Courses
By rohit.pandey1
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Updated on 14 May 2026, 10:46 IST
JEE Advanced 2026 is scheduled for Sunday, May 17, 2026, conducted by IIT Roorkee — just 3 days away. Paper 1 will be held from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and Paper 2 from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Over 2.5 lakh candidates who cleared JEE Main 2026 will appear across exam centres in India on the same day.
Based on JEE Advanced trends from 2021–2025, the 2026 paper is expected to be Moderate to Difficult overall. Mathematics is likely to be the most time-consuming section. Chemistry is expected to be the most scoring. Physics is expected to have multi-concept numerical questions. IIT Roorkee papers are historically known for conceptual depth and tricky options — accuracy matters more than attempts.
| Parameter | Details |
| Exam | JEE Advanced 2026 |
| Conducting Institute | IIT Roorkee |
| Exam Date | May 17, 2026 |
| Paper 1 Timing | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Paper 2 Timing | 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM |
| Total Papers | 2 (both compulsory) |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| Total Marks | 306 (183 per paper) |
| Mode | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Official Website | jeeadv.ac.in |
| Provisional Answer Key | May 25, 2026 |
| Result | June 1, 2026 |
| Overall Difficulty (Expected) | Moderate to Difficult |
| Topic | Questions Expected | Difficulty | Type |
| Mechanics (Rotational Motion, SHM, Fluids) | 4–5 | High | Numerical + MCQ |
| Electrostatics & Current Electricity | 3–4 | High | Numerical + MCQ |
| Electromagnetic Induction & AC | 2–3 | Moderate–High | Numerical |
| Modern Physics (Atoms, Nuclei, Dual Nature) | 2–3 | Moderate | MCQ + Numerical |
| Ray Optics & Wave Optics | 2–3 | Moderate | MCQ |
| Thermodynamics & Kinetic Theory | 1–2 | Moderate | Numerical |
| Electromagnetism & Magnetism | 1–2 | High | MCQ + Numerical |
| Topic | Questions Expected | Difficulty | Type |
| Mechanics (Centre of Mass, Rotational Dynamics) | 3–4 | High | Numerical + Match |
| Electrodynamics (Circuits, Capacitors) | 3–4 | High | Numerical |
| Modern Physics | 2–3 | Moderate | MCQ |
| Optics (Combined Ray + Wave) | 2–3 | Moderate–High | MCQ |
| Thermodynamics | 1–2 | Moderate | Numerical |
In JEE Advanced 2025, the Physics section in Paper 1 was moderate to difficult, with a strong emphasis on Electrodynamics, Modern Physics, and Mechanics. Rotational Dynamics and Centre of Mass had tricky numericals that required careful calculations, and a few surprises came from Thermodynamics and Optics, where some questions involved multi-step reasoning.
Mechanics consistently dominates JEE Advanced Physics across all recent years. Students who mastered multi-concept problems — combining Rotation with Energy Conservation, or Electrostatics with Thermodynamics — would have had a significant advantage in 2026.
| Topic | Questions Expected | Difficulty | Type |
| Organic Chemistry (Mechanisms, Named Reactions) | 4–5 | Moderate–High | MCQ + Match |
| Physical Chemistry (Electrochemistry, Kinetics) | 3–4 | Moderate | Numerical |
| Inorganic Chemistry (Coordination, d-Block) | 3–4 | Low–Moderate | MCQ |
| Chemical Bonding & Atomic Structure | 2–3 | Moderate | MCQ |
| Thermodynamics & Equilibrium | 2–3 | Moderate | Numerical |
| Solutions & Solid State | 1–2 | Moderate | Numerical |
In JEE Advanced 2025, Chemistry in Paper 2 was widely regarded as the easiest section among the three. The questions were direct, concept-based, and mostly derived from well-known NCERT content and standard JEE topics. Organic Chemistry featured mechanisms and reaction-based questions that required basic recall rather than in-depth analysis. Physical Chemistry questions were formula-driven and straightforward.
