IIT JAM 2026 Chemistry AIR 10 Sourav Gorai: Success Story & Strategy with PW
For Sourav Gorai, IIT JAM preparation started much before he joined a dedicated coaching batch. He had been studying Chemistry on his own since the first semester of his BSc, gradually building his concepts alongside college studies. When the IIT JAM exam was around six months away, he joined PW’s Sakaar 3.0 batch to prepare for the exam.
By then, his Physical Chemistry preparation was already strong, while Inorganic Chemistry was largely covered. Organic Chemistry, however, was completed closer to the exam. With limited time left and a significant portion of the syllabus still pending, Sourav relied on recorded lectures, regular revision, and a focused approach instead of adding multiple resources.
His preparation eventually helped him secure AIR 10 in IIT JAM 2026 Chemistry, a result he himself did not expect after feeling that he had made several mistakes in the exam.
How Sourav Started Preparing for IIT JAM
Sourav’s preparation did not begin just a few months before the exam. He had been studying for IIT JAM independently since the first semester of his BSc.
He gradually built his concepts during college and later joined PW when the exam was around six months away. Since his basics were already in place, he could move through the lectures faster.
Sourav explained how he used the recorded lectures:
“Sir, JAM ke baare mein toh pehle se hi padhta tha, BSc ke first semester se hi. Tab se hi khud se thoda-thoda karke padhta tha. Base bana liya tha. Isliye JAM ke liye six months pehle batch liya. Recorded lectures dekhta tha 1.5x ya 2x pe. Exam ke aage bhi mera kaafi syllabus bacha hua tha, toh maine 2x pe dekh ke complete kar liya.”
Since Sourav already had a basic understanding of the subjects, he used recorded lectures at higher speed to cover the remaining syllabus within the available time.
However, his strategy would be different for a student starting from scratch. For such students, he recommended giving more time to the lectures and building their concepts properly instead of trying to rush through the course.
How Sourav Managed Physical, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry
Sourav had completed different parts of the Chemistry syllabus at different stages of his academic journey. Physical Chemistry was largely covered during his BSc, while Inorganic Chemistry had already been completed earlier through his preparation.
This gave him more time to focus on revision and complete the remaining areas.
When asked how he managed the three branches of Chemistry, he explained:
“Inorganic toh pehle se hi khatam ho gaya tha. Pehle se batch mein khatam kar diya tha. Toh Inorganic pehle se ready ho gaya tha, usko baar-baar revise karta tha. Organic ek baar last mein jaake complete hua aur Physical toh mera BSc ke dauraan hi complete ho gaya tha.”
His approach was not to treat every subject in exactly the same way. Instead, he worked according to his existing level of preparation.
Inorganic Chemistry was revised repeatedly, Organic Chemistry was completed towards the end of his preparation, and Physical Chemistry benefited from the foundation he had developed during his BSc.
This helped him use his limited preparation time more efficiently.
How PW Sakaar 3.0 Helped Sourav Stay Focused
Sourav was part of the Sakaar 3.0 regular batch. One important part of his strategy was sticking to the content taught in the batch instead of constantly looking for additional sources.
For students preparing for competitive exams, it can be tempting to keep switching between teachers, books, notes, and online resources. Sourav believes that following one reliable course properly can be enough.
He shared his advice for students who are just starting their IIT JAM preparation:
“Batch mein jo padhaya ja raha hai, usko follow karke hi ho jayega. Utna tough bhi nahi hai. Mera base clear tha, toh maine 2x pe dekh kar kar liya. But jo shuru se karega, usko ek saal lagega. Toh bhai, woh thoda slowly kare, 1x pe kare. Daily class kare, thodi zyada mehnat kare, toh base unka bhi clear ho jayega.”
His experience also highlights an important difference between students who already have strong basics and those who are beginning from the start.
While Sourav could use higher playback speed because his foundation was ready, he suggested that beginners should attend their classes properly and give themselves enough time to understand the concepts.
The key was not how quickly he completed the lectures but how well he understood and followed the course.
Sourav’s Strategy: Complete the Core Syllabus Before Adding Extra Material
Another important part of Sourav’s preparation was keeping his resources limited.
Rather than trying to cover everything available, he focused first on completing the core syllabus. Only after finishing the main course did he consider additional material.
He explained this approach during the interview:
“Pehle aap ek baar poora course padho. Pura syllabus padho. Phir uske baare mein idhar-udhar cheezein dekho.”
