JEE Main Session 2 Toughest Shift 2026: Final Verdict OUT; Shift-Wise Difficulty Level Rating

10 30 AM IST - 07 Apr'26

Why the "Numerical Value Type" Questions Were the Rank Deciders?

Reports from the 2.2-rated morning shift indicate that the Mathematics NVT section was the primary cause of the low attempt rate. Many students left these questions unattempted due to "dirty calculations." Consequently, even small scores in the numerical section today will lead to disproportionately higher percentile jumps compared to earlier, easier shifts.

10 15 AM IST - 07 Apr'26

Rank Projections for the 81–82 Percentile Bracket

With a record 1.4 million candidates, the competition in the middle-percentile brackets is extremely dense. Our latest data shows that an 81.9 percentile currently translates to an Expected Rank of 2,53,400. For candidates in today’s tough session, reaching this rank is possible with a raw score as low as 51.2, whereas moderate-shift students will need at least 63.1 marks.

10 00 AM IST - 07 Apr'26

What to Expect from the Final Shifts (April 8 & 9)?

As we approach the final 48 hours of the JEE Main 2026 April Session, history suggests that NTA often keeps the final days "Moderate" to ensure a balanced normalization. However, after the "Calculative Storm" of April 6, we advise students to keep their speed-math skills sharp. Stay tuned for our "Shift-wise Memory Paper" downloads available at Noon!

09 00 AM IST - 07 Apr'26

Massive 25-Mark "Difficulty Gap" for 80th Percentile Seekers

Analysis of our latest Marks vs. Percentile spreadsheet reveals a staggering disparity caused by today’s difficulty. To achieve an 80.0 percentile, a student in an "Easy Shift" needs approximately 63.9 marks. However, for those in today's Tough Shift (Shift 1), the required score drops to just 45.5 marks. This 18.4-mark "Difficulty Discount" is a lifesaver for students who found the paper lengthy.

08 00 AM IST - 07 Apr'26

The "Normalization Jackpot" – Why April 6 Candidates are Optimistic Today?

As students take a breather on this "Gap Day," the discussion has shifted entirely to the Normalization Benefit. Based on our analysis of the 2.2 Difficulty Rating for April 6 Shift 1, candidates in that slot are looking at a massive "Difficulty Discount." In such shifts, the marks required for a 99 percentile can drop by as much as 15–20 marks compared to the easier April 5 sessions. If you felt the paper was "unfairly long," the NTA formula is designed specifically to favor your accuracy over the average attempt count.

07 00 AM IST - 07 Apr'26

Subject-Wise Weightage Trends – The "Final Lap" Guide

Our analysis of the 8 shifts completed so far shows Modern Physics (12–16 marks) and Vector-3D (16–20 marks) as the absolute pillars of the 2026 session. If you are appearing on April 8 or 9, these two units must be your top priority during today's revision sessions.

06 00 AM IST - 07 Apr'26

The "14 Lakh Unique Candidates" Impact on Competition

As we start the day, it is important to address the elephant in the room: 1.4 Million Aspirants. This record-high number means that even a 95 percentile (which sounds great) will place a candidate around Rank 70,000. Students are urged to check the CollegeDekho Rank Predictor to see how their specific shift difficulty balances this high competition

05 00 AM IST - 07 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026: Expected Cutoffs for Top-Tier NITs

Based on the cumulative difficulty of all 8 shifts, the safe score for NIT Trichy/Surathkal (CSE) is hovering around 235+ marks for easy shifts and 218+ marks for today’s tough shift. For core branches, the 98 percentile remains the standard benchmark for General category candidates.

04 00 AM IST - 07 Apr'26

Dawn Perspective: Comparing January vs. April Difficulty

As we head into the early hours, the "Verdict" is in: April is conceptually lighter but mechanically tougher than January. The January session tested "What you know," while April is testing "How fast you can calculate." This shift in NTA's strategy is why the 99 percentile marks are fluctuating so wildly.

04 00 AM IST - 07 Apr'26

Early Morning Strategy – The "Gap Day" Roadmap

Good morning, aspirants! With no exam today (April 7), your goal is Active Revision. Do not pick up new topics. Instead, solve the memory-based Mathematics papers of April 4 and April 6. Understanding the "lengthy calculation" patterns in these specific papers will mentally prepare you for the final shifts.

03 00 AM IST - 07 Apr'26

Analyzing the "Numerical Value Type" (NVT) Patterns

Across all April 2026 shifts, the Integer-type questions in Physics have been consistently easier than the MCQs. However, Chemistry NVT questions have been the "time-stealers" with complex stoichiometry. The strategy for April 8 should be: Physics NVT first, Chemistry NVT last.

02 00 AM IST - 07 Apr'26

Breaking Down the 80–85 Percentile Bracket

For students aiming for a good state-government college, reaching the 83.1 percentile (which is about rank 2,36,600) is an important goal. In a tough exam shift like today’s, you need to score around 55.3 marks to achieve this. However, in an easier shift, the score needed increases to 77.6. This "Difficulty Discount" is the largest we have seen this session.

01 00 AM IST - 07 Apr'26

The "Math Fatigue" Factor in Rank Predictions

Data from the first week of April shows that Mathematics is consuming an average of 85–95 minutes per student. Our experts suggest that for the upcoming shifts, students must treat Math as a "bonus" section—secure your Physics and Chemistry in the first 90 minutes to ensure you don't leave the "Easy" questions of those subjects unattempted.

