The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 Session 2 began on April 2, with Shift 1 being described as student-friendly and easier than the January attempt. Experts noted that the paper focused more on conceptual clarity and fundamentals rather than tricky problem-solving.
According to Ujjwal Singh, Founding CEO, Infinity Learn by Sri Chaitanya, the overall paper was balanced and allowed students to attempt more questions with accuracy, especially those with strong basics.
Sharing his view, Ujjwal Singh said, “The April session has begun on a more balanced and student-friendly note compared to January. The paper clearly reflects a shift towards testing conceptual clarity over complexity.”
Here’s the subject-wise JEE Main 2026 Session 1 paper analysis as per Ujjwal Singh, Founding CEO, Infinity Learn by Sri Chaitanya:
PHYSICS: EASY AND SCORING
Physics was easy and highly manageable within time. The questions were largely aligned with previous year patterns and appeared slightly easier than the January 2026 session.
Most questions were formula-based and tested core concepts, allowing students to attempt a higher number with accuracy.
CHEMISTRY: MOST SCORING
Chemistry emerged as the most scoring section, with an overall easy to moderate difficulty level. The paper had balanced coverage across Organic, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry.
Organic Chemistry included statement-based questions, focusing on conceptual clarity rather than memorisation. The section required basic understanding and quick application, with minimal complex calculations.
MATHEMATICS: MODERATE BUT LENGTHY
Mathematics was moderate in difficulty and slightly lengthy, as expected. While the questions were not unusually difficult, they required time and careful calculation, making time management crucial.
Compared to some earlier shifts, this section felt more approachable, though still the most time-consuming.
OVERALL PAPER STUDENT – FRIENDLY
The overall paper was easy to moderate and more student-friendly compared to the January 2026 session. The focus was clearly on strong fundamentals and conceptual understanding, rather than tricky or advanced problem-solving.
With simpler calculations, balanced subject coverage, and manageable time pressure, the paper allowed students, especially those with strong basics, to maximise attempts and accuracy.
This shift is expected to be high-scoring, with top-performing students having the potential to achieve near-perfect scores.
Singh said, “For students, this reinforces an important takeaway that strong fundamentals and consistent practice matter more than ever. As competition continues to rise, the ability to stay accurate, manage time effectively, and apply concepts with confidence will be key to achieving top outcomes.”
