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Updated By Ankita Jha on 12 Feb, 2026 10:20
IIT JAM 2026 is scheduled for February 15, 2026, and you must check IIT JAM Exam Pattern 2026, which consists of seven 100-mark papers. Here, you can find the complete IIT JAM 2026 exam pattern by subject. Take a look!
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IIT JAM Exam Pattern 2026 is a 3-hour computer-based test (CBT) with 60 questions and is scheduled to be held on February 15, 2026. IIT JAM Exam is conducted for 100 marks and includes three sections with 30 MCQs, 10 MSQs and 20 NAT questions. There will be negative marking only for Section A which include 30 MCQs. Students must understand the kind of questions, negative markings, and sectional structure to have a clarity while appearing for IIT JAM 2026. Students’ domain knowledge will be evaluated from the specified IIT JAM syllabus 2026 using MCQ, MSQ, and NAT questions. You can also practise Mock Test 2026 in order to understand the JAM Exam Pattern 2026.
Also Check: JAM notification 2026
Students can explore the detailed structure of IIT JAM Exam pattern as explained here. The entire IIT JAM 2026 paper will be divided into three sections, A, B, and C. The IIT JAM 2026 exam will be held to assess students' topic knowledge that they have gained during their undergraduate degree courses. As mentioned earlier, IIT JAM exam duration is three hours but one hour compensatory time will be provided to PwD students.
Keep reading to know everything about IIT JAM exam pattern 2026, marking scheme, total marks, shift timings, etc!
Here are the highlights of IIT JAM exam pattern 2026 which has to be followed before preparing for the entrance exam -
Particulars | IIT JAM Exam Pattern Details |
|---|---|
Mode of Examination | Online |
Language of Question Paper | English |
Duration of Exam | 3 Hours |
Number of Sections | 3 Sections: -Section A, Section B, Section C |
Total Number of Questions | 60 Questions |
Total Marks | 100 Marks |
Type of Question |
|
Number of Questions in Section-wise |
|
Marking Scheme |
|
|
Out of three sections in IIT JAM exam pattern 2026, IIT JAM 2026 negative marking is applicable only for Section A. For all 1-mark question, 1/3 marks will be deducted for wrong answer and for all 2 marks questions, 2/3 marks will be deducted for each incorrect response. In all sections, questions not attempted will result in zero marks. A simplified and self-explanatory table given below can be checked by the students for better understanding.
| Section | Type of Questions | Total No. of Questions | Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | Multiple Choice Based Questions (MCQs) | 30 questions | 10 will be of 1 mark each and the rest 20 will carry 2 marks each. |
| Section B | Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) | 10 questions | 2 marks each. |
| Section C | Numerical Answer Type Questions (NAT) | There will be 20 questions in this section. | 10 questions will be for 1 mark each and the rest 10 questions for 2 marks each. |
As IIT JAM exam pattern 2026 has three types of questions, students with the help of IIT JAM Mock tests must understand the ways to attempt different sections which are MCQ type, MSQ type and NAT type. The approach to different sections has been explained below:
MCQ Type: MCQ type questions are either 1 mark or 2 marks questions. All MCQs have four options, and the students must choose one of the given options as the correct option. There is a negative marking in this section and if you are not sure, then you must not attempt the same.
MSQ Type: MSQ type questions have more than 4 options and students can choose more than one correct answer. If the student can choose all the correct options, then he/ she will be credited with the full score. If he/she misses one of the options or if one of them is wrong, then they will be marked partially as per IIT JAM exam pattern 2026.
NAT Type: Numerical Answer Type Questions is a subjecti type of question that cannot be answered just by choosing the correct option. Students will have to write the detailed answer in this type of questions according to IIT JAM 2026 exam pattern.
Students hoping to secure a seat at the top IITs or IISc colleges must develop a comprehensive understanding of the section-wise marking scheme in IIT JAM 2026. It will offer a scope for setting score targets. As per the marking criteria, each of the seven test papers will carry a total of 100 marks. Section A will carry 10 questions of 1 mark, Section B comprises 10 MSQs of 2 marks, and the NAT section contains 10 questions of 1 mark and 10 questions of 2 marks respectively.
Students dreaming of securing a seat at the top IITs or IISc colleges must get a comprehensive understanding of the section-wise marking scheme in IIT JAM 2026. It will offer a scope for setting score targets. As per the marking criteria, each of the seven test papers will carry a total of 100 marks. Section A will carry 10 questions of 1 mark, Section B comprises 10 MSQs of 2 marks, and the NAT section contains 10 questions of 1 mark and 10 questions of 2 marks respectively.
Check IIT JAM 2026 exam pattern and marking scheme of Section A, out of the total 30 questions in which;
Total Number of Questions | Correct Answer | Total Marks | Incorrect Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
10 | 1 Mark | 10 | 1/3 Mark |
20 | 2 Marks | 40 | 2/3 Mark |
Check the IIT JAM exam pattern 2026 and marking scheme of Section B. There are a total of 10 questions in which;
Total Number of Questions | Correct Answer | Total Marks | Incorrect Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
10 | 2 Marks | 20 | No Negative Marking |
Check the IIT JAM 2026 exam pattern and marking scheme of Section C. Out of the total 20 questions in which;
Total Number of Questions | Correct Answer | Total Marks | Incorrect Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
10 | 1 Mark | 10 | No Negative Marking |
10 | 2 Marks | 20 |
If you are willing to appear for exam then you must check IIT JAM shift time along with IIT JAM exam pattern 2026 as they should know the exam timing so that they can reach IIT JAM exam centre on time. IIT JAM shift timing 2026 has been provided below:
Exam Date | Session & Time | Test Papers & Codes |
|---|---|---|
February 15, 2026 | Shift 1: 9:30 AM to 12:30 Noon | Chemistry (CY), Geology (GG), and Mathematics (MA) |
Shift 2: 2.30 PM to 5.30 PM | Economics (EN), Biotechnology (BT), Physics (PH) and Mathematical Statistics (MS) |
Check IIT JAM Exam Centres 2026
Knowing IIT JAM 2026 exam pattern helps you understand where to focus your efforts, especially since different sections have different marking schemes and question types. This understanding will help you get ready for the exam in a better way.
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