This strategy helped him avoid getting distracted by too many resources.
Sourav had used books during his BSc, particularly for Physical Chemistry, but he did not depend on additional books during his dedicated IIT JAM preparation.
His preparation was therefore centred around understanding the syllabus, following the classes, revising concepts, and adding extra information only when necessary.
How Sourav Balanced IIT JAM Preparation With BSc
Sourav was pursuing his BSc while preparing for IIT JAM, but he had already covered a substantial part of the syllabus during his undergraduate studies.
This made it easier for him to manage both academics and entrance preparation. His experience also suggests that students do not necessarily need to wait until their final year to begin preparing.
When asked about managing IIT JAM alongside a bachelor's degree, he said:
“BSc mein toh maine pehle hi kar liya tha, six months pehle. Toh aap jab BSc mein achha padhte ho, toh kuch dikkat nahi aata hai. Jo teacher class mein padha rahe hain, usko shiddat se follow karega toh ho jayega. Pehle poora syllabus padh lo, phir jo extra cheez hai woh notes mein add kar lo.”
For Sourav, paying attention during regular BSc classes helped him build the academic foundation required for IIT JAM.
His advice is straightforward: students should first complete their core syllabus and then add extra concepts or information to their notes.
Why Sourav Did Not Worry About Which PW Batch He Joined
Sourav was part of the regular Sakaar 3.0 batch, rather than a special or premium batch. His result also reflects his belief that the batch alone does not determine the outcome.
When asked about his batch, he clarified:
“Mera toh Sakaar 3.0 regular batch tha.”
He also shared that students can perform well regardless of the specific batch they are enrolled in if they are serious about studying.
For him, the important factor was following the classes properly and putting in consistent effort. This allowed him to make the most of the resources available to him.
Sourav’s Exam Result Was Better Than He Expected
Despite his preparation, Sourav did not leave the IIT JAM exam feeling completely confident about his performance. He felt that he had made several mistakes and initially did not expect a very high rank.
The final result, however, was very different.
Sourav shared his reaction when he saw his score and rank:
“Nahi sir, ye toh expect nahi kiya tha. Exam jo hua, jab hua toh bahut mistake ho gaya tha. Toh soch rahe the itna bhi result nahi aayega. Achha result nahi aayega. Bahut shandaar result aaya. Matlab ekdum dil khush ho gaya.”
Sourav scored around 67 marks and secured AIR 10 in Chemistry. His result came as a pleasant surprise, especially because he had felt that mistakes during the exam might affect his performance.
The experience is a reminder that students should not decide their final outcome based only on how they feel immediately after an exam.
Sourav’s IIT JAM Advice: Follow One Strategy Consistently
After securing AIR 10, Sourav had a simple message for students preparing for future IIT JAM exams.
Instead of constantly worrying about whether they are studying enough or whether they need another resource, he encouraged students to follow their classes sincerely.
He said:
“Batch mein jo teacher padh raha hai, usko shiddat se sunna hai. Jo karne ko bol raha hai, woh karte jayega toh ho jayega.”
His advice comes from his own preparation experience. He did not keep changing his strategy. He followed the course, completed the syllabus, revised regularly, and focused on strengthening his existing foundation.
For students who are beginning their preparation, this approach can help reduce unnecessary confusion.
What Sourav Plans to Do After IIT JAM 2026
With AIR 10 in IIT JAM Chemistry, Sourav now has several strong options for his next academic step.
During the conversation, he mentioned IIT Kharagpur as one of his plans. He also considered other IITs but noted that factors such as distance from home and family preferences would influence his final decision.
The important part is that his rank has given him the freedom to make that choice based on his academic and personal priorities.
After months of preparation, he can now focus on selecting the institute that fits his plans best.
Sourav’s AIR 10 Journey Shows the Value of a Strong Foundation
Sourav Gorai’s AIR 10 in IIT JAM 2026 Chemistry is the result of preparation that started much earlier than his final six months of focused exam preparation.
His BSc studies helped him build a strong foundation, while PW’s Sakaar 3.0 gave him a way to cover the remaining syllabus. Instead of collecting multiple resources, he focused on lectures, revision, notes, and completing the core course.
His journey also offers a practical lesson for future IIT JAM aspirants: finish the syllabus first, follow your classes consistently, revise what you study, and only then move towards additional resources.
Sourav’s result shows that preparation does not have to be complicated. A strong base, disciplined study and the willingness to follow one strategy consistently can help students move closer to their target rank.
