IISER Entrance Exam Preparation 2026: Tips, Strategy & Guide

Q: What are some preparation tips for IISER entrance examination?

Stepwise Preparation for the IISER Entrance Exam Step 1: Understand the Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme. Step 2: Get the prescribed Exam syllabus for the applied course. Step 3: Get all the study material you can to prepare better for the IISER Entrance Exam. Step 4: Create a day-to-day and weekly timetable on how much material you can study on a daily basis.

454 Students Q&A

Admit Card - 24 May '26 - 7 Jun '26

Updated on Mar 27, 2026 02:43 IST

By Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma

Preparation plays a major role in scoring a good rank in IISER entrance exam. Every student has their own way of preparation. IISER 2026 preparation tips are a roadmap to get admission to the top Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER). The IAT 2026 admission test is scheduled for June 7, 2026.

Students appearing for IISER Aptitude Test must prepare a study schedule focusing of the exam syllabus and pattern. Devoting 8+ hours to preparation will help you score high in IISER 2026. The test will be based on Physics, Chemistry, Mathematic and Biology. IAT total marks are 240, and candidates must target 185+ marks. Furthermore, try to build conceptual knowledge. Candidates can check the page for detailed IISER 2026 preparation tips, exam pattern, subject wise preparation strategy.

Table of contents

Stages of Preparation for IISER Entrance Exam
IISER Entrance Exam 2026 Pattern
How to prepare for IISER Entrance Exam
IAT 2026: Subject Wise Preparation
FAQs Regarding IISER Entrance Exam Preparation

Stages of Preparation for IISER Entrance Exam

Here is the stepwise preparation tips for IISER 2026 Entrance Examination:

Understand the Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme.
Get the prescribed Exam syllabus for the applied course.
Get all the study material you can to prepare better for IISER Entrance Exam
Create a day to day and weekly time table on how much material you can study on a daily basis.

Also Read: IAT 2026 Most Important Topics; Check Subject-wise Important Chapters List Here

Commonly asked questions

Q: What is IISER Aptitude test?

Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research conduct an entrance exam in order to provide admission to candidates in the five year long BSMS dual degree programme offered by them. On the basis of a candidates score in the IISER Entrance Exam also known as IISER aptitude test, he/she can secure admission at IISER located in Berhampur, Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, or Tirupati. Candidates who cleared their Class 12 in the Science stream are eligible to apply for the IISER Entrance Exam 2023. As per the IISER Entrance Exam pattern, there are a total of 60 objective questions that candidates need to complete in three hours duration.

Q: In what mode will IISER 2026 aptitude test be conducted?

IISER is a compulsory entrance test to get into the IISER Pune. IISER 2026 entrance exam will be conducted in computer-based test mode. The duration of the entrance exam is three hours, from 9 AM to 12 noon.

IISER Entrance Exam 2026 Pattern

Before starting the IISER Entrance Exam 2026 preparation, students must know about the IISER Aptitude Test Pattern. The table below brings the exam pattern in detail.

Subject	No. of Questions	Marks
Physics	15	60
Chemistry	15	60
Biology	15	60
Mathematics	15	60
Total	60	240

Each question carries four marks; one mark is removed for each wrong answer. No marks will be given or removed for unattempted questions.

Commonly asked questions

Q: What language will the IISER Entrance Exam be conducted in?

The question paper will be in English and Hindi languages. The candidates must read all the given instructions provided in the question papers at the time of examination.

Q: What will be the section wise marking scheme of IISER Entrance Exam 2026?

The IISER Entrance Exam Marking Scheme is given below.

Section	Marks
Physics	60
Mathematics	60
Chemistry	60
Biology	60

Each section carries 15 marks.

How to prepare for IISER Entrance Exam

Students can follow the details on how to prepare well for the entrance exam and come out with flying colours.

Know the IISER Entrance Pattern

First and foremost, the candidate needs to understand the IISER Entrance Exam pattern. One should know the duration of the exam, the mode and medium of the Entrance Exam, how many questions will be asked and the weightage of marks. Will the question pattern be in MCQ format or have long answer questions? All the minute questions which bother you, you should know and understand before the entrance exam, so that there is no trouble later on.

