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JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Toughest Shift LIVE Updates: Shift Wise Difficulty

For general category candidates securing a seat in NIT Trichy CSE branch is not possible. However, for reserved categories securing seats in NIT Trichy irrespective of CSE branch is possible. 

With 130-150 marks in JEE Main 2026 Session 1, candidates can expect for branches like Civil, Mechanical, EEE, and occasionally ECE/CS through Home State quota or later rounds. 

Based on the ongoing trends, with a score of 130 to 150 in JEE Main 2026, candidates are more likely to secure a 97–98+ percentile and a rank under 45,000. This range allows admission into mid-tier and newer NITs. 

Approximately 14.5 lakh candidates appeared for the JEE Main Session 1 Examination 2026.

The ST category expected qualifying score for JEE Advanced is between 37 and 48.

SC category expected qualifying score for JEE Advanced is between 51 and 62.

OBC category expected qualifying score for JEE Advanced is between 73 and 82.

The general category expected qualifying score for JEE Advanced is between 90 and 94.

ST category candidates needed to make 7 to 8 correct attempts to appear for JEE Advanced 2026

SC category candidates needed to make 10 to 11correct attempts to appear for JEE Advanced 2026.

OBC candidates are expected to make a correct attempt of around 14 to 16 to qualify for the JEE Advanced.

General category candidates needed to make 28 to 29 correct attempts to appear for JEE Advanced 2026.

Raw Score=(4×Correct)−(1×Incorrect)

• Visit the official website.
• Download answer key and response sheet PDFs.
• Compare responses recorded on the response sheet with the official keys.
• For each correct answer, give 4+ marks and deduct 1 mark for incorrect ones.
• Add the total mark of correct questions and subtract the incorrect attempts.

To calculate the estimated scores, candidates will match the answers on their response sheet with the official answer key. Candidates will allot marks based on the marking scheme. 

The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Response Sheet is usually released along with the answer key. 

The JEE Main 2026 Session 1 response sheet is expected to be released between February 3 and 6, 2026.

Considering the paper difficulty level trends, which have been moderate to difficult for the first three days, students can expect the JEE Main 2026 cutoff to decrease.

There is a very small chance of an increase in the JEE Main cutoff 2026. However, the most accurate predications can only be made after both sessions conclude. 

For UR-PwD category candidates, the expected cutoff percentile for the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam is between 0.001 and 1. 

For ST category candidates, the expected cutoff percentile for the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam is between 47 and 50. 

For ST category candidates, the expected cutoff percentile for the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam is between 47 and 50. 

For SC category candidates, the expected cutoff percentile for the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam is between 60 and 63. 

For General-EWS category candidates, the expected cutoff percentile for the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam is between 80 and 82. 

For OBC- NCL category candidates, the expected cutoff percentile for the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam is between 79 and 81. 

For general category candidates, the expected cutoff percentile for the JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Exam is between 93 and 95. 

According to reviews, students found the paper of January 23 Shift 1 of Moderate to Difficult level. While Physics questions were mostly doable numericals and covered multiple topics, Chemistry and Mathematics felt more towards moderate to difficult with tough and calculative questions.

Based on the expert’s analysis, the Expected Score For 99 Percentile For The Toughest Shift could be between 150-170 marks. 

• Physical Chemistry - Mostly inter-type numerical questions.
• Inorganic Chemistry - Most statement-based and assertion-reson based questions.
• Organic Chemistry - This section mainly focused on GOC and reaction mechanism.

The chemistry paper mostly included questions from coordination compounds, Aldehydes and Ketones, Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics, p-Block Elements, and biomolecules.

In Physics, most of the questions were asked from modern physics, electrostatistics, thermodynamics, current electricity, optics, and semi conductors sections.

In mathematics, Vectors, 3D Geometry, Calculus (Integration & Differentiation), and Conic Sections dominated almost every shift.

As of now, the JEE Main 2026 exam follows the reduced syllabus. However, according to reports, an unexpected question on "Dispersion without Deviation" (a previously deleted topic) on 23 Jan Shift 1.

Considering the students' reviews and experts’ opinions, Chemistry was the highest-scoring and time-efficient paper. Students who have revised their NCERT syllabus must be able to score better in the Chemistry paper.

The authorities will use the normalization process, and therefore, a lower raw score in a tough shift can result in a high percentile.

Candidates who appeared for the January 23 Shift 2 exam can check the subject-wise expected good attempts for the 98-99 percentile:

Candidates who appeared for the January 22 Shift 2 exam can check the subject-wise expected good attempts.

• Physics questions were conceptual, and calculations were heavy.
• The chemistry paper was balanced across all sections, and questions were mostly NCERT-based.
• Mathematics was overall tough but easier than last year.

Yes, for most of the shifts, the Chemistry paper was NCERT-based. Students who torough the NCERT Syllabus found it easy to attempt more questions from Chemistry section.

Yes, students who appeared on January 23 (Shift 2) and January 24 (Shift 2) particularly talked about tough physics questions. The questions were more advanced-level rather than the usual formula-based ones. 

Following the previous year’s trends, mathematics continued to be the most lengthy paper. According to the students' reviews, while the questions were doable, it often took students 60-80 minutes to complete the paper due to lengthy calculations. 

Based on the data, January 22 (Shift 2) and January 23 (Shift 2) are considered the toughest shifts in JEE 2026 till now.