IIT JAM 2026 AIR 12 Physics Topper Yash Kasana’s Journey with PW

Yash Kasana secured AIR 12 in IIT JAM 2026 Physics, achieving an impressive result while continuing his Integrated MSc at NIT Rourkela. His preparation was not based on studying all day. Instead, he worked around his college schedule, focused on the areas that needed attention, and used question practice as a major part of his preparation.

Yash joined PW’s Physics SAKaar batch and started his serious IIT JAM preparation around September. Since his college kept him busy during the day, he studied mainly after 6 PM and managed to maintain around four hours of preparation each day.

Yash Kasana Started IIT JAM Preparation Alongside College

Yash was pursuing an Integrated MSc at NIT Rourkela when he began preparing seriously for IIT JAM. With college classes and labs taking up most of his day, he had to find a practical way to fit exam preparation into his routine.

He said:

“Main aapke SAKaar batch se juda hua hoon. Physics SAKaar tha aur aapne mereko Electronics padhaya hai. Maine September mein start kiya tha.”

His college schedule left little room for long study sessions during the day. Instead of waiting for a perfect routine, Yash used the evening hours for focused preparation.

“Jo serious preparation hogi na, wo bilkul 6 PM ke baad hi hoti hai. 6-7 PM ke baad hi hoti hai aur minimum chaar-paanch ghante main padh leta tha rozana.”

This routine helped him stay consistent without compromising his college responsibilities.

Yash Used Recorded Lectures to Fit Preparation Into His Schedule

Since Yash spent most of his day at college, attending every live class was not practical. He relied mainly on recorded lectures and adjusted the speed and learning method according to his needs.

“Main recorded hi dekhta tha. Time nahi milta tha. We can understand ki speed pe dekh leta tha, double ki speed pe dekh leta tha.”

He also did not spend equal time on every topic. If he already understood a topic, he would revise the notes and practise questions instead of watching the complete lecture again.

“Main kabhi-kabhi... sabke lecture dekhta tha. Main notes bhi dekh leta tha. Jo mereko topic aata tha, mera already covered hai, toh main uske notes dekh leta tha aur kuch questions kara rakhe hote hain toh phir wo main kar leta tha.”

This approach allowed him to focus more attention on topics where he actually needed improvement.

Yash Focused on Question Practice Instead of Repeatedly Reading Notes

For Yash, revision was closely connected to solving questions. Rather than spending large amounts of time rereading notes, he used questions to identify what he knew and where he needed more work.

He explained:

“Revision mera matlab questions ke saath hi hota tha. Matlab aise main dedicatedly notes nahi padhta tha, kyunki wo bahut time le leta tha aur usse kuch output bhi nahi nikalta.”

He also highlighted an important difference between Physics and subjects that depend heavily on memorisation.

“Physics is not that kind of subject jisko aapko yaad karna padega. Do kuch aspects hain jahan par yaad karne hote hain. But har cheez yaad karne ke liye nahi hai. It's all about practice.”

For him, solving questions was not just an exam strategy. It was also a way to strengthen concepts and decide what needed revision.

Mock Tests Helped Yash Understand Exam-Time Management

Preparing for the syllabus was only one part of Yash’s strategy. He also understood that managing three hours inside the actual exam required practice.

When asked about the importance of time management, he pointed to mock tests as an essential part of preparation.

“Obviously uske liye toh mock test dena hi padega. Mock test se hi thoda matlab pata chalega. Bina uske nahi hoga.”

According to Yash, mock tests also provide a reality check. A low score should not automatically become a reason to lose confidence. Instead, students can analyse their mistakes and use them to improve.

His approach was to treat the result of a mock test as feedback rather than as a final judgement of his preparation.

Yash Used PYQs for Revision and Avoided Unnecessary Resources

Yash did not believe in collecting too many books or resources for IIT JAM preparation. He felt that the content covered in the PW batch was enough for the exam.

“Additional JAM ke liye zyada required nahi hai. Jitna batch mein covered karaya ja raha hai, wo sufficient hai.”

He also recommended question-based revision, particularly through PYQs.

“Revision karna hai. Aur revision bhi kaisa, PYQ matlab question-dedicated revision karna hai.”

For students preparing for IIT JAM, his approach was simple: understand the concepts, practise questions, identify mistakes, and revise based on what the questions reveal.

Yash’s Strategy for Handling Distractions and Difficult Subjects

Preparing alongside college also meant dealing with distractions. Yash admitted that he did not always try to manage every distraction. Instead, he understood what worked for him and avoided things that affected his preparation.

When asked about staying motivated, he suggested keeping a balance between difficult and easier topics.

“Koi ek secondary subject rakho jo comparatively easy ho. Toh tum ek hard subject karoge, agar nahi ho raha hai toh tum easy pe shift ho sakte ho.”

This helped create a balance between challenging preparation and topics that could provide confidence when he felt stuck.

Yash Kasana’s IIT JAM 2026 Success Mantra

Yash’s journey to AIR 12 in IIT JAM 2026 Physics shows how consistency can make a difference, even when preparation has to fit around college.

His strategy was built around a few practical habits: studying for four to five hours consistently, using recorded lectures when needed, focusing on weak areas, practising questions, taking mock tests, and using PYQs for revision.

His final advice to aspirants was simple:

“Motivated raho bas ho jayega aur consistent.”

Yash’s success shows that students do not necessarily need an ideal schedule to prepare well. With focused study, smart resource selection, regular question practice, and consistency, it is possible to balance college and competitive exam preparation and still aim for a top rank.