12 00 AM IST - 07 Apr'26

Solving the "Chemistry Equation" for April 8/9 Aspirants

Midnight analysis of the last 8 shifts reveals a staggering consistency: NCERT Inorganic Chemistry (specifically Coordination Compounds and p-Block) has provided nearly 35–40% of the Chemistry marks. For those appearing in the final two days, a quick 2-hour NCERT read tomorrow could be the difference between a 90 and 95 percentile.

11 00 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

The "Midnight Reality Check" on Normalization

As Day 4 concludes, candidates are fixated on the "Tough Shift" (Rating 2.2) impact. Historically, in shifts this calculative, the gap between a 98 and 99 percentile can be as narrow as 8–12 marks. If you felt Shift 1 was a struggle, remember that the normalization curve is designed to reward your accuracy over the sheer volume of attempts.

10 45 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Expert Strategy for the "Gap Day" Before April 8 Exams

With no exam scheduled for April 7, students appearing on the final days should use this time to dissect today’s "Calculative Trap."

• Priority 1: Practice Integer-type questions from today's Physics paper.

• Priority 2: Review "Vector Algebra" as it remained the most time-consuming part of Math.

• Priority 3: Stick to NCERT for Chemistry—today proved that NTA is not deviating from the textbook.

10 30 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Final Shift Comparison: April 6 vs. The "Moderate" Shifts

Comparing all 8 shifts completed so far, the April 6 Shift 1 remains the undisputed king of difficulty with a 2.2 rating.

• April 6 (S1): 2.2 (Toughest)
• April 4 (S1): 2.5 (High Difficulty)
• April 6 (S2): 2.6 (Moderate-Tough)

If you were in the morning session today, your "Difficulty Discount" is the highest awarded by NTA so far this year.

10 15 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Why "Percentile vs Rank" Calculations Change for 2026?

With 14 lakh candidates, every point in your percentile is important. For example, an 83.1 percentile may correspond to an estimated rank of 2,36,600. Given the high competition, today's difficult exam means more students are scoring lower, so each correct answer in Physics or Chemistry can greatly improve your rank.

10 00 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

The 80 Percentile "Safety Net" for April 6 Shift 1 Candidates

As per the CollegeDekho analysis of today's toughest shift (Rating 2.2), students who may have struggled with the lengthy Math section can still find a "Safety Net." A raw score of just 45.5 to 50 marks in Shift 1 is expected to yield an 80.0 percentile. In contrast, for the easier April 5 Shift 1, candidates would need nearly 64 marks for the same result. This is the power of normalization in a tough shift.

09 45 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Final Checklist for April 8 Aspirants

• With a one-day gap ahead, candidates should:
• Revise the Integer Type questions from today’s shifts.
• Focus on Vector Algebra and 3D Geometry (The consistent Math heavyweights).
• Ensure all formulas for Modern Physics are on their fingertips.

09 30 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Shift Difficulty Scorecard: All Shifts Ranked

As of tonight, the April 6 Shift 1 (2.2 Rating) and April 4 Shift 1 (2.5 Rating) remain the top two most difficult sessions. Candidates from these shifts should feel confident that their percentiles will be "boosted" significantly during the final calculation.

09 15 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Impact of Today's Difficulty on NIT Admission Ranks

Due to the high difficulty level of April 6, we expect the "Closing Ranks" for top NITs to shift slightly. While CSE branches remain highly competitive, candidates with "Tough Shift" advantages might see better-than-expected allotments in core branches like Mechanical and Civil Engineering.

09 00 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Expected Cutoff for JEE Advanced Qualification (Day 4 Update)

The aggregate data across 8 shifts suggests the General Category cutoff for Advanced will sit around 91.5 percentile. For today's candidates, clearing this cutoff is possible even with a raw score in the low 100s, provided your accuracy in Chemistry remained high.

08 45 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

CollegeDekho Expert Tip: Don't Obsess Over Raw Scores

A common trend tonight among students is "Score Anxiety." Remember, JEE Main is a relative exam. In a shift with a 2.2 rating (Tough), your raw score is less important than your position relative to others in that specific 3-hour window. Normalization is designed to fix the "calculation traps" you faced today.

08 30 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

High Percentile Forecast – Targeting 99+

For the top-tier aspirants who appeared today, a score of 178+ in Shift 1 is looking like a solid contender for the 99th percentile. In Shift 2, due to its slightly higher scoring nature, you might need to push closer to 188 for the same result.

08 15 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

The 90 Percentile "Safe Zone" for Today’s Tough Shift

To touch the coveted 90 percentile mark in today's Shift 1, our experts predict a raw score of 108–112. For Shift 2, this might climb slightly to 115–118. This is a significant drop from the January session, where 90 percentile often required 125+ marks.

08 00 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Percentile vs Rank: The 14 Lakh Candidate Reality Check

With a massive pool of 1.4 million unique candidates, a percentile of 82.8 will likely result in an All India Rank (AIR) of approximately 2,40,800. While this might seem high, students are reminded that category-wise ranks will be much lower, keeping the doors open for several state-level government colleges.

