The National Testing Agency (NTA) started the JEE Main 2026 exam on January 21, 2026. This is a big entrance test for engineering colleges in India. The exam was held for B.E./B. Tech courses. It had two shifts: one in the morning from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and another in the afternoon from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The exam was conducted on computers.
Students who appeared for the exam can now check the question papers based on what they remember. This helps them understand how well they did.
Each paper had 75 questions. The total marks were 300. For each subject, there were 20 multiple-choice questions and 5 questions where students had to write a numerical answer. Students had to reach the exam center at least 90 minutes before the start time. They needed to bring their admit card, an ID proof, and other required documents.
After each exam shift, students can look at the remembered questions. They can also guess their scores. The scoring is +4 marks for each correct answer and -1 mark for each incorrect answer. This analysis of the questions from the first day helps other students know how tough the exam was in different shifts.
Student Reactions and Paper Difficulty
Early feedback from students suggests that scoring around 150-170 marks might get a 99 percentile. Some students felt the Math section was long. The Chemistry paper was a bit confusing for some. Overall, many students found the exam to be of moderate to difficult level. In Maths, more questions were asked from topics like Vectors and 3D Geometry.
Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
| Total Questions | 75 |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Marking Scheme (Correct) | +4 |
| Marking Scheme (Incorrect) | -1 |
| Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) per subject | 20 |
| Numerical Value Questions per subject | 5 |
Sample Questions (Based on Student Memory)
Mathematics (Shift 1)
- Questions were asked from Vector 3D, sequence and series, quadratic equations, and straight lines.
- Problems involved finding values of trigonometric expressions like cosec 10° - √3 sec 10°.
- Some questions required solving equations with absolute values, like |x-1|.
- There were questions on finding the number of relations that are both reflexive and symmetric.
- Calculus problems included solving differential equations and integration.
Chemistry (Shift 1)
- The Mole Concept had 3-4 questions.
- Inorganic Chemistry was a key part of the Chemistry paper.
- Questions included identifying correct statements about organic compounds, stereoisomers, and functional groups.
- Problems on estimating the percentage of Sulphur in an organic compound using the Carius Method were asked.
- Questions focused on identifying amino acids, their properties, and chemical bonding.
- Students had to compare properties like ionization energy, basic nature of oxides, and metallic character.
- There were questions related to chemical reactions, activation energy, and gas laws.
Physics (Shift 1)
- The Physics paper covered a wide range of topics.
- Topics included Ray Optics, Electrostatics, Moment of Inertia, Fluid Mechanics, and Kinematics.
- Questions involved finding dimensions of physical quantities in formulas.
- Motion and force problems required calculating velocity and position.
- Error analysis and percentage error calculations were part of the paper.
- Problems on springs and capacitors were also included.
- Work done calculations for moving charges were asked.
- Questions on the double-slit experiment and interference patterns were present.
- Internal energy change for ideal gases was also tested.
The JEE Main 2026 exam will continue on other days. Students can use the memory-based question papers to prepare for upcoming shifts and understand the exam pattern better.
