Which JEE Main Jan 2026 Shift Was the Easiest Till Now?

After the JEE Main January 2026 session began, one of the most common questions among students has been about identifying the easiest shift. Since JEE Main is conducted in multiple shifts, the difficulty level can vary significantly, making shift-wise analysis important for understanding overall performance trends.

Based on feedback from students, memory-based papers, and expert reviews, JEE Main 2026 Jan 22 Shift 1 stood out as the easiest and most scoring. We have shortlisted the top 3 easiest shifts similarly, and below is a detailed analysis of the easiest JEE Main shifts of January 2026 till now.
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January 22 Shift 1: First Easiest Shift of JEE Mains 2026

January 22 Shift 1 of JEE Main 2026 is being widely regarded as the easiest and most scoring shift of JEE Mains 2026 till now. Compared to other shifts conducted in the first four days, this paper was balanced, predictable, and allowed students to manage time effectively.

What made this shift a bit easier was that Mathematics, a section that usually scares students, actually felt manageable. Instead of twisted logic or endless calculations, many questions were based on direct formulas and familiar concepts.

January 21 Shift 1: Second Easiest Shift of JEE Mains 2026

As the first shift of the January 2026 session, January 21 Shift 1 followed a standard and expected pattern. There were no major surprises, and the paper closely resembled previous JEE Main trends. Physics turned out to be the easiest here, helping many students balance out a tougher Maths section.

January 24 Shift 2: Third Easiest Shift of JEE Mains 2026

JEE Main 2026 January 24 Shift 2 was considered manageable due to its stability and predictable question pattern. Unlike some tougher shifts, this paper did not include unusually difficult or unexpected questions. Students found it manageable, though a bit tiring.

Also Check: Top 3 Toughest Shifts in JEE Main 2026 Session 1 after Day 1-4 Exams

JEE Mains 2026 Difficulty: What to expect next?

By now, a clear pattern is visible in the JEE Main January 2026 session. The exam has not focused on making questions extremely difficult. Instead, time management, accuracy, and consistency have played a much bigger role than expected.

If you are appearing in the upcoming January shifts (January 28-29) or planning for the April session, it is natural to wonder what kind of paper to expect next. Based on the shifts conducted so far, here is what the overall difficulty trend suggests.

1. Rotation of Previously Untouched Topics

NTA generally balances the syllabus across multiple shifts. Topics that were not tested a lot in the initial papers often appear in later shifts.

In Physics, candidates may see increased weightage from Ray Optics, Wave Optics, and Semiconductors. Modern Physics, which has been scoring so far, is also expected to remain important.

In Chemistry, early shifts included more of Organic Chemistry. Upcoming papers may shift focus towards Inorganic Chemistry topics such as p-block, d-block elements, and Salt Analysis, along with slightly more calculation-based Physical Chemistry questions.

In Mathematics, Vectors and 3D Geometry are expected to continue with significant weightage. Calculus topics such as Integration and Differential Equations may also appear more in later shifts.

2. Statement-Based Questions in Chemistry

Many recent questions have been framed using NCERT statements, notes, and exceptions. These are often converted into True/False or Statement-based questions, which require careful reading and cannot be answered through guesswork.

3. Time-Management in Mathematics

The Mathematics section continues to include questions that are not conceptually very difficult but are time-consuming. In most shifts, a few questions are clearly designed to test how well students can select which problems to attempt. A practical approach is to avoid spending too much time on questions that require lengthy calculations and move on to those that can be solved more quickly.
Also Read: Will JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 Shift 1 be Moderate or Tough? Past patterns and expert forecast

At this point, it is more useful to revise the recent memory-based papers from the JEE Main January 21-24 shifts rather than trying completely new, difficult problems. NTA often repeats similar logic and question patterns within the same session, making recent papers a very valuable tool for revision.