Which is the Hardest Shift in the JEE Mains 2026 January Session 1?
Aspirants appearing for the JEE Main 2026 exam can refer to this page to understand the day-wise and shift-wise difficulty level of JEE Main 2026 Session 1. This detailed analysis will help candidates identify which shift turned out to be the toughest and how the difficulty level may impact marks vs percentile in JEE Main 2026.
Understanding the toughest shift is important because it directly influences percentile calculation. This analysis will further help students estimate their expected percentile and rank based on their performance in a particular shift.
Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 January Session Exam
The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 examination is being conducted by NTA on January 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, and 29, 2026. The BE/BTech exam is scheduled on the first five days, with two shifts conducted each day.
Since multiple shifts are held across different days, it is not possible to maintain the same difficulty level in every shift. As a result, one particular shift usually emerges as the toughest shift when compared with others.
Knowing the toughest and easiest shifts of JEE Main helps candidates understand how marks vs percentile may vary. Generally:
Easier shifts require higher marks for a given percentile
Tougher shifts allow students to score a better percentile at comparatively lower marks
Hence, identifying the toughest shift plays a crucial role in estimating expected JEE Main percentile.
Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1: Detailed Analysis
Candidates can check the table below to understand the subject-wise and overall difficulty level of each shift. Towards the end of the session, students will be able to clearly identify the toughest shift of JEE Main 2026 January session.
This table will be updated based on students’ reactions and paper analysis by subject experts.
Is There Any Fixed Pattern for the Toughest Shift?
There is no fixed pattern that determines which shift will be the toughest. In some years, students found the initial days to be the easiest, while in other years, the early shifts were the most difficult.
Based on previous JEE Main sessions:
Some exams had easier papers in the first two days
In other attempts, mid-session papers turned out to be more demanding
Therefore, predicting the toughest shift of JEE Main in advance is neither accurate nor reliable.
Toughest Shift of JEE Main: Past Year Trends
Looking at past years, a common trend observed is that the first one or two days of the exam often tend to be relatively easier. In such cases, students needed higher raw marks to achieve top percentiles.
For example, in certain January sessions, scoring around 180 marks was required to reach the 99 percentile when the paper difficulty was moderate to easy.
However, this does not mean an easier shift is bad. When the paper is tougher, the average score decreases, and the percentile system ensures fairness by normalising results across shifts.
JEE Main January 2026 Shift-Wise Question Papers with Answer Key Solutions
After the conclusion of the exam, JEE Main 2026 January question papers with solutions will be available for all shifts. Candidates can refer to these papers to analyse difficulty level and performance.
What Does a Tough Shift Actually Mean?
A tougher shift does not reduce a candidate’s chances of selection. In fact, it can sometimes be advantageous due to percentile normalisation.
In a tough shift:
Overall average scores are lower
Fewer students score very high marks
Raw score cutoffs tend to reduce
Even moderate scores can fetch strong percentiles
This ensures fairness for students appearing in more difficult shifts.
JEE Main Rank Predictor 2026
Students can estimate their ranks using the JEE Main Rank Predictor 2026. This tool helps reduce anxiety by providing a probable rank based on:
Past years’ data
Expected percentile
Difficulty level of the shift
The rank predictor is designed to give students a realistic idea of where they stand.
JEE Main College Predictor 2026
After estimating the expected rank or percentile, students often want to know which colleges they may get admission into. The JEE Main College Predictor 2026 helps candidates understand the NITs, IIITs, and other engineering colleges they may qualify for based on previous years’ closing ranks.
JEE Main College Predictor 2026
This tool is especially useful when students feel the paper was tough but have still performed reasonably well.
Important JEE Main 2026 Study Materials Links
FAQs on Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam: Paper Analysis & Difficulty Levels
1. How was Shift 1 JEE Mains 2026?
Shift 1 of JEE Main 2026 was reported to be moderate to difficult, with Mathematics being lengthy and Physics calculation-intensive. Chemistry was mostly NCERT-based, making it comparatively easier than the other sections.
2. What was the level of JEE Mains in 2026?
Overall, the JEE Main 2026 paper level ranged from moderate to tough, depending on the shift. Some shifts were more time-consuming, especially due to lengthy Maths questions and multi-step numerical problems.
3. Which shift is toughest in JEE 2026?
The toughest shift of JEE Main 2026 can only be determined after comparing student feedback, subject-wise difficulty, and average scores across all shifts. Typically, the shift with lower average scores and tougher Maths is considered the toughest.
4. Is the JEE Advanced 2026 tough?
Yes, JEE Advanced 2026 is expected to be significantly tougher than JEE Main, as it focuses on deep conceptual understanding, complex problem-solving, and analytical thinking across Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
5. Is 24 January Shift 2 easy?
The difficulty of 24 January Shift 2 varied by subject. While Chemistry was mostly NCERT-based, Maths was reported to be time-consuming. Overall, it was considered moderate, not strictly easy.
6. Was 29 January Shift 1 easy?
29 January Shift 1 was generally reported as moderate, with balanced questions across sections. However, lengthy calculations in Mathematics made time management challenging for many students.
7. Is 70 a bad score in JEE Mains?
A score of 70 marks is not necessarily bad, especially in tougher shifts. Due to percentile normalization, even moderate scores can result in a decent percentile if the paper difficulty was high.
8. Is 120 a bad score in JEE Mains?
No, 120 marks is a reasonable score, particularly in moderate to tough shifts. Depending on the shift difficulty, this score can translate into a competitive percentile.
9. Who got 99.97 percentile in JEE Mains?
Top percentile holders in JEE Main vary each year. Official topper details, including candidates scoring 99.97 percentile or above, are released by NTA along with the final result and rank list.
10. Who got 360 out of 360 in IIT JEE?
A few exceptional students have scored 360/360 in IIT JEE (JEE Advanced) in past years. Such perfect scores are rare and achieved through consistent preparation and strong conceptual clarity.
