JEE Main 2026 Session 2 concluded on 8 April 2026. If you appeared in the April 8 Shift 2 exam (3 PM to 6 PM), you are probably waiting to know where you stand. The results have not been declared yet, but based on the paper pattern and what students reported after the exam, the team at Aakash has put together this detailed JEE Main April 8 Shift 2 marks vs percentile breakdown to help you get a realistic picture of your expected score.
JEE Main April 8 Shift 2 Exam Analysis
The JEE Main April 8 Shift 2 exam was held from 3 PM to 6 PM by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Based on student reactions and initial paper reviews, the overall difficulty of the paper can be placed in the easy-to-moderate range.
The key takeaway from the JEE Main April 8 exam analysis:
- Physics was the most manageable section
- Chemistry was mostly direct
- Mathematics was the toughest and most time-consuming part of the paper
This pattern is consistent with what students reported across most Session 2 shifts.
JEE Main April 8 Shift 2 Subject-wise Difficulty Level
Here is a quick look at how each subject performed in terms of difficulty:
| Subject | Difficulty Level |
| Physics | Easy |
| Chemistry | Easy to Moderate |
| Mathematics | Moderate to Tough |
| Overall | Easy to Moderate |
- Physics covered topics such as Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Units and Dimensions, Modern Physics, and Electrostatics. Questions were largely formula–based and direct. Students with good conceptual clarity found this section easy to complete quickly.
- Chemistry was primarily NCERT–based. Organic Chemistry had a strong presence, along with Inorganic Chemistry and Surface Chemistry. Students who had revised their NCERT textbooks thoroughly found this section comfortable and scoring.
- Mathematics was, without doubt, the most challenging section. Integration, Coordinate Geometry, and Matrices were major topics. Questions required lengthy calculations and careful time management. This section is what made the paper feel moderate for many students, even though Physics and Chemistry were on the easier side.
JEE Main April 8 Shift 2 Marks vs Percentile 2026 (Expected)
These figures are based on previous session trends and the reported difficulty level of the April 8 Shift 2 paper. These are approximate estimates. Official percentile scores will be calculated by NTA using their normalisation process, and actual figures may differ.
| Marks Range | Expected Percentile |
| 185 and above | 99 percentile and above |
| 165 to 175 | 98 to 99 percentile |
| 145 to 155 | 96 to 97 percentile |
| 125 to 135 | 94 to 95 percentile |
| 80 to 90 | Around 90 percentile |
What marks are needed for 99 percentile in April 8 JEE Main?
Based on the paper’s difficulty and trends from previous sessions, scoring approximately 180 to 185 marks in April 8 Shift 2 should place you in or near the 99 percentile range. This estimate accounts for the fact that Mathematics was time–consuming, which typically brings the high-score threshold down slightly compared to easier papers.
What is the expected percentile for 150 marks in April 8?
A score of around 150 marks in April 8 Shift 2 may fetch an approximate percentile in the 96 to 97 range, based on current difficulty trends. This is an indicative figure and will be subject to NTA’s official normalisation.
JEE Main April 8 Marks vs Percentile vs Rank 2026 (Expected)
The table below draws on January Session 2026 data and historical patterns to give you a sense of how scores map to percentile and rank. These are expected figures only.
| Marks | Expected Percentile | Expected Rank |
| 300 to 291 | 100 to 99.99 | 1 to 15 |
| 280 to 270 | 99.99 to 99.99 | 16 to 125 |
| 260 to 250 | 99.97 to 99.95 | 341 to 704 |
| 240 to 230 | 99.91 to 99.87 | 1,269 to 1,909 |
| 220 to 210 | 99.86 to 99.69 | 2,073 to 4,549 |
| 200 to 190 | 99.68 to 99.57 | 4,647 to 6,269 |
Please note: These rank estimates are based on the total number of candidates who appeared for JEE Main 2026 and may change after official results are published at jeemain.nta.nic.in.
What is a Good Score in JEE Main April 8 Shift 2?
A good score depends on which college or course you are targeting. Here is a simple breakdown:
| Score Range | What It Means |
| 250 marks and above | 99.5 percentile and above; strong chance at top NITs and IIITs |
| 200 marks and above | Around 99 percentile |
| 160 to 180 marks | Very good score; competitive for most NITs |
| 120 marks and above | Good score for decent technical colleges |
| 90 marks and above | Average performance; qualifies in most categories |
Good Attempts for JEE Main April 8 Shift 2
Since the overall paper was easy to moderate (with Maths being the harder section), a safe attempt range would be:
| Overall Difficulty | Recommended Good Attempts |
| Easy to Moderate / Moderate | 52 to 62 questions |
Attempting 52 to 62 questions with good accuracy gives you a solid chance of landing a competitive percentile. Do not confuse the number of attempts with the number of correct answers; accuracy matters more than volume.
