Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026 January Session Exam is gradually becoming clear as more papers are conducted. The National Testing Agency is conducting JEE Main 2026 Session 1 from 21 January 2026 to 29 January 2026 for BE and BTech aspirants. The exam is being held in two shifts each day, resulting in a total of 10 shifts during the January session.
Since maintaining the same difficulty level across all shifts is not possible, comparisons based on student feedback and expert reviews help identify the toughest and easiest shifts. This information plays an important role in understanding the marks versus percentile trend.
JEE Main 2026 January Session Exam Schedule
The BE and BTech papers are scheduled on 21, 22, 23, 24, 28 and 29 January 2026. Each exam day includes a morning and an afternoon shift. Differences in difficulty across these shifts are addressed through the normalisation process adopted by the National Testing Agency.
Candidates often track the toughest shift to estimate how raw marks may translate into percentiles, as tougher papers generally require fewer marks for the same percentile.
JEE Main 2026 Toughest Shift So Far
Based on feedback from candidates and initial paper analysis, JEE Main 2026 January 22 Shift 2 has emerged as the toughest shift among the papers conducted on 21 January 2026 and 22 January 2026.
Students reported that Mathematics in this shift was lengthy and extremely difficult, while Physics and Chemistry were moderate to challenging. The overall difficulty level was rated moderate to difficult, making it more demanding compared to other shifts.
JEE Main 2026 Shift-wise Difficulty Level Analysis
The shift-wise difficulty analysis below is based on student reactions and expert reviews. This overview helps candidates understand subject-wise variations across different exam days. A brief context is provided before the comparison to ensure clarity. The table highlights how each subject performed across shifts.
Exam Day | Shift 1 Difficulty | Shift 2 Difficulty |
21 January 2026 | Overall: ModeratePhysics: ModerateChemistry: EasyMathematics: Tough | Overall: ModeratePhysics: EasyChemistry: EasyMathematics: Difficult and Lengthy |
22 January 2026 | Overall: Easy to ModeratePhysics: Moderate to ToughChemistry: ModerateMathematics: Easy | Overall: Moderate to DifficultPhysics: ModerateChemistry: Easy to ModerateMathematics: Very Difficult and Lengthy |
Is There a Fixed Pattern for the Toughest Shift?
There is no fixed or predictable pattern for identifying the toughest shift in JEE Main. In some years, the first few days have been easier, while in other sessions, mid-phase exams turned out to be the most challenging.
Past trends indicate that difficulty fluctuates across days and shifts without following a consistent structure. Therefore, predicting the toughest shift in advance is not reliable.
Toughest Shift Impact on JEE Main Marks vs Percentile
A tougher shift does not negatively affect a candidate’s chances. In fact, difficult papers often lead to lower average scores, which reduces the raw marks required for higher percentiles.
In tougher shifts:
- Overall average scores remain low
- Fewer candidates score very high marks
- Raw mark cutoffs decrease
- Even moderate scores can secure strong percentiles
The normalisation system ensures fairness across all shifts, allowing candidates from tougher papers to compete equally with those from easier shifts.