequently included Mechanics, Electrodynamics, and Heat and Thermodynamics, with 40 percent of questions from Class 11 and 60 percent from Class 12 in several shifts.
Chemistry (Session 1 - Topics Tested Across Shifts)
| Topic Approximate Questions per Shift Frequency | ||
| Coordination Compounds | 1 to 2 | Every shift |
| p-Block Elements | 1 to 2 | Every shift |
| Chemical Bonding | 1 to 2 | Most shifts |
| Organic Reactions (Carbonyl, Amines) | 2 to 3 | Every shift |
| Ionic and Chemical Equilibrium | 1 to 2 | Most shifts |
| Electrochemistry | 1 | Most shifts |
| Mole Concept and Stoichiometry | 1 | Most shifts |
| Atomic Structure | 1 to 2 | Most shifts |
In Session 1 January 22 Shift 2, Chemistry questions came from d-block and p-block elements, ionic and buffer solutions, entropy, and chemical kinetics. Physics had questions from ray optics, fluid mechanics, rotation, semiconductors, and thermodynamics.
Mathematics (Session 1 - Topics Tested Across Shifts)
| Topic Approximate Percentage per Shift Frequency | ||
| Algebra (Matrices, Determinants, Complex Numbers, Sequences) | 32 to 36 percent | Every shift |
| Calculus (Integration, Differentiation, Differential Equations) | 28 to 35 percent | Every shift |
| Coordinate Geometry (Circles, Conics) | 10 to 16 percent | Every shift |
| Vector Algebra and 3D Geometry | 9 to 12 percent | Every shift |
| Trigonometry and Inverse Trigonometry | 4 to 8 percent | Most shifts |
| Statistics and Probability | 5 to 9 percent | Most shifts |
In the January 21 Shift 1 analysis, Algebra comprised 36 percent of the Mathematics paper, followed by Calculus at 32 percent, Coordinate Geometry at 16 percent, Vector and 3D at 12 percent, and Trigonometry at 4 percent.
Session 2 was conducted from April 2 to 8, 2026, across 7 exam days with 2 shifts each, resulting in 14 shifts. Approximately 11 lakh candidates appeared for Session 2, the highest ever for a single session.
| Parameter Session 2 Overall | |
| Exam Dates | April 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 2026 |
| Total Shifts | 14 (2 shifts per day) |
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate across most shifts |
| Toughest Shift | April 6, Shift 1 and April 4, Shift 1 |
| Easiest Shift | April 2, Shift 1 and April 5, Shift 2 |
| Mathematics | Toughest or most time-consuming in all 14 shifts |
| Chemistry | Most scoring in 11 out of 14 shifts; heavily NCERT-based |
| Physics | Easy to Moderate in most shifts |
| Good Attempts (Average) | 50 to 60 out of 75 |
| Date Shift Overall Mathematics Physics Chemistry | |||||
| Apr 2 | Shift 1 | Moderate | Moderate, lengthy | Easy to Moderate | Easy (NCERT) |
| Apr 2 | Shift 2 | Moderate to Tough | Tough, calculation-intensive | Moderate | Moderate |
| Apr 4 | Shift 1 | Moderate to Tough | Tough, lengthy | Easy to Moderate | Moderate |
| Apr 4 | Shift 2 | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Apr 5 | Shift 1 | Moderate | Moderate, lengthy | Easy, lengthy | Easy (NCERT) |
| Apr 5 | Shift 2 | Moderate | Moderate, lengthy | Easy to Moderate | Moderate, inorganic-heavy |
| Apr 6 | Shift 1 | Moderate to Tough | Tough (5 to 6 questions from Conics) | Moderate, conceptual | Moderate |
| Apr 6 | Shift 2 | Moderate | Moderate to Tough | Moderate | Scoring |
| Apr 7 | Shift 1 | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Apr 7 | Shift 2 | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Apr 8 | Shift 1 | Moderate | Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Moderate |
| Apr 8 | Shift 2 | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
Across all shifts of Session 2, Mathematics remained the toughest and most time-consuming section, Physics was moderate, and Chemistry was generally the easiest and most scoring. The toughest shifts of Session 2 were April 4 Shift 1 and April 6 Shift 1, while the easiest were April 2 Shift 1 and April 5 Shift 2.
