I Tracked Every Detail of JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4 Shift 1 2026: Here’s Everything You Need to Know

Today was Day 2 of JEE Main 2026 Session 2, and I spent the morning gathering every bit of information I could. I collected information from student reactions to expert breakdowns to put together the most complete picture of JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4 Shift 1. So if you just walked out of the exam, or you’re appearing in the upcoming shifts, this is the one place you need to be.

Here’s the short version before we get into the details: 75 questions, 300 marks, 3 hours and the overall verdict from students was moderate.Maths was the tough one, Physics sat somewhere in the middle, and Chemistry was the easiest of the three. Experts I tracked today are saying you’d need around 180 to 190 marks to land at the 99th percentile in this shift. This blog on JEE Main Analysis will help you to get a detailed insight into today’s shift 1 analysis

JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4:  Shift 1 Overview 

Before going into subject-wise analysis, it makes more sense to look at both shifts side by side. This gives a better understanding of how difficulty and attempts may vary.

Parameter	Shift 1 (9 AM to 12 PM)
Overall Difficulty	Moderate
Physics	Moderate
Chemistry	Easy
Mathematics	Difficult
Easiest Section	Chemistry
Toughest Section	Maths
Compared to Jan 2026	Slightly Easier
Good Attempts (Safe)	50 to 55 questions
Easy Questions (Approx.)	10 to 12 questions

JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4 Shift 1: Quick Exam Facts I Noted Down

I spent some time going through the exam pattern and what students shared after the shift, just to get a clear picture of how the paper was set. Here are the main things I noted:

• The exam was held in online mode (Computer-Based Test).
• The total time given was 3 hours (180 minutes) to complete all three subjects.
• Shift 1 was conducted from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
• The paper included MCQs and Numerical Value Questions, so students had to both select and calculate answers.
• There were 75 questions in total, with 25 questions each from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
• The paper was for 300 marks overall, which means 100 marks per subject.
• For marking, +4 marks were given for every correct answer, and -1 mark was deducted only for wrong MCQs. There was no negative marking for numerical questions.

JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4 Shift 1: My Take on Subject-Wise Analysis

After going through how students responded and checking what actually came in the paper, I tried to break it down subject by subject. This JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4 for Shift 1 gives a clearer idea of where students felt comfortable and where things slowed them down.

JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4 Shift 1 for Physics: What I Found Out?

Physics came out as the more scoring section today. Most students I tracked said they wrapped it up in around 45 to 50 minutes, which left them enough time for the other two sections.

The questions were largely formula-based and tested standard concepts. Nothing came from left field , well-prepared students would have found this manageable.

JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4 Shift 1: Topics that Appeared in Physics

• 1 question from Thermodynamics
• 1 question from Kinematics (Projectile Motion)
• 2 questions from Work, Energy and Power
• 1 question from Rotational Motion
• 1 question from SHM (Simple Harmonic Motion)
• 1 question on Mechanical Properties of Solids
• 1 question from Current Electricity

Also covered, based on what I gathered: Friction, Moment of Inertia, Young’s Double Slit, Fluid Mechanics, Semiconductors, and Error Analysis.

 My Observation on JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4 Shift 1 Chemistry

Chemistry held true to its reputation of being the most NCERT-friendly section. The 4th April morning shift chemistry paper was easier than both shifts of April 2, and largely on par with what appeared in the January 2026 session.

Among the three branches, Physical Chemistry had the most weightage, the order was Physical > Inorganic > Organic.

JEE Main Paper Analysis Today: Topics that appeared in Chemistry:

• 1 question from Chemical Kinetics
• 1 question from Redox Reactions
• 1 question from Mole Concept
• 2 questions from Coordination Compounds
• 1 question from Thermodynamics

Other areas covered: Biomolecules, d-block elements, p-block elements, and Organic Reactions.

JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4 Shift 1 Mathematics

This is where the paper got tough. Maths wasn’t impossibly hard, conceptually it was manageable. But it was long and calculation-heavy. Students who didn’t manage their time well here would have struggled to attempt everything.

Compared to April 2 Evening Shift, today’s Maths was slightly easier. And it was easier than the JEE Main 2025 January session. But within today’s paper, it was clearly the section that demanded the most time and attention.

JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4 Shift 1 : Topics that appeared in Mathematics

• 2 questions from Functions
• 3 questions from Coordinate Geometry (including Conic Sections — Ellipse)
• 2 questions from Vector & 3D Geometry
• 3 questions from Matrices & Determinants
• 1 question from Sequence & Series
• 1 question from Quadratic Equations
• Also covered: Relations, Binomials, Permutation & Combination, Probability, Statistics

JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4 Shift 1: Subject-Wise Memory-Based Questions 

These are questions that students recalled after the JEE Mains exam. I’ve written out the ones involving diagrams in full text so you can read, copy, and use them for revision.

