The National Testing Agency (NTA) has successfully conducted the Day 1 of the JEE Main 24 Jan 2026 Analysis (Session 1) on January 24, 2026. As per the initial student reactions and expert analysis, the paper has thrown a major curveball this year—especially in Chemistry. While Mathematics maintained its reputation of being “Lengthy and Calculative,” it was Chemistry that surprised students with deep, statement-based questions rather than direct NCERT factuals.
If you are appearing for the upcoming shifts, this detailed analysis of Shift 1 (Morning) and Shift 2 (Evening) is crucial for your last-minute strategy.
Key Insight: Experts suggest a “Low Scoring, High Percentile” trend for the 24th Jan shifts. Due to the tricky nature of Chemistry and lengthy Maths, touching 200+ marks has become difficult for many aspirants.
JEE Main 24 Jan 2026 Analysis: Exam Highlights
A quick snapshot of the difficulty level and exam pattern observed today.
| Feature | Shift 1 (Morning) | Shift 2 (Evening) |
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate to Tricky | Moderate |
| Physics | Easy to Moderate (Formula Based) | Moderate (Conceptual) |
| Chemistry | Tricky (Statement Based) | Time Consuming (Inorganic Heavy) |
| Mathematics | Lengthy & Calculative | Lengthy but Doable |
| Good Attempts | 45 – 50 Questions | 42 – 48 Questions |
| Game Changer | Chemistry Statements | Vector 3D & Integration |
JEE Main 24 Jan Shift 1 & 2: Detailed Subject-Wise Analysis
1. Physics: The Savior Subject
Physics was the most scoring section in both shifts.
- Topics Asked: Gravitation, Electrostatics, Current Electricity, and Modern Physics.
- Nature of Questions: Mostly formula-based. However, in Shift 1, a few questions tested concepts like ICR (Instantaneous Center of Rotation) which leaned towards the Advanced level.
- Student Verdict: “Formulas yaad the toh 15+ sawal ban gaye” (If formulas were memorized, 15+ questions were doable).
2. Chemistry: The “Surprise” Element
Chemistry has broken the trend of being the “easiest” subject.
- Shift 1 & 2 Trend: NTA moved away from direct questions. There was a heavy dominance of Statement-Based Questions (Assertion-Reasoning) and Multi-Concept Problems.
- Key Topics: Biomolecules (Amino acid structures), POC (Practical Organic Chemistry), and coordination compounds.
- Warning: Mere reading of NCERT lines wasn’t enough; deep conceptual clarity was required to tackle the tricky options.
3. Mathematics: Lengthy as Usual
- Difficulty: Moderate but extremely calculation-intensive.
- Dominant Topics: Vector 3D and Integration questions were long and tested patience.
- Strategy: Students who picked the “easy kill” topics like Matrices and Statistics managed to score well.
JEE Main Marks vs Percentile 2026 (24 Jan Prediction)
Based on the difficulty level (specifically the tougher Chemistry section), the cutoff for 99%ile is expected to drop compared to last year. Here is the expert prediction:
| Percentile | Expected Score (Shift 1) | Expected Score (Shift 2) |
| 99.5 %ile | 205 – 215 | 200 – 210 |
| 99.0 %ile | 168 – 178 | 170 – 180 |
| 98.0 %ile | 150 – 160 | 155 – 165 |
| 95.0 %ile | 118 – 128 | 120 – 130 |
| 90.0 %ile | 93 – 103 | 95 – 105 |
| Cut-off (Gen) | 88 – 92 | 85 – 90 |
Source: Analysis based on student feedback and difficulty inputs.
Note: The 24 Jan Shift 1 & 2 are considered “Moderate”. In comparison, the 23 Jan Shift 2 remains the toughest shift so far, where 99%ile might form at just 150-160 marks.
Download JEE Main 24 Jan Question Paper PDF
Our team is compiling the memory-based questions shared by students. The PDF links will be activated shortly.
- Download JEE Main 24 Jan Shift 1 Question Paper PDF (Link Placeholder)
- Download JEE Main 24 Jan Shift 2 Question Paper PDF (Link Placeholder)
- Download Answer Key & Solutions by Coaching Experts (Link Placeholder)
Roadmap for Upcoming Shifts (27th, 29th, 30th Jan)
If your exam is in the next few days, follow this “Bounce Back” strategy:
- Chemistry: Do not ignore POC (Practical Organic Chemistry) and Biomolecules. Practice statement-type questions specifically.
- Physics: Ensure your Modern Physics and Semiconductor (Logic Gates) concepts are crystal clear as questions are guaranteed.
- Maths: Focus on accuracy over speed. Attempting 10-12 questions correctly is better than 20 guesses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Was JEE Main 24 Jan 2026 Shift 1 difficult? A: It was Moderate. While Physics was manageable, Chemistry was tricky with statement-based questions, making it harder to score high compared to previous years.
Q2: What is a safe score for 99 percentile in 24 Jan Shift 2? A: As per experts, a score between 170 – 180 should be sufficient for the 99th percentile due to the tricky nature of the paper.
Q3: Which subject was the toughest in 24 Jan exam? A: Chemistry was the most surprising section due to “Statement Based Questions” that confused many students who relied solely on rote learning.
Q4: Will the marks vs percentile drop this year? A: Yes, for shifts like 24 Jan, the trend indicates “Low Scoring High Percentile” because crossing 200 marks has become challenging.
Q5: When will the official Answer Key be released? A: NTA usually releases the provisional answer key 3-5 days after the last exam date of the session.