IIT JAM
Admission to MSc, MSc–PhD dual-degree and other postgraduate science programmes at the IITs and IISc Bangalore; the same score is used by NITs and other centrally funded institutes through CCMN counselling.
Eligibility
A bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline is required; final-year students may also apply. The earlier minimum-marks condition has been scrapped — a pass degree suffices, though admitting institutes verify programme-specific requirements. There is no age limit and no restriction on attempts, and foreign nationals may apply.
Age limit: No age limit
Exam pattern
Computer-based test of 3 hours in seven test papers — Biotechnology, Chemistry, Economics, Geology, Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics and Physics; a candidate may appear in one or two papers. Each paper has 60 questions for 100 marks in three sections: Section A has 30 MCQs with negative marking (1/3 and 2/3 mark deducted), Section B has 10 Multiple Select Questions with no negative marking but no partial credit, and Section C has 20 Numerical Answer Type questions with no negative marking. Only the on-screen virtual calculator is permitted.
Syllabus at a glance
Honours-bachelor's-level syllabus in the chosen paper. Physics spans mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum and thermal physics and mathematical methods; Chemistry covers the physical, organic and inorganic branches; Mathematics covers real analysis, linear algebra, calculus and differential equations. The Biotechnology, Geology, Economics and Mathematical Statistics papers likewise follow their standard undergraduate cores.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| JAM 2027 organising institute and portal announcement | Sept 2026 | expected |
| Application window | Sept – mid-Oct 2026 | expected |
| Admit card release | Early Jan 2027 | expected |
| Exam | Feb 2027 (a Sunday, likely 7 or 14 Feb) | expected |
| Result | Mid-March 2027 | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Introduction to Electrodynamics — David J. Griffiths (Physics)
- Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences — Mary L. Boas (Physics/Mathematics)
- Atkins' Physical Chemistry — Peter Atkins & Julio de Paula (Chemistry)
- Organic Chemistry — Jonathan Clayden, Nick Greeves & Stuart Warren (Chemistry)
- Mathematical Analysis — S.C. Malik & Savita Arora (Mathematics)
- Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry — David L. Nelson & Michael M. Cox (Biotechnology)
How toppers play it
- Never leave Section B (MSQ) or Section C (NAT) questions blank — neither carries negative marking.
- MSQs give no partial credit: you must mark every correct option to score, so verify each option independently before submitting.
- The syllabus is honours-BSc depth — prepare from standard degree texts (Griffiths, Atkins, Malik–Arora) rather than thin coaching digests.
- Rehearse with the on-screen virtual calculator; JAM's numerical sections are calculation-heavy and no physical calculator is allowed.
- One score feeds two counselling tracks — IITs via JOAPS and NITs/CFTIs via CCMN — so register for both to maximise seat options.