JEE Main 2026 Jan 24 Paper Analysis (Shift 1 and Shift 2): Difficulty Level, Weightage & Student Reactions

The JEE Main 2026 January 24 examination (Session 1) has concluded successfully, and students are now looking for a clear understanding of the paper pattern, difficulty level, and topic distribution. This JEE Main 2026 Jan 24 Paper Analysis presents an early review of the question paper based on student feedback and expert observations, helping aspirants evaluate their performance and expected outcomes.

The JEE Main 24 January 2026 Answer Key (to be released by NTA) will allow candidates to calculate their scores using the official marking scheme. Meanwhile, this analysis focuses on identifying the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 difficulty level, subject-wise trends, and the nature of questions asked across both shifts.

The JEE Main 24 Jan Shift 1 Analysis highlights the morning session’s overall balance, with reports of physics formula-based questions, NCERT direct lines in Chemistry, and lengthy Mathematics calculations from topics such as Calculus, Vector and 3D Geometry. In comparison, the JEE Main 24 Jan Shift 2 Analysis reflects slight variations in difficulty, including increased conceptual weightage in Physics and a higher presence of Inorganic Chemistry questions.

JEE Main 2026 January 24 Shift-Wise Schedule (Session 1)

The JEE Main 2026 examination on January 24 was conducted in two shifts as part of Session 1, following the standard schedule prescribed by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The morning session was held as Shift 1, while the afternoon session was conducted as Shift 2. JEE Main is a national-level engineering entrance examination that determines admission to undergraduate engineering programmes offered by NITs, IIITs, GFTIs, and several other centrally funded and state engineering institutions across India. The shift-wise structure ensures smooth conduct of the examination while maintaining uniformity in the exam pattern.

JEE Main 2026 January 24 Exam Timing – Shift Wise

JEE Main 2026 Paper Analysis – January 24 (Session 1)

The JEE Main 2026 Paper Analysis for January 24 (Session 1) provides a subject-wise review of the question paper for both shifts, covering Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. The analysis is based on student feedback and expert observations to help candidates understand the difficulty level and overall paper structure.

JEE Main 2026 Question Paper – January 24 Shift 1 (Download PDF)

The Shift 1 examination on January 24, 2026 was conducted from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. Below is the subject-wise assessment of the paper.

Shift 1 – Physics

• The Physics section was reported as moderate in difficulty.
• Questions were distributed across key areas such as Mechanics, Electromagnetism, and Modern Physics.
• A few questions required strong conceptual clarity, making time management an important factor.

Shift 1 – Chemistry

• Chemistry was considered relatively manageable by most students.
• The section included questions from Organic, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry.
• A mix of NCERT-based factual questions and concept-driven applications was observed.

Shift 1 – Mathematics

• The Mathematics section was perceived as moderate to difficult.
• Questions were drawn from Calculus, Algebra, and Coordinate Geometry.
• Lengthy calculations meant that problem-solving speed and accuracy played a crucial role.

JEE Main 2026 Paper Analysis – January 24 Shift 2 (Session 1)

The JEE Main 2026 January 24 Shift 2 examination was conducted in the evening session from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Students appearing in this shift reported slight variations in difficulty compared to the morning session, particularly in subject-wise complexity.

JEE Main 2026 Question Paper – January 24 Shift 2 (Download PDF)

Below is the subject-wise analysis of Shift 2, based on student feedback and expert review.

Shift 2 – Physics

• The Physics section in JEE Main 24 Jan Shift 2 was considered moderate to slightly challenging.
• Questions were spread across key topics such as Optics, Thermodynamics, and Modern Physics.
• Several problems required strong conceptual clarity, especially in numerical-based questions.

Shift 2 – Chemistry

• Chemistry in the second shift was largely manageable for most candidates.
• The paper included questions from Organic, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry, with a visible NCERT orientation.
• A balanced mix of factual questions and application-based problems was observed.

Shift 2 – Mathematics

• Mathematics was rated moderately difficult, mainly due to calculation length.
• Questions covered Calculus, Algebra, and Trigonometry, with multi-step problem-solving involved.
• Time management and strategic question selection played a crucial role in this section.

Overall, the JEE Main 2026 January 24 exam across both shifts tested not only subject knowledge but also problem-solving ability, accuracy, and time management. The JEE Main 2026 Paper Analysis for January 24 Shift 2 helps candidates understand subject-wise difficulty trends and identify focus areas for upcoming sessions. Consistent practice, concept clarity, and a calm exam approach remain essential for better performance in JEE Main.

Topic-Wise Weightage: The "Hot" Chapters of Jan 24

Understanding which chapters dominated the JEE Main 2026 January 24 shifts is the "Data Advantage" every aspirant needs. While the NTA ensures a balanced syllabus coverage, each session has specific "Hot Zones" where the density of questions is higher. Our expert faculty has analyzed the Jan 24 Shift 1 and Shift 2 papers to identify these high-yield topics. If your exam is in the upcoming shifts (Jan 28 or 29), prioritizing these "Must-Solve" chapters can be a rank-deciding strategy.

JEE Main 2026 Jan 24 Subject-Wise High-Weightage Topics

JEE Main 2026 Paper Analysis of Trends: Shift 1 vs Shift 2

• The Calculus Dominance: In the Jan 24 morning shift, Mathematics was heavily skewed toward Calculus, whereas the evening shift saw a rise in Coordinate Geometry questions.
• NCERT Direct Hits: Over 70% of the Chemistry questions on Jan 24 were picked directly from NCERT lines, especially in Inorganic and Organic sections.
• The "Numerical Trap": Physics numericals in the integer-type section were notably calculation-intensive, requiring students to be extra cautious with units and dimensions.

JEE Main 2026 Jan 24: Expected Marks vs Percentile vs Rank

One of the most frequent questions after the exam is: "How many marks are needed for the 99 percentile on Jan 24?" Due to the National Testing Agency's (NTA) normalization process, the answer depends entirely on the difficulty of your specific shift.

Why Normalization Matters for Jan 24

On January 24th, we observed a slight variance in difficulty between the morning and evening sessions.

• Shift 1 (Moderate): High scores are more common, meaning you need more marks to hit a high percentile.
• Shift 2 (Tougher Physics): Lower raw marks will fetch a higher percentile compared to the morning shift.

Expected Marks vs Percentile for Jan 24 (Shift-Wise)

Based on historical trends and current session data, here is our expert prediction for the Jan 24 Marks vs Percentile correlation:

If you are targeting NIT Trichy, Surathkal, or Warangal for Computer Science, aim for a score above 230+ (99.5+ percentile) to stay in the safe zone.

JEE Main 2026 Expected Qualifying Cutoff for JEE Advanced

While the official JEE Mains 2026 cutoff will be released after the April session, our analysis suggests the following qualifying percentiles for JEE Advanced 2026 eligibility:

• General (UR): 93.5 – 95.0
• Gen-EWS: 81.0 – 83.0
• OBC-NCL: 80.0 – 82.0
• SC: 61.0 – 63.0
• ST: 47.5 – 50.0