07 45 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Updated Marks vs Percentile for the 80–85 Bracket

Based on our internal data (referencing today's toughest shifts), students aiming for an 85 percentile today may only need 58–60 marks in Shift 1. In the easier shifts of April 5, that same percentile required nearly 82 marks. This 20-mark gap highlights the extreme difficulty of today's morning session.

07 30 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Day 4 Final Verdict – The Toughest Day of JEE Main 2026?

With both shifts today falling into the "Moderate-Tough" to "Tough" categories, April 6 has officially clocked the lowest average attempt rate of the session. If you found today difficult, you are in the majority—this day is set to become the biggest beneficiary of NTA's normalization process.

07 15 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Chemistry NCERT Dominance Continues Across Both Shifts

A post-exam audit of the April 6 papers shows that 85% of Chemistry questions were lifted directly from NCERT concepts. While Shift 1 was more calculative, Shift 2 focused on direct naming reactions in Organic Chemistry. This reinforces our advice: NCERT is the only Bible for the remaining shifts on April 8 and 9.

07 00 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Shift 2 Math Analysis – Lengthy but Not "Lethal"

As more student feedback pours in, the consensus for Shift 2 Mathematics is emerging: it was significantly lengthy but lacked the extreme conceptual complexity seen in Shift 1. Most students managed to attempt 12–15 questions with confidence, compared to the single-digit attempts reported in the morning.

06 45 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Why April 6 Candidates Should Celebrate the Normalization?

Because both shifts today fall on the "harder" side of the 2026 spectrum, today's candidates will benefit from a Normalization Jackpot. A raw score of 180 today is qualitatively equal to a score of 200 on an easier day like April 5. The "NTA Score" will reflect this difficulty discount when results are announced.

06 30 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Final Predicted Marks vs. Percentile for Day 4 (Both Shifts)

06 15 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Comparison: April 6 Shift 1 vs. Shift 2

• Maths: Shift 1 was "brutal"; Shift 2 was "lengthy but doable."
• Physics: Shift 1 had more numericals; Shift 2 had more conceptual theory.
• Chemistry: Both shifts were NCERT-dominated, though Shift 2 had 2-3 tricky statement-based questions in Inorganic Chemistry.
• Overall Verdict: Shift 1 remains the "Toughest Shift" of the day and the session.

06 00 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Shift 2 Ends – April 6 Exams Successfully Concluded

The final session of the day has officially ended! Thousands of students are exiting centers in cities like Jaipur, Patna, and Chennai. First impressions suggest that while Math was lengthy, Physics featured more questions from Electromagnetism and Ray Optics, providing a slight scoring relief compared to the morning session.

05 45 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

The "Last-Minute Guessing" Warning for Shift 2

As the final bell nears, experts advise candidates not to "randomly click" on the Numerical Value Type (NVT) questions. In a challenging shift like today's, being accurate is crucial. One wrong answer could lower your rank by 5,000 places in the busy 95-98 percentile range.

05 30 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Expected General Category Cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026

Based on the average difficulty of all shifts till now, the JEE Advanced qualification cutoff is expected to fluctuate between 91.2 and 91.8 percentile. For students in today's tough shifts, a score of 105-110 could be the "magic number" to qualify for the IIT entrance exam.

05 15 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Cumulative Difficulty Hierarchy: April 6 Takes the Lead

With only one hour left for the day to conclude, here is the updated difficulty leaderboard across all 8 shifts:

• April 6 Shift 1: (Toughest - Rating 2.2)
• April 4 Shift 1: (Moderate-Tough - Rating 2.5)
• April 6 Shift 2: (Moderate-Tough - Rating 2.6 Expected)
• April 2 Shift 2: (Moderate - Rating 2.75)

Today (April 6) is officially the most demanding day for aspirants in the 2026 April Session.

05 00 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

The "14 Lakh Candidate" Variable: Why Rank Inflation is Real in 2026?

With a record-breaking unique candidate count this year, the competition for the Top 10,000 ranks has intensified. Even with a high percentile like 99.0, your All India Rank (AIR) might sit around 14,200 this year. Students are advised to focus on "Branch-wise Cutoffs" rather than just the percentile to get a realistic picture of their NIT/IIIT admission chances.

04 45 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Shift 2 Mid-Exam Trend: Is Mathematics Repeating the "Shift 1 Trap"?

As the afternoon session nears its end, faculty reports indicate that Shift 2 is taking a "Balanced but Long" approach. Unlike the morning session (Shift 1), which was considered the hardest due to "lengthy calculations," Shift 2 has more focus on concepts in Physics. This might mean that to achieve the 99th percentile, a slightly higher raw score will be necessary compared to the morning's 2.2-rated paper.

04 30 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

The "2.2 Rating" Impact: Why Today's Candidates Might Get a Normalization Bonus?

As Shift 2 enters its final 90 minutes, the data remains clear: April 6 Shift 1 is the toughest benchmark of 2026. For students in this "Tough" category, NTA’s normalization formula will act as a significant multiplier. Historically, in shifts with a 2.2 difficulty rating, raw scores as low as 178 have successfully touched the 99 percentile mark.

04 15 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

The "Normalization Jackpot" – Who Benefits the Most?

The biggest winners of the April 2026 session will be the students of April 6 Shift 1 and April 4 Shift 1. Our data shows that these shifts had the lowest "Average Attempt Count." When NTA normalizes the scores, these students will see the most significant "boost" from their raw scores to their final NTA score.

