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JEE Main 23 January 2026 – Shift 2 (Evening) Paper Analysis
The evening shift of 23 January 2026 was perceived as moderate to slightly difficult, particularly due to longer Mathematics questions and calculation-heavy Physics. This shift required better time management and calculation accuracy.
Physics
- Overall difficulty: Moderate to Slightly Difficult
- Topic distribution: Magnetism, EMI, Thermodynamics, Mechanics, Optics
Detailed analysis:
- Physics featured multi-step numericals, especially from Magnetism and EMI.
- Mechanics questions combined concepts, increasing calculation length.
- Optics questions required conceptual clarity but were standard.
- Compared to Shift 1, Physics was more time-consuming.
Chemistry
- Overall difficulty: Moderate
- Topic distribution: Organic Chemistry (dominant), Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry
Detailed analysis:
- Organic Chemistry was more concept-driven, testing reaction mechanisms and reasoning.
- Inorganic Chemistry questions were NCERT-based but required careful interpretation.
- Physical Chemistry numericals involved multiple steps and calculations.
- Chemistry remained scoring but required careful reading.
Mathematics
- Overall difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
- Topic distribution: Calculus, Coordinate Geometry, Vector–3D Geometry, Algebra
Detailed analysis:
- Calculus questions were lengthy and layered, especially from Integration.
- Coordinate Geometry involved multiple steps and was time-intensive.
- Vector and 3D Geometry required precision and clarity.
- Mathematics clearly became the rank-deciding section in this shift.
Overall Assessment – Shift 2
- More time-consuming than Shift 1
- Mathematics and Physics demanded speed with accuracy
- Chemistry was balanced but less straightforward
- Strong time management separated top performers
Expected Score vs Percentile (Shift 2 – 23 January 2026)
| Score Range | Expected Percentile |
|---|---|
| 285–300 marks | 99.9+ percentile |
| 240–260 marks | 99.4–99.7 percentile |
| 210–230 marks | 98.7–99.2 percentile |
| 170–190 marks | 96.8–97.8 percentile |
| 140–160 marks | 94.0–96.0 percentile |
| 110–130 marks | 91.0–93.5 percentile |
| 80–100 marks | 86.5–90.5 percentile |
Normalization – Shift 2 (23 January 2026)
- Percentiles are first calculated within Shift 2.
- These are aligned across all January and April shifts.
- AIR is based only on normalized percentile, ensuring fair ranking.
- Despite Shift 2 being relatively tougher, normalization ensures no disadvantage.
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