The exam included conceptual knowledge, calculation skills, and time management ability of students. Mathematics and Physics involved close problem-solving, and Chemistry was found to be a relatively higher-scoring subject, with a significant number of questions based on NCERT concepts.
This JEE Mains Session 1 January 21 Shift 2 Exam Analysis will cover:
- JEE Mains January 21 Shift 2 Difficulty Level
- Subject-wise review
- Student reactions
- Good attempts & expected score for top percentiles
JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 2 Analysis: Overview
According to the student responses recorded outside test halls in India in the afternoon of January 21, 2016, the general JEE Main January 21 Shift 2 difficulty level of the paper was described as moderate.
Key Takeaways of JEE Main Session 1 January 21 Shift 2 Exam Analysis:
- The hardest and the longest part was mathematics, which demanded proper calculations and time management.
- Physics was of a moderate level, including a mix of conceptual and calculation-based questions.
- Chemistry was easy to moderate, largely NCERT-driven, and relatively time-saving for many students.
- The paper was not much different from those used in the past years of JEE Main, and it did not have any significant surprises.
- Time management was also a significant factor, particularly the lengthiness and complication of the Mathematics section.
JEE Main 2026 Shift 2 Paper Analysis: Subject-Wise Difficulty Level
Each subject in JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 2 had a different level of difficulty. Below is a detailed breakdown of JEE Main January 21 Shift 2 Subject-Wise Analysis:
| Subject | Difficulty Level | Key Topics Covered |
| Mathematics | Moderate to Slightly Challenging | Algebra, Calculus, Coordinate Geometry, Vectors & 3D Geometry |
| Physics | Moderate | Optics, Modern Physics, Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Thermodynamics |
| Chemistry | Easy to Moderate | Physical & Inorganic (NCERT), Organic (Direct) |
| Overall | Moderate | Balanced mix |
JEE Main Mathematics Paper Analysis 2026 for Jan 21 Session 1 Shift 2
As reported by students who took part in Shift 2 of the JEE Main 2026 exam, Mathematics was a long and time-consuming section, and they had to be good at calculations and selecting the questions to handle time efficiently.
Key Topics Covered in JEE Main Mathematics January 21 Shift 2:
Calculus – Differential and Integral Calculus
Algebra – Quadratic Equations, Sequences & Series
Vectors & 3D Geometry – High weightage
Coordinate Geometry – Limited but time-intensive
Probability – Moderate level
Student Feedback on JEE Main 2026 Mathematics Difficulty Level: “Maths was lengthy and calculation-heavy. Choosing the right questions was crucial to managing time.”
JEE Main 2026 Physics Analysis for Jan 21 Session 1 Shift 2
According to students, the JEE Main Physics paper review 2026 was moderate with both conceptual and numerical questions. Some questions were easy, whereas others could only be answered by having conceptual knowledge without any formulas.
Key Topics Covered in JEE Main Physics January 21 Shift 2:
- Modern Physics – Photoelectric effect, Semiconductors
- Mechanics – Laws of Motion, Work & Energy
- Electrostatics & Current Electricity
- Optics – Ray Optics
- Thermodynamics
Student Response to the JEE Main 2026 Physics Difficulty Level: “Physics was largely conceptual; it was more of knowing the basics than it was of memorisation.”
JEE Main 2026 Chemistry Analysis for Jan 21 Session 1 Shift 2
The JEE Main Chemistry January 21 Shift 2 was considered the most scoring and least difficult among the three subjects. Most questions were directly based on NCERT concepts, allowing students to attempt them quickly and save time for Mathematics and Physics.
Key Topics Covered in JEE Main Chemistry January 21 Shift 2:
- Physical Chemistry – Thermodynamics, Equilibrium
- Inorganic Chemistry – Chemical Bonding, Coordination Compounds
- Organic Chemistry – Simple reactions and basic mechanisms
- Environmental Chemistry – Very basic questions
Student Feedback on JEE Main 2026 Chemistry Difficulty Level: “Chemistry was easy and largely NCERT-based. A thorough reading of the NCERT was sufficient to score well.”
