Easiest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam: All Shifts Analysis & Paper Difficulty Levels
Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main 2026 ( JEE Main )
Exam On - 2 Apr '26 - 9 Apr '26
The Jan 28 shift 2 exam is the easiest shift in the JEE Main 2026 January session. We have compiled the day-wise and shift-wise difficulty level of the JEE Mains 2026 session 1 exam to understand which shift appeared comparatively easier for candidates. This analysis will further help the aspirants estimate their expected marks vs percentile for their respective shifts.
Easiest Shift in JEE Main 2026 Exam Session 1: Detailed Analysis for Marks vs Percentile Calculation
Easiest Shift of JEE Mains 2026 January Session Exam - Based on students’ feedback and expert analysis the JEE Main 2026 Jan 22 Shift 1 exam is considered the easiest shift so far. The paper is said to be largely moderate in overall difficulty, with Chemistry being relatively easy and Physics manageable, while Mathematics was tough but not unexpected. Compared to other shifts conducted till now, this shift had fewer tricky questions and more formula-based problems.
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✔ Based on student feedback and expert analysis, January 28 Shift 2 is considered the easiest shift till now.
✔ Physics was the easiest of the lot, followed by Chemistry, while Mathematics was tough but less tricky compared to other shifts.
✔ Easier shifts usually require higher marks to achieve top percentiles due to increased competition.
- Easiest Shift of JEE Mains 2026 Session 1 Till Now
- Why Identifying the Easiest Shift Matters in JEE Main 2026?
- Easiest Shift of JEE Main 2026 January Session Exam
- Is There Any Fixed Pattern for the Easiest Shift?
- Easiest Shift of JEE Main in Previous Year
- What Does an Easy Shift Actually Mean?
- JEE Main January 2026 Shift-Wise Questions with Answer Key Solutions
Easiest Shift of JEE Mains 2026 Session 1 Till Now
Based on the students' reaction and the expert analysis for the JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 questions with solutions pdf, it is quite clear that the easiest shift for JEE Mains 2026 till now is the last shift. The Maths section was tough and lengthy, but was of the usual JEE Mains maths level. The Chemistry section was moderate, not as tough as the previous shifts. The Physics section was moderate to tough. The overall paper is rated as easy to moderate only in comparison to all the other shifts. Below is the detailed analysis of the easiest shift of JEE Main 2026 session 1- Jan 28 shift 2.
Also Read: JEE Main 2026 Marks vs Percentile
| Subject | Difficulty Level | Topics Asked |
|---|---|---|
| Maths | Moderate | Calculus, integration, straight lines, circles, conic sections, quadratic, sequence and series, probability, permutation and combination, binomial, matrices and determinants, vectors and 3d |
| Physics | Easy to Moderate | Electrostatics, Current, ray optics, fluids, modern physics, heat and thermodynamics, KTG, wave optics, units and dimensions, error, magnetism |
| Chemistry | Moderate to tough | Coordination Compounds, Amines, Chemical Kinetics, Ionic Equilibrium (Buffer), Inorganic Chemistry |
| Overall | Moderate | |
Commonly asked questions
Clearing the JEE Main exam in first attempt is not a difficult task. Several students clear JEE Main while in class 12. One thing that makes it easy to clear JEE Main with class 12 is that students are in regular touch of most JEE syllabus. To score good marks in JEE Main in the first attempt, it is advised that you study class 11 and 12 topics thoroughly, clear all the concepts and solve mock test papers. Also, NCERT books which you study in class 11 and 12 are the best books for JEE Main preparation. Students must study NCERT properly and solve all the questions in the book and do not memorize the concepts as some students do rather understand the concepts.
Why Identifying the Easiest Shift Matters in JEE Main 2026?
Knowing the easiest shift in JEE Main 2026 can help understand how the normalisation process may affect the candidates' scores. An easier shift increases the cutoff required since it will be easy for all the candidates of a particular shift, thus students require more marks to maintain their percentile. This is, however, not the case for a tough shift. This is why shift-wise difficulty analysis is important to determine the expected JEE Main marks vs percentile.
