IIT JAM Exam Pattern, Syllabus, and Application Process
If you're aspiring to pursue a master's degree in science or related fields in IITs, the IIT JAM (Joint Admission Test for Masters) exam is your destination. Conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), the IIT JAM exam opens doors to some of the most prestigious institutions and programs in the country. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore everything you need to know about the IIT JAM exam, from eligibility criteria, Admission process, exam pattern, and syllabus breakdown.
What is the IIT JAM Exam?
The IIT JAM exam, Joint Admission Test for Masters by IITs is a nationwide entrance test in India designed to assess a candidate's knowledge and understanding of various science and technology fields. Its primary purpose is to facilitate admissions into postgraduate programs such as M.Sc., M.Sc. - Ph.D. dual degree, and other Master of Technology (M.Tech.) programs at IITs and IISc. This exam serves as a gateway for students seeking a higher education degree in subjects like physics, chemistry, mathematics, biotechnology, geology, and more.
However, when the competition extends into the hundreds of thousands and available seats number in the mere thousands, many aspiring students find themselves facing disappointment as they do not secure a seat in the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). But for those determined to turn their IIT dreams into reality, there is an alternative path - the Joint Admission Test for Masters, more commonly known as JAM. JAM is a nationally recognized examination conducted for admissions to M.Sc. and M.Sc.-Ph.D. programs at various IITs.
IIT JAM Eligibility
Factor | Details |
Educational Qualifications |
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Minimum Marks |
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Age Limit | There's no specific age limit to appear for the IIT JAM exam. |
IIT JAM Admission to Courses
Institute | Main Course | Sub Course |
IITGN, IITB, IITD, IITI, IITJ,IITK, IITM, IITP, IITR, IITRPR | Mathematics (MA) |
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IITB, IITK, IITBBS | Mathematical Statistics (MS) |
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IITB, IITI, IITKGP | Biotechnology (BT) |
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IITGN, IITH, IITI, IITR, IITB, IIT Bhilai, IITBHU, IITD, IITG, IITISM, IITJ, IITK, IITM, IITMandi, IITP, IITRPR, IITPKD, IITBBS, IITKGP, IITBBS | Chemistry (CY) |
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IITB, IITR, IITKGP, IITBBS, IITISM | Geology (GG) |
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IITD, IITR | Economics (EN) |
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IIT JAM Participating Institutes
- IIT Kharagpur
- IIT Bombay
- IIT Delhi
- IIT Madras
- IIT Guwahati
- IIT Roorkee
- IIT Hyderabad
- IIT Kanpur
- IIT Gandhinagar
- IIT Indore
- IIT Bhubaneswar
- IIT Ropar
- IIT Patna
- IIT (ISM) Dhanbad
- IIT Bhilai
- IIT (BHU) Varanasi
- IIT Mandi
- IIT Jodhpur
- IIT Tirupati
- NIT Durgapur
- NIT Calicut
- NIT Agartala
- NIT Hamirpur
- IISc (Transit Campus), Tirupati
IIT JAM 2024 Important Dates
Events | Dates 2024 (Announced) |
The online application form starts | 5th September 2023 |
Last date to apply | 13th October 2023 |
Last date to pay the fee | 2nd week of October 2023 |
Correction facility opens | 2nd week of November to 4th week of November 2023 |
Admit card releases | 8th January 2024 |
Exam Date | 11th February 2024 |
Release of provisional answer key | 4th week of February 2024 |
Challenge against the answer key | 4th week of February 2024 |
Result declaration | 22nd March 2024 |
Availability of Score Card | 2nd April 2024 |
The portal for admission opens | 10th April 2023 |
IIT JAM 2024 Exam Details
Particulars | Details |
Exam Mode | Online, Computer Based Test (CBT) |
Exam Duration | Three hours |
Test Language | English |
Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) |
Subjects | Biotechnology (BL), Chemistry (CY), Geology (GG), Economics (EN), Mathematics (MA), Mathematical Statistics (MS) and Physics (PH) |
Total Questions | 60 |
Total Marks | 100 marks |
IIT JAM 2024 Exam Pattern
Sections | No. of questions | Type of questions | Total marks |
Section 1 | 30 | Multiple choice questions | 50 |
Section 2 | 10 | Multiple choice questions | 20 |
Section 3 | 20 | Numerical answer type questions | 30 |
Total | 60 Q’s | 100 Marks | |
IIT JAM Exam Syllabus
Biotechnology
Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics should be prepared to excel in this. Academics should be studied from class 10 to degree level for the biology department. General Biology, Biochemistry and Physiology, Basic Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Microbiology chapters should be prepared. Study 10th class, inter, and degree syllabus related to chemistry. Studying Maths and Physics at Inter level is enough.
Chemistry
Basic Mathematical Concepts, Atomic and Molecular Structure, Theory of Gases, Solid State, Chemical Thermodynamics, Chemical and Phase Equilibria, Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics, Absorption, Spectometry; Basic concepts of organic chemistry and spectrometry, organic reaction mechanism, synthetic applications, qualitative organic analysis, aromatic and heterocyclic chemistry. Periodic Table, Chemical Bonding, Shapes of Compounds, Main Group Elements, Transition Metals, Bio Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry in Inorganic Chemistry.
Economics
Micro Economics, Macro Economics, Statistics for Economics, Indian Economy, Mathematics for Economics should be studied.
Geology
Emphasis should be placed on Planet Earth, Geomorphology, Structural Geology, Paleontology, Stratigraphy, Mineralogy, Petrology, Economic Geology, Applied Geology. Mathematics
Sequences and Series of Real Numbers, Functions of One/Two/Three Real Variables, Integral Calculus, Differential Equations, Vector Calculus, Group Theory, Linear Algebra, Real Analysis Syllabus should be prepared.
Mathematical Statistics
This paper has 40 percent weightage for Maths and 60 percent for Statistics. In relation to Maths, the chapters on Sequences and Series, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, Matrices should be studied. Probability, random variables, standard distribution, joint distribution, sampling distribution, limit theorems, estimation, testing of hypothesis should be studied in statistics.
Physics
Mathematical Methods, Mechanics and General Properties of Matter, Oscillations, Waves and Optics, Electricity and Magnetism, Kinetic Theory, Thermodynamics, Modern Physics, Solid State Physics, Devices and Electronics curriculum should be studied.
Academics are Key
Candidates should arm themselves with the academic books of their chosen subject to excel in the respective papers. Studying Bachelor's level academics is preferable. Similarly, jam old question papers, GATE science subjects old question papers are useful to practice. Candidates should master the concepts and application approaches. Only then you will be prepared to answer any question in the exam hall. This approach is especially useful in the case of multiple select quotations. Experts say that if you study with an application approach, it will be easier to understand the meaning of the question and answer it.
IIT JAM 2023 Application Process
To appear for the IIT JAM exam, you need to complete the online application process. Here are the steps involved:
- Registration: Visit the official IIT JAM website and register yourself by providing your basic details such as name, email, and mobile number.
- Fill Application Form: After registration, log in with your credentials and complete the application form. You will need to provide academic and personal details, select the test paper, and choose your preferred examination cities.
- Upload Documents: You'll be required to upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and other relevant documents. Make sure to follow the specified format and size guidelines.
- Payment of Fees: Pay the application fee through the online payment system. The fee varies based on your category and the number of test papers you choose to appear for.
- Submission: Once you've filled in all the necessary details and made the payment, submit the application form.
- Admit Card: After the successful submission of your application, you can download your admit card when it becomes available.