JEE Main 2026 Sessions Compared: Moderate Difficulty, Shift Insights & Student Reactions

The JEE Main 2026 continues to be a critical benchmark for engineering aspirants, conducted in two sessions this year. While Session 1 was held in January 2026, Session 2 started on 2 April 2026 and will run till 8 April 2026. Comparing both sessions offers insights into difficulty trends, subject-level patterns, and shift-level variations.

Overall Difficulty: Consistent and Moderate

Both sessions indicate a moderate difficulty level overall, with no drastic surprises in exam structure. Session 1 had a mix of easy-to-moderate shifts and one slightly challenging shift, while Session 2, based on the April 2 shifts, shows uniform moderate difficulty, though some shifts presented slightly tougher Mathematics problems.

The key insight here is that Session 2 shifts are more consistently moderate so far, in contrast to Session 1’s broader spread, reflecting a deliberate approach by NTA to maintain fairness across candidates.

Subject-wise Trends Session 1 vs Session 2 

Physics:

• Both sessions maintained a concept-based and formula-driven approach.
• Session 2 continues to follow moderate-level questions similar to Session 1.
•  No unexpected spikes in difficulty make Physics a predictable scoring opportunity for well-prepared students.

Chemistry:

• Remains the most scoring subject, with questions largely based on the NCERT.
• Some minor fluctuations in difficulty were observed in Session 2 shifts, but overall, Chemistry continues to offer reliable scoring potential.
• Candidates reported certain shifts in Session 2 being slightly more calculation-intensive, though not drastically harder.

Mathematics:

• Continues to be the most challenging and time-consuming section in both sessions.
• Session 2 shows slightly tougher questions in specific shifts, particularly in problem-solving and lengthy calculations.
• Nuance: Minor increases in difficulty in Mathematics shifts may influence rank-deciding outcomes, but the overall pattern remains consistent with Session 1.

Exam Pattern

• Both sessions include Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
• Question types are a mix of MCQs and numerical-based problems.
• Negative marking applies, with equal weightage across subjects.
• Nuance: The unchanged pattern ensures that strategies from Session 1 can be effectively applied in Session 2.

Shift-wise Insights

• 2 April Morning Shift: Closely aligned with typical Session 1 moderate shifts.
• 2 April Evening Shift: Slightly tougher Mathematics, while Chemistry and Physics remain moderate.
• Overall: Session 2 appears more stable, though final trends may evolve as all shifts conclude.

Student Reactions: Insight into Candidate Experience

• Both sessions reflect balanced student experiences, with Chemistry scoring and Mathematics being time-intensive.
• Session 2 candidates noted slightly tougher Mathematics in certain shifts, but feedback indicates no drastic deviation from Session 1 trends.
• Minor variations at the shift level highlight the importance of time management, particularly in Mathematics.

What Aspirants Can Take Away

• Both sessions’ moderate difficulty ensures fairness in the normalization process.
• Focus on time management and accuracy in Mathematics, along with NCERT-based preparation for Chemistry, remains key.
• Understanding shift-level insights can help aspirants strategically plan their preparation and attempt order in future sessions or practice tests.