JEE Main 2026 (4 Apr, Shift 1) Maths Analysis Chapter Weightage, Difficulty & Expected Cutoff
The 4 April 2026 morning shift was a moderate-to-tough Mathematics paper nine of the 25 questions were hard, with the difficulty concentrated in Algebra and Calculus. As is typical of the April session, this paper asked more of students than the average January shift.
Here is the full breakdown: what was asked, where the marks sat, how hard it really was, and roughly what a good attempt looked like.
The paper at a glance
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam | JEE Main 2026 · 4 Apr · Shift 1 (Morning) |
| Questions | 25 (Q1–Q20 single-correct MCQ, Q21–Q25 numerical) |
| Marks | 100 (+4 correct, –1 wrong on MCQs; no negative on numericals) |
| Overall difficulty | Moderate, leaning tough |
| Biggest units | Algebra (32 marks) · Calculus (24 marks) |
| Toughest questions | Q9, Q17, Q18, Q24 |
| Answer key | Independently verified — no errors found |
Overall verdict
A demanding paper. Section A carried a hard block around Q17–Q19 (a self-referential polynomial, an area problem and a greatest-integer integral), and the numerical section added more. The two easy marks (Q6 chained adjugate, Q8 queue count) were quick, and a broad medium band kept a strong score reachable — but this shift rewarded students who kept their composure through the hard stretch.
Secure the 2 easy + 14 medium questions first (that alone is a strong 64/100), then attack the 9 hard ones. Q9, Q17, Q18 and Q24 were the biggest time sinks — save them for last.
Unit-wise weightage
- Algebra — 8 questions · 32 marks. Two Matrices, two Permutations & Combinations, plus Theory of Equations, Complex Numbers, Sequences and Binomial.
- Calculus — 6 questions · 24 marks. Two Application of Derivatives, Methods of Differentiation, Area, Definite Integration and a Differential Equation.
- Coordinate Geometry — 4 questions · 16 marks. Two Straight Lines, Circle and a shared-latus-rectum conic.
- Vectors & 3D — 2 questions · 8 marks.
- Trigonometry — 3 questions · 12 marks. Inverse-trig and two identities.
- Statistics & Probability — 2 questions · 8 marks.
Algebra + Calculus = 56 of 100 marks — the usual backbone.
Chapter weightage
Five chapters gave two questions each — Matrices & Determinants, Permutations & Combinations, Application of Derivatives, Straight Lines and 3D Geometry — while 15 other chapters gave one apiece.
| Chapter | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Matrices & Determinants | 2 | 8 |
| Permutations & Combinations | 2 | 8 |
| Application of Derivatives | 2 | 8 |
| Straight Lines | 2 | 8 |
| 3D Geometry | 2 | 8 |
| 15 other chapters | 1 each | 4 each |
Difficulty split
| Level | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 2 | 8% |
| Medium | 14 | 56% |
| Hard | 9 | 36% |
At 36% hard (DI 2.28), this was firmly on the tougher side — one of the harder April morning papers, with the difficulty spread across Algebra, Calculus and the numerical section.
The four questions that decided the paper
Q9 — Coefficient of x³ across a series (Hard).
▸ SHOW SOLUTION
The hockey-stick identity sums the coefficients to ; adding forces . The smallest gives , so . Answer: (2).
Q17 — Self-referential polynomial f = f′f″ (Hard).
▸ SHOW SOLUTION
Degree matching gives ; with , . Then . Answer: (3).
Q18 — Area under π−|x| and |x sin x| (Hard).
▸ SHOW SOLUTION
By symmetry, area . Answer: (2).
Q24 — sec²/cosec² telescoping (Hard).
▸ SHOW SOLUTION
Using , the sum of collapses to , so the ratio is exactly . Answer: 3.
Every answer on this shift was independently re-derived and verified by IITIANFORUM. Q24's printed vector showed but the booklet's solution uses ; the value 3 follows the solution.
Expected good attempt & cutoff read
Directional only — actual percentiles depend on normalisation across shifts:
- Excellent (top percentile): 20+ correct with clean numericals.
- Strong: 16–19 correct.
- Safe: 13–16 correct — bank every easy and medium question.
Because April papers ran tougher, cutoffs across the session sat a little lower than January — but normalisation across shifts evens this out.
What to take away for your prep
- Algebra + Calculus = 56% of the paper. Matrices and Permutations & Combinations each repeated — keep them sharp.
- Section A can carry a hard block. Q17–Q19 were consecutive hard problems; don't assume the MCQs get easier.
- Trigonometry appeared three times. Inverse-trig and identity manipulations reward genuine practice.
FAQ
How difficult was JEE Main 2026 Maths on 4 April Shift 1?
Moderate-to-tough — nine of 25 questions hard (DI 2.28), one of the harder April morning papers.
Which chapters had the highest weightage?
Matrices & Determinants, Permutations & Combinations, Application of Derivatives, Straight Lines and 3D Geometry — two questions each. Algebra was the biggest unit at 32 marks.
What were the toughest questions?
Q9 (coefficient of x³), Q17 (self-referential polynomial f=f′f″), Q18 (area under π−|x| and |x sin x|) and Q24 (sec²/cosec² telescoping).
Were there any errors in the answer key?
No — every answer was independently verified.
Want the fully worked, step-by-step solution to all 25 questions of this shift? Practise these exact chapters on IITIANFORUM and download the complete verified solutions PDF below.
Enter your email to get the download.
Ritesh Raj
Founder and Lead Mentor at IITian Forum. M.Sc Mathematics, IIT Delhi. 500+ students mentored for JEE and Olympiad mathematics.