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JEE Main 2026 21 Jan Shift 1 Chemistry Exam Analysis: Check Difficulty level

The NTA conducted JEE Main 2026 21 Jan Shift 1 Chemistry paper was moderately difficult and lengthy, covering all three Chemistry branches. Here we offers key insights into difficulty, and question distribution, helping students refine strategies for upcoming JEE Main sessions.

 

authorImageNazish Fatima21 Jan, 2026
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JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 1 chemistry Paper Analysis

JEE Main 2026 21 Jan Shift 1 exam was held online. Understanding its structure is crucial for future aspirants. The Chemistry section was challenging and lengthy, encompassing Physical, Organic, and Inorganic Chemistry. This JEE Main 2026 21 Jan Shift 1 chemistry exam analysis provides a concise breakdown of difficulty and question patterns. It helps students optimize their study plans.

JEE Main 2026 Jan Shift 1 Chemistry Overall Difficulty

The Chemistry section in JEE Main 2026 21 Jan Shift 1 was of moderate to difficult difficulty. The paper was lengthy, emphasizing good time management. All syllabus parts were covered. One question notably featured seven options, making it tricky and time-consuming.

Section-wise Difficulty Analysis

Here is a breakdown of the difficulty levels across the Chemistry sections for the JEE Main 2026 21 Jan Shift 1 exam.

Section-wise Difficulty Analysis
Chemistry Section Difficulty Level Key Observations
Physical Chemistry Tough Required extensive calculations and precision
Inorganic Chemistry Easy to Moderate NCERT-focused, conceptually simple but lengthy
Organic Chemistry Moderate Reaction-based, tested mechanism understanding

Physical Chemistry Difficulty Level

As per the students feedback, the physical chemistry was the toughest of all and lengthy. It challenges the time management of students.

Inorganic Chemistry Difficulty Level 

Inorganic chemistry is assessed to be easy to moderate as it basically involves questions on the basic knowledge of the students. As per the students feedback, it is moderate to handle . 

Organic Chemistry Difficulty Level 

 Organic chemistry is moderate to handle as per the memory questions recalled by the students. 

Chapter-wise Distribution

The JEE Main 2026 21 Jan Shift 1 chemistry exam analysis outlines the distribution of questions across various topics.

Chapter-wise Distribution
Chapter / Topic Approximate Number of Questions
Salt Analysis 1
Qualitative Analys 1
Organic + Physical (Numerical) 1
Coordination Compounds More than 2
Chemical Bonding 1
Mole Concept 3–4

JEE Main 2026 21 Jan Shift 1 Chemistry Exam Analysis

Here are the key topics that are asked in the 

Chemistry paper of shift 1- 

● 1 Question from Thermal properties of fluids (Bernoulli’s Theorem )

● 2 Question from Optics(1-microscope, 1 - Power of lens related)

● 1 Question from semiconductor(Logic Gate)

● 2 Questions from unit and dimension( 1- Dimension , 1 - error)

● 1 Question from Current Electricity

● 1 Question from Calorimetry

● 1 Question from Rotational Motion (Moment of Inertia)

Key Observations and Preparation Tips

Key Observations and Preparation Tips are given below-

  • Coordination Compounds and the Mole Concept held significant weightage in the exam.
  • Physical Chemistry questions were time-consuming and calculation-oriented.
  •  Inorganic Chemistry was largely NCERT-based but often lengthy.
  • Organic Chemistry focused on understanding reaction mechanisms rather than rote memorisation.
  • Aspirants should diligently practice Previous Year Question Papers (PYQPs), master NCERT textbooks, and improve their accuracy in numerical problems for effective preparation.

 

JEE Main 2026 21 Jan Shift 1 Chemistry Exam Analysis FAQs

1. How was the JEE Main 2026 21 Jan Shift 1 Chemistry paper?

The Chemistry section of the JEE Main 2026 21 Jan Shift 1 exam was rated as moderate to difficult and was considered lengthy. It covered Physical, Organic, and Inorganic Chemistry comprehensively.

2. What was the overall difficulty of the Chemistry section?

The overall difficulty for the Chemistry section in JEE Main 2026 21 Jan Shift 1 was moderate to difficult. Effective time management and strong NCERT-based preparation were crucial for students.

3. Was the JEE Main 2026 Shift 1 Chemistry paper NCERT-based?

Yes, the Chemistry question paper for JEE Main 2026 Shift 1 was largely based on the NCERT syllabus, particularly for Inorganic Chemistry. Many questions directly reflected textbook concepts.

4. Which Chemistry section was most challenging?

Physical Chemistry was identified as the most challenging section due to its calculation-intensive numerical problems. Organic Chemistry was reaction-based, while Inorganic Chemistry was lengthy but conceptually straightforward.
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