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JEE Main Difficulty Level from 2021 to 2025- Candidates should know the previous year's JEE Mains difficulty level to predict the paper toughness this year. It will help understand the JEE Main exam analysis and prepare for the upcoming entrance exam accordingly. This article is updated with the JEE Main difficulty level of 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Know how this year’s test could turn out based on the last five years’ trends. The JEE Main exam is held in two sessions each year. JEE Main 2026 aspirants will surely benefit from the exam analysis provided below. Students are advised to use the JEE Main 2026 college predictor to know whether their test performance actually results in admission to top institutes or not.
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The overall difficulty level of JEE Main 2026 is expected to be moderate to slightly difficult, as observed in previous years. Although the subject-wise difficulty level can vary.
Mathematics difficulty level- Maths is expected to test the mettle of candidates. Multi-step questions are likely to be asked, especially in Calculus, making the paper lengthy without proper time management skills. Nonetheless, students can look for direct questions from vector algebra, 3D geometry etc.
Chemistry difficulty level- NTA may offer respite in the Chemistry section. As seen before, the Chemistry paper may be greatly NCERT-based with easy and direct answers, making it the most scoreable section. Also, one must note that there is a possibility of tougher questions being asked in Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry.
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Physics difficulty level- When it comes to Physics, it is likely to be moderately challenging. High weightage areas are Modern Physics, electromagnetism etc. However, the multiple and conceptual problems require candidates to have a deep and fundamental understanding of the topics.
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Check the following table to get an overview of the JEE Main difficulty level based on the students' reactions and JEE Main exam analysis by the subject experts.
| Year | Sessions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
JEE Main 2025 difficulty level | Session 1 |
|
Session 2 |
| |
JEE Main 2024 difficulty level | Session 1 |
|
Session 2 |
| |
JEE Main 2023 difficulty level | Session 1 |
|
Session 2 |
| |
JEE Main 2022 difficulty level | Session 1 |
|
Session 2 |
| |
JEE Main 2021 difficulty level | Session 1 | Easy to moderate |
Session 2 | Moderately difficult | |
Session 3 | Moderately difficult | |
Session 4 | Moderate |
This session has one of the toughest shifts due to extremely lengthy questions in Maths and Physics. Overall, the JEE Main January paper's difficulty level was moderate to difficult. This was especially true if one did not have a deep conceptual understanding.
More consistency across the shifts was observed. As compared to the January session, the difficulty was less. Chemistry was a bit tricky for those lacking in conceptual clarity. In some shifts, physics was more challenging. However, Maths was lengthy across all shifts and required good time management skills.
Mathematics was fairly challenging, owing to the long and often difficult numericals. Most asked topics were Calculus, 3D geometry, vectors, marices and determinants etc. Chemistry was the easiest, followed by Physics. Many physics questions were asked from Gravitation, Kinematics, Newton’s Laws of Motion, Magnetism etc.
Mathematics was moderate, Physics was easy to moderate, and Chemistry was mostly straightforward. It was noted that Maths was lengthy; however, the questions were easier. Organic chemistry was the most asked topic, making the section somewhat tough. Less questions were observed from physical chemistry.
As per student reactions, the JEE Main 2023 January exam can be called moderate. A major chunk of the physics paper was on work, power and energy. Maths was calculative and tough. Many of the questions were asked from 3D geometry, statistics, marices, calculus etc. Chemistry sections was based on NCERT, with a focus on Organic Chemistry. Those who practised with the NCERT mock test found the paper easy.
Overall, the papers were easy to moderate. Most questions were asked from class 11 and 12 CBSE curriculum. But, mixed concepts asked in Maths made the section fairly challenging. Physics was mostly easy, with more weightage given to Kinematics, Motion-related topics, Heat & Thermodynamics etc. Numericals in Chemistry were tricky. However, several shifts saw more theoretical questions.
The difficulty level of JEE Main 2022 season 1 papers varies. Many shifts saw highly conceptual questions. Chemistry and Physics were often lengthy and demanded good knowledge of the basics. Moreover, time management skills were necessary to ace the test. High weightage topics in Maths were functions, sequences and series, differential equations etc. Topics asked in chemistry included chemical bonding, p-block, d-block and f-block elements.
The paper was moderate in difficulty level. In one shift, 7 to 8 questions were asked from Calculus. Many students found Physics to be easy to moderate, with Mechanics dominating the section. The most asked Maths topics were binomial theorem, calculus, sequences and series, functions and relations, etc. Organic chemistry was important, apart from the p block elements and atomic structure.
