IIT JAM 2026 Exam Day Guidelines & Important Instructions
Indian Institute of Technology Joint Admission Test for MSc 2026 ( IIT JAM )
Opening and Closing of Withdrawal Option
3 Jun '26 - 3 Jul '26
IIT Bombay is the organizing institute for IIT JAM 2026 exam. Students can check the exam day guidelines for Joint Admission Test for Masters (JAM) here.
IIT JAM Exam Day Guidelines & Important Instructions
IIT JAM exam day guidelines are major instructions to follow on exam day. Students who are appearing for IIT JAM exam 2026 must follow the exam day guidelines to avoid unnecessary stress. JAM exam day guidelines are mentioned on the hall ticket.
IIT Bombay conducted IIT JAM 2026 exam on February 15, 2026. The exam was conducted in two shifts. JAM exam timing is 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Students who appeared for the JAM exam 2026 had to carry the admit card and a valid photo id to the test centre. Check the article for detailed exam day guidelines for IIT JAM 2026.
- IIT JAM 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Highlights
- IIT JAM 2026 Exam Day Guidelines
- IIT JAM 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Do’s and Dont’s
- IIT JAM 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Dress Code
- IIT JAM 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Last Minute Preparation
IIT JAM 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Highlights
| Particular | Details |
| IIT JAM 2026 exam date | February 15, 2026 |
| IIT JAM 2026 exam timing | Shift 1: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM Shift 2: 12:30 PM to 5:30 PM |
| Items to carry on exam day | Admit card and a valid photo id |
Commonly asked questions
Aspirants can go through the eligibility criteria for MSc Biotechnology IIT JAM test paper in the table below:
Test Paper (Code) | Course | Minimum Educational Qualifications for Admission |
|---|---|---|
Biotechnology (BT)
| Any branch/ subject | |
MSc- PhD Dual Degree in Environmental Science and Engineering | Any one of Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics for two years/ four semesters, and any one of the other four subjects for at least one year/ two semesters | |
| Joint MSc- PhD in Molecular Medical Microbiology | BSc/ BS degree (three years/six semesters) with Biology/ Biotechnology/ Botany/ Life Science/ Physiology/ Zoology/ Microbiology/ Biochemistry/ Genetics and molecular biology as Honours/ Major/ Main Subject, and any one of Chemistry/ Physics/ Mathematics as one of compulsory subsidiary subject for at least one year/two semesters |
Here are the list of MSc Mathematics courses offered by participating institutes like IITs & NITs :
Course | Educational Qualifications |
|---|---|
MSc in Economics | Mathematics as one of the core subjects |
MSc Mathematics | Mathematics for at least two years/ four semesters |
MSc Mathematics / Applied Mathematics and Computing | |
MSc Mathematics/ Mathematics and Computing | |
MSc Mathematics and Computing | |
Joint MSc- PhD in Mathematics | Mathematics/Statistics as a subject for at least two years/four semesters |
MSc- PhD Dual Degree in Operations Research | |
MSc- PhD Dual Degree in Environmental Science and Engineering | Any one of Biology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics for two years/four semesters, and any one of the other four subjects for at least one year/two semesters. |
Joint MSc- PhD in Atmosphere and Ocean Sciences | Mathematics and Physics and any one of these subjects among Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Application, Geology and Statistics |
Check the table for JAM exam schedule.
| Dates | Session | Test Papers and Codes |
|---|---|---|
| February 15, 2026 (Sunday) | Forenoon (FN) 9.30 am to 12.30 pm | • Chemistry (CY) • Geology (GG) • Mathematics (MA) |
| Afternoon (AN) 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm | • Biotechnology (BT) • Economics (EN) • Mathematical Statistics (MS) • Physics (PH) |
Student can appear in either ONE or TWO Test Paper (s). However, a candidate can appear in two Test Papers only if they are not scheduled in the same session.
Scribes were arranged for those PwD candidates who had requested to be provided with a scribe at the time of application.
Qualification of the scribe arranged by test centre will NOT be more than the minimum eligibility criteria of JAM 2026. However, the qualification of the scribe is be matriculation (10th) or above. If there are Y candidates who require a scribe, it will be ensured that a panel of (Y+1) scribes is available at the exam centre so that every candidate can have an alternative scribe to choose for the services.
IIT JAM 2026 Exam Day Guidelines
Students can check the exam day guidelines for IIT JAM 2026 here.
- Report to IIT JAM test centre an hour before the commencement of the exam. Check the admit card for the reporting time.
- Carry JAM admit card and a valid photo id.
- After reaching the centre compete the frisking check.
- Students are allowed to enter the exam hall 30 minutes before the test time.
- Take your seat immediately after entering the exam hall. Switch on your computer when you are asked to do so.
- Students are not allowed to leave the exam centre after the commencement of exam. They can leave the hall after the end of test.
- A scribble pad is given to the students for rough work. Write your roll number and name on the top of scribble pad.
- A virtual calculator is available for calculation in the computer screen. Students can use it for calculation purposes.
IIT JAM 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Do’s and Dont’s
Students can check dos and don’ts regarding the IIT JAM 2026 exam here.
Do’s
- Carry a copy of JAM admit card on exam day. Details mentioned on hall ticket and photo id must be similar.
- A transparent pen is allowed for calculation.
- Wear comfortable cloth to avoid discomfort during exam.
- Follow the instructions of the invigilator properly.
- Manage your time properly.
- Inform the invigilator incase of any issue with the computer or any other glitches.
Dont’s
- Avoid carrying prohibited items.
- Do not wear jewellery, chain, smart watch.
- Do not dismantle the system.
- Avoid talking to other students during the test.