04 00 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Final Predicted Cutoff for JEE Advanced Qualification

Looking at the cumulative difficulty across all 7 shifts, the General Category cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026 is expected to hover around 91.2 - 91.8 percentile. In terms of marks for today's tough shift, this could be as low as 102-105 marks.

03 45 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Shift 2 Progress Update: Will the "Tough" Streak Continue?

As Shift 2 candidates enter their final hour, the central question is whether NTA will balance the day's average by providing an easier evening paper. If Shift 2 remains "Moderate," the gap between the morning and evening percentiles will be the largest we've seen this year, necessitating a heavy normalization adjustment.

03 30 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Rank vs. Marks: How Today's Paper Changes the Equations?

Because today was the toughest shift, we are recalibrating the Rank Predictor.

• Rank 1 - 500: Expected at 280+ Marks (Easy Shift) vs 265+ Marks (Today's Tough Shift).
• Rank 10,000: Expected at 215 Marks (Easy Shift) vs 198 Marks (Today's Tough Shift).
• This 15-20 mark "Difficulty Discount" is massive for today's candidates.

03 15 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

The 95-98 Percentile Bracket: The NIT/IIIT "Danger Zone"

For students landing in the 95-98 percentile range, ranks will likely fluctuate between 28,000 and 70,000. Our analysis suggests that in today’s tough shift, scoring 140-155 marks could comfortably land you in this bracket, whereas in previous shifts, the same score might only yield a 93-94 percentile.

03 00 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026: Expected Rank for 99 Percentile Achievers

With approximately 14.2 Lakh unique candidates registered for the 2026 session, a 99 percentile will roughly translate to a CRL (Common Rank List) of 14,200. For those aiming for top NITs like Trichy or Warangal (CSE Branch), a percentile of 99.7+ (Rank < 4,500) is the safe zone.

02 45 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Cumulative Difficulty Ranking: Where Does Your Shift Stand?

Based on comprehensive student data, here is the hierarchy of difficulty for the 2026 session so far (Toughest to Easiest):

1. April 6 Shift 1 (Tough - Rating 2.2)

2. April 4 Shift 1 (Moderate-Tough - Rating 2.5)

3. April 2 Shift 2 (Moderate - Rating 2.75)

4. April 5 Shift 2 (Moderate - Rating 2.9)

5. April 4 Shift 2 (Moderate - Rating 3.0)

6. April 2 Shift 1 (Moderate - Rating 3.0)

7. April 5 Shift 1 (Easy-Moderate - Rating 3.5)

02 45 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Why "Moderate" Shifts are More Dangerous than "Tough" Shifts?

Analysis shows that in "Easy-Moderate" shifts like April 5 Shift 1, the competition is so tight that a single silly mistake can drop your percentile by 2-3 points. However, in "Tough" shifts like today, the normalization curve is flatter, meaning your rank is safer even with fewer attempts, provided your accuracy is high.

02 30 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

The "Calculative Trend" vs. January Session Depth

A global analysis of all shifts shows a distinct shift in NTA's strategy. While the January session focused on conceptual depth and tricky "Advanced-lite" problems, the April session (especially today) is testing speed and accuracy under pressure. Students who are naturally fast at mental math are seeing a 10-15 mark advantage over those relying solely on calculators.

02 15 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

April 6 Shift 1 Sets New Difficulty Record Across All 7 Shifts

Today's morning session achieved a CollegeDekho Rating of 2.2, making it the toughest exam of the 2026 season, surpassing the paper on April 4 Shift 1. Since April 2, this paper is known for its "extreme calculation density," leading to low scores but potentially high percentiles.

02 00 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Shift 2 Candidates Enter Centers Amidst "Tough Shift 1" Buzz

As the reporting time begins, the atmosphere at exam centers in Kota and Hyderabad is tense. Students entering for the afternoon session are already discussing the morning's "Calculative Trap." Our experts suggest that Shift 2 students should prepare for a similarly high-intensity calculation paper in Physics and Chemistry.

01 45 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Predicted Marks vs Percentile (Shift-specific Normalization)

Because April 6 Shift 1 was a "Tough Shift," students will see a significant benefit in normalization. You will likely achieve a higher percentile at a lower score compared to other days.

• 99 Percentile: 174 - 180 Marks (Expected to drop by 10-15 marks compared to April 5)
• 95 Percentile: 130 - 138 Marks
• 90 Percentile: 102 - 108 Marks

Final Expert Note: "If you are feeling demotivated by your low number of attempts today, don't be. In a shift this lengthy, everyone is in the same boat. Focus on your accuracy; the normalization process is designed exactly for papers like today's."

01 30 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 Shift Comparison: April 6 Shift 1 vs. Previous Shifts

01 15 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Quick Summary Table for April 6 Shift 1

01 00 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Key Takeaways for April 6 Shift 1 Candidates

• Lowest Rating Yet: With a rating of 2.2, this shift is officially the most difficult among all 7 shifts conducted so far in the April session.
• Normalization Advantage: Because the paper was "Very Lengthy and Calculative," your percentile will likely be much higher for a lower raw score.
• The January Comparison: While students say the concepts were easier than the January session, the execution time required was much higher, making it a "Tough" paper in practice.

