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.

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.

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.

What language will the IISER Entrance Exam be conducted in?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

IISER Entrance Exam Preparation 2026: Tips, Strategy & Guide

Round 1 Counselling

24 Jul '26 - 28 Jul '26

Updated on Jul 6, 2026 23:56 IST

By Vikash Kumar Vishwakarma

IISER 2026 preparation: Candidates can check IAT preparation tips in this article. Preparation is a major part of exam preparation. Candidates need to plan their preparation strategy based on the IISER exam syllabus and pattern. Before you start your preparation, target a mark out of 240. General category students must target 195+ marks to secure admission to IISER campuses.

There is no fixed hours of studying. For some students, 5 to 6 hours of study is enough, while others may prefer 8 hours of study. Therefore, based on your capability, plan the study duration. Don't forget to practice the previous year IISER question paper.

Table of contents

IISER Exam Preparation: Highlights
Section Wise IISER 2026 Preparation
Best Book for IISER Preparation 2026
IISER 2026 Mock Test & PYQs
FAQs Regarding IISER Entrance Exam Preparation

IISER Exam Preparation: Highlights

IISER is the most competitive exam for Science students. The questions in the IISER exam are conceptually based. Students need to focus more on concepts and formulas to perform well in the exam. Before you start the IISER 2026 preparation, focus on these points.

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 the IISER Entrance Exam.
Create a day-to-day and weekly timetable on how much material you can study daily.

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

Section Wise IISER 2026 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 2026 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

IISER 2026 Mathematics Preparation Tips

This section has 15 questions. IISER Mathematics questions are based on topics like trigonometry, algebra, probability, calculus, vector & 3D geometry, etc. To practice these topics, focus on formulas and shortcuts to solve the problems. It is important to practice more problems to achieve better results. Here we have mentioned the list of topics most asked in the IISER exam.

Chapter	Approx. No. of Questions
Sets, Relations & Functions	1
Trigonometry	1
Algebra (Complex, Quadratics)	2
Calculus (Limits, Derivatives)	2–3
Integrals & Applications	1–2
Vectors & 3D Geometry	2
Probability	1–2
Matrices & Determinants	1

IISER 2026 Biology Preparation Tips

In IISER, all sections have the same weightage. This is the most important section for the Biology sections. Good conceptual knowledge can help to score high marks. Focusing on topics like human physiology, plant physiology, genetic & evolution, cell structure & function will help to score high in Biology sections. The NCERT textbook will be the best for Biology preparation.

Best Book for IISER Preparation 2026

There are many books for IISER exam preparation, but choosing the right book is important. For this students need to tally the IISER books and syllabus topics. If they are same then go for it. Moreover, check the context of the book, it must be easy to understand. NCERT is considered best for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology preparation. Below are few IISER books list.

Subject	Books Name
Physics	Concepts of Physics Volume I & II by H.C. Verma NCERT Physics Class XI & XII
Chemistry	NCERT Chemistry Class XI & XII Chemical Calculations by R.C Mukherjee
Mathematics	NCERT Chemistry Class XI & XII Problems Plus in IIT Mathematics by A Das Gupta
Biology	NCERT Chemistry Class XI & XII Objective NCERT at Your Fingertips by MTG Editorial Board

Also Read: IISER entrance exam 2026 books

IISER 2026 Mock Test & PYQs

Candidates must practice the IISER mock test regularly. This helps them to get familiar with the online exam platform and exam difficulty level. The duration of each mock test is three hours. Daily practice will help students to improve their time management skills. Similarly, solving IISER PYQs will help to identify high-weightage topics and self-assessment. The key benefits of practising the IISER mock test and previous year questions are mentioned below.

IISER's previous year question paper helps you know what types of questions are asked and the most repeated topics. Students also get to know the paper's difficulty level.
IISER mock tests are based on the exam syllabus and paper pattern. So, it is important to keep track of performance.
Various types of questions are available in mock & previous year question papers, which make students ready to solve any tricky question easily.
Keep track of mock tests and PYQs performance. This will help students to focus on the weaker section.

FAQs Regarding IISER Entrance Exam Preparation

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

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.

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: What are some preparation tips for IISER entrance examination?

IISER preparation tips are mentioned below.

First of all, know the IISER syllabus and pattern.
Make a study timetable and give equal time to all papers.
To build concepts, prepare from the NCERT textbook.
Practice IISER PYQs regularly.
Take mock tests.
Keep track of your progress. Focus on the weaker sections.

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

IISER 2026 exam pattern is out. No changes have been made in the IISER entrance exam pattern. The exam was conducted as a computer-based test for three hours. There were 4 sections in the IISER question paper. Each section carries 15 questions.