Physics and Chemistry were tougher than Maths. However, the overall paper can be called easy to moderate. The maths paper was length with direct formula based questions being asked. More theoretical questions were asked in Chemistry, with higher weightage given to lanthanides, separation techniques and characterisation of organic compounds.
More theoretically based questions were asked in the JEE Main 2021 March attempt. The maths paper was easier in the morning shifts as compared to the afternoon shift. Many questions were based on class 12th curriculum. Physics was comparatively easier since it was numerical in type.
The question papers were moderately difficult. Questions asked in Chemistry were a bit ticky with several questions from Organic Chemistry. Physics had the most difficult questions. The most common topics were Mechanics and Electrodynamics. Maths was relatively easy.
This session was mostly moderate. Mathematics was moderately hard. Challenges were seen in the calculus and geometry portion. However, Physics was easier. But, Chemistry was the easiest of the lot. The questions were more direct. More emphasis was on organic and inorganic chemistry. Almost equal weightage was given to all the major topics in Physics.
Students should check the cutoff of JEE Mains to be able to predict this year’s minimum percentile required to be eligible for JEE Advanced. Apart form this, aspirants are advised to go through the JoSAA opening and closing ranks.
| Year | Category | Minimum Percentile Required |
|---|---|---|
JEE Main 2025 | General | 93.1023262 |
OBC | 79.4313582 | |
SC | 61.1526933 | |
ST | 47.9026465 | |
EWS | 80.3830119 | |
JEE Main 2024 | General | 93.2362181 |
OBC | 79.6757881 | |
SC | 60.0923182 | |
ST | 46.6975840 | |
EWS | 81.3266412 | |
JEE Main 2023 | General | 90.7788642 |
OBC | 73.6114227 | |
SC | 51.9776027 | |
ST | 37.2348772 | |
EWS | 75.6229025 | |
JEE Main 2022 | General | 88.4121383 |
OBC | 67.0090297 | |
SC | 43.0820954 8 | |
ST | 26.7771328 | |
EWS | 63.1114141 | |
JEE Main 2021 | General | 87.8992241 |
OBC | 68.0234447 | |
SC | 46.8825338 | |
ST | 34.6728999 | |
EWS | 66.2214845 |
The data on how many students registered for JEE Main 2026 helps to predict the competition level. That is, increased competition means more candidates per seat. Check the following information.
| Year | Registered | Appeared |
|---|---|---|
JEE Main 2025 Session 1 | 13,11,544 | 12,58,136 |
JEE Main 2025 Session 2 | 10,61,840 | 9,92,350 |
JEE Main 2024 Session 1 | 1221624 | 1170048 |
JEE Main 2024 Session 2 | 1179569 | 1067959 |
JEE Main 2023 Session 1 | 860064 | 823967 |
JEE Main 2023 Session 2 | 931334 | 883367 |
JEE Main 2022 Session 1 | 872970 | 769604 |
JEE Main 2022 Session 2 | 622034 | 540242 |
JEE Main 2021 Session 1 | 652628 | 621033 |
JEE Main 2021 Session 2 | 619641 | 556248 |
JEE Main 2021 Session 3 | 709611 | 543553 |
JEE Main 2021 Session 4 | 767700 | 481419 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The difficulty level of JEE Main 2026 is expected to be moderate to tough.
The JEE Main 2025 session 2 was of lesser difficulty as compared to that of session 1.
The JEE Main 2026 difficulty level is expected to be moderate to tough.
Yes, JEE Mains is of 300 marks.
As per last year’s trends, Maths is expected to be lengthy and tricky.
On Question asked by student community
Dear Student,
You can access JEE Main Mathematics previous-year questions on Careers360. Practising previous-year questions will help you understand the exam pattern and question types.
Hello Student,
You can check the resources provided below:
Hope this helps!
Hello, since you are in Intermediate 2nd year with the MPC group and preparing for JEE Main, focus on completing the syllabus, revising important concepts and solving previous years’ JEE Main question papers. Take regular mock tests and analyse your mistakes to improve your score. Keep a realistic study schedule
Dear Student
Please specify whether you want Physics, Chemistry, or Mathematics, and which JEE Main/Advanced exam.
Hi Ansh Chauhan
Check the link below for the high-weightage Physics chapters for JEE Main 2027 based on recent exam trends. Students can use these chapters to prioritise their preparation and focus more on topics that have appeared frequently in previous papers.
https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/most-weightage-chapters-for-jee-main-physics-2027
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