JEE Main 2026 Session 1: Response Sheets and Answer Keys Out Now!
Your comprehensive guide to downloading, analyzing, and challenging your JEE Main 2026 responses.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 response sheets and provisional answer keys today, February 4, 2026. This is a crucial moment for lakhs of engineering aspirants who appeared for the examination held from January 21 to January 29, 2026. Candidates can now access their recorded responses and compare them with the provisional answer key to calculate their probable scores and assess their performance. The answer key challenge window has also opened, providing a short window to raise objections if any discrepancies are found.
Stay informed about all the important dates for both sessions of JEE Main 2026:
| Event | Session 1 Dates | Session 2 Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Dates | January 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 2026 | April 2 to 9, 2026 (Tentative) |
| Response Sheet & Provisional Answer Key Release | February 4, 2026 | Mid-April 2026 (Tentative) |
| Answer Key Challenge Window | February 4 to February 5, 2026 | 2-3 days after release (Tentative) |
| Final Result Declaration | By February 12, 2026 | Late April 2026 (Tentative) |
| Session 2 Registration | N/A | February 1 to February 25, 2026 |
✅ Clarity and Transparency: The response sheet provides a clear record of your marked answers, ensuring transparency in the evaluation process.
✅ Score Estimation: By comparing your responses with the official answer key, you can accurately calculate your estimated score before the official results are declared.
✅ Identify Weak Areas: Analyzing your performance helps in understanding your mistakes and identifying areas that require further preparation for upcoming sessions or JEE Advanced.
✅ Objection Filing: The response sheet is a crucial document for raising objections against any incorrect answers in the provisional answer key within the specified challenge window.
Follow these simple steps to access your recorded responses from the NTA JEE Main official website:
Alongside your response sheet, the NTA releases a provisional answer key. This key provides the correct answers to all questions asked in the examination. You can use it to cross-verify your responses.
- Visit the official JEE Main website and log in.
- Click on the "Challenge Answer Key" link.
- Select the question(s) you wish to challenge.
- Provide supporting proof (e.g., from NCERT textbooks or standard reference books).
- Pay the non-refundable objection fee of ₹200 per question. Only paid challenges submitted within the stipulated time will be considered.
- Download the confirmation receipt.
For those who wish to improve their scores or missed the first attempt, registration for JEE Main 2026 Session 2 is currently live and will continue until February 25, 2026. The exams for Session 2 are scheduled to be held from April 2 to April 9, 2026. This provides another excellent opportunity to achieve your desired percentile.
The release of the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 response sheet and answer key marks a crucial phase for all candidates. Utilize these resources effectively to analyze your performance, estimate your scores, and proceed with confidence towards your academic goals. Good luck!