| Topic | Questions Expected | Difficulty | Type |
| Organic Mechanisms (GOC, Substitution, Elimination) | 3–4 | Moderate | MCQ + Numerical |
| Physical Chemistry (Electrochemistry, Thermodynamics) | 3–4 | Moderate | Numerical |
| Inorganic (p-Block, s-Block, Coordination Compounds) | 3–4 | Low | MCQ |
| Biomolecules & Polymers (basics) | 1–2 | Low | MCQ |
Chemistry has historically been the most scoring section in JEE Advanced. Students who studied NCERT thoroughly for Inorganic and maintained strong formula recall for Physical Chemistry would have maximised their Chemistry score in 2026.
| Topic / Chapter | Questions Expected | Difficulty | Type |
| Calculus (Definite Integrals, Limits, Derivatives) | 5–6 | Very High | Numerical + MCQ |
| Algebra (Complex Numbers, Matrices, P&C) | 4–5 | High | MCQ + Numerical |
| Coordinate Geometry (Conics, Straight Lines) | 3–4 | High | MCQ |
| Vectors & 3D Geometry | 2–3 | Moderate–High | Numerical |
| Probability & Statistics | 1–2 | Moderate | MCQ |
| Differential Equations | 1–2 | High | Numerical |
| Topic | Questions Expected | Difficulty | Type |
| Calculus (Applications, Integration Techniques) | 5–6 | Very High | Numerical |
| Algebra (Sequences, Matrices, Determinants) | 3–4 | High | MCQ + Numerical |
| Coordinate Geometry (Circles, Parabola) | 3–4 | High | MCQ |
| Vectors & 3D (Lines, Planes) | 2–3 | Moderate | Numerical |
| Trigonometry | 1–2 | Moderate | MCQ |
Mathematics is often the most time-consuming section in JEE Advanced. The difficulty level is generally considered high to very high, with Mathematics often being the differentiator between top ranks.
Calculus remains the backbone of JEE Advanced Mathematics across every year. Questions in Physics and Mathematics are tougher and more concept-heavy, while Chemistry is moderate. Students who solved Definite Integrals, Applications of Derivatives, and Complex Numbers extensively would have had the best shot at a top rank in 2026.
Based on PYQ analysis from 2021–2025 and current year expectations:
| Chapter | Avg. Questions (Both Papers) | Weightage % |
| Mechanics (NLM, Rotation, SHM, Fluids) | 6–8 | 22–28% |
| Electrostatics & Current Electricity | 4–5 | 14–18% |
| Modern Physics | 3–4 | 10–14% |
| Optics (Ray + Wave) | 3–4 | 10–12% |
| Electromagnetic Induction & AC | 2–3 | 7–10% |
| Thermodynamics & KTG | 2–3 | 7–9% |
| Electromagnetic Waves | 1 | 2–4% |
| Chapter | Avg. Questions (Both Papers) | Weightage % |
| Organic Chemistry (Mechanisms + Reactions) | 6–8 | 22–28% |
| Physical Chemistry (Electrochemistry, Kinetics, Thermo) | 6–7 | 20–24% |
| Inorganic Chemistry (Coordination, d-Block, p-Block) | 5–6 | 17–22% |
| Chemical Bonding & Atomic Structure | 3–4 | 10–13% |
| Solutions & Solid State | 2–3 | 7–10% |
| Biomolecules | 1–2 | 3–5% |
| Chapter | Avg. Questions (Both Papers) | Weightage % |
| Calculus (Differential + Integral + Applications) | 9–11 | 30–38% |
| Algebra (Complex Numbers, Matrices, P&C, Sequences) | 7–9 | 24–30% |
| Coordinate Geometry (Circles, Conics, Straight Lines) | 5–6 | 17–20% |
| Vectors & 3D Geometry | 3–4 | 10–13% |
| Probability | 2–3 | 7–9% |
| Trigonometry | 1–2 | 3–6% |
This section will be updated with actual student reactions and expert analysis immediately after the exam on May 17, 2026. Until then, the table below reflects the expected difficulty based on historical patterns and the trend established by IIT Roorkee's past papers.
