JEE Main April 2 2026 Paper Analysis — Shift 1 & 2 Difficulty Level, Topics Asked & Expected Cutoff
11.23 Lakh Students Appear | Session 2 Day 1 Complete | Full Subject-Wise Review Inside
JEE Main April Session 2026 kicked off today, April 2, with lakhs of engineering aspirants across India appearing in both Shift 1 and Shift 2. The paper has been rated Moderate overall — with Mathematics being the toughest, Chemistry the most scoring, and Physics sitting in the middle. Here’s your complete, expert-backed analysis of today’s paper.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducted JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Day 1 today, April 2, 2026, in two shifts — Shift 1 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, and Shift 2 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The paper consisted of 75 questions worth 300 marks, covering Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format. This session is crucial for candidates who want to improve their scores from Session 1 (January 2026) or those attempting for the first time with a focus on JEE Advanced qualification.
Session 2 exam dates are: April 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, 2026. Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) is scheduled for April 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8; Paper 2A (B.Arch) and Paper 2B (B.Planning) are scheduled for April 7.
| Shift | Timing | Overall Difficulty | Maths | Physics | Chemistry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shift 1 | 9 AM – 12 PM | Moderate | Moderate–Tough | Moderate | Easy |
| Shift 2 | 3 PM – 6 PM | Moderate | Moderate–Tough | Moderate | Easy |
Electrostatics · Ray Optics · Kinematics · Thermodynamics · EMI · Modern Physics · Semiconductor · Rotational Motion · Wave Optics · Units & Dimensions · Current Electricity
Student Verdict: Concept-based questions with standard numericals. Class 11 topics had slightly higher visibility. Most students found Physics manageable and scoring.
Coordination Compounds · Chemical Bonding · Salt Analysis · Periodic Table · Ionic Equilibrium · Biomolecules
Topics Asked (Shift 2):
Coordination Compounds · Amines · Chemical Kinetics · Ionic Equilibrium (Buffer) · Inorganic Chemistry
Student Verdict: Heavily NCERT-based. Inorganic Chemistry carried the highest weightage. Most students found Chemistry the easiest section and a definite marks booster.
Coordinate Geometry · Straight Lines & Circles · Conic Sections (Ellipse, Parabola) · Trigonometry · Calculus (Integral & Differential) · Vectors & 3D Geometry · Matrices & Determinants · Sequences & Series · Probability · Quadratic Equations
Student Verdict: Mathematics was the most time-consuming section with lengthy calculations. Class 12 portion had higher weightage. Good time management was crucial.
Based on today’s paper difficulty, student reactions, and expert analysis, here is the expected marks vs percentile for JEE Main 2026 April 2 Shift 1:
| Expected Score Range | Expected Percentile | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 175+ Marks | 99+ Percentile | Exceptional — JEE Advanced qualifier |
| 150–175 Marks | 97–99 Percentile | Excellent — Top IIT probable |
| 120–150 Marks | 90–97 Percentile | Good — NITs / Top colleges |
| 90–120 Marks | 75–90 Percentile | Average — Good state colleges |
| Below 90 Marks | Below 75 Percentile | Need improvement in next shifts |
The JEE Advanced 2026 cutoff percentile — the minimum score to qualify for JEE Advanced from JEE Main — is expected to be around 93.5 to 95.0 percentile for General category candidates, based on today’s difficulty level and previous year trends. Here is the category-wise expected cutoff:
| Category | Expected JEE Advanced Cutoff Percentile |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | 93.5 – 95.0 Percentile |
| EWS | ~81.4 Percentile |
| OBC-NCL | ~74.6 Percentile |
| SC | ~52.0 Percentile |
| ST | ~43.0 Percentile |
| PwD | ~0.11 Percentile |
- Mathematics: Expect it to be lengthy — prioritize speed and avoid spending too long on any single problem. Practice conic sections, vectors, and calculus.
- Chemistry: Revise NCERT thoroughly, especially Inorganic Chemistry. It is the highest-scoring section — don’t neglect it.
- Physics: Focus on Class 11 topics like Kinematics, Thermodynamics, and Rotational Motion — they had high visibility in today’s paper.
- Good attempt range for a 90+ percentile: 50–60 questions with 85%+ accuracy.
- Reach the exam centre before 8:30 AM (Shift 1) or 2:30 PM (Shift 2) — no entry after gate closing time.
- Carry a printed hard copy of your JEE Main admit card + a valid photo ID. Digital copies are not accepted.
- Check your unofficial answer key on jeemain.nta.nic.in or coaching portals immediately after the exam while memory is fresh.
📋 Check official JEE Main 2026 updates, admit card, and result on the NTA portal