Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam: April 8 to be toughest so far, followed by April 6 shift 1

Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main 2026 ( JEE Main )

UPASANA
UPASANA PRADHAN
Assistant Manager- Editorial
Updated on Apr 8, 2026 18:32 IST
The National Testing Agency completed conducting JEE Main 2026 session 2 exam. The exam was held in two shifts for scheduled dates: April 2, 4, 5, 6,7, and 8. After each JEE Main 2026 exam shift, students can find paper analysis and toughness level of JEE Mains 2026 session 2 question paper along with important topics asked in JEE Mains 2026

Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2: Students can check the JEE Main session 2 toughest shift analysis here. Now that the exam is over, the JEE Main 2026 April 8 shift 2 has been listed as the toughest shift beating JEE Mains April 6 shift 1 paper. Candidates can check detailed JEE Mains 2026 day-wise toughest shift analysis of session 2 below. 

JEE Main 2026 April Toughest Shift

JEE Main 2026 April Toughest Shift

Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 2: The National Testing Agency has completed conducting JEE Main 2026 session 2 exam, and based on student's feedback and experts' analysis, this shift (April 8, shift 2) is the toughest so far. Overall, students found the paper to be lengthy, with moderate to tough questions. Students can check JEE Mains 2026 session 2 toughest shift (day-wise) analysis below. 

The toughest shift of JEE Main 2026 session 2 gives you detailed comparison of shift-wise and day-wise paper review. After each shift, students can find paper analysis and toughness level of JEE Mains 2026 session 2 question paper

Latest:

JEE Main 2026 April 8 question paper answer key solutions JEE Mains 2026 Answer Key Solutions Live Updates
JEE Main 2026 April 8 marks vs percentile JEE Mains April 4 Paper Solutions
JEE Main 2026 April 5 shift 1 question paper with answer key solutions JEE Main 2026 April 5 shift 2 question paper answer key solutions

 

Want to know what your JEE Main 2026 Percentile will be based on your marks?

Check out the JEE Main Percentile Predictor 2026 by Shiksha.com, which predicts your percentile after analysing several years’ marks vs percentile data. 

JEE Main Percentile Predictor 2026
Table of contents
  • JEE Mains 2026 April 8 to be toughest, beating April 6, shift 1 paper difficulty
  • JEE Main 2026 April 6 Shift 1 Vs Shift 2: Which was toughest?
  • JEE Main 2026 April 5 shift 1 Vs Shift 2: Which shift was difficult?
  • JEE Main 2026 April 4 shift 1 Vs Shift 2: Which shift was difficult?
  • JEE Mains 2026 April 2 shift 1 VS shift 2: Which shift was tough?
  • JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam Shift Timings
  • What does “Toughest Shift” in JEE Main session mean?
  • JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam Memory-Based Question Paper Answer Key
  • How to handle Tough Questions in JEE Main: Smart Tips to Score Well
  • JEE Main Rank Predictor
View More

JEE Mains 2026 April 8 to be toughest, beating April 6, shift 1 paper difficulty

The NTA JEE Main 2026 April 8 paper has been completed. Candidates can check detailed analysis below -

  • The Overall paper was moderate with lengthy questions
  • Chemistry had more statement-based questions. 
  • Physics and inorganic chemistry had easy questions.  
  • Organic chemistry had tricky questions. Maths was lengthy.
  • Average attempt was 35 to 45 questions by many students.

Topics asked: calculus, vector and 3D (2 questions),  Determinants and Matrices, Conic, Integration, Log, Sequence, Probability, permutations, differential equations, binomial, IOC, units and dimensions, thermodynamics, wave optics, current electricity, magnetic effects, semiconductor, kinematics, etc. 

JEE Main 2026 April 6 Shift 1 Vs Shift 2: Which was toughest?

NTA is conducting JEE Mains 2026 exam. As of now, the JEE Main 2026 April 6 shift 1 paper has been the toughest shift out of all shifts so far. Many students found the paper moderately difficult, with Maths being lengthy, Physics calculative, and Chemistry moderate. According to candidates who appeared for today's JEE Main 2026 exam session 2 stated that 99 percentile will correspond to 160+ marks. 

