The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 examination was conducted today, 22 January 2026, in two shifts for Paper 1 (BE/BTech) across multiple centres. As candidates completed their tests, shift-wise paper analysis, unofficial answer keys, solutions, and student reactions began circulating, offering early insights into difficulty levels and subject trends.
Jan 22 Shift 1: Moderate to Tough with Time Pressure
In the morning shift (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM), students described the overall difficulty as moderate to difficult, with certain sections demanding more time and effort:
- Physics: Moderate to tough, with conceptual and application-oriented questions testing core understanding.
- Chemistry: Easy to moderate and mostly NCERT-based, helping many candidates attempt more questions accurately.
- Mathematics: Moderate to difficult, with lengthy calculations and multi-step problem solving, leading to time-management challenges.
Many students flagged Mathematics as the most time-consuming section, while Chemistry offered scoring opportunities.
Jan 22 Shift 2: Balanced Yet Time-Intensive
Feedback from the afternoon shift (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM) largely mirrors the morning session’s trends, with overall difficulty considered moderate to difficult:
- Physics: Moderate to difficult, requiring precise analytical application.
- Chemistry: Easy to moderate with a stronger NCERT alignment, making it comparatively more approachable.
- Mathematics: Moderate to challenging due to lengthy problems and time constraints.
Students indicated that traditional NCERT preparation and regular mock test practice helped in managing time and attempting more questions effectively.
Unofficial Answer Keys and Solutions
Following the conclusion of both shifts, coaching institutes and educational platforms have released unofficial answer keys and memory-based solutions for the Jan 22 question papers. These resources allow candidates to cross-verify attempted answers, estimate probable scores, and understand correct responses prior to the release of the official answer key by NTA. Most memory-based PDFs cover Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics answers along with explanations for key questions, helping students assess performance trends and potential outcomes.
Student Reactions and Difficulty Trends
Overall feedback from candidates reflects a mixed but balanced pattern across subjects:
- Chemistry was viewed as relatively scoring and manageable due to direct NCERT-aligned questions.
- Physics tested conceptual understanding and analytical skills at a moderate level.
- Mathematics emerged as the section needing strong time management and accuracy, with longer numerical sets adding pressure.
Several students reported that the Jan 22 paper — especially Mathematics — was lengthier or trickier compared to earlier shifts, affecting the number of attempts attempted within the fixed time.
What’s Next for Candidates?
Candidates awaiting results can use the unofficial answer keys and solutions to estimate their probable marks and gauge performance ahead of the official answer key and results released by the National Testing Agency. These estimates also help in understanding expected percentile ranges and planning preparation for future sessions. The official answer keys, response sheets, and results are typically released after all shifts of Session 1 conclude, giving a clearer picture of rankings and eligibility for admissions and counselling processes.