JEE Main 2026 January 23 Shift 2 Paper Analysis – Difficulty, Weightage & Student Reactions
JEE Main 2026 Jan 23 Shift 2 Analysis: Overall paper was moderate to moderately tough with Physics being concept-based and manageable, Chemistry largely NCERT-oriented and scoring, while Mathematics was lengthy, calculation-intensive, and the most challenging section; success depended heavily on time management, speed, accuracy, and strong conceptual understanding.
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The JEE Main 2026 January 23 Shift 2 exam was conducted in the afternoon session by NTA. Based on student feedback collected after the exam and observed paper trends, this shift followed the standard JEE Main pattern with a balanced mix of conceptual and calculative questions.
This analysis highlights:
- Overall paper level
- Subject-wise difficulty
- Important chapter focus
- Student reactions
- Expected performance trends
Overall Difficulty Level – Jan 23 Shift 2
|
Parameter |
Level |
|
Overall Difficulty |
Moderate to Moderately Tough |
|
Paper Length |
Lengthy |
|
Conceptual Level |
Moderate |
|
Calculation Intensity |
High (especially Maths) |
|
Time Management |
Challenging |
📌 Most students reported that time management played a crucial role, particularly due to lengthy Mathematics questions.
Subject-wise Paper Analysis
Physics – Jan 23 Shift 2
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Physics was concept-based with a mix of numerical and theory questions. Students with strong fundamentals found it manageable.
Important Topics Asked:
- Electrostatics
- Current Electricity
- Magnetic Effects of Current
- Ray Optics
- Modern Physics
Student Reaction:
Physics was balanced and not very tricky, but required clarity of concepts.
Chemistry – Jan 23 Shift 2
Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
Chemistry was largely NCERT-oriented, with direct questions from theory and factual concepts.
Important Topics Asked:
- Coordination Compounds
- Biomolecules
- Chemical Kinetics
- Thermodynamics
- Organic Reaction Mechanism
Student Reaction:
Chemistry was scoring for students who had revised NCERT properly.
Mathematics – Jan 23 Shift 2
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Tough
Mathematics emerged as the most time-consuming section. Questions were lengthy and required multiple steps.
Important Topics Asked:
- Vector & 3D Geometry
- Matrices and Determinants
- Integration
- Differential Equations
- Sequences & Series
Student Reaction:
Maths was lengthy and calculation-heavy, making it difficult to attempt all questions.
Chapter-wise Weightage Trend (Observed)
Physics
- Electrostatics & Magnetism
- Optics
- Modern Physics
Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry (NCERT-based)
- Physical Chemistry numericals
- Organic reaction concepts
Mathematics
- Calculus
- Vector & 3D
- Algebra
- Coordinate Geometry
Good Attempts & Expected Score Trend
|
Parameter |
Expected Range |
|
Good Attempts |
42–48 |
|
High Accuracy Attempts |
Important for 99%ile |
|
Time Pressure Sections |
Maths, Chemistry |
Expected Marks vs Percentile (Indicative)
|
Marks |
Percentile |
|
180–200+ |
99+ |
|
150–170 |
97–98 |
|
120–140 |
93–95 |
|
100–120 |
90–92 |
👉 To understand how marks convert into percentile, refer to the JEE Mains Marks vs Percentile analysis.
Student Reactions – Jan 23 Shift 2
What Students Liked 👍
- Familiar paper pattern
- Physics and Chemistry were manageable
- No out-of-syllabus questions
What Students Found Difficult 👎
- Lengthy Mathematics
- Time pressure
- Multi-step calculations
Overall Feedback:
“Paper was balanced, but Maths decided the final attempt count.”
Comparison with Other Shifts
|
Date & Shift |
Difficulty |
|
Jan 22 Shift 2 |
Tough |
|
Jan 23 Shift 1 |
Moderate |
|
Jan 23 Shift 2 |
Moderate to Moderately Tough |
📌 Jan 23 Shift 2 was slightly tougher than Shift 1, mainly due to Mathematics length.
What Students Should Learn from Jan 23 Shift 2
- Speed and accuracy in Maths are crucial
- NCERT remains the key for Chemistry
- Concept clarity matters more than tricks
- Time-based mock practice is essential
For students preparing for upcoming sessions or JEE Advanced, enrolling in a focused JEE Crash Course can help improve performance in a short time.
Final Verdict – Jan 23 Shift 2
The JEE Main 2026 Jan 23 Shift 2 paper followed the expected NTA pattern with:
- Moderate Physics
- NCERT-based Chemistry
- Lengthy and decisive Mathematics
Students with strong fundamentals and good time management were able to attempt a higher number of questions confidently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions.
Which section was the most difficult in Jan 23 Shift 2?
Mathematics was the most difficult and time-consuming section. While individual questions were not conceptually extreme, the length of calculation required for each problem made it hard to attempt all 30 questions within the allotted time.
Was Chemistry in Jan 23 Shift 2 fully NCERT-based?
Yes, the majority of Chemistry questions — especially in Inorganic and Organic Chemistry — were directly from NCERT concepts, reactions, and factual content. Physical Chemistry had formula-based numericals, but even those followed standard Class 12 NCERT patterns.
How many attempts are considered good in Jan 23 Shift 2?
A total of 42–48 attempts with high accuracy is considered competitive for this shift. Given that Maths was lengthy, students who attempted 18–20 Maths questions accurately, along with 25+ in Physics and Chemistry combined, were well-positioned for 97+ percentile.
Is Jan 23 Shift 2 harder than Shift 1 of the same day?
Yes, Jan 23 Shift 2 was slightly harder than Shift 1, primarily because of the Mathematics section. Shift 1 was reported as more balanced across all three subjects. However, NTA's percentile normalisation accounts for difficulty variation between shifts.
What topics should I prioritise based on Jan 23 Shift 2 trends?
Based on this shift, prioritise: Electrostatics, Ray Optics, Modern Physics (Physics); Coordination Compounds, Chemical Kinetics, Organic Mechanisms (Chemistry); Integration, Vectors & 3D, Differential Equations (Mathematics). These chapters together account for a significant portion of marks across multiple shifts.