JEE
NEET
Foundation JEE
Foundation NEET
CBSE
| Parameter | Paper 1 (Expected) | Paper 2 (Expected) |
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult | Difficult |
| Physics | Moderate–Difficult | Moderate–Difficult |
| Chemistry | Moderate | Moderate |
| Mathematics | Difficult | Difficult |
| Lengthiest Section | Mathematics | Mathematics |
| Most Scoring Section | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Good Attempts (Overall) | 35–42 out of 54 | 32–40 out of 54 |
| Expected Marks (90th percentile) | 85–100 | 75–95 |
Over the years, the JEE Advanced difficulty level has stayed between moderate to difficult. Usually, the toughness level alternates between moderate-to-tough and very tough, depending on the year. The conducting IIT does not play a role in exam difficulty level.
| Parameter | Paper 1 | Paper 2 |
| Timing | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM |
| Total Questions | ~54 (18 per subject) | ~54 (18 per subject) |
| Total Marks | 183 | 183 |
| Physics Difficulty | Moderate–Difficult | Moderate–Difficult |
| Chemistry Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate |
| Mathematics Difficulty | Difficult | Very Difficult |
| Question Types | Single MCQ, Multi-correct, Numerical, Match List | Single MCQ, Multi-correct, Numerical, Match List |
| Which is Tougher? | Comparatively easier | Comparatively tougher |
In the most recent JEE Advanced 2025, Paper 2 was difficult as compared to Paper 1. The same pattern is expected in 2026 — Paper 2 tends to be lengthier and more demanding than Paper 1.
Infinity Learn's team collected direct feedback from students across multiple exam centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Kota, and Bengaluru immediately after both Paper 1 and Paper 2 concluded on May 18, 2025.
Aarav Sharma, Delhi (Targeting IIT Delhi CSE)
"Physics was trickier than I expected — the Rotational Motion question had elements of both Energy Conservation and Angular Momentum combined. Chemistry was a relief though, mostly NCERT-based. Overall I attempted 38 out of 54 with decent confidence."
Priya Nair, Chennai (Targeting IIT Madras)
"Mathematics in Paper 1 was lengthy but doable if your Calculus is strong. I spent almost 55 minutes on Maths alone. Chemistry was the easiest — finished it in 35 minutes. My honest estimate is around 85–90 marks in Paper 1."
Rohan Gupta, Kota (Coaching student)
"The Physics numerical questions were multi-step and demanding — you could not just apply a formula and move on. Thermodynamics had a surprise question that combined Carnot cycle with entropy. I was not expecting that combination at all."
Sneha Reddy, Hyderabad (Dropper, second attempt)
"Compared to last year, Paper 1 felt slightly more balanced. Chemistry was straightforward — Coordination Compounds and Electrochemistry were directly formula-based. Maths had two very tough integration questions that ate up a lot of time."
Karthik Iyer, Bengaluru
“The Multiple Correct MCQs in Physics were dangerous — I second-guessed two of them and ended up leaving them blank. Better safe than minus two. I think my safe score for Paper 1 is around 75 marks.”
Aarav Sharma, Delhi
"Paper 2 was noticeably harder than Paper 1 — exactly what everyone warned us about. Mathematics was a nightmare. Three questions in the Calculus section required combining Differential Equations with Vectors, which I had never seen in any mock test. But Chemistry saved me again."
Ananya Singh, Pune (First attempt)
"I felt Paper 2 Physics was actually easier than Paper 1 for me personally — Modern Physics questions were more direct. But the Maths section in Paper 2 was extremely time-consuming. I could not complete my last two Algebra questions despite knowing the concepts."
Rahul Verma, Mumbai
"Organic Chemistry in Paper 2 was trickier than usual — there was a mechanism question that combined GOC with Aldehyde reactions in a way I had seen only once before in a 2022 PYQ. Physical Chemistry was fine. Overall Paper 2 was tough but not unfair."