Important topics covered in JEE Mains April 6 shift 1: Electric Field, Ray Optics, Refraction, Error, Rotation, Elasticity, SHM, Current Electricity, Heat, Vectors and 3d, Conic Sections, Matrix, Integration, Quadratic Equation, Physical questions dominated, which were very calculative. Topics came from Chemical Kinetics, Chain Reactions, Boiling Point, and Molar Mass

JEE Main 2026 April 6 shift 1 paper with answer key solutions JEE Main 2026 April 6 shift 2 question paper with answer key solutions
JEE Main 2026 April 6 marks vs percentile
Subject Shift 1 Analysis Difficulty Level and Topics Asked Shift 2 Analysis Difficulty Level and Topics Asked
Maths

Moderate and Lengthy. 

Topics: Vectors and 3d, Conic Sections, Matrices, Integration, Quadratic Equations, Calculus, Limits, Functions, GP

Moderate and Lengthy. 

Topics covered: Conic sections, Vector & 3D, Definite Integrals, Matrices & Determinants, Circle

Physics

Moderate and calculative. 

Topics: Electric Field, Ray Optics, Refraction, Error, Rotation, Elasticity, SHM, Current Electricity, Heat, and Thermodynamics

Easy to Moderate.

Topics: Capacitor, Electrostatics, Magnetic Effect of Current

Chemistry

Moderate with some trick questions. 

Topics: Physical chemistry questions in the numerical type section were very calculative and lengthy. Questions came from Chemical Kinetics, Chain Reactions, Boiling Point, and Molar Mass.

Moderate.

Topics: Organic and Physical Chemistry had more weightage, and Inorganic Chemistry had less weightage.

Overall Moderate Moderate

JEE Main 2026 April 5 shift 1 Vs Shift 2: Which shift was difficult?

JEE Mains 2026 April 5, shift 1 and 2 is now over. Based on students and experts, JEE Mains 2026 session 2 shift 2 paper was moderately tough compared to shift 1. Here's why -

  • In Maths, questions were doable, yet they were lengthy.
  • Surprisingly, chemistry was lengthy and moderate for many. Students have expresssed that statement-based questions had maximum weightage.
  • Physics was also moderate to tough with calculation-based questions.

Important topics covered in JEE Main 2026 5th April Shift 2 (all sections): units and dimensions, kinetics, rotation, moment of inertia, energy, modern physics, electrostatics, ray optics, Debroglie's Wavelength, Chemical kinetics, biomolecules, GOC, ionic equilibrium, liquid solutions, coordination compounds, salt analysis, 6-question from assertion, thermodynamics, Coordinate geometry, calculus and differential equation combined.

  • Students have stated that 99 percentile this shift we correspond to 160 to 180 marks. 

JEE Main 2026 April 4 shift 1 Vs Shift 2: Which shift was difficult?

According to students and experts, the shift 1 of JEE Main April 4 was tough compared to shift 2. Many questions were tough and lengthy to attempt. 

  • JEE Maths section on April 2, shift 1 was Moderate to tough and lengthy
  • Many questions were tricky to solve and required lot of calculations.

JEE Mains 2026 April 2 shift 1 VS shift 2: Which shift was tough?

According to the students and experts panel, the JEE Main 2026 April 2 shift 2 paper was slightly tough compared to shift 1. Mainly because -

  • JEE Main 2026 session 2 April 2 afternoon shift Physics paper was moderate with many calculation-based questions. ALso, few questions were lengthy.
  • Chemistry section had more calculation-based questions with maximum weightage of physical chemistry over organic chemistry, which was a surprise to many aspirants. 
  • Maths was on moderate to tough level side, demanding more time management skills and accuracy.  