Commonly asked questions
IIT JAM preparation for Geology requires aspirants to be thorough with the syllabus. This is important because there is a negative marking in the Joint Admission Test for MSc (JAM). Once candidates have completed their entire syllabus for IIT JAM 2023 for Geology course admission then they should consider solving past years’ IIT JAM question papers along with solving mock tests and sample papers to develop an idea of how to appear for a CBT.
Candidates can go through important topics that they should study to score well in the IIT JAM exam for Geology in the table mentioned below:
The Planet Earth | Geomorphology |
Structural Geology | |
Stratigraphy | Mineralogy |
Petrology | Economic Geology |
Applied Geology | |
Topics to Study in IIT JAM Mathematical Statistics:
Aspirants can go through important topics that they should study to secure good marks in the IIT JAM exam for Mathematical Statistics below:
Important Topics in Mathematics | |
|---|---|
Sequences and Series | Differential Calculus |
Integral Calculus | Matrices |
Important Topics in Statistics | |
Probability | Random Variables |
Standard Distributions | Joint Distributions |
Sampling Distributions | Limit Theorems |
Estimation | Testing of Hypotheses |
Candidates seeking admission in MSc Biotechnology courses offered at IITs should consider taking IIT JAM 2026. One of the most sought after courses, Biotechnology, is an extremely technical field and it requires aspirants to be thorough with all the topics at hand.
IIT JAM exam pattern for Biotechnology course admissions is such that aspirants need to attempt Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions (MSQs) and Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
The weightage of questions asked in the IIT JAM Biotechnology paper is as mentioned below:
Subject | Weightage (In percent) |
|---|---|
Biology | 44 |
Chemistry | 20 |
Mathematics | 18 |
Physics | 18 |
IIT JAM 2026 aspirants can check the below table for exam day shift timings:
| Examination Date | Session Time | Test Papers and Code |
|---|---|---|
| February 15, 2026 (Sunday) | Forenoon (FN) 9.30 am to 12.30 pm | • Chemistry (CY) • Geology (GG) • Mathematics (MA) |
| Afternoon (AN) 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm | • Biotechnology (BT) • Economics (EN) • Mathematical Statistics (MS) • Physics (PH) |
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IIT JAM 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Dress Code
There is no specific dress code for IIT JAM. But students must follow a decorum. The dress code for IIT JAM 2026 exam is mentioned here.
- Wear comfortable clothes.
- Boys avoid wearing caps or mufflers. Girls can prefer a kurta, tops, or a simple dress.
- Avoid wearing heavy jewellery, both boys and girls students.
Wear slippers or sandals.
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IIT JAM 2026 Exam Day Guidelines: Last Minute Preparation
- Avoid learning new topics. This will create confusion.
- Use your handy notes or flash card for quick revision.
- Memories the formula, concepts, shortcuts for solving the questions.
- In last few days take IIT JAM mock test for self assessment and time management.
- Focus on IIT JAM important questions.
- Eat healthy and take a good sleep. Also avoid taking stress.
News & Updates
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 weeks ago
With a JAM 2026 Biotechnology score of 61.67 and AIR 310, here's a realistic picture of your daughter's admission chances:
IITs
- Top IITs (Delhi, Bombay, Kharagpur, Madras)
- Cutoffs usually close around AIR 100–200.
- At rank 310, admission here is unlikely.
- Mid-tier IITs (Roorkee, Guwahati, BHU, Hyderabad)
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, BSc students are eligible for IIT JAM 2026. They have to complete their graduation or must be in the final year of graduation while applying for JAM. Admisison is offered to M.Sc., M.Sc. (Tech.), MS (Research), M.Sc. - M.Tech. Dual Degree, Joint M.Sc. - Ph.D., M.Sc. - Ph.D. Dual Degree, and Int
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Students who have a score above the JAM qualifying cutoff and are mentioned in the merit list can apply for the counselling process. The counselling will be held online. JAM counselling schedules are available online.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
IIT JAM 2026 counselling will be held in four rounds, followed by an additional round. Students need to fill the form at the JOAPS portal to participate in the JAM counselling process.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The authority has released the JAM qualifying marks online. Candidates can check cutoff to know the minimum passing marks in each paper. IIT JAM qualifying marks for Economics are mentioned below.
- GEN -40.63
- OBC-NCl / EWs -36.56
- SC/ST/PwD - 20.31
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
IIT JAM 2026 cutoff was released on March 21, 2026. Candidates can check the cutoff at official website. This is the qualifying cutoff. Candidates who score above the IIT JAM qualifying cutoff can participate in the counselling process.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
IIT JAM 2026 qualifying cutoff for GEN category vary category wise. Check the table for the JAM qualifying cutoff subject-wise.
Subject Name | GEN Cutoff |
Biotechnology | 42.3 |
Chemistry | 18.65 |
Economics | 40.63 |
Geology | 25.98 |
Mathematics | 12.65 |
Mathematics Statistics | 13.33 |
Physics | 12.04 |
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Below is the qualifying cutoff for IIT JAM OBC category.
Subject Name | OBC (NCL) / EWS |
Biotechnology | 38.07 |
Chemistry | 16.78 |
Economics | 36.56 |
Geology | 23.38 |
Mathematics | 11.38 |
Mathematics Statistics | 11.99 |
Physics | 10.83 |
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Based on past years exam analysis, IIT JAM is moderately difficult. The questions in the JAM exam are conceptually based. Candidates need to keep their concepts clear and practice JAM question papers regularly for better performance in the exam.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
IIT JAM counselling process is mentioned below.
- Go to IIT JAM 20266 website
- Click on the JOAPS portal
- Click on counselling link
- Fill the form, choose the preference order
- Pay the fees
- Submit the form
V
Contributor-Level 10