JEE Main 2026 Dates Announced; Which Date and Shift Could Be the Toughest? as the National Testing Agency has officially released the exam schedule for Session 1. Along with the announcement of exam dates, candidates have also been allotted their exam city and date through the city intimation slip. With the examination approaching, candidates are analysing whether their allotted shift could be relatively tougher or easier based on trends observed in previous JEE Main sessions.
JEE Main 2026 Exam Dates and Shift Schedule
The National Testing Agency has scheduled the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 examination across multiple days and shifts. The examination will be conducted separately for Paper 1 and Paper 2. The confirmed schedule is as follows:
- Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech): 21 January 2026, 22 January 2026, 23 January 2026, 24 January 2026, and 28 January 2026
- Paper 2 (B.Arch and B.Planning): 29 January 2026
- Paper 1 shift timings:
- Morning shift: 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
- Afternoon shift: 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
- Paper 2 timing: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
The exact shift timing will be mentioned on the admit card.
JEE Main 2026 Shift-Wise Difficulty Analysis Based on Previous Trends
Although the National Testing Agency aims to maintain uniform difficulty across all shifts, slight variations have been observed in previous years due to question composition and numerical intensity. Based on past session trends, the expected difficulty pattern is as follows:
- Early exam days (21 January 2026):Papers are generally easy to moderate, with balanced questions across Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. These shifts often set a standard difficulty level.
- Mid-session dates (22 January 2026 and 23 January 2026):These shifts are often perceived as moderate to tough, especially due to calculation-heavy numerical questions in Mathematics and Physics.
- Later exam dates (24 January 2026 and 28 January 2026):Historically, later shifts are considered tougher, with lengthy numerical problems and unpredictable question patterns, particularly in Mathematics.
It must be noted that perceived difficulty can vary from candidate to candidate depending on preparation level and subject strengths.
What Candidates Should Focus on Instead of Shift Difficulty?
Rather than worrying about whether a particular shift is tougher, candidates are advised to focus on strengthening their preparation. Practising previous years’ JEE Main papers, especially shift-wise question papers, can help improve familiarity with varying difficulty levels. Candidates should prioritise accuracy, revise high-weightage topics, and attempt mock tests under timed conditions to enhance speed and confidence.
JEE Main 2026 Admit Card and Shift Allotment
The exact exam shift and centre details will be mentioned on the JEE Main 2026 admit card, which is expected to be released three to four days before the examination date. At present, only the exam date and city have been allotted to candidates. Candidates are advised to carefully check their admit card once released and follow all exam-day instructions issued by the National Testing Agency.