Know the IISER Entrance Exam Marking Scheme

Along with the exam pattern, students should know the marking scheme as well. You have to know the minute details as it can help you prepare better, and hence you will have better chances of scoring. You will not have much trouble once you have the pattern in mind and know what to expect in terms of the marking scheme. You should be familiar with which sections carry the most marks, how many long questions will be asked or how many questions come in a section.

According to the marking scheme of the IISER Aptitude Test, each question will carry four marks, and one mark will be removed for each wrong answer. No marks will be removed for unanswered questions.

Know the IISER Entrance Exam Syllabus

To score well in IISER Entrance Exam, candidates have to thoroughly go through the prescribed syllabus. Even if its general topics which you have covered, go through them once again. Don’t leave out anything. Strategise your plans on an hourly, daily and weekly basis. Cover all the biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics-related notes on different days. Do not mix it up You can do so by following the below-mentioned pointers:

Cover the subjects thoroughly and know the important topics which have to be covered.
Segregate the subjects and topics into easy and difficult categories. Cover topics which you find challenging.
Note down the topics which carry maximum weightage (based on previous years’ question papers).

Go through Prep Books

Along with the syllabus, aspirants should purchase the required books for IISER Entrance Exam 2026. Through prep books, one can study better and understand the subjects and topics. You can identify where you fall behind and which are your strong points. It is advised that you purchase at least two to three prep books to help better understand the test. The prep books will give you an idea of the syllabus, know what type of questions can be asked in the Entrance Exam and much more.

Prepare a TimeTable

One of the most important elements while preparing for an exam is time management. Make a schedule as to how much material you can cover on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. By creating a plan, the candidate can cover all the topics which are to come in the Entrance Exam.

Refer to Past Years’ Question Papers

Solve as many question papers as you can. The best way to get a grip of what you can expect is by going through the previous year’s question papers. You can understand the weightage of marks, how many long question answers are there, you can understand which section has what type of questions and how many sections carry the maximum amount of marks where you can score well.

Revision

Revise your work at the end of the day. Whatever you have studied, revise the work, especially the important parts which you have had a tough time learning or understanding. The more revisions, the more you will understand the topics better.

Commonly asked questions

Q: What are the types of questions asked in the IISER Entrance Exam?

The IISER Entrance Exam questions are objective type. These are multiple-choice questions with four options. The mode of the exam is computer-based. Test-takers have to select one option. Marks per question is four. One mark will be removed for wrong answers.

Q: Which subject carries maximum weightage at IISER Entrance Examination?

IISER Entrance Exam carries equal weightage of all the subjects which are asked in the examination. The IISER Entrance Exam Marking Scheme is as follows: 1. Physics 15 questions will be asked in the examination and 60 marks will be the maximum awarded for all the correct answers. 2. Mathematics- 15 questions will be asked in the examination and 60 marks will be the maximum awarded for all the correct answers. 3. Chemistry 15 questions will be asked in the examination and 60 marks will be the maximum awarded for all the correct answers. 4. Biology 15 questions will be asked in the examination and 60 marks will be the maximum awarded for all the correct answers. Marking scheme: Candidates will be awarded three marks for each correct answer. There will be negative marking of one mark for each incorrect answer.

IAT 2026: Subject Wise Preparation

IAT 2026 will evaluate candidates' knowledge and aptitude in four subjects: Biology, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Since there are four different subjects which the candidates need to study, therefore a strategy must be prepared by the candidates in order to ace the IISER 2025 Entrance Examination. Let's see how to study Physics, Chemistry, Math, Biology for the IISER aptitude test.

IISER 2026 Chemistry Preparation Tips

An aspirant needs to study Chemistry into three different domains, which are namely, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Inorganic Chemistry. There will be 15 questions asked from chemistry in the IISER 2026 examination. For every correct answer, the candidate will be awarded +4 marks. Negative Marking is -1.

The best way to study Organic Chemistry for the IISER Aptitude Test is through understanding the concept very thoroughly, which is given in the NCERT Books and then revising it again and again. Write a summary of important points. Start with the basics and then move ahead with complex concepts. Practice problems each time you study a topic. Make a separate notebook for named reactions & their mechanism and revise it daily.

For Physical Chemistry, study from the NCERT and have your concepts clarified at your coaching institute. To become good at Physical Chemistry, you need to develop problem-solving skills. Be thorough with all the formulae. Solve good quality problems in Physical Chemistry.

