JEE Main 2026 Session 1 January 21 Shift 1 Exam Analysis LIVE UPDATES- Difficulty Level, Paper Analysis & Solutions

The​‍​‌‍​‍‌ JEE Main 2026 Session 1 is underway, with the first day of the exam held on January 21, 2026, when a large number of engineering hopefuls came for the Shift 1 (Morning) test from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon. Based on the first reports of students and experts, the exam was a bit challenging and moderately difficult, and it matched well with the recent JEE Main ​‍​‌‍​‍‌patterns.

The paper put to test conceptual understanding and calculation speed, along with good time management skills, especially in Mathematics and Physics, where Chemistry turned out to be the most scoring section, as it was mostly NCERT-based.

This JEE Main Session 1 January 21 Shift 1 Exam Analysis will cover: 

• JEE Main January 21 Shift 1 Difficulty Level
• Subject-wise review
• Topic-wise weightage
• Student reactions
• Good attempts & expected score for top percentiles

JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 1 Analysis: Overview 

Based on the reactions of the students coming out of examination halls across India, the overall JEE Main January 21 Shift 1 Difficulty Level of the paper was characterised as Moderate to Tough.

Key Takeaways of JEE Main Session 1 January 21 Shift 1 Exam Analysis:

• Mathematics was the most difficult and longest section. In addition, there was a large proportion of questions from Vectors and 3D Geometry in this section.
• Physics was of moderate to tough level, and it included both conceptual and calculation-based questions.
• Chemistry was easy to moderate, mostly NCERT-driven and time-saving.
• The paper pattern was similar to the previous year’s JEE Main papers, with no major surprises.
• Time management was very important here, especially due to lengthy Maths calculations.
• A couple of students tweeted about the unusual pattern of 5–6 options in some Chemistry MCQs (official confirmation ​‍​‌‍​‍‌awaited).

JEE Main 2026 Shift 1 Paper Analysis: Subject-Wise Difficulty Level

Each subject in JEE Main 2026 had a different level of difficulty. Below is a detailed breakdown of JEE Main January 21 Shift 1 Subject Wise Analysis:

Direct Link: JEE Main Rank Predictor 2026

JEE Main Answer Key 2026 Session 1 and Solutions by Aakash for 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28 January

JEE Main 2026 January 21 Morning & Evening  Shifts

JEE Main 2026 Mathematics Analysis for Jan 21 Session 1 Shift 1

According to the students, the biggest struggle was in the Mathematics section. They felt that the paper was too long, with lots of calculations, thus they barely had enough time to attempt some questions.

Key Topics Covered in JEE Main Mathematics January 21 Shift 1:

• Vectors & 3D Geometry – Most important segment
• Calculus – Differential Equations, Integration
• Algebra – Matrices & Determinants, Sequences & Series
• Probability – Average level
• Coordinate Geometry – Very few questions, but quite time-consuming

Student Feedback on JEE Main 2026 Mathematics Difficulty Level: “Maths was difficult. It was the biggest time-consumer; hence, it was very crucial to go for the right questions.”

JEE Main 2026 Physics Analysis for Jan 21 Session 1 Shift 1

Students had an opinion that the difficulty level of the Physics section varied from moderate to tough, as the problems were a mix of conceptual and numerical ones. While some questions were simple enough, others demanded a deep understanding of the subject.

Key Topics Covered in JEE Main Physics January 21 Shift 1:

• Modern Physics – Photoelectric effect, Semiconductors
• Mechanics – Laws of Motion, Fluids, Work & Energy
• Optics – Ray Optics
• Thermodynamics & Heat Transfer
• Current Electricity & Magnetism

JEE Main Physics Paper Review 2026 Student Feedback: “Most of the Physics questions were concept-based; just memorising the formulas was not sufficient.”

JEE Main 2026 Chemistry Analysis for Jan 21 Session 1 Shift 1

It was the Chemistry section where the students found the highest scores potential and the least amount of difficulty. Most of the questions were almost a direct copy from the NCERT books, which allowed the students to devote more time to other challenging sections.

Key Topics Covered in JEE Main Chemistry January 21 Shift 1:

• Physical Chemistry – Thermodynamics, Equilibrium
• Inorganic Chemistry – Coordination Compounds, Chemical Bonding
• Organic Chemistry – Bare minimum; simple mechanisms
• Environmental Chemistry – Very basic questions

JEE Main Chemistry Difficulty Level 2026 Student Feedback: “Chemistry was quite easy; NCERT alone was more than ​‍​‌‍​‍‌enough.”

JEE Main January 21 Shift 1 Student Reactions

Overall, student sentiment was balanced and fair.

Common Reactions:

• Chemistry helped improve overall attempts.
• Maths length affected time management.
• Physics required conceptual clarity.
• Exam difficulty is similar to last year.

JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 Shift 1 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

How to Download JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 1 Question Paper Solutions?

The students who took JEE Main 2026 January 21 shift 1 can go through the memory-based question paper solutions to get an idea of their performance and find out the areas where they need to improve. Due to JEE Main being a computer-based test, the official question paper in the form of hard copies is not made available immediately.

• Go to the official JEE Main website or well-known educational platforms and coaching institute portals. 
• Find the section “JEE Main 2026 January Session Question Paper & Solutions” on the website. 
• Choose January 21 – Shift 1 (Morning) from the list of options. Get the PDF file that includes memory-based questions along with detailed solutions. 
• Check your answers against the solutions to calculate your probable score and precision.

JEE Main January 2026 Exam Review: Good Attempts & Expected Score

Based on early student feedback and expert estimates:

• Safe Attempts: 50–55 questions
• Good Score: 150+ marks
• 99 Percentile Expectation: ~180 marks
• High Scoring Candidates: 200+ marks with accuracy

Expected Category-Wise Cutoff (Percentile):

• General: 93–95
• OBC-NCL / EWS: 80–82
• SC: 60–62
• ST: 47–50

Expert Tips for Upcoming JEE Main 2026 Shifts

• Aim for 100% mastery of NCERT in Chemistry.
• Work on getting faster in Maths and choosing questions.
• Go thoroughly through the top-weightage Physics topics like Mechanics & Modern Physics.
• Analyse Day 1 memory-based questions through practice to spot pattern recognition.
• Focus more on accuracy than attempts for handling the normalisation process.

Conclusion

The JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 1 analysis tells that the paper was of moderate difficulty. Students who were very well-prepared and had their basics strong, along with having done good time management, found more than enough scoring opportunities, particularly in Chemistry. Candidates going for the next shifts should make use of this review to adjust their ​‍​‌‍​‍‌techniques.