Students who stated that they took around 30 to 35 minutes (average) to solve each section in JEE Main 2nd April morning shift. On the other hand, shift 2 candidates, took around 45 to 55 minutes on average to solve JEE Main 2026 April 2 shift 2 paper.  Overall, average number of attempts in JEE Mains 2026 session 2 shift 1 paper was 45+ questions. On the other hand, shift 2 paper had 30 to 40+ safe attempts. 

However, compared to JEE Main 2026 January session 1 paper, session 2 day 1 paper is more balanced, easy, and evenly distributed.

  • Important topics covered (JEE Mains 2026 April 2 shift 2): Vector 3D (2 questions), parabola, circle, integration, continuity, electrochemistry, Coordination compounds, insulation, etc.
  • Important topics covered (JEE Mains 2026 April 2 shift 1): Ray Optics (2 questions), Modern physics, Electrostatics (3 questions), Current Electricity, Wave optics, Co-ordination, Organic chemistry (less questions), inorganic had maximum questions (10+ questions), Physical and Inorganic combined questions, Vector 3D, Integration, Trigonometry, Sequence and Series, Differential Equations, 
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Where can I check JEE Main 2026 exam date?
A: 

Candidates can check the allotted JEE Mains 2026 exam date on their JEE admit card and also on the city intimation slip.

Q:   What is JEE Main dress code for boys and girls?
A: 

NTA has not issued any strict guidelines on what to wear and what to avoid. NTA has only stated that shoes with a thick sole and garments with large buttons are not allowed.

Also, Sikh candidates are allowed to carry religious or customary attire such as a Kara or Kirpan. 

Q:   In how many cities JEE Main exam is conducted?
A: 

In 2026, NTA is conducting JEE Main 2026 in 315 cities in India and 15 cities abroad.

Q:   Will NTA change the exam dates of JEE Main if the dates clashes with other exams?
A: 

No. NTA has clearly mentioned that ot will not change the dates of JEE Main exam of there is a clash of dates with any other examinations.

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam Shift Timings

According to JEE Main 2026 dates, on April 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8, the exam was conducted for Paper 1 (BE/BTech), and on April 7 (in one shift), the exam was held for the BArch paper. The exam timings were 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. 

What does “Toughest Shift” in JEE Main session mean?

If we look at the past trends of NTA JEE Main, then toughest shift doesn’t really mean the question paper that has hard questions. Overall, the JEE Mains toughest shift is usually categorised into three factors -

  • Total number of lengthy questions in three sections
  • Conceptual questions
  • Tricky questions in each section

Remember, a tougher paper makes it easy to get a good percentile for students who are well-prepared. Therefore, understanding tricks and past trends in question paper pattern and strategizing in right way with time management skills and accuracy can lead to achieve 99 percentile in JEE Main.  After each JEE Main 2026 April shift, candidates can check section-wise difficulty level, topics that had maximum weightage, and students reactions towards the question paper. 

In addition, students will get an idea of the following -

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Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the JEE Main 2026 exam date for Session 2 ?
A: 

NTA conducted the JEE Main 2026 session 2 exam between April 2 and 8.

Q:   Will there be any break in JEE Main 2026 exam?
A: 

JEE Main exam is held for 3 hours continuously without any break. Candidates are allowed to leave exam hall only after 3 hours of the test are over.

Q:   Where can I find important study materials for JEE Mains preparation?
A: 
Students can check details about JEE Main important chapter and topics from this page. While it is necessary that students pay special attention to chapters with high weightage, it is highly advised that they cover the full JEE Mains syllabus. The question paper of JEE Main is prepared by considering the entire JEE syllabus which consists of topics from Physics Chemistry and Mathematics from class 11 and 12. Important study material for JEE Main like books or short notes can be checked online. Students who are taking coaching can get the study materials from the coaching institutes.
Q:   How many times JEE Main is conducted in a year?
A: 

National Testing Agency generally conducts the JEE Main exam two times in a year. The first attempt is conducted in January and the second attempt in April. JEE Main 2026 exam dates have been announced by the NTA for both sessions. The first attempt of JEE Main 2026 will be conducted from January 21 to 30 while the second attempt will be conducted from April 2 to 9. Only in the year 2022, NTA conducted JEE Mains in four sessions due to COVID-19. The number of sessions and date for any year is announced by the NTA at the time of release of application form.

