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Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 LIVE UpdatesToughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 LIVE Updates: If you are appearing or have appeared for JEE Mains January 2026 session can check insights on the difficulty level across each exam shift based on experts opinions and students opinions. As per our experts, Day 2 Shift 1 was considered Easy to Moderate. Chemistry and Physics were doable and were Easy to Moderate with Mathematics being Moderate. Day 1 was overall Moderate to Tough. Both shifts were difficult compared to Day 1 of the previous sessions. However, Shift 1 was slightly tougher than Shift 1. Since JEE Main 2026 Session 1 is scheduled from January 21 to 29 for Paper 1, test takers are eager to find out which shift was the most challenging and how the difficulty levels compare across different exam days. Collegedekho is collecting updates from JEE aspirants on the overall difficulty level, tough subjects, based on immediate student feedback and expert views.
Have you appeared for JEE Main January 2026? Click here to submit how challenging your shift felt and which subject you found was the toughest. Your feedback will help our experts to identify the toughest shift of JEE Main 2026 (Session 1). |
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Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1: As per Collegedekho Experts
The tabular format depicts the overall difficulty level, most challenging subject, difficulty rating across each exam day and shifts, with remaining shifts to be updated as the exam progresses.
Exam Date/ Shift | Overall Difficulty Level | Toughest Subject | Difficulty Rating (on a scale of 5) |
|---|---|---|---|
January 21 (Shift 1) | Moderate to Difficult | Chemistry | 2.8 |
January 21 (Shift 2) | Moderate to Tough | Chemistry/Mathematics | 2.7 |
January 22 (Shift 1) | Easy to Moderate | Mathematics | 2.4 |
Note: We use a 5-point scale to rate difficulty. A score of 1 means the paper is very hard, while 5 means it is easy. Our experts have assigned difficulty ratings based on the students’ reactions, memory-based questions, and reviews shared via Google Form.
Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1: As per Student Responses
Below are some students’ responses on Toughest JEE Main 2026 Session 1 shift.
- Yash from Saharapur stated 'Overall Jan 22 Shift 1 exam was easy, maths was easy, chemistry was moderate but physics questions were very tough and tricky".
- Garima from Guwahati stated ' Physics was good, but Mathematics and Chemistry was very time-consuming and tricky".As per her Day 2 Shift 1 was of Moderate to Difficult level.
- Shikha Saha from Kolkata said, "For me, overall, it was okayish. Mathematics was lengthy and above moderate. Physics and Chemistry questions were of moderate level, and I could complete these sections within time". According to her, Day 2 Shift 1 was of Moderate difficulty level.
- Rekha from Tamil Nadu found the January 21 Shift tough and Mathematics and Chemistry as difficult subjects.
- “The paper felt doable overall, but Chemistry was tricky and required a lot of conceptual clarity, especially in Physical Chemistry,” shared a student from January 21 Shift 1.
- “Some Chemistry questions were confusing and time-consuming, which affected my attempt in Maths,” added another candidate.
- “The paper felt balanced, but Maths took too much time and had long calculations,” said a candidate from Shift 2.
- “Physics and Chemistry were manageable, but finishing Maths within time was tough,” a student remarked.
Stay tuned to this blog for Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 expert opinions, comparisons with previous toughest JEE Main shifts, and more!
Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 LIVE Updates
02 20 PM IST - 22 Jan'26
Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1: Application-Based Preparation Proves Decisive in Shift 2
The overall paper highlighted the importance of PYQ-focused practice, depth of understanding, and strong time management, giving an edge to students trained for execution under exam pressure.
02 00 PM IST - 22 Jan'26
Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1: Early Trends Suggest Tough Shifts Could Influence Normalisation
Experts note that noticeable variation in difficulty levels across shifts may play a role in score normalisation, making shift-wise performance analysis crucial for percentile expectations.
01 40 PM IST - 22 Jan'26
Student Feedback Continues to Shape Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1
Live responses are still being collected from candidates across exam centres, and difficulty ratings for upcoming shifts will be updated in real time as JEE Main 2026 Session 1 progresses.
01 20 PM IST - 22 Jan'26
Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1: Lengthy Maths Questions Challenge Time Management
Mathematics emerged as time-consuming on January 22 Shift 1, with multiple questions involving lengthy calculations. While difficulty remained conceptually similar to Shift 1, efficient time allocation became critical to maximise attempts.
01 00 PM IST - 22 Jan'26
Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1: Physics Tests Concept Application Over Formulas
In Shift 2, Physics featured nearly 20% more application-based questions, many aligned with PYQs from the last five years. Students with strong conceptual clarity and practice in applying formulas performed better than those relying on direct recall.
12 40 PM IST - 22 Jan'26
JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Toughest Shift: Chemistry Turns More Comprehensive Across All Units
Experts observed that Chemistry in Shift 2 was tougher than Shift 1, with challenging questions spread across Organic, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry, making balanced preparation essential.
12 20 PM IST - 22 Jan'26
JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 2 Rated Tougher Than Shift 1
As per various exam takers, January 21 Shift 2 was slightly more challenging than Shift 1, with greater emphasis on application-based questions and calculation-heavy problem-solving across subjects.
12 00 PM IST - 22 Jan'26
Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1: Mathematics & Chemistry Flagged as Early Trouble Spots
On Day 1 of JEE Main 2026 Session 1, many students found Chemistry in Shift 1 and Mathematics in Shift 2 to be particularly tough. Candidates mentioned that some concepts were tricky and required a lot of time for calculations, making it a bit of a struggle. If you’re preparing for these subjects, it might be helpful to focus on these areas!
