Triz Logo
UG PrepPG PrepBlog
Triz Logo

Strong basics, smarter science entrance prep, one path to top institutes.

Company

  • Careers
  • Blogs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Help & Support

  • FAQ & Guidelines
  • Refund Policy
LinkedInTwitter/XInstagramApple StoreGoogle Play

Triz learning 2025

Back to Blog
How to Start Preparation for IIT JAM
IIT JAM

How to Start Preparation for IIT JAM

Published September 2, 2025

Preparing for the IIT Joint Admission Test for Masters (IIT JAM) is a big dream for many science students in India. This exam opens the door to postgraduate programs like M.Sc., Joint M.Sc.-Ph.D., and other degrees at the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and other top institutes. Every year, thousands of students apply, but only those with smart strategies and consistent effort succeed.

If you are planning to start your IIT JAM preparation, the first step is to understand the exam clearly and then move forward with a proper study plan. In this blog, let’s go step by step and see how you can begin your IIT JAM journey in a simple and effective way.

Understand the IIT JAM Exam

Before starting your preparation, you should first understand what the exam is. Many subjects, including physics, chemistry, mathematics, and others, are offered at IIT JAM. The exam is computer-based and has three types of questions – multiple-choice questions (MCQ), multiple select questions (MSQ), and numerical answer type (NAT) questions.

The exam time is 3 hours with 60 questions divided into three parts (A, B, C). The total marks are 100. Some questions have negative marking, so being correct is very important.

Know Your Syllabus

Before you start preparing for IIT JAM, the first step is to clearly understand the syllabus. The exam includes subjects from B.Sc. level like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biotechnology, and others depending on your chosen paper. Each subject has many topics, so knowing the full IIT JAM syllabus will help you focus on the right areas and save time by not studying unnecessary topics.

After getting the syllabus, break it into small parts. Note down the topics you already know well and the ones you find difficult. For example, in Physics you may find Mechanics simple but Quantum Mechanics hard. In Chemistry, you may be good in Organic but weak in Physical. By finding your strong and weak areas, you can plan your IIT JAM preparation better and study in an organized way.

Gather the best books for the IIT JAM Exam

Picking the right books is one of the most important steps in preparing for the IIT JAM exam. Many students make the mistake of buying too many books, which only creates confusion. Instead, you should use standard textbooks and a few good reference guides that match the IIT JAM syllabus. Along with these, your B.Sc. notes and NCERT basics will also help you build clear concepts

  • Physics: HC Verma, Griffiths (Electrodynamics), Satya Prakash for Optics.
  • Chemistry: Morrison & Boyd (Organic), Atkins (Physical), JD Lee (Inorganic).
  • Mathematics: Thomas Calculus, Krishna Series, SC Malik & Savita Arora.

Structure Preparation Timetable

A proper timetable is the backbone of preparation. Divide your day wisely between different subjects and revision. You should spend more time on weak areas but also revise strong areas regularly.

A sample daily routine could be

  • Morning: Solve numerical problems (your mind is fresh).
  • Afternoon: Revise theory concepts.
  • Evening: Attempt practice questions or a mock test.

Practice Previous Year Papers

Previous year IIT JAM papers are like a treasure. They show you the type of questions asked, difficulty level, and important topics. Solve at least 10 years of past papers.

  • Try to solve them in exam conditions.
  • Analyze mistakes and note down weak areas.
  • Revise those topics again before moving ahead.

Revise Regularly

Revision is very important in IIT JAM preparation because without it you may forget what you learned. Try to revise formulas, definitions, and shortcuts every day so they stay in your mind. On Sundays, spend some time going over all the topics you studied in that week. In the last month before the exam, give more time to revision and practice mock tests. This will help you improve your speed, memory, and confidence for the IIT JAM exam.

Manage Your Time Well

Managing time is very important in the IIT JAM exam. You will get 60 questions and 180 minutes, which means about 3 minutes for each question. But some questions may take more time, so you need to be smart.

  • Don’t waste too much time on one question.
  • First, solve the easy questions. Then try the medium ones, and keep the difficult questions for the end.
  • Always keep at least 15 minutes at the end for revision.

Final Thoughts

Starting IIT JAM preparation may look difficult in the beginning, but it becomes easy if you take it step by step. First, learn about the exam, understand the syllabus, choose the right books, and make a study plan. Work on building clear concepts, practice questions regularly, solve previous year papers, and take mock tests. The key is to remain consistent and motivated.

IIT JAM is not about studying for long hours, but about studying smartly with focus and discipline. If you follow these steps with dedication, your chances of success will be much higher.