The JEE Main 2026 exam, held on January 23rd , has successfully completed its first shift. This shift took place from 9 AM to 12 PM. Many students who took the exam shared their thoughts on the paper's difficulty. They said that Physics and Chemistry were of moderate difficulty, but Mathematics was quite tough. Overall, the paper was described as moderate and long.
Exam Difficulty Breakdown
Based on student feedback, the overall difficulty of the JEE Main January 23rd Shift 1 paper was moderate. Students felt the paper was balanced and followed the expected patterns from earlier exams. However, it required good preparation.
| Subject | Difficulty Level |
| Physics | Moderate |
| Chemistry | Moderate and Lengthy |
| Mathematics | Tough |
Subject-Wise Analysis
Physics: Students found the Physics section to be moderately difficult. Many questions were based on formulas and tested core concepts. Key topics included mechanics, electrostatics, ray optics, thermodynamics, and modern physics.
Chemistry: This section was considered moderate but also lengthy. Several students found the questions to be concept-focused and time-consuming. Topics like chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, coordination compounds, and biomolecules were covered.
Mathematics: This was the most challenging section for most students, with many finding it tough.
Student Reactions
Initial reactions from students suggest that the January 23rd Shift 1 exam was overall tough and very lengthy. While Physics was seen as moderate, Mathematics was difficult. Chemistry was also described as very lengthy and tough by many candidates.