JEE Main 2026 January 23 Shift 2 Paper Analysis: Difficulty Level, Student Reactions & Good Attempts

The NTA has successfully concluded the JEE Main 2026 Jan 23 Shift 2 from 3:00 PM-6:00 PM. The exam followed a similar pattern to shift 1.

As per the initial feedback from the candidates, experts from Vedantu, Shift 2 was moderate, Physics was relatively tough; Maths was time-consuming/lengthy and Chemistry was NCERT-focused and balanced.

Some early experts suggest that Shift 2 was slightly easier or similar to Shift 1 in length/calculation intensity.

The Paper Analysis will cover the overall difficulty, subject-wise trends, topic-weightage, good attempts, and cutoff to help candidates check the performance and prepare for the next shifts.

Also Read:

Also Check:

JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 1 Paper Analysis	JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 2 Paper Analysis
JEE Main 2026 January 22 Shift 1 Paper Analysis	JEE Main 2026 January 22 Shift 2 Paper Analysis

JEE Main 2026 January 23 Overall Difficulty Level

Many candidates have shared their views on Reddit on the paper as overall moderate to tough/lengthy, with mixed sentiments on sections.

Some students report frustration with time management and calculations. One user mentioned low expected scores compared to mocks ("Sbb quizzr test m 180-190 aata tha ayjr m 99+ percentile. Aur main exam m cutoff bhi clear nhi hoga").

“Chemistry was doable, Physics ekdum tricky tha plus lengthy tough to moderate and maths was easy, but time physics mein lag gya.” – Reddit User

Other related Reddit Users are comparing Shift 2 to previous days, calling it among the hardest ones so far.

Aspect	Details	Sources/Notes (Students & Experts)
Overall Difficulty	Moderate to Tough / Moderate-Tough & Lengthy	Reddit threads: Lengthy calculations, time management key; Shiksha/PW: Moderate overall, slightly easier than some morning shifts in parts
Good Attempts (Expected)	50–65+ questions (out of 90) for high percentile range	Student estimates on Reddit; depends on accuracy & normalization
Expected Raw Score for 99+ %ile	~180–220+ (rough, normalization-dependent)	Early Reddit discussions & expert trends
Paper Nature	Balanced syllabus, NCERT-heavy (esp. Chem), conceptual + numerical mix, no major surprises	Consistent across coaching & student feedback
Time Management	Critical – lengthy in Physics/Math sections	Common complaint in Reddit live thread
Student Sentiment	Mixed: Frustration with Physics, relief in Chem/Math for some	r/JEENEETards Shift 2 thread: "Physics killed me", "Chem easy", "Maths doable"

Check: JEE Main 2026 January 21st shift 2 question paper with solution

Student Reactions & Feedback on JEE Main 2026 January 23 Shift 2

The JEE Main 2026 analysis differs as per the different subjects of Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics.

JEE Main 2026: 23 January Shift 2 Physics Analysis

Aspect	Details	Sources/Notes (Students & Experts)
Difficulty Level	Moderate-Tough	Reddit (r/JEENEETards Shift 2 thread): "Physics tricky/tough", "Physics killed me"; Shiksha/PW trends: Tough, numerical-heavy
Nature of Questions	Calculation-intensive, lengthy, conceptual depth (some JEE Advanced-like), formula-based but time-consuming numericals	Student reactions: High calculation load, conceptual surprises; Experts: Emphasized application & problem-solving
Important Topics	Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Modern Physics (de Broglie, Lyman series), Ray Optics, Semiconductors, Logic Gates, Kinematics, Magnetism, Waves/Sound, Error Analysis	Memory-based from Reddit & coaching previews: Modern Physics & Electrostatics dominant; fewer easy direct questions
Time Taken (Student View)	45–60+ minutes (often exceeded due to length)	Common complaint: "Physics took forever"
Student/Expert Sentiment	Toughest section overall; score-dropper for many; strong conceptual prep helped some	Reddit: Frustration high; Shiksha: "Physics was tough"; Expected to pull down raw scores in normalization

JEE Main 2026: 23 January Shift 2 Chemistry Analysis

Aspect	Details	Sources/Notes (Students & Experts)
Difficulty Level	Moderate	Reddit: "Chem easy/moderate"; Shiksha/PW/Vedantu: Moderate, balanced & approachable
Nature of Questions	NCERT-focused, statement-based/theory heavy, mix of mechanisms (Organic) & calculations (Physical); scoring if revised well	Experts: NCERT-driven, many statement questions; Students: Manageable relative to Physics
Important Topics	Coordination Compounds, Chemical Bonding, Inorganic (higher weightage), Organic mechanisms/reactions (4–6 Qs), Physical Chemistry numericals, Quantitative Analysis, Statement-based (5–7)	Memory-based: Inorganic & Physical dominant; Organic not overwhelming
Time Taken (Student View)	30–45 minutes (relatively quicker)	Seen as the most time-efficient section
Student/Expert Sentiment	Most approachable/easiest relative to other sections; relief for many; good scoring potential	Reddit: "Chem easy"; Coaching: NCERT mastery key; Often called the saving section

JEE Main 2026: 23 January Shift 2 Mathematics Analysis

Aspect	Details	Sources/Notes (Students & Experts)
Difficulty Level	Easy to Moderate (surprisingly easy/doable for some) / Lengthy	Reddit: "Maths surprisingly EASY" or "lengthy but manageable"; Mixed but better than Physics
Nature of Questions	Calculation-intensive, multi-step in parts; conceptual moderate but execution demanding; time management critical	Students: Doable with speed; Experts: Lengthy calculations in coordinate/algebra
Important Topics	Vectors & 3D Geometry, Conic Sections, Calculus (Limits, Continuity, Differentiation), Straight Lines, Matrices/Determinants, Binomial Theorem, Sets & Relations, Sequence & Series	Memory-based: Coordinate Geometry & Calculus heavy; Vectors/3D prominent
Time Taken (Student View)	60–90 minutes (lengthy, often rushed at end)	Common: "Maths lengthy" but not as killer as Physics
Student/Expert Sentiment	Relatively easier compared to other shifts/sections; good attempts possible; determines high percentile if accurate	Reddit: "Maths doable"; Coaching: Speed & accuracy key; Seen as balanced in this shift

