Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam: Paper Analysis & Difficulty Levels

Aspirants of the JEE Main 2026 exam can check this page to know the day-wise, shift-wise difficulty level in JEE Main 2026. This analysis will help understand which is the toughest shift for JEE Mains 2026 session 1 exam. The analysis will further help to figure out the expected marks vs percentile for a given shift.

Toughest Shift in JEE Main 2026 January Session 1: Shift-wise Analysis

Toughest Shift of JEE Mains 2026 January Session Exam - NTA will conduct the JEE Mains exam 2026 for session 1 on January 21, 22, 23, 24, 28 and 29. The B.E/B.Tech exam is scheduled on the first five days. The exam will be conducted in two shifts on each day. This means there will be a total of 10 shifts in the JEE Main 2026. It is not possible to ensure the same difficulty level across all shifts. A particular shift will become the toughest shift upon comparison with other shifts.

Students should know about the toughest and easiest shifts for JEE Mains, as it will decide the marks vs percentile for that shift. An easier paper means more marks will be required for a higher percentile. Similarly, a difficult paper means students have a chance at scoring a higher percentile at lower scores. This is why it is essential to know which is the toughest shift in JEE Main 2026. Candidates can further use this information to determine their expected JEE Main marks vs percentile.

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Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam: Analysis

Candidates can check the following space to understand the subject-wise and overall difficulty level of each shift in the exam. Towards the end of the session 1 exam, students will be able to identify the toughest shift of the JEE Mains January session 2026. The table below will be updated as per the students’ reactions and the JEE Mains 2026 paper analysis by subject experts.

Is There Any Fixed Pattern for the Toughest Shift?

There is no fixed pattern for any particular shift being the toughest. In some years, students found the initial days to be the easiest shifts in JEE Main, while in others, they were found to be the toughest. Based on previous JEE Main sessions, difficulty has fluctuated across days and shifts without following a consistent pattern. Sometimes the first two days were relatively easier, while in other attempts, a mid-session paper turned out to be the most demanding. Hence, predicting the toughest shift in JEE Main is neither accurate nor useful.

Toughest Shift of JEE Main: Past Year Trends

Looking at recent years, a common observation among students has been that the first one or two days of the exam tend to feel easier. In such sessions, high percentiles required comparatively higher raw scores. For instance, in some January sessions, scoring around 180 marks was necessary to touch 99 percentile mark when the paper difficulty was moderate to easy. However, this does not mean that having a later shift is bad. When the paper is tougher, the marks required for the same percentile drop significantly. This is where the percentile system comes into play and ensures fairness despite changing difficulty levels.

JEE Main January 2026 Shift-Wise Questions with Answer Key Solutions

After exam concludes, JEE Main 2026 January question paper with solutions will be available here for all shifts.

What Does Tough Shift Actually Mean?

A tougher shift does not mean that the candidates will have a bad rank or lower chances of selection. A tougher paper makes it easy to get a good percentile for students who are well-prepared.

• In a tough paper, the overall average scores are lower
• Fewer students score very high marks
• The JEE Main cutoffs in terms of raw marks reduce
• Even moderate scores can fetch strong percentiles

JEE Main Rank Predictor

Students can calculate their rank using the rank predictor of JEE Main. The rank predictor of JEE Main 2026 helps candidates in understanding and minimising their anxiety regarding the result of JEE Main 2026. The algorithm used in the rank predictor of JEE Main 2026 is programmed to provide ranks on the basis of the past few years and student details.

JEE Main College Predictor by Shiksha

After having an idea about their probable rank or percentile students start looking at which colleges will be available for admission. The JEE Main college predictor 2026 tool offered by Shiksha is quite helpful in understanding which NITs, IIITs, and other colleges are likely available for admissions based on previous closing ranks. This is particularly helpful in situations where the student feels that the paper is quite tough, and as such, their percentile is low despite performing quite well.