Check JEE Main 2026 Session 1 answer key with shift-wise solutions, marking scheme, score calculation method, exam analysis, and steps to challenge the answer key.
Table of Contents
- JEE Main 2026 Exam overview
- JEE Mains 2026 Session 1 Answer Key – Shift-Wise Solutions
- Why Shift-Wise Answer Keys Matter?
- Unofficial JEE Main 2026 answer keys
- How to Check JEE Mains 2026 Session 1 Answer Key Online?
- How to Calculate Score Using JEE Main Answer Key?
- JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Shift 1 Exam Analysis
- How to challenge the answer key when released?
- Common Mistakes Students Make While Checking the Answer Key
- Conclusion
JEE Main 2026 session 1 Answer Key release is an important event for the aspirants. The answer key allows them to evaluate their performance in the exam before the final result. However, it is not enough to simply check the correct and incorrect answers; you must also understand the marking scheme to accurately calculate the expected scores.
Many students make calculation mistakes while estimating their expected scores. By carefully analyzing the answer key, you can predict your scores and analyze your chances for JEE Advanced eligibility. You can also plan for your counseling.
In this article, we will learn more details about the JEE Mains 2026 session 1 answer key, shift-wise exam overview, calculation method, and more.
JEE Main 2026 Exam overview
JEE Main 2026 session 1 is conducted by NTA. It was a computer-based test. Lakhs of aspirants appeared in the exam from India and abroad.
|
Exam Component |
Details |
|
Exam Mode |
Online (Computer-Based Test) |
|
Papers Conducted |
Paper 1: B.E./B.Tech Paper 2A: B.Arch Paper 2B: B.Planning |
|
Subjects (Paper 1) |
Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
|
Total Questions |
90 questions (75 questions to be attempted) |
|
Total Marks |
300 Marks |
|
Question Types |
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) Numerical Value-Based Questions |
|
Marking Scheme |
+4 marks for each correct answer -1 mark for each incorrect MCQ. No negative marking for numerical questions |
|
Overall Difficulty Level |
Moderate to Slightly Difficult (varied by shift) |
JEE Mains 2026 Session 1 Answer Key – Shift-Wise Solutions
The shift-wise JEE Main 2026 answer key ensures transparency because different shifts have different question papers. Each shift has a different set of correct answers, and candidates must check their JEE Main 2026 answer key depending on their shifts and exam date.
It helps the aspirants to avoid confusion while checking the answer Key and ensure accurate calculations. The difficulty level of JEE Main 2026 differs from one shift to another. The shift-wise answer keys help in fair score normalization. You must refer to the correct shift answer key to analyze your actual performance and estimate expected marks. It will help you to make informed decisions about your counselling or session 2 attempt.
Why Shift-Wise Answer Keys Matter?
The JEE shift-wise answer Key is important because:
- Questions in JEE Main vary across shifts.
- The difficulty level also differs in shifts.
- The normalization of the score is based on shift performance.
- It prevents confusion while matching the answers.
Unofficial JEE Main 2026 answer keys
Before NTA releases JEE Main 2026 answer keys for session 1, many coaching institutes publish their unofficial answer keys. These answer keys are published within a few hours after the exam. Mainly, the subject experts prepare these unofficial JEE Main 2026 session 1 answer keys. You can find the shift-wise unofficial answer keys. They help you to estimate scores early.
However, these unofficial answer keys may have minor errors and are not legally binding. You cannot use these keys for raising objections.
How to Check JEE Mains 2026 Session 1 Answer Key Online?
You can easily check the JEE Main 2026 session 1 answer key online after NTA releases it. Here are the steps to follow:
- Go to the official JEE Main 2026 portal.
- Log in using the application number and password. You can also use the date of birth instead of the password.
- Download the PDF for the answer key and your response sheet.
- You can now match your responses with the official answer key.
- Save the copies for future use.
How to Calculate Score Using JEE Main Answer Key?
To calculate the JEE Main 2026 scores using the answer key, you need to follow the method below:
JEE Main 2026 Marking Scheme (Paper 1)
|
Question Type |
Correct Answer |
Incorrect Answer |
Unattempted |
|
MCQs |
+4 |
-1 |
0 |
|
Numerical Questions |
+4 |
0 |
0 |
Score Calculation Formula
Use the formula for the score calculator:
Estimated score = (correct answer x 4) - (Incorrect MCQs x 1)
For example:
- Correct MCQs = 45
- Incorrect MCQs = 10
- Correct Numerical Questions = 15
Your score calculation will be as follows:
Score = (45x4) + (15x4) - (10x1)
Score = 230 marks
JEE Main 2026 Session 1 Shift 1 Exam Analysis
JEE Main 2026 session 1 shift 1 paper analysis is mentioned below:
|
Subject |
Difficulty Level |
Key Topics / Observations |
|
Physics |
Moderate |
Questions were concept-based and formula-driven. Major topics included Current Electricity, Modern Physics, and Laws of Motion. Numerical questions were slightly lengthy but solvable with proper conceptual clarity. |
|
Chemistry |
Easy to Moderate |
NCERT-based questions dominated the paper. Inorganic Chemistry had higher weightage, while Organic Chemistry questions were mostly reaction-based and straightforward. |
|
Mathematics |
Moderate to Difficult |
The section involved lengthy calculations and required strong problem-solving skills. Key topics included Coordinate Geometry, Matrices and Determinants, and Calculus. Time management was a major challenge. |
|
Overall |
Moderate |
The paper was time-consuming, especially due to Mathematics. Accuracy played a crucial role in achieving a good score, and balanced preparation across all subjects was essential. |
How to challenge the answer key when released?
Candidates get the opportunity to challenge the provisional answer keys if they find any incorrect answers. Here are the steps to follow:
- Log in to the JEE Main official portal using your application number and password.
- Press “Challenge answer key”.
- Choose the question you want to challenge.
- Upload the supporting documents to prove your claim.
- Pay the fees for the JEE Main 2026 answer key challenge.
- Submit the challenge.
Common Mistakes Students Make While Checking the Answer Key
Here are some common mistakes that students make while checking the JE Main 2026 answer key:
- Ignoring Negative Marking
Many aspirants only count the correct answer and fail to consider wrong answers when calculating expected scores. It leads to incorrect calculations.
- Using the wrong shift answer key
Some candidates mistakenly match their scores with incorrect shift answer keys. It results in wrong matching and completely wrong calculations.
- Forgetting that there is no negative marking in numerical questions
Many students forget that negative marking does not imply numerical questions and calculators incorrectly. It leads to unnecessary reduction in suspected sores.
- Relying only on the unofficial answer key
You can easily get unofficial answer keys immediately after the exam. It can contain mistakes, so you must not rely on it for calculating scores.
- Panicking over expected scores
Many students panic when they see their raw scores. They ignore normalization and percentile calculation.
Conclusion
JEE Main 2026 session 1 Answer Key helps you to analyze your performance and calculate expected scores. However, you must know the marking scheme to calculate your scores correctly. Also, make sure to check the sift-wise solutions and avoid common mistakes.
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