Complete Shift-Wise Review by Edutech Exam
The JEE Main 2026 exam held on 21 January (Shift 1) marked the beginning of another high-stakes journey for lakhs of engineering aspirants across India. As expected, the paper tested not only academic knowledge but also a student’s ability to manage time, remain calm under pressure, and apply concepts accurately.
Every year, JEE Main acts as a gateway to India’s top engineering institutions such as NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs, and also serves as the qualifying exam for JEE Advanced 2026. Therefore, even a single shift’s paper becomes critically important in understanding trends, difficulty levels, and expected performance benchmarks.
In this blog, Edutech Exam brings you a complete and student-friendly analysis of the JEE Main 2026 Question Paper – 21 January Shift 1, including:
- Shift-wise paper review
- Subject-wise difficulty level
- Topic-wise observations
- Memory-based answer key overview
- Expected score vs percentile insight
- Good attempts range
- Post-exam strategy
Whether you have already appeared for this shift or are preparing for upcoming sessions, this analysis will help you understand the real nature of the exam and plan your preparation more effectively.
JEE Main 2026 Exam Overview – 21 January Shift 1
Exam Name: JEE Main 2026
Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Date: 21 January 2026
Mode: Computer Based Test (CBT)
Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics
Total Questions: 75
Maximum Marks: 300
Question Types: MCQs + Numerical Value
Each subject carried 25 questions, with a mix of MCQs and numerical-type questions. As per the NTA pattern, students had to attempt all three subjects within a total duration of 3 hours.
Overall Difficulty Level – Shift 1 (Morning)
Based on feedback from hundreds of students and expert faculty analysis, the overall difficulty level of the paper was Moderate.
- Physics: Moderate
- Chemistry: Easy
- Mathematics: Difficult
- Overall: Moderate
The paper followed the expected NTA pattern and did not include any surprise elements. However, the length and calculative nature of Mathematics made the paper feel tougher for many students.
Students who managed time well in Maths gained a clear advantage.
Chemistry acted as a scoring section for most aspirants.
Physics required conceptual clarity with moderate calculations.
Subject-Wise Detailed Analysis
Physics – Conceptual and Balanced
The Physics section in 21 January Shift 1 was moderate in difficulty and well-balanced. Questions were largely based on:
- Current Electricity
- Modern Physics
- Kinematics & Laws of Motion
- Electrostatics
- Magnetism
- Ray Optics
- Thermodynamics
Most questions were formula-based with conceptual application. Students who had practiced NCERT examples and standard JEE Main-level problems found this section manageable.
Key Observations
- No extremely tricky questions
- Moderate numerical calculations
- Direct theory-based MCQs from NCERT
- One or two multi-concept problems
Average Attempt Range in Physics: 18–21 questions
A well-prepared student could easily score 65–80 marks in this section.
Chemistry – NCERT Dominated & Scoring
Chemistry turned out to be the easiest and most scoring section of this shift. A large portion of questions came directly from NCERT, especially in:
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Organic Reaction Mechanisms
- Basic Physical Chemistry formulas
Key Topics Covered
- Coordination Compounds
- Periodic Properties
- Chemical Bonding
- Alcohols, Phenols & Ethers
- Thermodynamics
- Electrochemistry
Key Observations
- Many direct NCERT-based MCQs
- Less calculation in Physical Chemistry
- Inorganic was very predictable
- Organic focused on basic reactions
Average Attempt Range in Chemistry: 20–23 questions
Students could easily score 70–85 marks here.
Mathematics – Lengthy & Time-Consuming
Mathematics was clearly the toughest section in this shift. While the level was not conceptually very high, the questions were lengthy and calculation-heavy, making time management a major challenge.
Major Topics Included
- Matrices & Determinants
- Integration
- Differential Equations
- Vector Algebra
- 3D Geometry
- Probability
- Straight Lines & Circles
Key Observations
- Questions required multiple steps
- Some numericals were time-consuming
- Combination of algebra and calculus
- Fewer direct formula-based questions
Average Attempt Range in Mathematics: 12–16 questions
Even strong students found it difficult to attempt more than 16–17 questions accurately.
Expected Score vs Percentile – 21 January Shift 1
- 290–300 marks: 99.9–100 percentile
- 260–289 marks: 99.5–99.9 percentile
- 230–259 marks: 99.0–99.5 percentile
- 200–229 marks: 98.0–99.0 percentile
- 170–199 marks: 96.5–98.0 percentile
- 140–169 marks: 94.0–96.5 percentile
- 110–139 marks: 90.0–94.0 percentile
- 80–109 marks: 80.0–90.0 percentile
- Below 80 marks: Below 80 percentile
These are estimated ranges and may vary slightly after normalization across shifts.
For this shift, a score of 180+ is expected to place a student in a strong position for JEE Advanced 2026 qualification.
What is a “Good Attempt” in This Shift?
- Physics: 18–21 questions
- Chemistry: 20–23 questions
- Mathematics: 12–16 questions
- Overall: 50–60 questions
Students attempting 55+ questions with high accuracy are likely to score above 180 marks.
Chemistry emerged as the key scoring section, while Mathematics became the real differentiator for top percentiles.
Final Note
No matter how your exam went, remember that one paper does not define your future. Smart analysis, consistent effort, and the right strategy can change everything.
Edutech Exam remains committed to guiding aspirants with accurate insights, reliable exam analysis, and practical preparation strategies.
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