Inorganic Chemistry involves a lot of mugging up the concepts. Study the NCERT Books of classes 11 and 12 properly.

IISER 2026 Physics Preparation Tips

Aspirants need to be thorough with the IISER 2026 Syllabus. Here, candidates need to be well acquainted with the topics that they need to ace to score well in the science entrance exam. The topics that form a part of the Physics syllabus include:

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

Commonly asked questions

Q: What is the level of the IISER Entrance Exam syllabus?

The IISER Entrance Exam syllabus is in tune with the Class 11 and 12 Board exam syllabus. The questions in the examination are asked from four domains of the Science subject, which are Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

As per the syllabus mentioned in the information brochure of IISER, it is observed that in the Biology subject maximum syllabus is covered from the Class 12 book. For the subjects of Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry, the syllabus is equally distributed in Class 11 and 12.

Q: How many sections are asked in the IISER Entrance Exam?

The IISER Entrance Exam 2026 pattern is expected to remains same as last year. IAT consists of 60 questions, 15 questions each from Biology, Chemistry Mathematics, and Physics. There will be four answer options. Total time for answering the test is 180 minutes. Questions are multiple choice type with only one correct answer. The mode of the exam is computer-based.

FAQs Regarding IISER Entrance Exam Preparation

Take a look at the frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding IISER Entrance Exam 2026 Preparation.

Q: Is IISER entrance examination tougher than JEE Advanced?

IISER Aptitude Test difficulty level is comparatively easier than JEE Main exam difficulty level. There are four sections in the exam, and all have equal weightage. Mentioned below are the details for the same:

Biology: This section might sound a tough nut to crack for the PCM students, but a reasonable understanding of class 11 and 12 NCERT concepts can help you sail through this section. If you are not familiar with Biology try to ace the Maths section. As the number of test-takers has grown over the years, this section has also seen a surged difficulty level.
Maths: For the Biology students, it might be hard to crack. You need to focus on 11th and 12th class concepts. You can search for the doable questions and solve them. The level is usually at par or even above JEE Mains. The Biology students can cover the scores in their specialised section.
Physics and Chemistry: This section is usually easier than the above two sections. The scores obtained here can make-or-break your chances for counselling. The questions in these two sections cover the fundamental and essential concepts. It is better to score well in these two sections. The sections are not really tough. They are far away from the difficulty level of JEE Advance.

Overall, the exam is far from easier than JEE Advanced exam. The Biology students have the advantage to finish their section quicker. Make sure your fundamentals are clear and your reasoning ability is good. This should be enough to secure a good score.

Q: Will there be any changes made in the IISER Entrance Exam 2026 pattern?

IISER Exam pattern for the academic session 2026-27 is yet to be announced. However, last year pattern remains to be same as of the previous year of IISER Entrance Exam which was also conducted in online mode i.e., computer-based. The only change which is made by the exam conducting body is the marks awarded for each correct anwer.

Q: What are some preparation tips for IISER entrance examination?

Stepwise Preparation for the IISER Entrance Exam

Step 1: Understand the Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme.

Step 2: Get the prescribed Exam syllabus for the applied course.

Step 3: Get all the study material you can to prepare better for the IISER Entrance Exam.

Step 4: Create a day-to-day and weekly timetable on how much material you can study on a daily basis.

Q: What are the factors to select the right IISER aptitude test preparation books?

Aspirants should keep in mind the following factors while selecting the right preparation books for the IISER Aptitude Test: Content of books You must refer to the reviews of the best books for IISER Aptitude Test preparation to know how easy it would be to read and understand those books. The factors in the content that should be checked include the quality of language or ease of understanding or comprehension, coverage of topics and chapters from the IISER Aptitude Test syllabus, among others. Edition Candidates should always refer to the latest edition of IISER entrance preparation books. Older editions may contain outdated content, which would not aid their preparation properly. Practice Materials While selecting the best books for the exam, you should also check whether along with chapter-wise theoretical content, the books also have sufficient practice questions along with their answer keys and solutions, or previous years solved question papers.

Q: What is the total marks of the IISER Entrance Exam?

The IISER entrance exam is of 240 marks. Each question carries four marks. There is a minus one mark for each wrong answer. No marks will be removed for questions not answered. There are 60 marks in each of the four sections. All questions are objective type and have four answer options. Students have to select one option only. Sections tested in the exam are PCMB.