12 45 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Comparison: April 6 Shift 1 vs. April 5 Shift 1

12 25 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

Shift Difficulty Rankings (Based on Reviews)

To help you understand the impact on normalization, we have ranked the shifts from Most Difficult to Easiest:

• April 6 - Shift 1: (Toughest overall due to combined Math & Physics complexity)
• April 4 - Shift 1: (Highest Math difficulty recorded so far)
• April 4 - Shift 2: (Moderate-Tough due to tricky Chemistry & Physics)
• April 2 - Shift 2: (Moderate difficulty)
• April 5 - Shift 1: (Relatively Easiest - Expect high cutoffs)

12 24 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

CollegeDekho Rating for April 6 Shift 1

We have assigned a difficulty rating of 2.2/5 (where 1 is Extremely Tough and 5 is Easy) for today's morning session, marking it as a "Tough & Exhausting" paper.

12 10 PM IST - 06 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 April 6 Shift 1 Ends

Candidates are now walking out of the exam centers. Initial student reactions suggest a "Moderate" difficulty level, with Physics continuing its trend of being formula-based and Chemistry being NCERT-centric.

11 45 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

"NCERT is still King" (April 5, Shift 1)

"Chemistry was almost 90% NCERT-based. If you read the textbooks thoroughly, you could finish the section in 35 minutes. It definitely helped compensate for the time I lost in the Vectors & 3D section of Maths." — Rohan Verma.

11 30 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Unexpected Physical Chemistry Weightage" (April 4, Shift 2)

"Usually, Inorganic dominates, but my shift had a lot of calculation-heavy Physical Chemistry questions in the Integer type section. It was definitely a 'Moderate' paper overall." — Ishaan Jain.

11 15 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

"Calculations were the real enemy" (April 5, Shift 2)

"Maths wasn't necessarily 'impossible' conceptually, but the calculations were so lengthy that I could only attempt 10 questions in the first hour. It felt like they wanted us to be human calculators!" — Aryan Saraswat.

11 00 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

"Physics saved my paper" (April 4, Shift 1): Student Review

"I was panicking after seeing the Chemistry assertion-reasoning questions, but Physics was a total breeze. Most of it was direct formula application from Modern Physics and Electrostatics." — Sneha Kumari.

10 45 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Impact of Difficulty on 85.5 Percentile

For the 85.5 percentile, the marks-to-percentile ratio shows that even a small drop in paper difficulty can push the required marks up. Currently, the expected marks for this percentile are 83.2 (Easy), 73.1 (Moderate), and 59.3 (Tough).

10 30 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Rank Projection Updates: Crossing the 2 Lakh Rank Mark

As the percentile drops toward 85.7, the expected rank is projected to exceed 2,00,200. Candidates in Moderate shifts are targeting 73.5 marks to maintain this rank.

10 15 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Shift Comparison: Easy vs. Tough for 86 Percentile

There is a clear difference of about 24.3 marks between Easy and Tough shifts for the 86 percentile mark. In Easy shifts, students need to score 84.4 marks, while in Tough shifts, they can reach this percentile with just 60.1 marks.

10 01 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Marks vs. Percentile: 86.5 Percentile Bracket

The competition remains stiff in the 86.5 percentile range. Data suggests that students in Tough Shifts require only 61.4 marks to reach this level, whereas Moderate Shift students need to aim for at least 75.7 marks to stay competitive.

09 55 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Rank Estimations for 87.3 Percentile

Candidates scoring around 88.7 marks in an Easy Shift or 63.2 in a Tough Shift are expected to land a percentile of 87.3. This corresponds to an estimated rank of approximately 1,77,800, assuming a total of 14 lakh candidates appear for the exam.

09 15 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Mathematic Tough in Session 2: Expected Marks vs Percentile

Here is the expected marks vs percentile for the Mathematics -

Paper Difficulty Level - Tough 

08 36 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 Few Student Reviews on Session 2 Paper

Here are a few student reviews received by CollegeDekho on the JEE Mains 2026 Session 2 paper -

• Kiranmayai from Vijayawada appeared for the Shift 2 exam on April 4. According to here, the paper was moderate but the Vector 3D questions from the Mathematics part were lengthy 
• Rajesh Kumar from Vijayawada appeared for the Shift 1 exam on April 5. According to him, Chemistry and Physics were doable to some extent but Mathematics was tough 

07 59 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 April 5 Shift 1 vs 2 - Which was the toughest?

Among the 2 shifts of April 5, Shift 2 was the toughest compared to Shift 1. However, there is not much difference with respect to the difficulty level. Overall, Day 3 paper was 'Moderate'. 

07 30 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 Session 2-Day 4 Paper Difficulty Level Prediction

The Day 4 paper is expected to be 'Moderate', and the anticipation is more on the difficulty level details. As Day 3 paper was quite easier compared to Day 1 and 2, Day 4 test takers are anticipating an easier paper. 

