The JEE Main 2026 exam conducted on April 2 was held in two separate shifts, comprising questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Each shift included a total of 75 questions carrying 300 marks, with a duration of 3 hours. This page presents a summarized analysis of the exam conducted on the day, along with references to detailed breakdowns for each shift. It includes insights into difficulty levels, question distribution, and subject-wise performance indicators to help students evaluate their attempts.
This evaluation provides an in-depth understanding of the paper format and overall difficulty level as conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Shift 1 Analysis (9 AM – 12 PM)
Shift 2 Analysis (3 PM – 6 PM)
Overall Difficulty Level on 2 April 2026 (Day Summary)
The JEE Main 2026 exam held on April 2 featured two moderately difficult shifts. Shift 1 was considered well-balanced and relatively manageable, comprising a blend of conceptual and application-oriented questions similar to patterns observed in Session 1. Most students were able to complete the paper within the allotted time, although Mathematics emerged as the most challenging section.
Shift 2, based on early student feedback, was also rated moderate but appeared more time-intensive. Mathematics ranged from moderate to difficult, Physics maintained a moderate level, and Chemistry was the easiest among the three. The structure of both shifts remained largely consistent, with detailed solutions, answer keys, and analyses indicating that Mathematics was the toughest section overall, whereas Chemistry remained scoring and closely aligned with NCERT concepts.
Here's a breakdown of the subject-wise difficulty:
Physics: Moderate
Chemistry: Moderate
Mathematics: Moderate
Subject-wise Summary
Physics
The Physics syllabus for JEE
Main 2026 covered a wide range of topics including Mechanics (laws of motion,
work and energy), Thermodynamics, Electromagnetism (electrostatics and current
electricity), Optics (both ray and wave), Modern Physics (atomic structure and
semiconductors), along with Units and Measurements. A more detailed breakdown
of difficulty levels and question types will be updated after the exam.
Chemistry
The Chemistry section included questions from Physical Chemistry (atomic structure, thermodynamics, equilibrium), Inorganic Chemistry (periodic classification, coordination compounds, p-block elements), and Organic Chemistry (hydrocarbons, alcohols, biomolecules). Detailed insights into question difficulty and topic distribution will be released after the examination.
Mathematics
Mathematics covered major topics such as Calculus (limits, integration, differential equations), Algebra (matrices, quadratic equations, complex numbers), Coordinate Geometry (straight lines and conic sections), Trigonometry, and Probability & Statistics. A comprehensive analysis of question difficulty and distribution will be made available post-exam.