JEE Main 2026 January 23 Shift 1 Paper Analysis – Difficulty, Weightage & Student Reactions

The JEE Main 2026 January 23 Shift 1 exam was conducted nationwide under the National Testing Agency (NTA). Based on verified student responses and expert opinion, the paper maintained a balanced yet challenging pattern similar to earlier shifts in the session. 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.

According to initial reviews, the overall difficulty of this shift was Moderate, with certain sections testing speed and application skills more than rote learning.

Overall Difficulty Level

📊 Overall Difficulty: Moderate
Students described the paper as balanced but lengthy and requiring good time management across all three sections.

Subject-wise Difficulty & Analysis

📘 Physics

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Covered topics like electrostatics, ray optics, magnetism, thermodynamics and modern physics.
• Questions were mostly conceptual but direct if fundamentals were clear.

Key Physics Topics:

• Magnetism & Magnetic Effects of Current
• Ray/Wave Optics
• Electrostatics
• Thermodynamics & Modern Physics

Student Reaction: Physics was generally balanced and manageable with practice.

🧪 Chemistry

• Difficulty: Moderate & Time-Consuming
• Questions were largely NCERT-based but involved lengthy statements, especially in Inorganic and Physical Chemistry.
• Organic Chemistry had standard reaction-based questions.

Key Chemistry Topics:

• Chemical Kinetics
• Biomolecules & Organic Functional Groups
• Coordination Compounds
• Thermodynamics & Solutions

Student Reaction: Many found this section time-intensive due to lengthy reasoning and statement questions.

📐 Mathematics

• Difficulty: Moderate to Tough
• Most challenging section of this shift.
• Questions involved multi-step calculations and strong application of core concepts.

Key Mathematics Topics:

• Vector & 3D Geometry
• Matrices & Determinants
• Sequences & Series
• Integration & Differential Calculus
• Straight Lines, Circles & Conics

Student Reaction: Many students reported Mathematics as time-consuming and calculative, requiring strong speed and accuracy.

Chapter-wise Focus / High-Weightage Areas

Here are the topics that had noticeable representation in this shift:

Physics

• Magnetism & Electromagnetism
• Ray & Wave Optics
• Electrostatics
• Modern Physics

Chemistry

• Chemical Kinetics & Thermodynamics
• Coordination Chemistry
• Organic Reaction Mechanisms

Mathematics

• Vector & 3D Geometry
• Integration & Sequences
• Matrices & Determinants
• Conic Sections & Coordinate Geometry

Good Attempts & Score Expectations

Based on early trend analysis:

📍 Good Attempts (with high accuracy): 45–50+ questions
📍 High Scoring Potential: Consistent attempts with strong accuracy in Chemistry and Physics can boost scores.

Expected marks vs approximate percentile (indicative based on trend):

Students’ Reactions – Jan 23 Shift 1

✔️ Balanced overall paper
✔️ Physics manageable with good fundamentals
✔️ Chemistry was NCERT-based but time-intensive
✔️ Mathematics was toughest and highly calculative

Common Student Feedback:

Many students felt that while the paper was predictable and aligned with the syllabus, effective time management was crucial, especially for Chemistry and Mathematics. 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.

Final Verdict – JEE Main 2026 Jan 23 Shift 1

The paper for Shift 1 on 23 January 2026 maintained a moderate level overall with a balanced distribution across the three sections. While Chemistry and Physics were manageable, Mathematics was the toughest in this shift mainly due to lengthy and multi-step problems. Strong fundamentals and solid timed practice were key to higher attempts.

FAQs –

Q1. What was the overall difficulty of JEE Main 23 Jan Shift 1?

It was moderate overall, with Mathematics being the toughest section.

Q2. Which subject was easiest?

Physics and Chemistry were relatively easier compared to Mathematics.

Q3. Was the paper NCERT-based?

Yes — especially in Chemistry and parts of Physics.

Q4. What topics had high weightage?

Vector & 3D, Calculus, Optical and Magnetism topics were frequently asked.

Q5. What are good attempt ranges for this shift?

Around 45–50+ attempts with accuracy is considered good.