07 00 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 87.4 - 87.6 Percentile Marks vs Rank

06 30 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 87.7 - 87.9 Percentile Marks vs Rank

06 00 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 88 - 88.2 Percentile Marks vs Rank

05 30 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 88.3 - 88.6 Percentile Marks vs Rank

05 00 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 88.7 - 88.9 Percentile Marks vs Rank

04 30 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 89 - 89.3 Percentile Marks vs Rank

04 00 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 89.4 - 89.6 Percentile Marks vs Rank

03 30 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 89.9 - 89.7 Percentile Marks vs Rank

03 00 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 90 - 90.3 Percentile Marks vs Rank

02 30 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 90.4 - 90.6 Percentile Marks vs Rank

02 00 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 90.7 - 90.9 Percentile Marks vs Rank

01 30 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 91 - 91.3 Percentile Marks vs Rank

01 00 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 91.4 - 91.6 Percentile Marks vs Rank

12 30 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 91.7 - 91.9 Percentile Marks vs Rank

12 00 AM IST - 06 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 92 - 92.3 Percentile Marks vs Rank

11 30 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 92.4 - 92.6 Percentile Marks vs Rank

10 30 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 92.7 - 92.9 Percentile Marks vs Rank

10 17 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

3 More Shifts Left in JEE Mains 2026 Session 2

Session 2 is ending in 2 days, and only 3 shifts are left for the Paper 1 exam. There are 2 shifts on April 6 and 1 shift on April 8. So far Day 3 has been the easiest in the Session 2 exam. 

09 30 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 93.1 - 93.3 Percentile Marks vs Rank

08 30 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 93.4 - 93.6 Percentile Marks vs Rank

07 42 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

How was the overall difficulty level of JEE Main 2026 April 5 Shift 2 Exam?

As per the latest analysis mathematics section was moderate, physics was easy to moderate, and chemistry was lengthy but doable. Overall the question paper difficulty level was Moderate.

07 30 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 93.7 - 93.9 Percentile Marks vs Rank

06 30 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 94 - 94.3 Percentile Marks vs Rank

05 30 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 94.4 - 94.6 Percentile Marks vs Rank

04 30 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 94.7 - 94.9 Percentile Marks vs Rank

03 30 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 95 - 95.3 Percentile Marks vs Rank

02 30 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 95.4 - 95.6 Percentile Marks vs Rank

01 42 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

How was the difficulty level of JEE Main 2026 April 5 Shift 1 Exam?

As per the experts' review and student feedback, the overall difficulty level of JEE Main 2026 was easy to moderate.

01 30 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 95.7 - 95.9 Percentile Marks vs Rank

12 40 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 April 5 Shift 1 Easy to Moderate

The difficulty level of the Shift  paper turned out to be surprising. The paper was 'Easy to Moderate' and its easier compared to the other shifts happened so far. 

12 30 PM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 96 - 96.3 Percentile Marks vs Rank

11 30 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 96.4 - 96.6 Percentile Marks vs Rank

10 30 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 96.7 - 96.9 Percentile Marks vs Rank

09 30 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 97 - 97.2 Percentile Marks vs Rank

09 12 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Day 3: Will the paper be tough?

The paper is expected to be between moderate and tough on the Day 3 exam. So far, April 4 Shift 1 has been the toughest. 

08 40 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 April 4 Shift 1 Toughest So Far

The initial data shows that April 4 Shift 1 is still the hardest of the session. Mathematics was long during all shifts, but the level of complexity in Physics during this time slot has made it a difficult shift.

08 30 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 97.3 - 97.5 Percentile Marks vs Rank

07 30 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 97.6 - 97.9 Percentile Marks vs Rank

06 30 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 98 - 98.3 Percentile Marks vs Rank

05 30 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 98.4 - 98.6 Percentile Marks vs Rank

04 30 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 98.7 - 98.9 Percentile Marks vs Rank

03 30 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 99 Percentile Marks vs Rank

02 30 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 99.1 Percentile Marks vs Rank

01 30 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 99.2 Percentile Marks vs Rank

12 30 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 99.3 Percentile Marks vs Rank

12 00 AM IST - 05 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 99.4 Percentile Marks vs Rank

11 30 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 99.5 Percentile Marks vs Rank

11 00 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 99.6 Percentile Marks vs Rank

10 30 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 99.7 Percentile Marks vs Rank

10 00 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 99.8 Percentile Marks vs Rank

09 28 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Detailed Analysis of 99.9 Percentile Marks vs Rank

09 00 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Caution: Calculus Questions Lengthy

NTA is likely putting 2-3 extremely lengthy Calculus questions in the first 10 questions of the Math section to break student confidence. Therefore, students have to manage their time accordingly. 

08 40 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Key Insight for April 5 Exam

In the April session so far, Salt Analysis and Coordination Compounds have appeared in every single shift. If your exam is tomorrow, revise these NOW.

08 20 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Where Did the Time Go Today for Most Students

• Mathematics: Today's Math was not just "tough," it was lengthy. Questions in Vector 3D and Integration required 4+ minutes each.
• Physics: While Physics was "Moderate," it was formula-heavy. Students who skipped the tough Math questions and gave 50 minutes to Physics reported 20+ correct attempts.
• Chemistry: 80% of Chemistry was direct NCERT. Successful students finished this section in under 35 minutes.

08 00 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 April 2 vs April 4 Marks vs Percentile Comparison

07 40 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Key Insight on Marks vs Percentile Analysis

With 11.23 lakh+ candidates appearing, the "Marks vs Percentile" is expected to be tighter at the 97–99 percentile range compared to 2025.

07 20 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Key Insight on Inorganic Chemistry

The Salt Analysis Surge: Unlike the January session, the April 2026 shifts are seeing a heavy weightage (10–12 questions) in Inorganic Chemistry, specifically Salt Analysis and Coordination Compounds.