JEE Mains Paper Analysis: Memory-Based Physics Questions

Q1:  Surface Tension / Work Done: The initial radius of a soap bubble is 1 cm. It is slowly inflated to a radius of 2 cm. Calculate the work done in expanding the bubble. (1) 2.63 × 10⁻⁴ J (2) 1.46 × 10⁻⁴ J (3) 5.27 × 10⁻⁴ J (4) 12.64 × 10⁻⁴ J

Q2: Optics (Rod along Principal Axis): A rod is placed along the principal axis of a concave mirror. Find the length of the image:  

(1) 10 cm (2) 5 cm (3) 15 cm (4) 20 cm

Q3: Nuclear Physics: Nuclei A and B form nucleus C. Binding energy per nucleon (BE/N) for A, B, and C are 3 MeV, 7 MeV, and 6 MeV respectively. Find the energy produced in the reaction: 2A³ + B⁴ → C¹⁰ (1) 8 MeV (2) 12 MeV (3) 14 MeV (4) 10 MeV

Q4: Friction / Kinematics: Find the coefficient of friction if the time taken by a block on a rough surface is 50% more than the time taken on a smooth surface, given that the distance covered is the same in both cases. (Note: Original question included a figure of a block on an inclined plane.) (1) μ = 5/7 (2) μ = 5/9 (3) μ = 4/7 (4) μ = 4/9

Q5: Semiconductors / Logic Circuits: Two 4-bit binary numbers A = 1101 and B = 1010 are given as inputs to a logic circuit. Find the output Y. (Note: Original question had a logic gate diagram. The question tests understanding of binary operations and logic gates.) (a) 1000 (b) 1101 (c) 0010 (d) 0111

Q6: Rotational Motion / Moment of Inertia: A uniform sphere of mass m and radius R is divided into two equal halves. One part has moment of inertia I₁ about its diameter. A disc of radius 2R and mass m has moment of inertia I₂ about the perpendicular axis through its centre. Find I₂/I₁. (1) 10 (2) 2 (3) 5 (4) 1

Q7: AC Circuits: Given R = 100 Ω and |X_L − X_C| = 3α. If the power factor of a series LCR AC circuit is 0.5, find α.

Q8: Mechanical Properties / Bulk Modulus (Numerical): The increase in pressure required to decrease the volume (ΔV) of water is 6.3 × 10⁷ N/m². Find the percentage decrease in volume. (Bulk modulus of water = 2.1 × 10⁹ N/m²)

JEE Main Analysis for April 4 Shift 1: Memory Based Chemistry Questions

Q1: Chemical Bonding / Lone Pairs (Numerical): Find the total number of lone pairs and σ bond pairs formed by the central atom (Xe) in XeO₄⁶⁻.

Q2: Organic Reactions (Match the Following):

Column I	Column II
(i) Finkelstein Reaction	P) NaI / Acetone
(ii) Swartz Reaction	Q) Na / Dry Ether
(iii) Fitting Reaction	R) Cu₂Cl₂ / HCl
(iv) Sandmeyer Reaction	S) SbF₃

Q3: Biomolecules / Amino Acids (Match the Following):

List I (Amino Acid)	List II (Code)
(A) Glutamic Acid	P) E
(B) Lysine	Q) K
(C) Arginine	R) R
(D) Alanine	S) A

Q4: Hydrogen Halides (Statement Based): Statement I: Boiling point order is HI < HBr < HCl < HF. Statement II: Melting point order is HI < HF < HCl < HBr. (1) Both statements are correct (2) Statement I correct, Statement II wrong (3) Statement I wrong, Statement II correct (4) Both statements are wrong

Q5: Organic Conversions: Benzene → (step-wise reactions involving specific reagents) → Product X (This question involved a multi-step organic conversion chain. Based on student recalls, the sequence involved diazonium salt chemistry and aromatic substitution.)

Q6: Biomolecules (Statement Based): Statement I: Maltose is a non-reducing sugar. Statement II: Lactose is a reducing sugar. (1) Both statements are correct (2) Statement I correct, Statement II incorrect (3) Statement I incorrect, Statement II correct (4) Both statements are incorrect

Q7: Coordination Chemistry:

Q8: Coordination Chemistry / Colour: The colour of the compound formed is: (1) Violet (2) Red (3) Colourless (4) Pink

Q9: Atomic Structure / Spectral Series: If the wavelength of the first line of the Balmer series and the first line of the Brackett series of hydrogen are λ₁ and λ₂ respectively, find the value of λ₁/λ₂. (1) 0.16 (2) 0.04 (3) 0.28 (4) 0.35

JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4 Shift 1: Memory Based Mathematics Questions

Q1: Sets & Functions Let A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} and B = {a, b, c}. Find the number of functions from A to B that are NOT onto.

