The JEE Main 2026 January 28 examination, conducted in Shift 1 and Shift 2, featured a balanced mix of conceptual and numerical questions across Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. This detailed analysis covers the complete shift-wise paper review, including answer key discussion, question paper with solutions, and section-wise difficulty level. Candidates can also check the expected cutoffs for JEE Main 2026 along with insights on topic-wise trends to better evaluate their performance and predict percentile outcomes.
The morning shift of the JEE Main 2026 January 28 exam has started. Candidates who have their exams in the morning shift have now entered the centre, and their exams are ongoing. The shift 2 exam will start at 3 pm. Catch here live updates on JEE Main 2026 day 1 exam, including reporting time, essential documents to carry, dress code,student reactions, paper analysis, memory-based answer keys, questions with solutions and more.
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JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam Timings
JEE Main exam is conducted for a duration of 3 hours. Candidates are required to reach their allotted exam centers at least an hour before the exam time. The section below covers JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam Timings.
| Paper | For non-PwD Candidates | For PwD Candidates |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech.) | 3 hours | 4 hours |
| Paper 2A (B.Arch) | 3 hours | 4 hours |
| Paper 2B (B.Planning) | 3 hours | 4 hours |
| Paper 2A (B.Arch) & Paper 2B (B.Planning) | 3 hours 30 minutes | 4 hours 10 minutes |
JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Shift-wise Timings
| Duration of examination | First shift | Second shift |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1/ 2A/ 2B | 09.00 A.M. to 12.00 Noon | 03.00 P.M. to 06.00 P.M |
| Paper 2A and 2B | 09.00 A.M. to 12.30 P.M | 03.00 P.M. to 06.30 P.M. |
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JEE Main 2026 Exam Day Instructions and Important Guidelines
Check all the important JEE Main exam day guidelines and instructions that need to be followed by candidates
- Candidates must reach the exam centre as per the reporting time mentioned on their admit card
- No candidate will be allowed to enter the exam centre without NTA JEE Mains admit card, photo ID proof and passport size photograph
- Candidates will be allowed to carry only the following items with them inside the exam centre
- JEE Main admit card 2026 downloaded from the NTA website jeemain.nta.nic.in
- Passport size colour photo
- Valid ID proof ( aadhaar mandatory + others if any )
- Water bottle (transparent)
- Ball point pen
- Photo verification certificate ( If you have )
- Candidates will not be allowed to enter the exam hall after the test starts
- Candidates will not be allowed to leave the exam centre before the paper concludes
- Candidates will be provided fresh masks at the exam centre. Candidate’s own mask will be disposed of at the exam centre.
JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 Shift 1 Student Reaction and Question Paper Analysis – OUT
The JEE Mains January 28 shift 1 exam has ended. Candidates can find here the JEE Mains 28 January student reactions live from the centre. The expert analysis of the exam is also being provided here.
- There were some technical glitches in the exam at some centres. However, extra time was given to the affected candidates
- Candidates struggled with time management. Many candidates were not able to attempt questions in Maths as physics and chemistry took most time.
- This shift was easier than the Jan 23 shift 2; however, the difficulty level was almost moderate to difficult.
- The marks vs analysis of JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 shift 1 can be 175 marks for 99 percentile.
- Experts and students recommended covering the complete syllabus and solve variety of questions.
- Time management must be practised more diligently.
| Subject | Difficulty Level | Topics Asked |
|---|---|---|
| Maths | Moderate and Lengthy | 3d and vectors, ellipses, circles, AP, GP, Matrix, differential equations, limit, quadratic equation, sets & relation and integration. |
| Physics | Easy to Moderate but Lengthy | Ray optics, electrostatics, semiconductors, SHM, current electricity, rotation, moment of inertia, fluid mechanics, Potentiometer, vernier calliper, and thermodynamics. |
| Chemistry | Moderate and Lengthy | Coordination compounds, the d-block, and zero error. |
| Overall | Moderate and Lengthy | |
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JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 Shift 2 Student Reaction and Question Paper Analysis – OUT
The JEE Mains Jan 28 shift 2 paper analysis and expert review is now being updated below:
- Chemistry numericals were very lengthy. Mixed concept questions were asked. This section was moderate to tough.