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Commonly asked questions
Q:   How is JEE Main conducted, online or offline?
A: 

JEE Main exam is conducted in online mode as a computer based test. This is conducted in 3 different courses. The exam for B.Tech and B. Plan is completely online while the exam for B.Arch is partially online and drawing part is conducted offline.

Q:   I am a PwD candidate. Do I need to carry the PwD certificate to the JEE Main exam centre?
A: 

Yes, you must carry your original PwD certificate (or UDID card) to the JEE Main exam centre to avail of relaxation or scribe services.

Q:   In how many languages JEE Main exam is conducted?
A: 

National Testing Agency conducts JEE Main exam in a total of 13 languages. The languages in which paper is conducted are Assamese, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu in addition to Hindi English and Gujarati. Students can select the language of their choice from the available options while filling the application form. The language of JEE Main question paper during the exam will be available in 3 languages- English Hindi and the language selected by the candidates. The language of paper can be switched among these 3 languages during the exam.

Q:   In how many shifts JEE Main exam is conducted?
A: 

JEE Main exam is in two shifts each day. First shift is from 9 am to 12 noon and second shift is from 3 pm to 5 pm. Exam is conducted over a period of 5-6 days. In total JEE Main has 10-12 shifts per session. Each session has different question paper set. The exam is for 3 hours.

  • Types on question asked in JEE Main: was it more conceptual/formula-based/statement-related or direct questions
  • Total number of safe attempts in JEE Mains 2026 session 2
  • Difficulty level section-wise and overall
  • Expected 99 percentile in JEE Mains 2026 shift-wise
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How may candidates have appeared for JEE Main 2026 session 1 paper 1 exam?
A: 

NTA has conducted the JEE Main 2026 January session exam for BE/BTech candidates successfully across multiple cities in India and abroad. The exam was held on January 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28 and on each day, there were 2 shifts. A total of 10 shifts were held for Paper 1. As per the official NTA data, across the 10 shifts,  13,00,368 candidates have appeared out of the 13,50,969 candidates scheduled to appear

Q:   What is NTA score in JEE Mains?
A: 

NTA Score in JEE Main result is the normalised score or percentile scores secured by the candidate.

Q:   Is JEE Mains tough in 2026?
A: 

As per many experts, JEE Main 2026 exam held in session 1 was the toughest in recent history.

Chemistry was the easiest subject and NCERT based. It was lengthy and tricky this year.

Maths was the toughest, and physics was also moderate to tough. Overall paper was lengthy, and candidates found it difficult to manage time and complete paper on time.

Q:   Are calculators allowed inside exam centre in JEE Main exam?
A: 

No. Any kind of calculator - virtual or physical - is not allowed at the JEE Main exam centres.

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam Memory-Based Question Paper Answer Key

Students can find related links to check JEE Mains 2026 April session (Day-Wise) Exam Question Paper and Answer Key Solutions -

JEE Main 2026 April 2 shift 1 question paper answer key solutions JEE Main 2026 April 2 shift 2 question paper answer key solutions JEE Main 2026 April 2 marks vs percentile

Also read:

JEE Main 2026 April Question Paper with Solutions PDF Easiest Shift of JEE Main 2026 session 2
Toughest shift in JEE Main 2026 session 1 Easiest Shift in JEE Mains 2026 session 1

How to handle Tough Questions in JEE Main: Smart Tips to Score Well

If candidates face a challenging situation while solving NTA JEE Main 2026 exam paper, then simply follow the tips provided below -

  • In a tough shift, always focus on precision over the number of questions attempted
  • Avoid spending too much time on one section. Distribute evenly based on your confidence level. For example: Dedicate 40 minutes to chemistry and physics, or start with easy questions first. Then reserve a good chunk of time for lengthy and tricky questions. 
  • Skip questions that take more than 3 minutes. Mark them for review and come back only when you have time left. 

