JEE Main 2026 Jan 21 Shift 2 Paper Review, Difficulty, Cutoff
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• Updated on 21 Jan, 2026, 8:54 PM, by Amrita Das
JEE Main 2026 January 21 shift 2 exam was held from 3 pm to 6 pm. Students reported a moderate paper with Mathematics being lengthy and tough. Experts have shared expected cutoff trends based on early feedback.
JEE Main 2026 January 21 shift 2 exam concluded successfully in the afternoon session. The examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency from 3 pm to 6 pm for BE and BTech Paper 1. Candidates shared their feedback on difficulty level, question trends, and important topics after the exam.
Overall JEE Main 2026 Shift 2 Difficulty Level
Based on student reactions, the overall difficulty level of JEE Main 2026 shift 2 was moderate, with noticeable variation across subjects. Mathematics was considered the most time-consuming section, while Chemistry was viewed as scoring.
Before checking the subject-wise breakup, candidates should note that the paper followed the standard JEE Main pattern of 75 questions for 300 marks.
Section | Difficulty Level |
Mathematics | Moderate to Difficult |
Chemistry | Easy |
Physics | Moderate |
Mathematics included lengthy calculations that tested speed and accuracy. Physics required conceptual clarity, while Chemistry was largely NCERT-based and manageable.
JEE Main 2026 Shift 2 Subject-Wise Analysis
Mathematics was reported as hard and lengthy by most candidates. Questions were dominated by Calculus and Vectors, making time management critical for high scores.
Physics was described as formula-based and moderate. Candidates with strong fundamentals found the questions solvable, with less emphasis on tricky numerical problems.
Chemistry was considered the easiest section. Many questions were directly based on NCERT concepts, especially from Organic Chemistry, making it scoring for prepared students.
JEE Main 2026 Shift 2 Topics Asked
The table below highlights the major topics reported by candidates across all three sections.
Section | Topics Asked |
Mathematics | Calculus, Vectors, Coordinate Geometry, Probability, Statistics, Inverse Trigonometry |
Physics | Thermodynamics, Fluids, Gravitation, Friction, EM Waves, Wave Optics |
Chemistry | Organic Chemistry, NCERT-based questions, conceptual theory |
JEE Main 2026 Shift 2 Student Reactions
Students exiting the exam centres shared mixed but largely expected reactions. Many candidates said the paper followed previous years’ trends. Chemistry was appreciated for being straightforward, while Mathematics was cited as the most challenging section. Several students noted that Physics was balanced and could be attempted well with clear conceptual understanding.
JEE Main 2026 Shift 2 Expected Cutoff
Based on early student feedback and normalization trends, experts have shared the expected qualifying cutoff percentile for JEE Main 2026.
Category | Expected Cutoff Percentile |
General | 93.30 |
Gen-EWS | 81.43 |
OBC-NCL | 80.74 |
SC | 61.35 |
ST | 48.24 |
UR-PwD | 0.01 |
These figures are indicative and may vary once official results are announced.
Good Attempt Range for JEE Main 2026 Shift 2
Based on current trends, a good attempt range of 57 to 64 questions, with high accuracy, is considered competitive for shift 2. Such an attempt may help candidates target a 200+ score, depending on normalization and accuracy. The final percentile and rank will be confirmed only after the official result declaration by the National Testing Agency.
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