Will JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 Shift 1 be Moderate or Tough? Past patterns and expert forecast

With many shifts of the JEE Main 2026 January session already completed, many students appearing on January 28 Shift 1 are anxious about the expected difficulty level. Based on the exam trend seen so far in 2026, along with historical data from JEE Main 2024 and 2025, experts currently predict that the JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 Shift 1 paper is likely to fall in the Moderate to Tough range.

This prediction for JEE Main 2026 January 28 is not random. Over the years, a clear pattern has been observed in exams conducted by the NTA JEE Mains authority. The mid-to-late shifts of the January session usually show a noticeable increase in difficulty, which is done mainly to balance the overall percentile distribution. Because of this trend, later exam dates such as January 28 and January 29 are usually tougher compared to the first two or three days.

A good example of this pattern can be seen in JEE Main 2025, where the January 28 Shift 1 paper was widely considered the toughest shift of the entire session. Both students and experts agreed that the Maths section was lengthy and time-consuming, while Chemistry and Physics were designed to test depth rather than speed. Since NTA often repeats similar difficulty clusters, CollegeDekho experts believe the JEE Main 2026 28 Jan Shift 1 exam could follow a similar pattern.
Check:

JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 Shift 1 Subject-Wise Forecast

Based on the JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 Shift 1 paper analysis forecast, here is how each subject is expected to behave.

Read: JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 Shift 1 vs Shift 2: Which was tougher and why?

JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 Shift 1: What should you do now?

• For Mathematics, work on solving questions faster and with fewer mistakes. Try doing 25-30 calculation-based questions every day and aim to spend about 1 to 1.5 minutes on each. This helps reduce stress during the exam.
• For Physics, focus on understanding concepts instead of just cramming formulas. Give 2-3 mock tests every week with mixed topics, especially Mechanics and Electrodynamics together, so you get better at applying concepts.
• For Chemistry, follow NCERT strictly. Revise Inorganic reactions, Organic mechanisms, and all the examples given in the book properly. Don’t overthink this section as most questions are straightforward.
• Also, revise previous year questions from January 21-23, 2026. NTA often repeats similar question patterns or logic within the same session.

Since January 28 Shift 1 has a history of being tougher, the raw marks required for a good percentile may actually be lower compared to easier shifts like January 21 & 23. If the paper feels difficult, do not panic. A tough paper is difficult for everyone equally.

In such shifts, accuracy matters more than the number of attempts. You should focus on securing marks in Physics and Chemistry first, and attempt lengthy Maths questions only if there is time.