07 00 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

JEE Mains 2026 Subject-wise Difficulty in Session 2

06 40 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Expected Safe Percentile Score for NIT Admission

• Very Good Percentile: 99 Percentile
• Good Percentile: 95 - 98 Percentile
• Average Percentile - 95 Percentile
• Extremely Safe Percentile for Admission - 98.8 Percentile or Above 

06 20 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

The Dropper’s Take: Is April Session truly harder than January?

Actually, the April session of JEE Mains 2026 is easier than the January 2026 session. The difficulty level of the paper has slightly gone down, and most students who appeared for both sessions shared that the April 2026 exam was easier than the Session 1. 

06 20 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 April 4 Shift 2 Moderate

The shift 2 paper was Moderate, and the toughest subject was Mathematics. On the other hand, the Chemistry part was easy. The Calculus and Vector 3D questions in the Mathematics part were not only lengthy but also trickly. Overall, Shift 1 of April 4 is tougher than the Shift 2. 

06 00 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Trend Alert: Is NTA favoring Inorganic Chemistry over Organic this April?

To be more precise, based on our analysis of the JEE Mains question paper 2026 session 2, NTA is actually preferring Organic Chemistry more than Inorganic Chemistry. On the other hand, the Organic Chemistry questions were always turning out to be trickier compared to the Session 1 exam. 

05 44 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Shift 1 vs. Shift 2: Why 160 in Shift 2 might equal 180 in Shift 1

In case the paper turns out to be easier in Shift 2 of April 4 compared to the Shift 1 exam, 160 in Shift 2 might be more or less equal to 180 marks in the Shift 1 exam of April 4. 

05 20 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

List of NITs expected for 1000 to 5000 Rank in JEE Main 2026

• NIT Tiruchirappalli: Expected closing rank approximately 4,463.

• NIT Warangal: Expected closing rank approximately 3,386.

• NIT Karnataka, Surathkal: Expected closing rank approximately 2,726.

• MNNIT Allahabad: Expected closing rank between 4,265 (OS) and 6,364 (HS).

• NIT Calicut: Expected closing rank between 4,678 (OS) and 7,971 (HS).

05 00 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

List of NITs expected for 50,000 Rank in JEE Main 2026

• NIT Agartala: Expected closing rank between 19,064 (OS) and 66,895 (HS).

• NIT Meghalaya: Expected closing rank approximately 59,949.

• NIT Puducherry: Expected closing rank approximately 50,932 to 63,341.

04 40 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

List for NITs expected for 5000 to 10,000 Rank

• MNIT Jaipur: Expected closing rank between 4,748 (OS) and 5,629 (HS).

• NIT Delhi: Expected closing rank between 6,746 (OS) and 8,971 (HS).

• NIT Durgapur: Expected closing rank between 8,596 (OS) and 10,493 (HS).

• MANIT Bhopal: Expected closing rank between 8,547 (OS) and 10,863 (HS).

• NIT Jalandhar: Expected closing rank between 10,073 (OS) and 14,502 (HS).

• NIT Kurukshetra: Expected closing rank approximately 7,993 to 8,198.

04 20 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 April 5 Expected Difficulty Level

The difficulty level of the April 5 exam is expected to be moderate with Mathematics can be lengthy and slightly tough. This is purely based on Day 1 and 2 question paper analysis. 

04 00 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

NIT Jalandhar Previous Year's CSE Closing Rank

The previous year's General category closing ranks for NIT Jalandhar CSE are as follows -

03 40 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Expected Marks and Rank for 97 Percentile

03 31 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Expected Marks and Rank for 96 Percentile

03 00 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Expected Marks and Rank for 94 Percentile

02 40 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Expected Marks and Rank for 93 Percentile

02 19 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

List of NITs expected for 99.9 to 100 Percentile

As per previous years' cutoff trends and analysis, here is the list of NITs expected for 99.9 to 100 percentile -

• NIT Trichy
• NIT Surathkal
• NIT Warangal

The follwing courses are expected -

• CSE
• AI 
• Data Science

02 01 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Expected Marks and Rank for 92 Percentile

Here is the expected marks and rank for 92 percentile -

01 45 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 April 4 Paper Analysis by Infinity Learn

• Chemistry was moderate and largely NCERT-driven. The section required strong conceptual clarity and quick recall, especially in Inorganic and Organic Chemistry. Students who had thoroughly revised the NCERT would have found this section scoring, provided they maintained good speed.
• Mathematics was moderate but lengthy, making time management a critical factor. While the questions were not conceptually very difficult, they required careful calculations and time, limiting the number of attempts for many students.
• Physics was easy to moderate and largely direct in nature, making it a high-scoring section. Most questions were formula-based and tested fundamental concepts, allowing well-prepared students to attempt a higher number of questions with accuracy.

Note: These are the direct quotes shared by the coaching institutes and CollegeDekho has not edited it to maintain authenticity. 

01 41 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Formula-based Questions: A new shift in Physics during Session 2

In all three shifts happened so far, 50% questions in the Physics section are formula-based, and this shift is quite surprising in the JEE Mains exam. Usually, Physics section consists of more application-based questions and this was observed during the Session 1 exam. However, there is a drastic shift with respect to the nature of questions in the Session 2 exam. 

