Why Did Students Find JEE Main 2026 Chemistry Tough

Based on the analysis provided by the exam takers, the Chemistry section in JEE Main session 1 2026 posed difficulty. While it is generally perceived as “easier” than Mathematics, some shifts were significantly tougher for the students. The reason for this is that the exam included lengthy, statement-based questions. Not only were those questions time-consuming, but they also required the students to verify multiple facts before choosing an answer. Talking about the topics that held the most weightage and were time-consuming at the same time, they included Coordination Compounds, Thermodynamics, and General Organic Chemistry. In this article, we will discuss several factors due to which the students find JEE Main 2026 Chemistry tough.
Also Read: Which JEE Main Jan 2026 Shift Was the Easiest Till Now?

Why Did Students Find JEE Main 2026 Chemistry Tough?

From mixed concept questions, to calculation-intensive Physical Chemistry, to tricky language in NCERT-based questions, etc, there are several factors that contributed to the toughness of JEE Main Chemistry paper. The points below outline the reasons provided by exam takers regarding the difficulty of the Chemistry section:-

• Shift in Question Paper Format - One of the major hurdles that the students faced was the shift in the exam paper. Along with this, in some shifts, the students reported the questions to be pulled from hidden footnotes in the textbook. Instead of direct facts, questions required connecting multiple concepts.
• Statement-based Fatigue - While the exam in the previous years included direct questions, this year, the paper mainly included statement-based and assertion - reasoning formats. Several questions featured 6-8 statements, where the students had to verify the correctness of every single one. Due to this, one question turned into several ‘True/False’ mini-tasks, leading to mental exhaustion and higher chances of silly mistakes.
• Calculation-Intensive Physical Chemistry - While Organic and Inorganic were often NCERT-driven, the portion of Physical Chemistry was calculation-heavy. The topics like Mole Chemistry, Electrochemistry, and Thermodynamics required multi-step calculations that students found tedious under time pressure.
• Tricky language in NCERT-based questions - The students reported that while the questions remained within the NCERT syllabus, the language was tricky. Even for the direct reaction-based questions, the phrasing of the options made it difficult for the students to identify the correct answer.
• Time Domino Effect - Because it took an average of 50-55 minutes to complete Chemistry, it created a panic responses. Due to this, students lost the buffer time for the Mathematics section. This increased time pressure made even "moderate" Chemistry questions feel "tough" due to the fear of not finishing the paper.

Shift Wise Difficulty Level of JEE Main 2026 Chemistry

The table below provides a detailed overview of the shift-wise difficulty level of the JEE Main Chemistry section, including the reasons stated by students:-

Tips to Attempt JEE Main Chemistry 2026 With Ease

Below mentioned are some tips, adopting which, the students can tackle the upcoming JEE Main Chemistry session 1 exam with ease:-

• Attempt Inorganic Chemistry first. Reason being that they are usually direct NCERT facts. If you know it, you mark it in 20 seconds. Following this, go to Organic Chemistry and focus on the "Named Reactions" and GOC. Use the Elimination Method for multi-step conversions. Leave Physical Chemistry for the last. In 2026, these are calculation-intensive. Prioritize the MCQs over the Numerical Value questions if you are short on time, as the latter often involve more steps.

• To navigate Statement-Based and Assertion-Based traps, first evaluate every statement independently as a simple fact without looking at the connection between them. Once both are verified, use the "Because Test" by reading the Assertion, adding the word "because," and then reading the Reason to see if the logic is scientifically sound.

Overall, JEE Main 2026 Chemistry proved to be more challenging than expected due to changes in question patterns, lengthy statement-based formats, and calculation-heavy Physical Chemistry. While the difficulty varied across shifts, students particularly struggled with time management and mixed-concept questions. Going forward, focused NCERT revision, regular practice of assertion-reason questions, and a strategic approach to section-wise attempt order can help aspirants tackle Chemistry more efficiently in the upcoming sessions.