JEE Main 2026 Session 2: Easier paper brings relief to IIT aspirants

The JEE Main 2026 session 2 exam held in Hyderabad on Thursday was reported to be easier than the January session, with students finding Physics and Mathematics sections straightforward and Chemistry moderately challenging. The balanced approach has reassured aspirants aiming for IIT admissions.

Hyderabad: Students eyeing admissions to IITs breathed a sigh of relief as the JEE Main 2026 session 2, commenced on Thursday, the question paper turned out to be easier than session 1 that was conducted in the month of January this year. In fact, the second shift exam conducted on Thursday was much easier than the first shift.

The Mathematics section, according to students who appeared for the second shift entrance test in the city, was manageable, with almost all questions being easy except for one or two. They felt that at least 10 to 15 questions were direct and could be easily solved.

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Among three sections, students found the physics section to be easiest as questions were direct and primarily formula-based, without any complexity. As for chemistry, one or two questions, especially from stoichiometry, were time-consuming. Overall, questions were framed within the NCERT syllabus.

As for shift 1, many students found mathematics and chemistry sections challenging as the questions consumed time, were complexly worded and a few incomplete questions were reported.

The questions in the first shift focussed 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.

“For well-prepared students, scoring a perfect 300 out of 300 in both the morning and evening shifts does not seem impossible. Today’s papers in both shifts are not only within the syllabus but also less time-consuming, making them manageable for students ranging from average to top performers,” said Uma Shankar, all India academic coordinator Sri Chaitanya Educational Institutions.

According to Infinity Learn by Sri Chaitanya founding CEO Ujjwal Singh, the JEE Main April session commenced on a more balanced and student-friendly note compared to January.

“The paper clearly reflects a shift towards testing conceptual clarity over complexity. For students, this reinforces an important takeaway that strong fundamentals and consistent practice matter more than ever,” Singh added.