April 8 Shift 1 vs Shift 2 JEE Main Difficulty: How Did They Compare?
While detailed Shift 1 data is still being compiled, the JEE Main April 8 Shift 1 marks vs percentile pattern is expected to follow a similar difficulty range. Based on available feedback:
| Parameter | April 8 Shift 1 | April 8 Shift 2 |
| Physics | Easy to Moderate | Easy |
| Chemistry | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
| Mathematics | Moderate to Tough | Moderate to Tough |
| Overall | Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
In both shifts, Mathematics remained the most time-intensive section. The April 8 Shift 2 analysis suggests Physics was slightly easier compared to Shift 1, which could mean a marginally higher marks threshold for the same percentile in Shift 2.
JEE Main April 8 vs Earlier Session 2 Shifts
Looking at the broader picture across Session 2:
| Exam Date | Overall Difficulty | Toughest Subject |
| April 2, 2026 | Moderate | Mathematics |
| April 4, 2026 | Moderate to Tough | Mathematics |
| April 5, 2026 | Moderate | Mathematics |
| April 6, 2026 | Moderate to Tough | Mathematics |
| April 8, 2026 (Shift 2) | Easy to Moderate | Mathematics |
The April 8 Shift 2 paper was more manageable than some of the earlier tougher shifts, particularly April 4 and April 6. However, the normalisation process used by NTA means that a more manageable paper does not automatically translate into a lower percentile for the same score. If more students scored higher overall, the percentile for a given mark could stay similar or even dip slightly.
JEE Main April 8 2026: Expected Category-wise Cutoff
The qualifying cutoff for JEE Main is based on percentile, not raw marks. The expected qualifying cutoffs for the April session are:
| Category | Expected Percentile Cutoff |
| General | 93 to 95 |
| EWS | 80 to 82 |
| OBC-NCL | 79 to 81 |
| SC | 60 to 63 |
| ST | 47 to 50 |
These are expected figures based on previous year patterns. Official cutoffs will be released by NTA along with the JEE Main 2026 April Session result.
How Does NTA Calculate the JEE Main Percentile?
NTA does not simply rank students by their raw scores. Instead, they use a normalisation process to account for differences in paper difficulty across shifts and dates.
Here is how it works in simple terms: your percentile score reflects the percentage of candidates who scored equal to or less than you in your particular shift. For example, a percentile of 95 means that you performed better than 95% of the students who appeared in your session.
Factors that affect your final JEE Main 2026 April 8 marks vs percentile include:
- The difficulty level of the April 8 Shift 2 paper
- Total number of candidates who appeared on that day and shift
- The highest marks scored in your shift
- NTA’s official normalisation method
Since the official process involves multiple inputs, these expected percentile ranges should be used for reference only.
What Next After JEE Main April 8?
If you appeared for the April 8 Shift 2 exam and are satisfied with your performance, here is what you should do next:
- Download the answer key once it is released (expected around 11 April 2026) and cross-check your responses.
- Challenge incorrect answers if you believe any answers in the official key are wrong. There is usually a small fee per question challenged.
- Wait for the result, expected in the last week of April 2026.
- If you qualify for JEE Advanced 2026, note that the exam is scheduled for 17 May 2026, conducted by IIT Roorkee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the difficulty level of JEE Main April 8 Shift 2?
The paper was overall easy to moderate. Physics was easy, Chemistry was moderately easy, and Mathematics was the toughest section due to lengthy calculations.
How many marks are needed for 99 percentile in April 8 JEE Main?
Based on initial analysis, approximately 180 to 185 marks in Shift 2 are expected to be in the 99 percentile range.
What is the expected percentile for 150 marks on April 8?
Approximately 96 to 97 percentile, based on the paper’s difficulty. Official figures will be released with the NTA result.
When will the JEE Main April session result be declared?
The result is expected in the last week of April 2026 on jeemain.nta.nic.in.
Was April 8 Shift 2 harder than Shift 1?
Based on student feedback, Shift 2 was slightly more manageable than Shift 1, primarily because Physics was easier. Both shifts had tough Mathematics sections.
