Which Was the Toughest JEE Main 2020 Paper: An Analysis
The JEE Main 2020 exam was conducted in multiple sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the September session taking place from September 1 to 6. Among these papers, many students and educators found that the paper on September 6, 2020, was the most challenging.
Factors Contributing to Perceived Difficulty
This perception was based on several factors:
Difficulty Level
The questions were considered more complex compared to previous sessions, particularly in subjects like Physics and Mathematics. The increased difficulty was noticeable in both the theoretical and practical aspects of the papers.
Student Feedback
Many students reported that the level of conceptual understanding required was higher, leading to a consensus that this paper was more difficult.
Cut-off Marks
The overall cut-off marks for this session were lower than those of previous sessions, which further indicated that it was a more challenging exam.
Subject-wise Breakdown
According to various reports and analysis from YouTube videos and candidates who appeared in the JEE Main 2020 exam, different papers had varying levels of difficulty:
January Attempt
In the January attempt, the 7th shift 2 was considered the toughest. This perception was consistent with the feedback from candidates who took the exam.
September Attempt
For the September attempt, many candidates felt that the papers on either the last date (September 5 or 6) were the toughest, with the 2nd shift on September 6 being particularly challenging.
NTA Efforts
The National Testing Agency (NTA) makes an effort to ensure that all papers from both attempts in a year are almost of the same level. The difficulty level should not differ by more than -5. However, individual experiences still vary.
Personal Observations
In my opinion, the 1st shift held on September 3 was harder. It was more lengthier than the others. Most of the questions in Chemistry were memory-based. Physics, though easier, involved a significant amount of calculations. Mathematics had many lengthy questions, some of which were more tricky but not particularly difficult.
Further Analysis
For a deeper understanding of the relative order of difficulty, refer to:
Resonance Eduventures
There, you can find overall analysis videos discussing the relative order of difficulties. According to Resonance, the 5th September morning shift was the toughest due to the extensive mathematics questions.
Additionally, if you took the 3rd September 2nd shift paper, you might have found it particularly lengthy and challenging, similar to other candidates who reported similar experiences.
Conclusion
The perception of the toughest JEE Main 2020 paper can vary greatly among individuals. It is essential to consider the subjective nature of difficulty and the varying experiences of students and educators.