In April 6 Shift 1, Mathematics was particularly notable, with 5 to 6 questions from Conic Sections alone and 2 questions each from Integral Calculus and Coordinate Geometry. Good attempts in Mathematics for this shift ranged from 8 to 12 questions, making it one of the toughest Mathematics papers of the entire 2026 cycle.
In April 5 Shift 2, Physics was the easiest section. Four chapters, specifically Current Electricity, Thermodynamics, Properties of Matter, and Modern Physics (Atoms and Nuclei), contributed 32 percent of the Physics paper (8 questions), with the remaining 17 questions distributed across 17 other chapters.
In the April 5 exam, both shifts showed moderate difficulty overall, with Chemistry being the most scoring section, Physics being easy to moderate, and Mathematics remaining lengthy in both shifts. Good attempts for a high percentile were estimated at 50 to 60 questions across both shifts.
Good attempts refers to the number of questions a candidate should aim to answer correctly (not just attempt) to achieve a specific percentile range. This is not about total questions attempted, but about net correct answers.
| Net Correct Answers (out of 75) Approximate Marks Expected Percentile (General) | ||
| 65 to 75 | 260 to 300 | 99.7 to 100 |
| 55 to 65 | 220 to 260 | 99.0 to 99.7 |
| 45 to 55 | 180 to 220 | 97.5 to 99.0 |
| 35 to 45 | 140 to 180 | 93.5 to 97.5 |
| 28 to 35 | 112 to 140 | 88 to 93.5 |
| Below 28 | Below 112 | Below 88 |
These are approximate based on 2026 data for moderate-difficulty shifts. In tougher shifts (like Jan 23 Shift 2 or Apr 6 Shift 1), the same marks yield a higher percentile because more candidates score lower.
| Subject Easy Shift Good Attempts Moderate Shift Good Attempts Tough Shift Good Attempts | |||
| Physics (out of 25) | 20 to 22 | 17 to 20 | 14 to 17 |
| Chemistry (out of 25) | 21 to 23 | 19 to 22 | 16 to 19 |
| Mathematics (out of 25) | 18 to 21 | 14 to 18 | 8 to 14 |
Understanding how difficulty has evolved across years is critical for setting 2027 preparation benchmarks.
| Year Session 1 Overall Session 2 Overall Mathematics Chemistry Physics | |||||
| 2022 | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Moderate |
| 2023 | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate to Tough | Easy | Moderate |
| 2024 | Moderate to Tough | Moderate | Tough in some shifts | Easy | Moderate |
| 2025 | Moderate | Moderate | Tough in some shifts | Easy to Moderate | Moderate |
| 2026 | Easy to Moderate (most shifts); Tough (Jan 23 S2) | Moderate (most); Tough (Apr 6 S1) | Toughest section every year | Easiest and most scoring every year | Moderate and consistent |
Five-year conclusion: Mathematics difficulty at the NVQ level has increased consistently since 2022. Chemistry has remained the most NCERT-dependent and most scoring section across all years. Physics has remained consistently moderate, serving as the balancing section between scoring Chemistry and time-consuming Mathematics.
One of the most practical questions for aspirants is how many questions come from Class 11 versus Class 12.
| Subject Class 11 Questions (Approx.) Class 12 Questions (Approx.) | ||
| Physics | 9 to 11 | 14 to 16 |
| Chemistry | 11 to 13 | 12 to 14 |
| Mathematics | 10 to 13 | 12 to 15 |
In several Session 1 shifts, the class distribution for Physics showed approximately 40 percent from Class 11 and 60 percent from Class 12 topics, with Mechanics, Electrodynamics, and Heat and Thermodynamics being the most prominently tested areas.
The distribution is roughly equal with a slight lean toward Class 12, consistent across 2024, 2025, and 2026. Candidates who neglect Class 11 Mechanics, Algebra, or Physical Chemistry do so at significant cost.
The January 23 Shift 2 in 2026 was an outlier in difficulty. If you build your preparation assuming every shift will be that hard, you will over-prepare in some areas and neglect breadth. Build your strategy around what happens in 70 percent of shifts (moderate overall, tough Mathematics, easy Chemistry).
