JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 Shift 2 Paper Analysis: Difficulty, Weightage & Student Reactions
JEE Mains & Advanced
The JEE Main 2026 January 28 Shift 2 exam was conducted by NTA in the afternoon session. Based on student feedback and observed exam trends, the paper followed the standard JEE Main pattern with a balanced mix of conceptual understanding and calculation-based questions.
This detailed analysis includes:
- Overall paper difficulty
- Subject-wise review
- Chapter-wise weightage trends
- Toughness level
- Student reactions
- Performance outlook
Overall Difficulty Level – Jan 28 Shift 2
|
Parameter |
Level |
|
Overall Difficulty |
Moderate to Moderately Tough |
|
Paper Length |
Moderate to Lengthy |
|
Conceptual Level |
Moderate |
|
Calculation Intensity |
High (especially Mathematics) |
|
Time Management |
Challenging |
📌 Most students reported that time pressure, especially in Mathematics, played a major role in determining the number of attempts.
Subject-wise Paper Analysis – Jan 28 Shift 2
Physics Analysis
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Physics was concept-oriented with a balanced mix of theory and numerical questions. The section followed the predictable JEE Main pattern.
Important Topics Asked:
- Electrostatics
- Current Electricity
- Magnetic Effects of Current
- Ray Optics
- Modern Physics
Student Reaction:
Physics was balanced and manageable with clear fundamentals.
Chemistry Analysis
Difficulty Level: Easy to Moderate
Chemistry was largely NCERT-based, making it a scoring section for well-prepared students.
Important Topics Asked:
- Coordination Compounds
- Biomolecules
- Chemical Kinetics
- Thermodynamics
- Organic Reaction Mechanism
Student Reaction:
Chemistry was direct and mostly theory-based from NCERT.
Mathematics Analysis
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Tough
Mathematics was the most time-consuming section of this shift. Questions were lengthy, calculation-heavy, and required multi-step problem solving.
Important Topics Asked:
- Vector & 3D Geometry
- Matrices and Determinants
- Integration
- Differential Calculus
- Conic Sections
Student Reaction:
Maths was lengthy and required strong speed, accuracy, and time management.
Chapter-wise Weightage Trend (Observed)
Physics
- Electrostatics & Magnetism
- Optics
- Modern Physics
Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry (NCERT)
- Physical Chemistry numericals
- Organic Chemistry reactions
Mathematics
- Calculus
- Vector & 3D Geometry
- Algebra
- Coordinate Geometry
Good Attempts & Expected Performance – Jan 28 Shift 2
|
Parameter |
Expected Range |
|
Good Attempts |
42–48 |
|
High Accuracy Attempts |
Critical for 99%ile |
|
Time Pressure Sections |
Mathematics |
Expected Marks vs Percentile (Indicative)
|
Marks |
Expected Percentile |
|
180–200+ |
99+ |
|
150–170 |
97–98 |
|
120–140 |
93–95 |
|
100–120 |
90–92 |
👉 Students can estimate their percentile using a detailed JEE Mains Marks vs Percentile analysis.
Student Reactions – Jan 28 Shift 2
What Students Liked 👍
- Familiar JEE Main pattern
- Physics and Chemistry were manageable
- No out-of-syllabus questions
What Students Found Difficult 👎
- Lengthy Mathematics
- High calculation load
- Time pressure
Overall Student Opinion:
“The paper was balanced, but Mathematics decided the final rank outcome.”
Comparison with Other Shifts
|
Date & Shift |
Difficulty |
|
Jan 28 Shift 1 |
Moderate |
|
Jan 28 Shift 2 |
Moderate to Moderately Tough |
|
Jan 24 Shift 2 |
Moderate to Moderately Tough |
|
Jan 22 Shift 2 |
Tough |
📌 Jan 28 Shift 2 was considered slightly tougher than Shift 1, mainly due to lengthy Mathematics questions.
What Students Should Learn from Jan 28 Shift 2
- Speed and accuracy are crucial in Mathematics
- NCERT remains essential for Chemistry
- Conceptual clarity is key in Physics
- Regular timed mock tests improve performance
For students preparing for upcoming attempts or JEE Advanced, joining a focused JEE Crash Course can help strengthen concepts and improve performance in a short time.
Final Verdict – JEE Main 2026 Jan 28 Shift 2
The JEE Main 2026 January 28 Shift 2 paper followed the standard NTA pattern with:
- Moderate Physics
- NCERT-based and scoring Chemistry
- Lengthy and decisive Mathematics
Students with strong fundamentals and good time management skills were able to perform well.
FAQs –
Q1. What was the difficulty level of Jan 28 Shift 2?
The overall difficulty level was moderate to moderately tough.
Q2. Which section was the toughest in this shift?
Mathematics was the most time-consuming section.
Q3. Was Chemistry NCERT-based?
Yes, Chemistry questions were largely based on NCERT content.
Q4. Was Jan 28 Shift 2 tougher than Shift 1?
Yes, it was slightly tougher due to lengthy Mathematics questions.
Q5. How can I predict my percentile from marks?
You can use the JEE Mains Marks vs Percentile guide to estimate your percentile.