Strategy, problem-solving techniques, and hard-earned lessons from 6 years of mentoring JEE and Olympiad students. Written by Ritesh Raj.
Every Mathematics question from both 2026 attempts 475 questions across 19 shifts solved, verified and classified by chapter, unit and difficulty. See exactly where the marks live, which chapters are highest-yield, and how January compared with April.
Every year students tell me they understand everything in class but cannot solve. They are not weak, they are studying mathematics the way they study every other subject. This is the method that actually works, and why the subject refuses to reward anything else.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 8 April evening shift, the closing paper of the April session — chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. The toughest shift of the set, with ten hard questions and only two easy.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 6 April evening shift chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. A moderate-to-tough paper with eight hard questions and both Matrices problems hard.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 6 April morning shift chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. A moderate, unusually balanced paper where Trigonometry and Coordinate Geometry carried heavy weight.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 5 April evening shift chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and a confirmed answer-key error in Q7 (the correct coefficient is 3360, not 3480).
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 5 April morning shift chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. Moderate overall, but five of six Calculus questions were hard.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 4 April evening shift chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. A moderate paper where all four Coordinate Geometry questions were hard.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 4 April morning shift chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. A moderate-to-tough paper with nine hard questions.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 2 April evening shift chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. A balanced, moderate paper with seven hard questions spread across units.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 2 April morning shift the April-session opener. Chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. A moderate-to-tough start with eight hard questions.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 28 January evening shift the final January paper. Chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. Nine of 25 questions were hard.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 28 January morning shift the toughest January paper. Chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. Ten of 25 questions were hard.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 24 January evening shift chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. A balanced, moderate paper (with one Bonus question, Q4).
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 24 January morning shift — chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. A moderate paper where Calculus carried the difficulty.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 23 January evening shift chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. Tougher than the morning, with nine hard questions spread across matrices, conics and integration.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 23 January morning shift — chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. A balanced, moderate paper with 16 medium questions and 7 hard.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 22 January evening shift chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. The toughest January shift so far: every Calculus question was hard and there was barely an easy question in sight.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 22 January morning shift chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. The friendliest January shift so far, with 16 medium questions and only 7 hard.
The full Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's 21 January evening shift chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. A shade tougher than the morning, with every Section-B numerical rated hard.
The complete Mathematics breakdown of JEE Main 2026's opening shift (21 January, morning) — chapter-wise weightage, an easy/medium/hard split, the four questions that decided the paper, and an expected good-attempt target. Calculus and Algebra alone carried 60 of 100 marks.
New resources, achievement spotlights, and exam strategy from Ritesh Raj. Direct to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
✓ Free forever ✓ Unsubscribe anytime ✓ No spam
Reading about strategy is one thing. Applying it to your specific weak areas is another. Book a free demo and we will map out your personal path.
Book Free Demo