The consistent expert recommendation from JEE Main 2026 analysis is to attempt Chemistry first to build confidence and save time, then move to Physics, and tackle Mathematics last. This sequence ensures your highest-scoring section is completed with full attention and that any time shortage falls on the section where you have already scored strongly.
In most shifts, Chemistry offers 18 to 22 correct answers for well-prepared candidates without exceptional difficulty. This baseline score in Chemistry alone generates 72 to 88 marks. Combined with 14 to 16 correct in Physics and 12 to 15 correct in Mathematics, a total of 44 to 51 correct answers generates approximately 176 to 204 marks, corresponding to roughly 95 to 98 percentile in a moderate shift.
Solving a year's worth of PYQs subject by subject (all Physics, then all Chemistry) trains subject knowledge but not exam strategy. Solving full shifts in 3-hour timed conditions trains both simultaneously. Use the JEE Main Full Length Mock and PYQ Series to practice in shift-accurate conditions.
NVQ sections in Mathematics are particularly tricky because of rounding requirements. Practicing with real JEE Main shift question papers teaches candidates how to round off values correctly and improves accuracy in numerical answers before the actual exam. One incorrect NVQ answer costs 1 mark on top of not earning the 4 marks, a net swing of 5 marks from your potential. Five incorrectly guessed NVQs across all three subjects costs 5 marks and loses 20 potential marks, a 25-mark swing that can move percentile by 2 to 3 points.
Based on the consistent 2024 to 2026 pattern, the following is the expected analysis framework for JEE Main 2027.
| Parameter Expected for 2027 | |
| Overall Difficulty (most shifts) | Moderate |
| Mathematics | Moderate to Tough; lengthy; NVQs calculation-intensive |
| Chemistry | Easy to Moderate; NCERT-heavy; most scoring section |
| Physics | Moderate; mix of formula-based and conceptual |
| Class 11 vs Class 12 split | Approximately 40:60 |
| Good Attempts Target (General, 93.5 percentile) | 35 to 40 correct out of 75 |
| Good Attempts Target (General, 99+ percentile) | 55 to 65 correct out of 75 |
| Expected Qualifying Cutoff | 93.5 to 95 percentile for General category |
This forecast will be replaced with live analysis data during January 2027 and April 2027 sessions. This page will be updated with shift-wise analysis within hours of each shift ending.
Q1. Which was the toughest shift of JEE Main 2026? The toughest shift of Session 1 was January 23 Shift 2, which featured JEE Advanced-level Mathematics and calculation-heavy Chemistry. The toughest shift of Session 2 was April 6 Shift 1, with 5 to 6 questions from Conic Sections in Mathematics alone.
Q2. Which was the easiest shift of JEE Main 2026? The easiest shift of Session 1 was January 22 Shift 1 (Morning). The easiest shift of Session 2 was April 2 Shift 1, which had a balanced and manageable difficulty across all three subjects.
Q3. How many questions should I attempt in JEE Main to qualify (93.5 percentile)? Based on 2026 data, attempting 35 to 40 questions correctly (net of negative marking) in a moderate-difficulty shift is sufficient to cross the General category qualifying cutoff of approximately 93 to 95 percentile.
Q4. Does the difficulty of the shift I appear in affect my rank? NTA normalises scores across all shifts using a percentile method. A harder shift means scores are distributed differently, and NTA accounts for this through inter-shift normalisation. You are not disadvantaged by appearing in a tougher shift.
Q5. Is Mathematics always the hardest section in JEE Main? Based on 2022 to 2026 data, Mathematics was the toughest or most time-consuming section in the overwhelming majority of shifts. This trend is expected to continue in 2027. Time management in Mathematics is the single most important skill differentiator among candidates in the 90 to 99 percentile range.
Stay updated with the latest news and notifications about JEE Main Exam Analysis 2026: Session 1 and Session 2 Shift-Wise Difficulty, Topics and Good Attempts and other exams.
ExamUpdateAspirantMitraa
20 May 2026
ExamResultAspirantMitraa
20 May 2026