Easiest Shift of JEE Main 2026 January Session Exam
The National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting the JEE Main 2026 session 1 exam on January 21, 22, 23, 24, 28 and 29, 2026. The exam is held in two shifts each day, resulting in a total of 10 shifts during the January session. Candidates can check the following space to understand the subject-wise and overall difficulty level of each shift in the exam. The table below is updated as per the students’ reactions and the JEE Mains 2026 paper analysis by subject experts.
| Exam Day | Shift 1 | Shift 2 |
|---|---|---|
| January 21 | Overall - Moderate
|
Overall - Moderate
|
| January 22 | Overall - Easy to Moderate
|
Overall - Moderate to Difficult
|
| January 23 | Overall - Moderate & Lengthy
|
Overall - Moderate to Hard
|
| January 24 | Overall - Moderate & Lengthy
|
Overall - Moderate
|
| January 28 | Will be available soon | Will be available soon |
Commonly asked questions
Candidates can check JoSAA opening and closing ranks on the official website. They have to enter the details asked to check the list of courses and colleges based on the OR and CR of each counselling round.
A good score in JEE Main 2026 will be the score that either qualifies you for JEE Advanced or for admission to NIT/IIIT/GFTI of your choice.
As per the provisional answer keys released by NTA, Arnav Gautam has secured 300 out of 300 marks in the JEE Main 2026 session 1 exam. Another student who has claimed to have scored 300/300 in JEE Main 2026 is Pasala Mohith.
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Is There Any Fixed Pattern for the Easiest Shift?
There is no fixed pattern for any particular shift being the easiest shift of JEE Main. In some years, morning shifts were found to be more straightforward, while in other sessions, an afternoon shift had easier Mathematics or formula-based Physics questions. Difficulty levels vary based on question design rather than the exam schedule. Thus, predicting the easiest shift in advance is unreliable.
Easiest Shift of JEE Main in Previous Year
Based on trends from earlier JEE Main sessions, students report that one or two shifts during the first half of the exam window feel easier. In such shifts, achieving a 99 percentile often required higher scores in the range of 180-190 marks, depending on the overall paper level. The easiest shifts usually have-
- More NCERT-based questions
- Less lengthy calculations
- Balanced distribution of easy-to-moderate questions
What Does an Easy Shift Actually Mean?
An easy shift increases competition within the shift.
- Average scores tend to be higher
- More students attempt a larger number of questions
- Cutoffs in terms of raw marks increase
- Small mistakes can impact the percentile significantly
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JEE Main January 2026 Shift-Wise Questions with Answer Key Solutions
The JEE Main 2026 January question paper with solutions will be available here for all shifts.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 hours ago
OJEE and JEE syllabus is somewhat same and different in some places. The OJEE syllabus for Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics is different from JEE. In JEE, the physics syllabus includes topics such as Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Optics, etc. These topics require knowledge of physics topics.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 3 days ago
JEE Main is conducted in two sessions, the first in January/February and the second in April. This helps students to appear in both papers if required and correct their scores. If you participate in both exam sessions, the system intelligently recognises your "Best of Two" scores and finalises your
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 3 days ago
DTU admissions are majorly based on the JEE Main scores. However, without JEE Mains, students will have to change the specialisations and the course opted for then only admission will be possible.
I
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
While clearing JEE Main is a huge achievement, it's actually just the first hurdle for IITs. JEE Main acts as a qualifying test that allows the top 2.5 Lacs candidates to sit for JEE Advanced. To get into IIT Dharwad, your final seat allocation will be based strictly on your JEE Advanced rank. JEE M
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 3 days ago
Congratulations! After JEE Main, register for JEE Advanced, which is the only way to get into an IIT. This registration usually happens in late April or early May, with the exam itself scheduled for late May. This is a very tight window, so keep a close eye on the official portal right after your Ma
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 3 days ago
It starts with JEE Main registration, which opens around November. The first JEE Main session is held in January-February, you must keep your documents ready by the end of the previous year. If you miss the first window, don't worry, you can still register for the second session of JEE Main in April
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 days ago
The candidates should master time management and accuracy to be able to score well in the JEE Main exam. Use a strategic approach while solving the questions to be able to score good marks.
M
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 days ago
Yes, the JEE Main is widely considered one of the most difficult engineering entrance exams globally.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 days ago
Passing the JEE Main exam requires a strategic approach focusing on strong fundamentals, consistent practice, and thorough revision.
- Make sure to have a strong hold of basics.
- Study diligently for at least 6 hours.
- Practice a lot of previous year papers and mock tests.
- Focus on time management, speed an
Y
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 days ago
Candidates can download the JEE Main question papers from the website of NTA - nta.ac.in.
- Go to nta.ac.in
- Go to "downloads"
- Under the "Previous years Exam Papers", select the year and exam type and hit the "search" button.
- The question paper PDFs will be available for download.
V
Contributor-Level 7