The JEE Main 2026 Session 2 is scheduled from April 2 to April 8, 2026. Students preparing for the exam often look for shift-wise marks vs percentile data to understand how scoring works in different difficulty levels. This analysis, based on JEE Main 2025 trends, helps students plan their exam strategy better.
Difficulty Overview (2025 Reference)
The exam difficulty varied across shifts. Some shifts were easier with scoring subjects like Chemistry, while others were tougher, especially due to lengthy Mathematics sections. The toughest shift was April 4 Shift 1, while some shifts like April 3 Shift 1 were comparatively easy.
Marks vs Percentile Insight
The marks required for a particular percentile depend on the difficulty level of each shift. For example, in easier shifts, students needed higher marks to reach top percentiles, whereas in tougher shifts, fewer marks were sufficient.
Category-wise Cut-offs
Based on 2025 data, qualifying percentiles differ by category. General category students need around 93 percentile, while reserved categories have lower cut-offs.
Why This Analysis is Useful
Understanding marks vs percentile helps students:
- Set realistic target scores
- Stay calm during tough papers
- Focus on accuracy over attempts
- Evaluate mock test performance better
- Manage time effectively
- Decide next steps after the exam
Key Factors Affecting Percentile
- High competition: Around 12–13 lakh students appear
- Normalization process: Ensures fairness across different shifts
- Safe score target: Around 190+ marks for 99 percentile (top NITs)
Important Note
Official marks vs percentile data will be released by NTA after results (expected in April 2026). Students should keep their response sheets ready for verification.