JEE Main 2026 Session 2 Paper: Section B affects Percentiles

Synopsis: 

JEE Main Session 2 aspirants will have to work cautiously on Section B (numerical-value questions), as they have begun to attract negative marking, unlike before JEE Main 2025. So folks, before making smart guesses, keep the percentile metrics in mind and handle numerical-value questions wisely. 

Key Observations: Comparing 2025 Vs 2026 

1. NTA is focusing on structured & challenging patterns. 

2. The testing agency maintains conceptual clarity, accuracy, and precision. 

3. NTA recommends that aspirants focus on application-based topics and practice numerical questions.

4. Experts say that well-disciplined study, monitoring and continuous academic guidance. 

5. Numerical-value questions carry negative marking. 

6. The numerical-value question provided ample choices. A student could choose to answer 5 of the 10 given questions before 2025.  

 Why does Section B matter for JEE Main 2026 Session 2?

1. Session 1's exam provides valuable experience; it should have helped estimate the required precision and accuracy, which play a vital role in improving percentile in Session 2. As section B carries negative marking, there is a high risk of losing points, which can lead to a drop in percentile. Although the numerical value question is free from option guessing and the value needs to be inserted in the sheet, the possibility of guessing is minimal. Since the question doesn't provide options for guesswork, there is a risk of making errors and losing marks. 

2. Earlier, before 2025, Section B carried optional questions; the aspirant could select 5 out of 10, whereas it is limited to 5 in the current scenario. Therefore, the thumb rule is never to answer the question until the aspirant is certain about the answer. 

3. While practising for Session 2, an aspirant must realise that high-weightage chapters shouldn't be skipped, as questions may appear from the entire syllabus. 

4. Experts suggest that candidates must keep an eye on the time when working on the mathematics section, as any improper time allocation would reduce the time available to solve physics and chemistry questions. 

Why could the JEE Main 2026 Session Exam be tougher? 

1. The JEE Main syllabus hasn't changed from the previous year, yet the 2026 paper appeared tougher. 

2. Experts say that the modules in mathematics have encouraged deeper analytical thinking to solve problems, and in earlier years, the question paper involved only simple calculations. 

3. The questions in the chemistry paper are time-consuming, which means they are lengthy. Such a question paper can be managed only if the aspirant keeps an eye on the clock. 

4. Almost all subjects are moving toward application-based questions that call for thorough attention to learning concepts. The NCERT textbook questions are being reduced to a minimum. 

5. The number of session 2 exam takers is increasing compared with session 1, which means the aspirant must score high to be in the high percentiles. 

Summary: 

JEE Main Session 2 is the most crucial exam for engineering aspirants, and they must approach it carefully. Section B, which covers numerical-value questions across all subjects, is highly volatile. An aspirant may lose marks for guesswork; without options, guessing an answer is highly difficult. So, it is the most slippery part of the exam where an aspirant can lose marks due to negative marking. It will directly affect the competition's percentile. It is advisable not to touch such questions when their answers are unclear.