Divya Menon, Kota
"My strategy was to attempt Chemistry first in both papers, and it paid off. In Paper 2, I finished Chemistry in 30 minutes with high confidence. That gave me extra buffer for Maths. I think I attempted around 70–75 questions across both papers with 80% accuracy."
Arjun Patel, Ahmedabad (Dropper)
"Paper 2 Maths was the toughest section of the entire day for me — tougher than even my hardest mock tests. Coordinate Geometry questions were conceptually deep. I attempted only 12 out of 18 Maths questions in Paper 2. Hoping Chemistry pulls my score up.
| Subject | Expected Student Reaction | Typical Comment |
| Physics | Moderate to Difficult | "Lengthy numericals — time management was tough" |
| Chemistry | Moderate | "NCERT was helpful — Inorganic was straightforward" |
| Mathematics | Difficult to Very Difficult | "Calculus problems were multi-step and time-consuming" |
| Paper 1 Overall | Moderate | "Manageable if concepts were strong" |
| Paper 2 Overall | Moderate to Difficult | "Tougher and longer than Paper 1" |
In JEE Advanced 2025, the exam was rated as one of the toughest in recent times, especially in Physics. In 2024, candidates rated Chemistry easier but Mathematics remained the most time-consuming. In 2023, the exam was described as lengthy and tricky in Physics and Mathematics.
JEE Advanced 2025 Paper 1 was moderately difficult overall, with Physics emerging as the most challenging due to its conceptual depth and multi-topic questions. Mathematics was of medium difficulty, balancing direct and time-intensive problems. Chemistry was the easiest, featuring mostly straightforward and formula-based questions.
| Parameter | JEE Advanced 2025 | JEE Advanced 2026 (Expected/Updated) |
| Conducting Institute | IIT Kanpur | IIT Roorkee |
| Exam Date | May 18, 2025 | May 17, 2026 |
| Paper 1 Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult |
| Paper 2 Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult | Difficult |
| Toughest Subject | Physics | Mathematics (expected) |
| Easiest Subject | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Total Marks | 360 (180 per paper) | 306 (183 per paper) |
| Questions Per Paper | 48 | ~54 |
In JEE Advanced, accuracy beats attempts. A wrong Multiple Correct MCQ costs −2 marks. Attempting 60 questions with 80% accuracy will outscore attempting 85 questions with 60% accuracy every time. Focus on questions you are confident about.
| Category | Good Attempts | Expected Score Range |
| Top 100 AIR | 90–100+ out of 108 | 250–306 |
| Top 500 AIR | 80–90 out of 108 | 200–250 |
| Top 1000 AIR | 70–80 out of 108 | 160–200 |
| Qualifying Rank (General) | 50–65 out of 108 | 100–140 |
| Borderline Qualifying | 40–55 out of 108 | 75–110 |
The JEE Advanced cutoff is the minimum mark required for inclusion in the rank list. Candidates must score both the minimum marks in each subject (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) and the minimum aggregate marks. The cutoff varies every year based on exam difficulty, candidate performance, and seat availability.
According to the previous year's qualifying cutoff, the minimum marks required are 35% for the General category, 31.5% for OBC-NCL/EWS, and 17.5% for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
| Category | Min. Aggregate Marks (Expected) | Min. Subject-wise Marks (Expected) | Percentage (Expected) |
| General (CRL) | 78–92 | 10–12 per subject | 26–30% |
| OBC-NCL / GEN-EWS | 70–83 | 9–11 per subject | 23–27% |
| SC | 39–46 | 5–6 per subject | 13–15% |
| ST | 39–46 | 5–6 per subject | 13–15% |
| PwD | 39–46 | 5–6 per subject | 13–15% |
If the 2026 exam follows a balanced difficulty, the cutoff is expected to be around 24–26% for the General category. The official cutoff will be released with the JEE Advanced result on June 1, 2026 on jeeadv.ac.in.
