Easiest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam: All Shifts Analysis & Paper Difficulty Levels

Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) Main 2026 ( JEE Main )

DeskCalelnderExam On - 2 Apr '26 - 8 Apr '26

Samridhi
Samridhi Mishra
Senior Executive
Updated on Jan 28, 2026 19:02 IST
JEE Mains exam 2026 for session 1 is on January 21, 22, 23, 24, 28 and 29. The B.E/B.Tech exam is scheduled on the first five days in a total of 10 shifts. It is not possible to ensure the same difficulty level across all shifts. A particular shift will become easiest shift in comparison to others. Check which shift is easiest in JEE Main 2026.

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

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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🟢 Easiest Shift So Far in JEE Main 2026 (January Session)

✔ 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.
Table of contents
  • 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
View More

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
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How to prepare for JEE Main from Class 11th and 12th?
A: 
Starting the JEE Main preparation from class 11 or 12 is the best time. As JEE Main syllabus consists of topics from class 11 and 12, students can easily cover all the topics along with school. Students can begin by checking the topics that is covered in both school and JEE Main and give special attention to them. For all three subjects, study NCERT and also take help from reference books. Understand the concepts thoroughly and solve numerical problems. To crack JEE Main along with class 12, students should devote at least 2-3 hours for JEE beside class 12 studies. Regularly solve JEE Main mock test and solve previous year question papers to evaluate the performance.
Q:   How to crack JEE Mains in first attempt?
A: 

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.

Q:   What is a good score in JEE Mains 2026?
A: 

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.

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.

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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

  • Physics - Moderate
  • Chemistry - Easy and Lengthy
  • Mathematics - Tough
 Overall - Moderate
  • Physics - Easy
  • Chemistry - Easy
  • Mathematics - Difficult and Lengthy
January 22

Overall - Easy to Moderate

  • Physics- Moderate to tough
  • Chemistry- Moderate
  • Maths- Easy

Overall - Moderate to Difficult

  • Physics- Moderate
  • Chemistry- Easy to moderate
  • Maths- Questions were lengthy and very difficult
January 23

Overall - Moderate & Lengthy

  • Physics - Moderate
  • Chemistry - Moderate and Lengthy
  • Maths - Easy

Overall - Moderate to Hard

  • Physics - Lengthy and Tough
  • Chemistry - Moderate and Lengthy
  • Maths - Moderate and Lengthy
January 24

Overall - Moderate & Lengthy

  • Physics - Moderate & Lengthy
  • Chemistry - Moderate 
  • Maths - Lengthy

Overall - Moderate

  • Physics - Easy to Moderate
  • Chemistry - Lengthy and tricky
  • Maths - Moderate and Lengthy
January 28 Will be available soon Will be available soon
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How can I crack JEE Main 2026?
A: 

Students who are preparing for JEE Main 2026 must start their preparation by studying NCERT books. It will help in building strong foundation of concepts. Study chapters that have high weightage in JEE Mains and also topics that have been asked in recent years. In the last month before exam, solve mock tests and previous year papers.

Q:   Which book should I refer to prepare for JEE Main exam?
A: 
It is advised that students begin their JEE Main preparation with NCERT books. NCERT class 11 and 12 books for Physics Chemistry and Mathematics are the best to understand basic concepts and solve numerical problems. Along with NCERTs, students can refer to additional books like H. C. Verma and Irodov for Physics. In Mathematics, students can take help from Arihant books. For Chemistry R C Mukherjee, O P Tandon and P Bahadur are best.
Q:   How do I balance school studies with JEE Main preparation?
A: 

Students who are in class 12 and would also be appearing in JEE Mains 2026 exam mostly find it difficult to manage both their class/school and JEE studies. However, all these students have an advantage over others/droppers aspirants as there are many common topics in class 12 and JEE.

To benefit, they must identify all the topics that are common and study those first. Secondly, cover the topics that have more weightage in class 12 and complete them. Before a few days of JEE Mains, study specifically for JEE. This way, they can manage both class 12 and JEE efficiently. 

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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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About the Author
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Samridhi Mishra
Senior Executive
Samridhi Mishra is a seasoned writer in the Indian engineering education sector. She understands most of the engineering competitive exams: JEE, GATE, etc. News articles, live blogs, social media scripts, anchoring
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Answered Yesterday

No, JEE Main is not compulsory for Intellipaat School of Technology, Pune BTech admissions. The institute conducts an in-house test based on which seats are given. Aspirants have to appear for the ISTEE to get admission in the institute. 

A

Anupama Garg

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

Yes, MITS Deemed to be University accepts valid score in JEE (Main) for admission in its BTech programme. Students can also choose take the MITSUCET instead which is conducted by the university for BTech admission.

S

Saumya Gairola

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

For those who are applying to the GD Goenka University BTech programme based on their JEE Main results, the timing is absolutely perfect and in sync with the rest of the country's results declaration and other processes. The JEE Main results are generally declared in the month of April every year, w

...Read more

R

Rashmi Karan

Contributor-Level 9

Answered 4 days ago

  • Candidates cannot use the JEE Main city slip 2026 for entry at the exam centre. Only the admit card can be used to enter the centre and for verification.
  • The National Testing Agency,  in no case, will issue duplicate JEE Main admit cards at test centres

  • Candidates are requested to keep the admit card

...Read more

V

Virajita Choudhury

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 4 days ago

Check below how to recover JEE Main 2026 Password

  • Visit website of JEE Main 2026

  • Click on “Forgot Password” link

  • Answer security question

  • A verification code will be sent to registered mobile number

  • A password reset link will be sent to registered email ID

  • Click on reset password link and create a new pas

...Read more

C

Chanchal Pandey

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 4 days ago

Candidates can look for their JEE Mains application number in their registered email ID and confirmation page.

A

Akansha Bhandari

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 4 days ago

Follow the instructions below if you find any errors in your admit card of JEE Main 2026:

  • In case of any discrepancy in the particulars of the candidate or photograph and signature shown in the JEE Mains admit card 2026, the candidate has to immediately approach the NTA Help Line from 10:00 A.M. to 0

...Read more

M

Manori Karan

Contributor-Level 7

Answered a week ago

No, Shetty Institute of Technology does not accept JEE Main. Students do not have to submit JEE scores. Instead, students need to appear for the CET exam. The institute may accept other tests for management quota admissions.

M

Manashjyoti Srivastava

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

SGT University considers JEE Main scores for admission to BTech. Candidates are also selected for BTech courses based on their merit or CUET scores. However, the preference is given to candidates with JEE Main scores.

N

Nishtha Shukla

Guide-Level 15

Answered a week ago

For general students 60 marks is not good enough for admission in top NITs or IIITs. 60 marks will be around 80 percentile and will give rank between 1.5 and 2.5 lakhs.

M

Mamona Majumder

Contributor-Level 10