Q2: Complex Numbers Let z be a complex number such that |z + 2| = |z − 2| and arg[(z − 3)/(z + i)] = π/4. Find the value of z. (1) 3i (2) −3i (3) 2i (4) −2i

Q3: Matrices & Determinants Let A be a matrix of order 3 such that |A| = −4. Find the value of |adj(adj(2·adj(A))⁻¹)|. (1) 12¹⁶ (2) 12²⁸ (3) 12³⁰ (4) 12²⁰

Q4: Permutation & Combination In how many ways can 4 boys and 3 girls be arranged in a row so that all 3 girls are NOT together? (1) 2320 (2) 4320 (3) 4920 (4) 1440

Q5: 3D Geometry / Line Intersection A line with direction ratios 1, −1, 2 intersects the lines x/2 = y/3 = (z + 1)/3 and (x + 1)/(−1) = (y − 2)/1 = x/4 at points P and Q, respectively. If the length of PQ is α, find 225α². (1) 1104 (2) 1204 (3) 1024 (4) 1014

Q6: Inverse Trigonometry / Differentiation y = tan⁻¹[(3cos x − 4sin x)/(4cos x + 3sin x)] + tan⁻¹[x/(1 + √(1 + x²))]. Find dy/dx at x = √3/2. (1) 5/7 (2) −5/7 (3) 3/7 (4) −3/2

Q7: Inverse Trigonometry / Domain Find the domain of the function cos⁻¹{(4π + 2[x])/3}, where [ ] is the greatest integer function. (1) [0, 3/4] (2) [−1/4, 1/4] (3) [−1/4, 3/4] (4) [−3/4, 1/4]

Q8: Sequence & Series / AP Let Sₙ be the sum of the first n terms of an AP, and aₙ be the nth term. If the first term is 10/3 and S₃₀ = a₃₀/3, find the common difference. (1) 58/7 (2) 58/3 (3) 48/7 (4) 38/3

JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4 Shift 1: What I Found Out From Students After the Exam?

I went through student reactions right after Shift 1. The responses were quite similar across the board. Here are the key points I noted:

• Most students said the paper was moderate overall, with a few calling it moderate-to-tough.
• There was nothing out of syllabus, and no one reported technical issues at exam centres.

Maths

• The biggest issue was time — not because the questions were too difficult, but because they were lengthy and calculative.
• Words like “lengthy” and “time-consuming” came up repeatedly.
• Students who attempted Chemistry or Physics first and left Maths for later said they were able to manage it better.

Physics

• This section got positive feedback overall.
• Many students said it was the most scoring and comfortable section for them.
• A good number of students were able to finish it within time.

Chemistry

• The overall reaction was relief.
• Students with strong NCERT preparation found it straightforward.
• A few mentioned that some inorganic questions felt slightly tricky, but nothing too unexpected.

Comparison with January Session:

• Some students who appeared in Session 1 (January) said this paper felt more manageable.
• This matches what many experts have been saying — the April session seems slightly easier or more student-friendly compared to January.

How I See JEE Main 2 April Shift 1 Paper 2026 Analysis vs JEE Main 2 April Shift 2 Paper 2026 Analysis Compared to April 4?

I put April 2 (both shifts) next to April 4 Shift 1 to see what actually changed. Not just difficulty, but how the paper felt to students and where time went.

Parameter	April 2 Shift 1	April 2 Shift 2	April 4 Shift 1
Overall Level	Moderate	Moderate (felt tougher due to Maths)	Moderate
Physics	Moderate to difficult, slightly tricky	More standard, easier than Shift 1	Scoring, mostly direct
Chemistry	Moderate, NCERT-based	Slightly easier than Shift 1	Easiest, very NCERT-based
Mathematics	Lengthy but manageable	Long + more multi-step, toughest here	Lengthy, but a bit easier than Shift 2
Easiest Section	Chemistry	Chemistry	Chemistry
Toughest Section	Physics	Mathematics	Mathematics
Time Pressure	Maths-heavy	Maths dominated the paper	Maths still time-consuming
Easy Questions	Around 12	Around 8–10	Balanced (not too many easy picks)
Compared to January	Easier	Easier	Easier

Check: JEE Main Paper Analysis 2026 for April 2

What I’m Expecting for JEE Mains Marks vs Percentile

After going through the shift, student reactions, and comparing it with April 2, I tried to get a rough idea of how marks could translate into percentiles this time. As per my observation, the paper stayed in the moderate range; the trend doesn’t look very different, but small shifts can still happen because of normalisation. To get a clearer idea of the following topic, let’s take a look at JEE Mains Marks Vs. Percentile:

Marks Range	Expected Percentile
180 – 190+	Around 99 percentile
175+	Around 99 percentile (based on April 2 trend)
125 – 130	Around 95 percentile
100 – 110	Around 90 percentile
80 – 90	Around 88–90 percentile
50 – 60	Around 70–75 percentile

Also Check: JEE Mains Percentile Predictor 2026

Conclusion

After looking at JEE Main Paper Analysis April 4 Shift 1 and comparing it with April 2, one thing is clear to me. This exam is not about how much you know. It is about how you use your time. The paper is not very unpredictable. The level is mostly similar across shifts. But inside the exam hall, things feel different. Time pressure changes everything.

Students who stayed calm did better. They did not rush. They did not get stuck for too long. They picked questions carefully. Maths is still the biggest issue. It is not very hard, but it takes time. If you lose time here, the whole paper gets affected. Chemistry is still the easiest. Physics depends on the shift.If I say it simply, you don’t need to solve everything. You just need to solve the right questions. In the end, the paper is fair. But your score depends on how you manage those three hours. to take a colour printout of both pages, and give yourself enough time to get to the centre without rushing. Everything else is already in your hands.