The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2026 Session 1 from January 21 to 29 . This examination determines admissions for BTech, BArch, and BPlanning programs. Historical data indicates Session 1 exams are generally less challenging than Session 2 exams.
JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Schedule and Admit Cards
JEE Main 2026 Session 1 exams will run in two shifts daily. Shift 1 takes place from 9 AM to 12 PM . Shift 2 is scheduled from 3 PM to 6 PM . The NTA has already issued hall tickets for exams scheduled from January 21 to 24 . Admit cards for January 28 and 29 exams are pending release.
Candidates can download their JEE Main 2026 admit card from the official website, jeemain.nta.nic.in . An application number and password are required for access.
Analysis of Previous JEE Main Sessions
An analysis of last year’s JEE Main Session 1 paper highlighted Mathematics as difficult compared to Physics and Chemistry. Most questions originated from the Class 12 syllabus. Theory-based questions were present across all three subjects.
Last year’s JEE Main Session 2 exams presented a moderate challenge. Student feedback indicated Mathematics was time-consuming. Physics was generally easier across shifts. Chemistry questions were manageable for most candidates.
Five-Year Difficulty Trends for JEE Main
Review of the past five years’ JEE Main data reveals recurring patterns in paper difficulty across sessions and subjects. The table below outlines these trends:
| Year | Session | Physics | Mathematics | Chemistry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Session 1 | Moderately difficult | Challenging | Easy |
| Session 2 | Moderate | Moderately difficult | Moderately challenging | |
| 2024 | Session 1 | Moderately easy | Moderately difficult | Moderately easy |
| Session 2 | Moderately easy | Moderate | Moderately easy | |
| 2023 | Session 1 | Easy to moderate | Moderate | Easy |
| Session 2 | Easy | Moderate | Easy to moderate | |
| 2022 | Session 1 | Moderate | Moderately difficult | Moderate |
| Session 2 | Moderate | Moderately difficult | Moderate | |
| 2021 | Session 1 | Easy to moderate (Overall) | ||
| Session 2 | Moderately difficult (Overall) | |||
| Session 3 | Moderately difficult (Overall) | |||
| Session 4 | Moderate (Overall) | |||
Key Observations from Past Difficulty Levels
Mathematics consistently appears as the most challenging subject across multiple sessions. It frequently registers as moderately difficult or challenging. Physics and Chemistry often present as easier or moderate. This trend holds true for most years analyzed.
Session 1 exams generally maintained an easier to moderate difficulty profile compared to subsequent sessions. For instance, in 2023 and 2024, Session 1 Physics and Chemistry were often rated easy or moderately easy. Mathematics, however, retained its higher difficulty.
The 2021 data provides overall session difficulty ratings. These indicate a rise in challenge from Session 1 (Easy to moderate) to Sessions 2 and 3 (Moderately difficult).
Post-Exam Analysis and Results
A detailed JEE Main 2026 exam analysis will become available after the examination period. This analysis will draw from student reactions and memory-based questions. Information regarding the NTA’s score evaluation process and percentile calculation will also be released.