So, before candidates reach exam centre, they must ensure that they carry their JEE Main 2026 admit card, along with a valid ID, and other items mentioned in hall ticket.

Also read:

JEE Main 2026 Exam Day Guidelines JEE Main Dress Code for Male and Females JEE Main 2026 Exam and Shift Timings
How NTA determines JEE Main Paper Difficulty Level JEE Main Percentile Predictor Calculator JEE Mains 2026 Marks Vs Percentile

JEE Main Rank Predictor

After the completion of exam, students can calculate their rank using the JEE Mains rank predictor. It will help candidates get an idea of how much marks they can get in their shift.  The rank predictor of JEE Main 2026 is programmed to provide ranks based on past few years and student details. Also check: JEE Main College Predictor

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UPASANA PRADHAN
Assistant Manager- Editorial

Upasana Pradhan is an Mtech graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from DTU who specialises in curating postgraduate and undergraduate engineering entrance exam content, such as GATE, TS PGECET, KCET,

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Answered Yesterday

Yes you can have a chancer admission !!! Content admission cell for further details 

O

Ocean

Beginner-Level 4

Answered Yesterday

Yes, as per the JEE Main 2026 cutoff rank for CSE, it is possible to get a CSE seat at the University of Delhi with a cutoff rank of 41000. During Round 1 seat allotment, the maximum rank required for CSE admission was 81869 for the students belonging to the OBC category under the AI quota. So, 410

...Read more

R

Rashmi Sinha

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

No, JEE Main is not compulsory to get admission in BTech in BITS Pilani. Candidates should have passed Class 12 from a recognised board with a minimum 75% aggregate to be eligible for getting admission in BTech at BITS Pilani.

R

Raj Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

Yes, Babu Banarasi Das University offer scholarship based on JEE Main scores. Check below table to know Babu Banarasi Das University JEE Main scholarship:

General Rank In Entrance ExamScholarship awarded
IIT-JEE up to 2500 General Rank100%
IIT-JEE up to 5000 General Rank50%
IIT-JEE up to 10000 General Rank25%

To get more information, students must visit the official website.

G

Gaurika Chhabra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

DY Patil Navi Mumbai considers JEE Main, MHT CET or SAT scores for admission in BTech course. Hence, JEE Main is not compulsory. Aspirants without any of these scores, can appear for entrance test conducted by DY Patil Navi Mumbai for admission in BTech.

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered 2 days ago

No, JEE Main is not compulsory to get admission in BTech at MIT WPU. Admission in BTech course is offered based on different entrance exam scores such as: JEE Main, MHT CET, PERA CET,  MHT-CET-B, NEET (for bioengineering) scores.

R

Raj Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

JEE Mains is one of the most competitive exams in our country. According to a press release by NTA, the total number of candidates that appeared in both sessions of the exam was 15,38,468. 

The time required is subjective for each student. Roughly One to two years of preparation should be enough. Som

...Read more

B

Bhavya Jain

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 days ago

While researching the JEE Main cutoff for the B.Tech. Chemical Engineering programme at Institute of Technology, Nirma University (ITNU) provides a good foundation for your academic planning, Lovely Professional University (LPU) serves as an excellent alternative. LPU offers premier engineering prog

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A

Aston Martin

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

IIIT Agartala CSE cutoff 2026 was 42200 in the first round for the General AI category.  IIIT Agartala JEE Main cutoff 2026 has been released for the first round for various All India quota categories for the BTech CSE course. 

Among all the categories, the toughest competition in round 1 was for the

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

Yes, you can get into IIIT Vadodara - International Diu Campus in the first round with a rank of 40K if you belong to the General AI category. For this category, the round 1 IIIT Vadodara - International Diu Campus JEE Main cutoff 2026 ranged from 38883 to 41859. Check the table below to know which

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Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10