JEE Main 2026 Exam Analysis – 23 January (Shift 1 & Shift 2): Difficulty Level, Subject Review & Shift Comparison
JEE Main 2026 Exam Analysis: The National Testing Agency (NTA) successfully conducted the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 examination on 23 January 2026 for BE/BTech aspirants. The exam was held in two shifts across centres in India.
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This article provides a complete day-wise analysis of JEE Main 2026 – 23 January, covering:
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Overall difficulty level
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Shift-wise comparison (Shift 1 vs Shift 2)
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Subject-wise difficulty (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics)
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Student feedback & paper trend
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What this means for cut-off & normalisation
JEE Main 2026 – 23 January Exam Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | JEE Main 2026 (Session 1) |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Date | 23 January 2026 |
| Shifts | Shift 1 (9 AM – 12 PM), Shift 2 (3 PM – 6 PM) |
| Course | BE / BTech |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
Overall Difficulty Level – 23 January 2026 (Day Summary)
Based on student reactions, expert review, and question pattern comparison with previous days, the overall difficulty level of Day 3 (23 January) can be classified as:
Overall Level: Moderate
However, a clear difference was observed between the two shifts, especially in Mathematics.
Shift-wise Difficulty Analysis
🔹 Shift 1 (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
| Subject | Difficulty Level | Key Observations |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | Moderate | Formula-based, balanced numericals |
| Chemistry | Easy to Moderate | NCERT-heavy, scoring |
| Mathematics | Moderate to Tough | Lengthy, time-consuming |
| Overall | Moderate | Maths increased time pressure |
| Student Feedback (Shift 1) |
|---|
| Physics was predictable and calculation-friendly |
| Chemistry helped boost attempts |
| Mathematics required strong time management |
Shift 2 (3:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
| Subject | Difficulty Level | Key Observations |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | Moderate | Concept + numerical mix |
| Chemistry | Easy | Mostly NCERT, direct questions |
| Mathematics | Moderate | Slightly easier than Shift 1 |
| Overall | Moderate to Moderate-Easy | Better balance |
| Student Feedback (Shift 2) |
|---|
| Chemistry emerged as the most scoring section |
| Maths felt more manageable than Shift 1 |
| Overall paper felt smoother for average students |
Shift 1 vs Shift 2 – Direct Comparison
| Factor | Shift 1 | Shift 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate (slightly easier) |
| Toughest Subject | Mathematics | Mathematics |
| Most Scoring | Chemistry | Chemistry |
| Time Pressure | Higher | Comparatively lower |
Inference:
Shift 1 was slightly tougher, mainly due to lengthy Mathematics, which may lead to favourable normalisation for Shift 1 candidates.
Subject-wise Day-Level Analysis
🧪 Chemistry (Most Scoring Subject)
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Strongly NCERT-based
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Inorganic & Physical questions were direct
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Ideal section for maximizing attempts
👉 Good section for rank improvement
⚡ Physics (Balanced & Predictable)
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Mix of formula-based and conceptual questions
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Moderate calculations
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Comparable to Day 1 & Day 2 difficulty
👉 Well-prepared students found it comfortable
📐 Mathematics (Deciding Factor)
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Lengthy questions in both shifts
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Shift 1 felt tougher due to calculation load
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Required smart question selection
👉 Time management was critical
Comparison with Previous Exam Days (Jan 21 & Jan 22)
| Date | Overall Level |
|---|---|
| 21 January | Moderate |
| 22 January | Moderate |
| 23 January | Moderate (Shift variation) |
Trend:
NTA has maintained difficulty consistency, reducing chances of extreme cut-off fluctuations.
Expected Impact on Cut-Off & Normalisation
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Slight shift-wise variation → normalisation will play a role
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No extreme paper → cut-offs likely stable
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Chemistry continues to support higher attempts
👉 Final ranks will depend more on accuracy than brute attempts
What Should Students Do Next?
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Do not panic over shift comparison
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Focus on:
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Accuracy
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Remaining exam days (if applicable)
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Session 2 preparation
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Avoid over-analysing percentile speculation
NaukriBee Insight
The 23 January JEE Main 2026 paper confirms one thing clearly:
👉 NCERT mastery + time management = advantage
Students who balanced attempts instead of chasing all questions are likely to benefit the most after normalisation.
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