JEE Main January 21 Shift 2 Student Reactions
Overall, student sentiment was balanced and fair.
Common Reactions:
- The paper was moderately difficult.
- Inorganic outweighed organic chemistry.
- JEE Main Maths Difficulty Level 2026 was high. It was really time-consuming.
- Physics was mostly formula-based. So, a good grasp of formulas can fetch good marks.
- Chemistry questions were a bit tricky.
| Aspect | Student Feedback |
| Overall Difficulty | Easy to Moderate |
| Most Difficult Section | Mathematics |
| Most Scoring Section | Chemistry |
| Time Management | Challenging |
JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 2 – Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
| Exam Component | Details |
| Duration | 3 Hours |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
| Question Types | 20 MCQs + 10 Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions per subject (attempt any 5 NATs) |
| Marking Scheme | +4 for each correct answer, −1 for each incorrect MCQ, no negative marking for NAT questions |
JEE Main January 21 Question Paper and Answer Key
| Subject | |
| JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 2 Physics Paper & Solutions | To be Available |
| JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 2 Chemistry Paper & Solutions | To be Available |
| JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 2 Maths Paper & Solutions | To be Available |
How to Download JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 2 Question Paper Solutions?
As JEE Main is an exam in the form of a computer-based test, the official question paper after the exam is not published immediately. Therefore, coaching institutes and learning platforms release Shift 2 questions based on memory, with descriptive answers based on student reviews.
- Go to the official JEE Main website or portals of well-known educational institutions and coaching centres.
- Search under the heading of “JEE Main 2026 January Session Question Paper and Solutions.”
- Choose the available paper on January 21 -Shift 2 (Afternoon).
- Get the PDF of memory-based questions along with step-by-step solutions.
- Compare your answers to the solutions to estimate your possible score and accuracy.
JEE Main January 2026 Exam Review: Good Attempts & Expected Score
Based on early student feedback and expert estimates:
- Safe Attempts: 50–55 questions
- Good Score: 150+ marks
- 99 Percentile Expectation: ~Easier papers, 99 percentile may require 185–200
- Moderate papers 170–185
- High Scoring Candidates: 200+ marks with accuracy
Expected Category-Wise Cutoff (Percentile):
General: 93–95
OBC-NCL / EWS: 80–82
SC: 60–62
ST: 47–50
Expert Tips for Upcoming JEE Main 2026 Shifts
- Ensure that you read NCERT Chemistry and predominantly Inorganic Chemistry in terms of definitions, reactions and tables.
- Mathematics: Refine speed and intelligent selection of questions, to spend time smartly and get rid of the time-consuming problems.
- Revise high-weightage Physics, mostly Mechanics, Modern Physics, Current Electricity, and Magnetism.
- Examine questions on past shifts that are associated with memory, to establish frequent notions, tendencies of difficulty, and frequently used formulae.
- It is better to have fewer attempts that are correct than a high number of attempts with mistakes, as percentile-based normalisation encourages both consistent and error-free performance.’
Conclusion
According to the JEE Main 2026 January 21 Shift 2 Exam Analysis, the overall difficulty of the afternoon paper was easy to moderate, and the distribution of conceptual and simple questions was equal.
The learners who had solid basics and were good time managers could comfortably attempt a good number of questions. The JEE Main Chemistry paper analysis 2026 was mostly NCERT-based and relatively simpler, and Physics was moderate with concept-based problems. Mathematics was found to be time-consuming among many candidates, and therefore intelligent choice of questions is essential.
Insights from JEE Main January 21 Shift 2 Student Reactions and the JEE Main January 21 Shift 2 Subject Wise Analysis indicate that the aspirants to be presented in the further shifts will have to rely on accuracy, revision of key subjects, and changing strategies according to the observed trends in the paper.
