The "Moderate" Trap: 2026 Trend Analysis
If you walked out of the exam center feeling confused—thinking "The paper wasn't hard, but why couldn't I attempt more?"—you are not alone. This has been the defining characteristic of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 so far.
The NTA Pattern Shift: Unlike 2024, where papers were polarized (extreme easy or extreme hard), 2026 papers are demonstrating a "Uniform Moderateness." The questions aren't unsolvable, but they are designed to consume time. This is a deliberate strategy to curb the "score inflation" we saw in previous years.
Shift-Wise JEE Main Analysis 2026 (Session 1)
| Date / Shift | Difficulty | Physics | Chemistry | Mathematics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jan Morning | Moderate | Conceptual & formula-based, moderate | Mostly NCERT-based, scoring | Calculation-intensive, slightly challenging |
| 21 Jan Evening | Moderate | Concept-based with numerical focus | Slightly tricky due to statements | Lengthy, time-consuming |
| 22 Jan Morning | Easy-Mod | Straightforward, concept-based | NCERT-based, scoring | Calculative but manageable |
| 22 Jan Evening | Moderate | Easy to average, less calculation | Most scoring, Organic/Inorganic focus | Lengthy and time-consuming |
| 23 Jan Morning | Easy-Mod | Direct formula & basic concepts | Syllabus-aligned, concept-based | Multi-step problems, heavy calc |
| 23 Jan Evening | Moderate | Formula-based & concept-driven | NCERT-based across all sections | Moderate and lengthy |
| 24 Jan Morning | Mod-Diff | Moderate, calculative | Easy to Moderate, NCERT-based | Moderate, calculation-heavy |
| 24 Jan Evening | Moderate | Formula-based, conceptual | NCERT-based, scoring | Lengthy, calculation-heavy |
| 28 Jan (M/E) | To be updated | To be updated | To be updated | To be updated |
| 29 Jan (M/E) | To be updated | To be updated | To be updated | To be updated |
Detailed Review
Physics: The "Statement" Game
Gone are the days of "Put Formula, Get Answer." NTA has aggressively increased the weightage of Assertion-Reasoning and Statement-based questions.
- ➢ Mechanics: Rotational Motion questions weren't calculation heavy but tested the visualization of torque vectors.
- ➢ Modern Physics: High weightage (3-4 questions). Direct but required memory of specific constants.
Chemistry: NCERT is still King
Chemistry remains the scoring anchor. The paper was strictly restricted to the NCERT syllabus, with zero questions from the deleted syllabus.
- ➢ Organic: Name reactions are dominating. Reagents like DIBAL-H, KMnO4, and Grignard were key players.
- ➢ Inorganic: Coordination Compounds and d-block carried the weight.
Mathematics: The Rank Decider
"Lengthy" is an understatement. The Maths section was designed to break rhythm. It wasn't that the concepts were new; it was the sheer number of steps required to reach the answer.
- ➢ Vector 3D: Dominated the paper (3-4 questions). If you mastered this, you survived.
- ➢ Calculus: Definite Integration questions used properties that required 2-3 pages of solving.
The "Post-Exam" Roadmap
Scenario A: The "Disaster"
You expected 180 but you are calculating 110. You feel like the year is wasted.
Action Plan:
- Stop panicking. You have the April Attempt.
- Download your response sheet immediately.
- Identify the "Negative Marking" culprit chapters.
- Focus on Board Exams (Feb) to keep study flow active.
Scenario B: The "Success"
You are crossing 200+. You are confident of 99%ile.
Action Plan:
- Do NOT study for April Attempt aggressively.
- Buy a specialized JEE Advanced Test Series.
- Start solving Irodov (Physics) and Black Book (Maths).
Common Questions
Q: Will the Jan 28 and 29 shifts be harder?
Historically, NTA maintains a similar difficulty curve within a session. However, "Normalization" takes care of difficulty spikes. Even if your paper is harder, you will get a better percentile for the same marks. Do not fear difficulty; fear silly mistakes.
Q: When will the Official Answer Key be released?
NTA typically releases the Provisional Answer Key 3-4 days after the last exam. Expect it around February 3rd or 4th, 2026.