JEE Main 2026 (22 Jan, Shift 1) paper analysis

JEE Main 2026 (22 Jan, Shift 1) was tough compared with all 163 JEE Main papers since 2019, and the 8th easiest of the 10 shifts of the January 2026 session, by our question ratings.

Difficulty by subject

  • Physics: Tough
  • Chemistry: Moderately tough
  • Mathematics: Moderate

Difficulty is Autonise's own rating, not NTA's. Every question in our bank has a difficulty rating. We work out the marks a well-prepared student would expect in every JEE Main paper and rank this shift against all of them: the easiest fifth is "Easy", the toughest fifth "Tough". NTA works percentiles out within each shift, so the same marks give a higher percentile in a tougher shift; the percentile predictor uses this level.

Physics chapter-wise questions

  • Electrostatics: 4
  • Electromagnetic Induction: 3
  • Refraction & Prisms: 3
  • Rotational Dynamics: 3
  • Gravitation: 2
  • Alternating Current Circuits: 1
  • Atoms: 1
  • Current Electricity: 1
  • Fluid Statics: 1
  • Heat Transfer Mechanisms: 1
  • Kinematics in 1D & 2D: 1
  • Mechanical Waves (Sound Waves): 1
  • Nuclei: 1
  • Semiconductor Devices: 1
  • Thermodynamics: 1

Chemistry chapter-wise questions

  • Alkyl Halides (Haloalkanes & Haloarenes): 3
  • Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure: 2
  • Chemical Kinetics: 2
  • Coordination Compounds: 2
  • Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers: 1
  • Aldehydes and Ketones: 1
  • Amines, Nitro, Diazonium Salts: 1
  • Atomic Structure: 1
  • Biomolecules: 1
  • Chemical Equilibrium: 1
  • Chemical Thermodynamics & Energetics: 1
  • Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties: 1
  • Electrochemistry: 1
  • Gaseous State (Real Gases Focus): 1
  • General Organic Chemistry: 1
  • Hydrocarbons (Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes): 1
  • Liquid Solutions & Colligative Properties: 1
  • Mole Concept & Stoichiometry: 1
  • Practical Organic Chemistry (POC): 1
  • p-block Elements: 1

Mathematics chapter-wise questions

  • Definite Integration: 2
  • Determinants: 2
  • Permutations and Combinations: 2
  • Three-Dimensional (3D) Coordinate Geometry: 2
  • Application of Derivatives: 1
  • Area Under Curves: 1
  • Binomial Theorem: 1
  • Circles: 1
  • Complex Numbers: 1
  • Differential Equations: 1
  • Hyperbola: 1
  • Indefinite Integration: 1
  • Inverse Trigonometric Functions (ITF): 1
  • Logarithms & Basic Inequalities: 1
  • Parabola: 1
  • Probability: 1
  • Quadratic Equation: 1
  • Sequence and Series: 1
  • Sets: 1
  • Trigonometric Ratios, Identities & Compound Angles: 1
  • Vector Algebra (Fundamentals & Products): 1

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