JEE Mains 2025 and 2026 Difficulty Level Across All Shifts
After every JEE Mains shift, one question is common among students — was my paper tougher or easier than the others? The shift-wise difficulty level of JEE Mains plays an important role in understanding exam trends, estimating marks vs percentile, and planning preparation more effectively. Since the exam is conducted over multiple days and shifts, variations in difficulty are expected and completely normal.
This page brings together a clear comparison of JEE Mains 2025 and JEE Main 2026 Session 1, highlighting the toughest and easiest shifts, subject-wise difficulty patterns, and practical insights drawn from student feedback and expert analysis. Whether you are analysing your performance or preparing for upcoming attempts, this breakdown will help you make sense of where each shift stands.
Which Shift Was the Hardest in JEE Mains 2026 Session 1?
Based on analysis available till now, the toughest shift of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 is: JEE Main 2026 – January 22 Shift 2
👉Click to get the Complete details about the Toughest Shift of JEE Main 2026.
JEE Mains 2026 Shift-Wise Difficulty Overview
The shift-wise difficulty level of JEE Main 2026 Session 1 varies across exam days due to differences in subject balance and question length. Based on student feedback and expert analysis available till now, the overview below highlights how each shift compares in terms of overall difficulty.
JEE Main 2026 Session 1 – Shift-Wise Difficulty Level
⚠️ Difficulty levels marked “to be updated” will be revised after verified student feedback and expert review.
JEE Mains 2025 Shift-Wise Difficulty Overview
The JEE Mains 2025 examination showed noticeable shift-wise variation in difficulty, mainly driven by the length and complexity of Mathematics and, in some cases, Physics. The overview below summarises how each shift was perceived based on student feedback and expert review.
JEE Mains 2025 Session 1 – Shift-Wise Difficulty Level
JEE Mains 2025 Session 2 – Shift-Wise Difficulty Level
Overall JEE Mains Difficulty Level: 2025 vs 2026
Subject-Wise Difficulty Comparison
Mathematics
2025: Challenging in most shifts due to lengthy calculations
2026: Still the most time-consuming section, especially in tougher shifts
Physics
2025: Shift-dependent, some papers extremely tough
2026: Mostly moderate and concept-based
Chemistry
2025: Balanced and NCERT-oriented
2026: Largely scoring and NCERT-based
👉 Across both years, Mathematics remains the biggest deciding factor for shift difficulty.
Toughest and Easiest Shifts of JEE Mains (2025 vs 2026)
Comparison With Previous Year Trends (2023–2026)
Looking at JEE Mains over the last few years:
No fixed pattern for toughest shifts
Mathematics consistently tests speed and accuracy
Mid-session or later shifts often feel tougher
Percentile normalisation ensures fairness across shifts
These trends help aspirants preparing for future JEE Main sessions anticipate difficulty variations.
Preparation Tips for Tougher JEE Main Shifts
Practise full-length timed mock tests
Attempt easier questions first to build confidence
Strengthen high-weightage Mathematics topics like Calculus & Probability
Revise Physics formulas for faster numerical solving
Focus on NCERT for Chemistry
Analyse previous year papers to spot difficulty patterns
Maintain a consistent revision strategy
Final Takeaway
JEE Mains 2025 and 2026 both show shift-wise variation
Tough shifts are usually driven by lengthy Mathematics or difficult Physics
Tough shift ≠ bad percentile
Understanding shift trends helps in marks vs percentile estimation
Smart preparation always outweighs shift difficulty
JEE Main January 2026 Shift-wise Question Paper with Solutions (Memory Based)
JEE Main January 2025 Shift-wise Question Paper with Solutions (Memory Based)
JEE Main April 2025 Shift-wise Question Paper with Solutions (Memory Based)
FAQs on Which JEE Main Shift Was Toughest? 2025 & 2026 Difficulty Level Explained
1. What is the overall difficulty level of JEE Mains 2025 and 2026?
The overall difficulty level of JEE Mains 2025 ranged from moderate to difficult, while JEE Main 2026 Session 1 has been moderate so far. In both years, Mathematics played a key role in deciding the toughest shifts.
2. Which was the toughest shift of JEE Mains 2026 Session 1?
Based on student feedback available till now, JEE Main 2026 January 22 Shift 2 is considered the toughest shift of Session 1 due to lengthy and time-consuming Mathematics questions.
3. Which was the toughest shift of JEE Mains 2025?
The toughest shift of JEE Mains 2025 was January 28 Shift 1, where candidates faced challenging Physics and lengthy Mathematics, making it the most difficult shift of the session.
4. Which was the easiest shift of JEE Mains 2025 and 2026?
JEE Mains 2025: January 29 Shift 1
JEE Main 2026 (till now): January 22 Shift 1
Both shifts were considered easier due to balanced papers and manageable Mathematics.
5. Does shift-wise difficulty affect JEE Mains percentile?
Yes. Shift-wise difficulty impacts raw scores, but percentile normalisation ensures fairness. In tougher shifts, lower marks can still result in higher percentiles compared to easier shifts.
6. Why does Mathematics decide the difficulty level of JEE Mains?
Mathematics often includes lengthy calculations and multi-step problems, making it the most time-consuming section. Shifts with heavy Mathematics generally feel tougher even if Physics and Chemistry are moderate.
7, Is JEE Main 2026 tougher than JEE Mains 2025?
JEE Main 2026 is not fundamentally tougher than 2025. However, some shifts feel more challenging due to question length and time pressure, especially in Mathematics.
8. Is there a fixed pattern for the toughest shift in JEE Mains?
No. There is no fixed pattern. Some years see early shifts as tougher, while in other years mid-session or later shifts are more difficult. Difficulty depends on subject balance and question design.