01 27 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 April 4 Shift 1 Expected Marks vs Percentile vs Rank

01 12 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

91 Percentile vs Expected Marks vs Rank

12 58 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Organic Chemistry Questions Tricker in 3 Shifts (April 2 & 4)

Organic Chemistry questions turned out to be trickier across all the 3 shifts exam happened so far. One student on Collegedekho's YT live session on JEE Mains 2026, April 4 paper discussion commented that 'the organic questions were wierd and he had not seen such questiosn ever in the past papers'. 

12 53 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Session 1 vs Session 2 Paper Difficulty Level Comparison

Compared to the Session 1 exam, the difficulty level of the Session 2 is slightly lower. In Session 1, Chemistry turned out to be toughest subject, but in the Session 2, Mathematics is turning out to be the toughest subject. 

12 40 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 April 4 Shift 1 Subject-wise Difficulty Level

• Mathematics was moderate to tough due to lengthy calcutaion-based questions
• Chemistry was moderate with few tricky questions from Organic chemistry
• Physics was formula-based and moderate

12 28 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

Status Check: Which has been the toughest shift so far?

So far, 3 shifts exam has taken up, and out of these shifts, April 4 Shift 1 exam has been the toughest so far with an average difficulty level rating of 2.5 out of 5. 

12 20 PM IST - 04 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 April 4 Shift 1 Paper Difficulty Level Out

As per the reviews received by CollegeDekho from the Vijayawada region and through the YouTube live session, the paper was 'Moderate to Tough', and the difficulty level has been slightly higher than the Day 1 exam.

11 55 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

Expected Marks vs Rank for 90 Percentile

11 37 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

99.95 Percentile in JEE Main 2026 vs Expected Marks and Rank

11 14 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

Expected Marks and Rank for 70 Percentile

10 59 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

What to expect for 99.99 Percentile?

• The expected marks for 99.99 percentile could be around 235 to 250 depending on the difficulty level of the question paper
• Candidates with 99.99 percentile can expect a rank up to 140 
• This is usually considered to be a very good percentile in the JEE Mains exam 

10 36 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

Will there be bonus marks in JEE Main 2026 Session 2?

Bonus marks could be possible in the Session 2 exam only if there are errors in the questions asked in the exam or errors in the provided answer options. As only 2 shift exams got over, so far, we need to wait till the official answer key is released to figure out if bonus marks shall be awarded or not. 

10 16 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

JEE Main ST Category Expected Cutoff 2026

The expected cutoff for ST category is as follows -

• For the ST category, the 2026 cutoff percentile might go up to 47.8 percentile
• In 2025, the ST category cutoff was 47.90 percentile, and in 2024, it was 46.69

10 04 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

JEE Main SC Category Expected Cutoff 2026

The expected cutoff for SC category is as follows -

• The cutoff might go up to 61 percentile and might remain mostly similar to previous years' cutoffs
• In 2025, the SC category cutoff was 61.15 percentile, while in 2024, it was 60.09 percentile

09 45 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

How does Toughest Shift impact marks vs Percentile?

• Because of toughest shift, students scoring lower marks might get high percentile
• On the other hand, esiest shift students might get low percentile for higher marks
• For example, for a toughest shift, 150 marks might lead tpo 99 percentile whereas for easiest shift, 150 marks might lead to 97-98 percentile

09 40 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 Expected Cutoff for OBC

• The expected cutoff for the OBC category might go up to 79.3 percentile, with a 1 decimal point decline from the previous year's cutoff
• In 2025, the OBC category cutoff was 79.43 percentile and in 2024, it was 79.67 percentile

09 20 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

JEE Main Expected Cutoff 2026 for General-EWS Category

The expected cutoff for the General-EWS category for JEE Advanced is as follows -

• The cutoff might go up to 80.2 percentile based on previous years' trends
• In 2025, the cutoff was 80.38
• In 2024, the cutoff was 81.32

There might be a slight decline in cutoffs this year. 

09 01 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

JEE Main 2026 April 2 Expected Marks vs Percentile vs Rank

The April 2 JEE Mains paper 2026 was 'Moderate', and the expected marks vs percentile vs rank is as follows -

08 38 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

Expected Percentile for 150 Marks

The expected percentile for 150 marks in JEE Mains 2026 is as follows -

• If the paper is easy, the expected percentile could be between 96 - 97
• If the paper is moderate, the expected percentile could be between 98
• If the paper is tough, the expected percentile could be between 99

08 33 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

JEE Main Expected Cutoff 2026 for General Category

The General category cutoff of JEE Mains 2026 could be around 93 percentile based on previous years' cutoff trends. In 2025, the cutoff was 93.1023262 and in 2024 it was 93.2362181. 

08 27 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

Will JEE Main Cutoff 2026 raise or fall?

There is a possibility for a slight fall in the JEE Main Cutoffs 2026 as per the previous years' trends. However, there would not be much difference between the cutoff percentile of 2025 and 2026. For example, if the General category cutoff was 93.1 for JEE Advanced, it might fall to 93 percentile this year. However, a clar understanding on this shall come only once all shifts exam gets over. 

08 18 AM IST - 04 Apr'26

Which Shift was tough on April 2?

Among April 2 Shift 1 and Shift 2, the Shift 2 paper was slightly tougher than the Shift 1 exam. In the Shift 2, Physics had few tricky questions, while the paper in Shift 1 was pretty balanced.