This analysis will help students estimate their percentile, understand competition levels, and evaluate their performance realistically.
Difficulty Level of JEE Main 2026 Jan 24 Shift 1 Paper
One of the key takeaways from the exam was the high difficulty and lengthy nature of the Mathematics section.
- Maths questions were concept-heavy and time-consuming
- Many students struggled with time management
- Even well-prepared candidates found it difficult to attempt all questions
According to feedback, most students could solve only 17–18 Maths questions, which is lower than the usual average. This directly impacts overall scoring and percentile distribution.
Expected Percentile vs Marks – JEE Main 2026 Jan 24 Shift 1
Based on the paper difficulty and student performance trends, the expected percentile mapping is as follows:
99.9 Percentile
- Expected Marks: 212 – 217
- This range reflects the top-performing students
- Competition is extremely tight at this level
99 Percentile
- Expected Marks: 153 – 157
- Shows a steep jump compared to lower percentiles
- Small mark differences can significantly impact rank
95 Percentile
- Expected Marks: 98 – 103
- A strong percentile considering the paper difficulty
- Suitable for students targeting good NITs and state colleges
Expected Cutoff
- Estimated Cutoff Marks: ~86
- Represents the minimum qualifying threshold
- Cutoff is lower due to the tough Maths section
Why Maths Difficulty Impacts Percentile So Much
The Mathematics section plays a major role in normalisation and percentile calculation. Since:
- Fewer questions were solvable
- Accuracy mattered more than attempts
- Time pressure was high
Even moderate raw scores may convert into higher percentiles than expected. This is why understanding percentile-to-marks mapping is more important than focusing only on raw scores.
Key Insights from Jan 24 Shift 1 Analysis
- ✔ Maths was the toughest section of this shift
- ✔ Score distribution is highly compressed at the top
- ✔ Jump from 99 to 99.9 percentile requires a huge score increase
- ✔ Mid-range scores can still fetch strong percentiles
- ✔ Relative performance matters more than absolute marks
How Students Should Use This Analysis
Students can use this expected percentile vs marks data to:
- Estimate their probable percentile
- Decide whether to appear for Session 2
- Plan JEE Advanced preparation
- Analyse strengths and weaknesses section-wise
Keep in mind that final percentiles may vary slightly once official data is released by NTA.
Final Words
The JEE Main 2026 January 24 Shift 1 paper proved to be challenging, particularly in Mathematics. Due to the high difficulty level, percentile inflation at lower marks is expected, and cutoffs are likely to remain on the lower side.
Students are advised to wait for the official answer key and response sheet before drawing final conclusions, but this analysis gives a realistic early estimate of where they stand.
