JEE Main 2026 January 22 Shift 1 Paper Analysis – Difficulty, Weightage & Student Reactions

The JEE Main 2026 January 22 Shift 1 paper brought fresh insights into the exam pattern, difficulty trends, and chapter-wise focus. After the first day of the exam, students were keen to analyze whether the level had increased or remained stable. If you are preparing for upcoming sessions or JEE Advanced, joining a focused JEE Crash Course can help you revise effectively and boost your score in a short time.

Here is a detailed, student-focused and SEO-friendly analysis of JEE Main 2026 Jan 22 Shift 1 based on student feedback and expert review.

Overall Difficulty Level – Jan 22 Shift 1

The overall difficulty of JEE Main 2026 Jan 22 Shift 1 is rated as:

✅ Moderate

The paper was well-balanced across subjects, testing both conceptual understanding and problem-solving speed.

Subject-wise Paper Analysis

Physics Analysis – Jan 22 Shift 1

Physics was slightly easier than previous shifts and more formula-based.

Physics Highlights:

• More direct questions
• Strong presence of Modern Physics and Mechanics
• Fewer multi-concept problems

Physics Difficulty: 🟢 Easy to Moderate

Chemistry Analysis – Jan 22 Shift 1

Chemistry was highly NCERT-based and very scoring.

Chemistry Highlights:

• Inorganic Chemistry was directly from NCERT
• Organic Chemistry had standard reaction-based questions
• Physical Chemistry was numerical and formula-driven

Chemistry Difficulty: 🟢 Easy

Mathematics Analysis – Jan 22 Shift 1

Mathematics remained lengthy but was comparatively easier than Jan 21 Shift 2.

Mathematics Highlights:

• Balanced distribution from Algebra, Calculus, and Coordinate Geometry
• Some tricky but doable problems
• Required good speed

Mathematics Difficulty: 🟡 Moderate

Chapter-wise Weightage – Jan 22 Shift 1

Based on memory-based analysis:

Physics Weightage

Chemistry Weightage

Mathematics Weightage

Toughness Level Compared to Previous Shifts

👉 Jan 22 Shift 1 was more balanced and slightly easier than Jan 21 Shift 2.

Students’ Reactions – Jan 22 Shift 1

What Students Liked 👍

• Chemistry was very easy and scoring
• Physics was straightforward
• Paper felt well-balanced
• No unexpected topics

What Troubled Students 👎

• Maths was time-consuming
• Few tricky coordinate geometry questions

Common Student Opinion:

“Paper was balanced and Chemistry boosted confidence.”

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Expected Percentile vs Marks – Jan 22 Shift 1

Since the paper was moderate and scoring:

(Indicative only)

What This Shift Indicates for Aspirants

Students preparing for upcoming shifts should:

• Strengthen NCERT Chemistry
• Revise Modern Physics thoroughly
• Practice coordinate geometry and calculus
• Improve speed and accuracy in Maths

Final Verdict – JEE Main 2026 Jan 22 Shift 1

The paper was student-friendly, NCERT-driven, and well-balanced, making it a good scoring shift for disciplined and well-prepared aspirants.

FAQs –

Q1. Was Jan 22 Shift 1 easier than Jan 21 papers?

Yes, it was slightly easier than Jan 21 Shift 2 and comparable to Shift 1.

Q2. Which section was the easiest?

Chemistry was the easiest and most scoring section.

Q3. Which subject was toughest?

Mathematics due to its length and time requirement.

Q4. Was the paper based on NCERT?

Yes, especially Chemistry was heavily NCERT-based.

Q5. Is this a high-scoring shift?

Yes, especially for students strong in Chemistry and Physics.

Q6. Which chapters should students focus on based on this shift?

Modern Physics, Chemical Bonding, Coordinate Geometry, and Calculus.

Q7. Will normalization affect this shift?

Yes, since it was moderately easier, normalization may be slightly strict.