Check: Predict your college chances as per your JEE Main 2026 Marks

Expected Good Attempts, Marks & Cutoff After January 23 Analysis

Early estimates based on Day 3 feedback and normalisation trends:

Good Attempts: 52-55 questions (with high accuracy) for 200 marks.
Marks vs Percentile (Expected for 99+): 170-180+ marks
Qualifying Cutoff (General Category): Likely 93-95 percentile (may rise slightly if papers remain moderate across the session).
Category-Wise Expected Percentile:
- OBC-NCL/EWS: 80-82
- SC: 60-62
- ST: 47-50 These are preliminary projections - final cutoffs depend on overall session performance, number of candidates (~15+ lakh expected), and NTA normalisation.

Key Takeaways & Preparation Tips for Remaining JEE Main 2026 January Shifts

Master the NCERT thoroughly for easy Chemistry scoring.
Practice timed mocks to boost Math speed and accuracy.
Revise high-weightage Physics topics, such as mechanics and modern physics.
Do a thorough revision across all topics.
Solve more calculus problems, focusing on increasing speed along with accuracy.
Use memory-based questions from the first 3 days to spot patterns and change strategy.
Focus on accuracy to counter normalisation effects.

This JEE Main 2026 January 23 shift-wise analysis indicates a moderate and balanced paper, offering strong scoring potential for prepared candidates. Stay updated with daily analyses for shifts ahead - best of luck to all JEE aspirants!

JEE Main 2026 January 23 Shift 2 Paper Analysis: Difficulty Level, Student Reactions & Good Attempts

JEE Main 2026 January 23 Overall Difficulty Level

Student Reactions & Feedback on JEE Main 2026 January 23 Shift 2

JEE Main 2026: 23 January Shift 2 Physics Analysis

JEE Main 2026: 23 January Shift 2 Chemistry Analysis

JEE Main 2026: 23 January Shift 2 Mathematics Analysis

Expected Good Attempts, Marks & Cutoff After January 23 Analysis

Key Takeaways & Preparation Tips for Remaining JEE Main 2026 January Shifts

JEE Main Questions

1.
When 300 J of heat is given to an ideal gas with \( C_p = \frac{7}{2}R \), its temperature rises from 20°C to 50°C keeping its volume constant. The mass of the gas is (approximately) ______ g. (R = 8.314 J/mol K)

2.
An unpolarised light is incident at an interface of two dielectric media having refractive indices of $2$ (incident medium) and $2\sqrt{3}$ (refracted medium) respectively. To satisfy the condition that reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other, the angle of incidence is ___.

3.
Refer to the circuit diagram given below. The heat generated across the $6\ \Omega$ resistance in 100 second is $\frac{\alpha}{100}\ J$. The value of $\alpha$ is ________. (Nearest integer)

6.
Two players A and B play a series of games of badminton. The player who wins 5 games first, wins the series. Assuming that no game ends in a draw, the number of ways in which player A wins the series is _________.

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JEE Main 2026 January 23 Overall Difficulty Level

Student Reactions & Feedback on JEE Main 2026 January 23 Shift 2

JEE Main 2026: 23 January Shift 2 Physics Analysis

JEE Main 2026: 23 January Shift 2 Chemistry Analysis

JEE Main 2026: 23 January Shift 2 Mathematics Analysis

Expected Good Attempts, Marks & Cutoff After January 23 Analysis

Key Takeaways & Preparation Tips for Remaining JEE Main 2026 January Shifts

JEE Main Questions

1. When 300 J of heat is given to an ideal gas with \( C_p = \frac{7}{2}R \), its temperature rises from 20°C to 50°C keeping its volume constant. The mass of the gas is (approximately) ______ g. (R = 8.314 J/mol K)

2.An unpolarised light is incident at an interface of two dielectric media having refractive indices of $2$ (incident medium) and $2\sqrt{3}$ (refracted medium) respectively. To satisfy the condition that reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other, the angle of incidence is ___.

3.Refer to the circuit diagram given below. The heat generated across the $6\ \Omega$ resistance in 100 second is $\frac{\alpha}{100}\ J$. The value of $\alpha$ is ________. (Nearest integer)

6.Two players A and B play a series of games of badminton. The player who wins 5 games first, wins the series. Assuming that no game ends in a draw, the number of ways in which player A wins the series is _________.

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1.
When 300 J of heat is given to an ideal gas with \( C_p = \frac{7}{2}R \), its temperature rises from 20°C to 50°C keeping its volume constant. The mass of the gas is (approximately) ______ g. (R = 8.314 J/mol K)

2.
An unpolarised light is incident at an interface of two dielectric media having refractive indices of $2$ (incident medium) and $2\sqrt{3}$ (refracted medium) respectively. To satisfy the condition that reflected and refracted rays are perpendicular to each other, the angle of incidence is ___.

3.
Refer to the circuit diagram given below. The heat generated across the $6\ \Omega$ resistance in 100 second is $\frac{\alpha}{100}\ J$. The value of $\alpha$ is ________. (Nearest integer)

6.
Two players A and B play a series of games of badminton. The player who wins 5 games first, wins the series. Assuming that no game ends in a draw, the number of ways in which player A wins the series is _________.