The JEE Main session 2 exam is being held between Apr 02-09, 2026. As per the students' reviews and expert’s reactions on day 1, the chemistry paper was moderate with questions mostly from NCERT with around 28 to 33 good attempts. In JEE Main session 1 exam, the chemistry paper was considered toughest among all the shifts and the session 2 changed that narrative entirely shifting the cutoffs. Considering the difficulty level of the paper, the safe score in Chemistry for session 2 would be around 60-65 marks while a good score will range from 75-82 marks as per the historical trends.
To qualify for JEE Advanced 2026, general category students should be aiming for somewhere between 55 and 60 marks, OBC candidates must score around 46 to 50 marks, while SC students need around 32 to 36 marks and ST students approximately 25 to 30 marks to stay in contention.
Must Check: JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Mathematics Safe Score & Percentile
JEE Mains 2026 Session 2 Chemistry Predicted Safe Score & Percentile
Based on the moderate difficulty level of the chemistry paper in JEE Main 2026 Session 2 , here is the safe score and percentile prediction:
Particulars | Expected Marks | Expected Percentile |
|---|---|---|
Good Score | 85 to 90+ Marks | 99+ Percentile |
Safe Score | 70 to 75+ Marks | 95+ Percentile |
Must Check: JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Physics Safe Score & Percentile
Why Do JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Cutoffs Shift?
In JEE Main session 2 exam, the safe score in Chemistry cannot be determined by a single candidate’s performance; rather, it is determined by their performance relative to others in the same shift. Several factors influence the cutoffs in JEE Main exam 2026 including number of applicants, difficult level, category level of the candidate, etc.
The table below highlights how the cutoff shifts in JEE Main 2026 depending on several factors:
Factors Affecting Cutoffs | Details |
|---|---|
Shift-Wise Exam Difficulty Level | If Chemistry remains NCERT-heavy and straightforward like it was in Day 1 Shift 1, the safe score rises because more students attempt confidently and score well. If the section turns conceptually tougher in later shifts, the cutoff drops accordingly. |
Normalisation of Scores | NTA's normalisation process means a lower raw score in a tough Chemistry shift can yield the same percentile as a higher score in an easier one. In an easy shift, even a 10 to 15 mark drop in Chemistry can noticeably pull your percentile down. |
Topic-wise Weightage in Chemistry | If inorganic and physical chemistry questions are direct and textbook-based, the safe score for Chemistry rises. If organic chemistry features more application-heavy or multi-step problems, the threshold falls even if the overall shift difficulty stays moderate. |
Past Year Trends in Chemistry Difficulty | Historical shift-wise patterns in Chemistry difficulty also influence where the safe score lands. If past sessions show a consistently rising threshold, the current session may follow suit, though an inconsistent trend means the safe score depends entirely on that shift's paper analysis. |
Must Check: JEE Main Paper Review 2026 Session 2 (OUT)
Minimum Safe Score for JEE Advanced Qualification
The JEE Advanced qualification is based on the overall percentile of the candidate; however, subject-wise scores will also impact the final percentile. For general category candidates, a range between the 89th and 93rd percentile on a moderate paper, which is 120 to 140 marks, is required to qualify.
Based on the moderate difficulty observed in this shift and historical cutoff patterns, here's where students need to be:
Category | Minimum Safe Score (Chemistry) | Percentile Range |
|---|---|---|
General | 55 – 60 marks | 89-93 Percentile |
OBC | 46 – 50 marks | 80-85 Percentile |
SC | 32 – 36 marks | 70-75 Percentile |
ST | 25 – 30 marks | 65-70 Percentile |
Must Check: JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Percentile vs Rank Analysis
Pro-Tip for Session 2 Takers
If your shift is still coming up, here is what the JEE Main session 2 day 1 shift 1 data actually tells you:
Chemistry is your quickest win: JEE Main 2026 Session 2 chemistry was NCERT-heavy. Spend the night before your exam doing a focused revision of coordination compounds, amines, equilibrium concepts, and structure of atoms, not because you are learning anything new, but because recognition speed matters enormously in a timed exam. If you can read a question and immediately connect it to a textbook paragraph, you save precious seconds.
Do not let mathematics eat your session: Both students mentioned sinking significant time into the maths section. Attempt the questions you recognise immediatelyand do not let a single lengthy integral consume your timing for the rest of the paper.
Physics rewards formula fluency: The section was described as formula-based and moderate. Single slit diffraction, electrostatics, and thermodynamics appeared in this shift, these are predictable, high-return topics. A quick formula sheet revision the morning of your exam is genuinely useful here, not just exam-season superstition.
The JEE Main session 2 2026 exam landed where most expected: moderate overall, chemistry being the most approachable section, physics staying formula-driven, and maths being the usual race against the clock rather than anything conceptually brutal. Already appeared? If you walked out having confidently attempted 28 to 35 questions, you're likely in good shape. Still waiting for your shift? NCERT in chemistry, formulas in physics, and a disciplined time plan for maths, those are the three things most worth your attention before exam day. Stay tuned to CollegeDekho for more updates on the JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Exam!
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