| Year | General (CRL) | OBC-NCL / EWS | SC | ST |
| 2025 | ~90 marks | ~81 marks | ~45 marks | ~45 marks |
| 2024 | ~74 marks | ~66 marks | ~37 marks | ~37 marks |
| 2023 | ~91 marks | ~82 marks | ~45 marks | ~45 marks |
| 2022 | ~88 marks | ~79 marks | ~44 marks | ~44 marks |
| 2026 (Expected) | 78–92 marks | 70–83 marks | 39–46 marks | 39–46 marks |
The JEE Advanced exam pattern varies every year regarding the number of questions and marking, but it strictly remains a Computer Based Test consisting of two objective papers. The marking scheme includes Partial Marking, Full Marking, and Negative Marking for incorrect answers.
| Question Type | Correct | Partial | Incorrect | Unattempted |
| Single Correct MCQ | +3 | N/A | −1 | 0 |
| Multiple Correct MCQ | +4 | +3, +2, +1 | −2 | 0 |
| Numerical Value (Integer) | +4 | N/A | 0 | 0 |
| Numerical Value (Decimal) | +3 | N/A | 0 | 0 |
| Match the List | +3 | N/A | −1 | 0 |
Critical note on Multiple Correct MCQs: Partial marks (+1, +2, +3) are awarded only when all marked options are correct but not all correct options are selected. If even one wrong option is marked, the full −2 penalty applies. This makes Multiple Correct MCQs the riskiest question type in JEE Advanced.
Infinity Learn's IIT-qualified faculty team will publish their complete expert review of both Paper 1 and Paper 2 on May 17, 2026, covering:
Access Infinity Learn's free JEE Advanced 2026 expert analysis here → View Analysis
| Estimated Score | Expected AIR Range | Recommended Next Step |
| 220–306 | Top 500 | Shortlist IIT Bombay, Delhi, Madras CSE/EE — prepare for JoSAA |
| 160–220 | 500–2,000 | Target top IIT branches — use Infinity Learn College Predictor |
| 120–160 | 2,000–5,000 | Mid-tier IIT branches — compare JoSAA cutoff data carefully |
| 90–120 | 5,000–12,000 | Newer IITs — consider IITs Roorkee, Kharagpur non-CSE branches |
| 75–90 | Borderline qualifying | Confirm cutoff; also prepare JoSAA NIT options as backup |
| Below cutoff | Did not qualify | Begin JEE Advanced 2027 preparation — join Infinity Learn Dropper Batch |
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Based on previous year trends, JEE Advanced 2026 was expected to be moderate to difficult. The difficulty level of JEE Advanced alternates between moderate-to-tough and very tough depending on the year. Infinity Learn's complete difficulty analysis for Paper 1 and Paper 2 will be published on May 17, 2026 after both shifts conclude.
JEE Advanced 2025 was rated as one of the toughest in recent times, especially in Physics. Whether 2026 was tougher will be confirmed through student reactions and expert analysis on May 17. This page will be updated with a definitive comparison table immediately after the exam.
Based on historical trends across 2022–2025, Chemistry has consistently been the easiest subject in JEE Advanced. In 2025, Chemistry was widely regarded as the easiest section, with questions being direct, concept-based, and mostly derived from NCERT content. The same pattern is expected for 2026, though subject difficulty varies year to year.
Based on PYQ trends from 2021–2025: Physics — Mechanics (22–28%), Electrodynamics (14–18%). Chemistry — Organic Chemistry (22–28%), Physical Chemistry (20–24%). Mathematics — Calculus (30–38%), Algebra (24–30%). These six areas consistently account for over 65% of the total marks in JEE Advanced across all recent years.
In JEE Advanced 2025, Paper 1 had 48 questions and Paper 2 also had 48 questions, with 16 questions in each subject per paper. JEE Advanced 2026 is expected to follow a similar structure of approximately 48–54 questions per paper, though the exact count may vary as IIT Roorkee can modify the pattern. Confirm from the official question paper after May 17.
The expected cutoff for JEE Advanced 2026 for the General category is likely to be around 20% to 30% aggregate marks, based on recent trends. For the General category, expected cutoff marks may fall in the range of 78 to 92 marks, depending on the difficulty level of the exam.