IIT JAM 2026 Exam Pattern: Question Types, Marking Scheme, Syllabus, Preparation Tips

IIT JAM 2026 Exam Pattern will be released on the official website. The JAM 2026 exam will be held in CBT mode on February 15, 2026. There will be a total of 100 mark questions. Candidates will get 180 minutes to complete the exam. IIT JAM 2026 Paper will have three sections. Section A consists of MCQ type questions, Section B covers MSQ type questions, and NAT Questions will be asked in Section C.

The IIT JAM 2026exam is meant to test the knowledge of all the candidates in a variety of subjects. These include Biotechnology (BT), Chemistry (CY), Economics (EN), Geology (GG), Mathematics (MA), Mathematical Statistics (MS), and Physics (PH). All of the test papers for this exam will be held in English, and the Computer Based Test (CBT) will be followed. Read further to know more about the IIT JAM Exam Pattern 2026.

IIT JAM 2026 Exam Pattern

The JAM 2026 exam will have 60 questions divided into three sections (A, B, C). Each section will have different types of questions, and the total marks for the exam will be 100. The duration of the examination is three hours. Eligible candidates with disabilities (PwD) will be given one hour of compensatory time and can avail of the assistance of a scribe as per the guidelines of the Government of India.

IIT JAM 2026 Question Types

The IIT JAM Question Papers will consist of three types of questions, namely, Multiple Choice Question (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs), and Numerical Answer Type (NAT). Each of the question types will carry a different number of questions, mark distribution, and more. Below is the breakdown of the exam sections and their respective question types:

Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

This section contains a total of 30 MCQs, where 10 questions carry 1 mark, and 20 questions carry 2 marks, respectively. Each question will have four choices, out of which only one choice is correct. Incorrect answers will have mark deduction. Candidates must select the correct answer by clicking one of the choices. Any unattempted question will result in zero marks.

Section B: Multiple Select Questions (MSQs)

This section will contain a total of 10 MSQs. Each MSQ carries 2 marks. MSQs are similar to MCQs, but the main difference is that each MSQ may have one or more correct answers. Candidates must select all the correct options and no incorrect options to get full credit. There is no negative marking for MSQs, and partial marking is not allowed.

Section C: Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions

This section will consist of a total of 20 NAT questions. The distribution of marks is such as follows: 10 questions carry 1 mark each and 10 questions carry 2 marks each. For NAT questions, the answer is a real number which needs to be entered using the virtual numeric keypad displayed on the screen. There will be no options provided, and candidates will have to type the answer using the keypad. There is no negative marking for NAT questions.

IIT JAM 2026 Marking Scheme

The IIT JAM 2026 question pattern consists of three sections, namely, Section A (MCQs), Section B (MSQs), and Section C (NATs). In section A, 10 questions carry 1 mark each and 20 questions carry 2 marks each. Whereas in Section C, 10 questions carry 1 mark and 10 questions carry 2 marks each. The section 2 of the IIT JAM question pattern has a total of 10 questions carrying 2 marks each. Check out the table below for IIT JAM negative marking 2026.

IIT JAM 2026 Time Allocation

The JAM 2026 Examination will be held on February 15, 2026. The exam will be conducted in two sessions, namely, Forenoon session and Afternoon session. The forenoon session will be conducted from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Whereas the afternoon session will be conducted from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Check out the following table for IIT JAM 2026 subject.wise exam timings.

IIT JAM 2026 Syllabus

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has released the IIT JAM Syllabus 2026 on the official website. Candidates can check the syllabus of IIT JAM through the official website in the information brochure. The syllabus consists of subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics, Biotechnology, Economics, and Geology. Check out the table below for a brief syllabus of IIT JAM 2026.

IIT JAM 2026 Preparation Tips

Candidates are recommended to understand the IIT JAM 2026 exam pattern properly to prepare a study plan beforehand. By knowing the exam pattern of IIT JAM, candidates will get to know about the question types, marking schemes, and important topics to be covered while preparing. Follow some of the major preparation tips below to ace the IIT JAM 2026 exam.

• Understanding the exam pattern and syllabus
• Knowing the right books and study materials to prepare
• Pre-planning a time table
• Repeatedly solving previous year question papers, mock tests, etc.

IIT JAM 2026 Sample Papers and Mock Tests

Every year, the conducting body of the IIT JAM exam releases a mock test on the official website. This year, IIT Bombay will be releasing mock tests for students to prepare before the commencement of exams. Practicing mock tests will help in getting used to the exam pattern and questions of IIT JAM 2026. Follow the below steps to download IIT JAM 2026 mock tests.

1. Candidates need to visit the IIT JAM 2026 official website.
2. Click on the ‘Mock Test’ tab.
3. Click on the exam subject and then sign in.
4. Then, click on the ‘Next’ option.
5. Next, click on the tick box to ensure that the instructions have been read followed by the ‘I am ready to begin’ tab.
6. Lastly, take the mock test and prepare properly.

IIT JAM 2026 Exam Pattern FAQs