JEE Main Exam Update: If you are a JEE Main 2026 aspirant, you have probably come across that “This year will be tougher than before.
Social media is filled with coaching teachers, posts, and numerous videos about the JEE Main 2026 difficulty level and, expected paper. Isn’t it?
But here’s the real question: Does JEE Main actually get more difficult every year, or is it just the pressure talking? And if it does feel tougher, what factors could actually make JEE Main 2026 harder than the previous sessions?
Is JEE Main 2026 Going to Be Difficult?
The truth is, difficulty isn’t a permanent label on the exam. It shifts with trends, syllabus changes, and most importantly, how you prepare in comparison to lakhs of other students. In this article, we have talked about whether JEE Main 2026 is going to be difficult or not, based on research, past patterns, and facts.
Every year, JEE Main the number of candidates for the JEE Main exam increases. Talking about from 2021 to 2025, the registered candidates went from about 6.5 lakh to 13.1 lakh. On average, every year, around 1.5- 1.7 lakh more candidates appear for the examination.
Along with the number of candidates JEE Mains cutoff also increases. The JEE Main cutoff was 87.8992 in the year 2021 and 93.1023 in 2025 for the general category. Below we have given the details about the previous 05 years of JEE registered students, appeared students, and the general cutoff.
| Year | Session | Registered Students | Students Appeared | General Cutoff |
| 2025 | January | 13.11 lakh | 12.58 lakh | 93.1023 |
| April | 10.62 lakh | 9.92 lakh | ||
| 2024 | January | 12.32 lakh | 11.70 lakh | 93.2362 |
| April | 12.58 lakh | 10.68 lakh | ||
| 2023 | January | 8.60 lakh | 8.24 lakh | 90.7789 |
| April | 9.31 lakh | 8.83 lakh | ||
| 2022 | June | 8.73 lakh | 7.70 lakh | 88.4121 |
| July | 6.22 lakh | 5.40 lakh | ||
| 2021 | February | 6.53 lakh | 6.21 lakh | 87.8992 |
| March | 6.20 lakh | 5.56 lakh | ||
| July | 7.10 lakh | 6.10 lakh | ||
| August | 6.09 lakh | 4.81 lakh |
For JEE Main 2026, the expected candidates to appear is around 16 lakhs, and based on the past trends, the cutoff can be 95. If the number of candidates is going to increase, then the competition will also increase.
Another reason why JEE Main 2026 is expected to be tougher is that, in previous years, several concerns were raised regarding the conduct of the exam, with many students scoring unusually high marks. To ensure fairness and smooth administration this time, the Ministry of Education has reconstituted the JEE Apex Board (JAB) for JEE Main 2026.
What is JEE Apex Board? Reconstituted for JEE 2026-27 Aspirants
So, based on the research the yes, JEE Main is going to be difficult. The JEE Main 2026 session 1 exam will take place between 21st to 30th January 2026, and the JEE Main session 2 exam will be condcuted on the 02nd or 09th April 2026. Notification has been released on 31st October 2025.
All the applicants going to take the upcoming examination are required to boost their JEE Main exam preparation, as only 4 months are left. It is also advised that there is no need to panic and do your practice and preparation calmly with a positive mind. We wish you all the best.
| Year | Session | Overall Difficulty | Mathematics Difficulty | Physics Difficulty | Chemistry Difficulty | Important Notes & Trends |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | January | Moderate | Tough, lengthy & calculation-heavy | Easiest section | Moderate, mostly NCERT-based | Multiple shifts; Math was toughest; Physics easiest; Chemistry moderate. |
| April | Moderate | Tough, lengthy problems | Moderate | Easy, NCERT-based | April considered slightly easier than January overall. | |
| 2022 | January | Moderate to Difficult | Tough and tricky problems | Moderate | Easy, NCERT-focused | Balanced paper with tricky Math; Physics moderate; Chemistry easy. |
| April | Moderate to Difficult | Lengthy, tricky & time-consuming | Moderate | Easy | Slightly balanced; Math tough; Chemistry remained scoring. | |
| 2023 | January | Moderate | Lengthy and calculation-heavy | Moderate, easier than Math | Easy to Moderate | Some shifts tougher in Math. |
| April | Moderate | Lengthy but easier than January | Moderate | Easy | April comparatively easier than January. | |
| 2024 | January | Moderate to Difficult | Tough, complex problems | Moderate to Difficult | Easiest among three | Higher conceptual questions in Physics and Math; Chemistry very scoring and NCERT-based. |
| April | Moderate | Tough but manageable | Moderate | Easiest | Balanced and slightly easier than January. | |
| 2025 | January | Moderate to Difficult | Most challenging, time-consuming | Moderate to Difficult | Easy, NCERT-based | January 28 shift toughest with challenging Math and Physics; Chemistry scoring. |
| April | Easy to Moderate | Moderate, lengthy | Moderate | Easy | April 2 shift considered easiest; overall April session more scoring. |