- Maths was moderate and lengthy.
- Physics was easy to moderate.
- For 99 percentile candidates will need 180 + marks in this shift.
- As per many students, the January 28 shift 2 exam can be the easiest shift of the January session.
| Subject | Difficulty Level | Topics Asked |
|---|---|---|
| Maths | Moderate | Calculus, integration, straight lines, circles, conic sections, quadratic, sequence and series, probability, permutation and combination, binomial, matrices and determinants, vectors and 3d |
| Physics | Easy to Moderate | Electrostatics, Current, ray optics, fluids, modern physics, heat and thermodynamics, KTG, wave optics, units and dimensions, error, magnetism |
| Chemistry | Moderate to tough | Coordination Compounds, Amines, Chemical Kinetics, Ionic Equilibrium (Buffer), Inorganic Chemistry |
| Overall | Moderate | |
Jee Mains 2026 January 28 Overall Analysis
| Topic | 28 January shift 1 | 28 January shift 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | Moderate and lengthy | Moderate & Lengthy |
| Maths | Moderate and lengthy | Moderate To Tough |
| Physics | Easy To Moderate | Easy To Moderate |
Jee Mains 2026 January 28 Expected Cutoffs
Please keep in mind , the cutoffs shown below are based on memory based question and student reaction , it might vary slightly (5-10%)
| Category | shift 1 Cutoff Score | shift 2 cutoff score |
|---|---|---|
| Common Rank List (CRL) | 104-109 Marks | 104-108 Marks |
| GEN-EWS | 83-88 Marks | 82-86 Marks |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) | 82-87 Marks | 81-85 Marks |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 60-65 Marks | 59-65 Marks |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 57-59 Marks | 58-60 Marks |
JEE Main 2026 January 28 Answer Key Shift 1 and 2
NTA will display the Provisional JEE Main 2026 Answer Key of the questions on the NTA website: https://jeemain.nta.nic.in/. An opportunity will be given to the candidates to challenge the Provisional Answer Keys with a nonrefundable online payment of ₹ 200/- per question challenged as processing charges. The provisional Answer Keys are likely to be displayed for two to three days after the exam is over.
| Subjects | Shift 1 | Shift 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| Chemistry | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
| Mathematics | Download Pdf | Download Pdf |
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Toughest Shift of JEE Mains 2025 April Shift-Wise Analysis (as per subject experts)
Candidates can check out the shift and day-wise difficulty level ( tentative ) below to get an idea of ‘which was the hard shift of JEE Mains April 2025 (Session 2) –
Note: According to Final Result and shift-wise analysis, the JEE Main 2025 April 2 Shift 1 is currently considered the toughest shift, while the April 2 Shift 2 appears to be the easiest in terms of difficulty level. This JEE Main 2025 difficulty analysis is based on responses from approximately 2,50,000 students, and the insights may evolve as more data becomes available.
| Date and Shift | Difficulty Level | Difficulty Rating (Out of 10) | 99%ile score (Percentile vs Marks) | Cutoff Marks (93.10 %ile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2 – Shift 1 | Moderate to Tough | 7.5 | 172 | 105 |
| April 2 – Shift 2 | Easy | 5.6 | 204 | 134 |
| April 3 – Shift 1 | Moderate to Tough | 7.3 | 175 | 110 |
| April 3 – Shift 2 | Easy | 5.8 | 200 | 128 |
| April 4 – Shift 1 | Moderate | 7.1 | 177 | 112 |
| April 4 – Shift 2 | Moderate | 7.0 | 179 | 114 |
| April 7 – Shift 1 | Moderate | 6.9 | 180 | 118 |
| April 7 – Shift 2 | Easy to Moderate | 6.2 | 185 | 123 |
| April 8 – Shift 2 | Easy to Moderate | 6.2 | 185 | 123 |
