Attempting JEE Main is an emotional rollercoaster for students, and the Jan 23rd Evening Shift (Shift 2) has certainly left many students talking. However if you felt this year exam was tough, you are not alone. According to experts at JEE@Aakash, this particular shift was relatively difficult, which significantly impacts the marks required to hit those top percentile brackets.
In this post, Lets’s see how the level of difficulty influenced the expected scores and what marks you need to secure your dream percentile.
Shift Difficulty Breakdown
The evening shift on January 23rd stood out due to its technical complexity. Unlike some of the more balanced papers, this shift pushed students to their limits in two key areas:
- Physics: This part of the test was noticed as quite challenging, moving from traditional formula-based questions to more conceptual challenges.
- Maths: As is often the case with JEE, Maths was both lengthy and difficult, requiring high speed and precision.
Because of this overall higher difficulty level, the “marks vs percentile” ratio has shifted, meaning you can achieve a high percentile even with a slightly lower score compared to easier shifts.
Expected Marks vs Percentile (Jan 23rd – Shift 2)
Based on the performance data and the difficulty of the paper, here are the projected marks required for various percentile levels:
| Percentile Target | Required Marks (Expected) |
| 99.9 Percentile | 215 – 218 Marks |
| 99 Percentile | 153 – 155 Marks |
| 95 Percentile | 95 – 98 Marks |
Expected Cutoff
- Estimated Cutoff Marks: Around 86
- Indicates the minimum qualifying score for the next stage
- The cutoff is likely lower because of the challenging Mathematics section
Key Takeaways for Aspirants
- Lower Score, Higher Percentile: Since the question paper is hard, it’s natural to not be too pleased with the raw score. Even in this tough shift in the question pattern, it is possible to attain a score as high as 99 percentile on scoring as few as 153 to 155 marks.
- Accuracy over Quantity: Your greatest strength is your accuracy when Physics and Maths are hard/long subjects.
Final Thoughts
The January 23rd Evening Shift was a test of endurance. Physics was challenging, while Maths was a long question paper, however, as we see from this data, those that were able to cope with this challenge were rewarded quite handsomely in terms of percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Why were the marks vs percentile so “shocking” for this shift?
The results are surprising because the difficulty of the Physics and Maths sections brought down the average score far. So, you don’t need an enormous score to get a top-tier percentile. You see, you will only need 215 to 218 marks to reach the 99.9 percentile.
- How was the Physics section compared to other shifts?
Going by the reports, the Physics section was pretty tough in the Jan 23rd Evening Shift, while in other sessions, it is usually more accessible.
- What do I do if my score is around 95 marks?
If your score is between 95 and 98 marks, you are currently on track to achieve a 95 percentile for this specific shift. This is a strong position that generally qualifies you for JEE Advanced.
- Was the Mathematics section manageable?
Most students found it very challenging. The source confirms that the Maths section was both quite lengthy and difficult, which is why the marks needed for a high percentile have dropped.
