IIT JAM 2026 AIR 18 Physics Topper Omkar Ahuja Success Story: Strategy & Preparation with PW

Omkar Ahuja’s IIT JAM 2026 Physics journey is a great example of how consistent preparation and genuine interest can help students achieve an excellent rank, even when they come from a different academic background. After completing his BTech in Electrical Engineering, Omkar decided to pursue his interest in Physics and secured AIR 18 in IIT JAM 2026 Physics. 

He joined PW’s Sakaar batch in May 2025 and prepared with recorded lectures, DPPs, PYQs, revision, and mock tests while balancing his BTech studies. His success story offers valuable insights into his preparation strategy, resource selection, and approach to tackling the IIT JAM exam.

From BTech Electrical Engineering to IIT JAM Physics

Omkar’s academic journey was different from that of most IIT JAM Physics aspirants. He had completed his BTech in Electrical Engineering, where subjects such as Electrodynamics, Thermodynamics, and Modern Physics were not part of his core academic preparation in the same way they are for Physics students.

However, his interest in Physics started much earlier.

He enjoyed studying Physics in Classes 11 and 12 and developed a particular interest in Astrophysics. He also regularly watched YouTube videos related to the subject.

Talking about his interest, Omkar said:

“Interest toh tha hi 11-12th se. Maine Physics bahut enjoy ki hai. Mujhe particularly Astrophysics mein kaafi interest raha hai.”

Even during his BTech, his interest in Physics remained strong. This eventually made him consider switching his career direction towards Physics.

He started exploring different entrance examinations and came across exams such as IIT JAM, TIFR, and JEST.

Omkar explained:

“Agar itna interest aa hi raha hai toh kyun na ek career switch hi maara jaaye. Physics mein hi aage jaane ka try kiya jaaye.”

This decision eventually led him towards IIT JAM preparation.

Why Omkar Chose PW Sakaar for IIT JAM Preparation

Before starting his IIT JAM preparation, Omkar had already prepared for GATE through PW. Since that experience had worked well for him, he decided to continue with PW for Physics.

After his GATE exam, he explored the Physics courses available on PW and found the Sakaar batch, which prepares students for IIT JAM and other Physics-related entrance examinations.

He joined the batch in May 2025, after completing his third year of BTech.

Omkar said:

“Maine Sakaar batch dekha, jo IIT JAM ki preparation karwata hai. Phir maine Sakaar batch join kiya, May 2025 mein.”

From there, he started working through the course and gradually covered the IIT JAM syllabus.

How Omkar Used Recorded Lectures

Because Omkar was still pursuing his BTech, attending every live class was not always possible. He therefore relied mainly on recorded lectures.

The advantage was that he could adjust the speed according to his understanding.

If he already knew a topic, he could skip or watch it quickly. If a concept was new, he would slow down the lecture or watch the difficult portion again.

He explained:

“Jo cheez mere ko samajh mein aa rahi thi, main usko skip kar deta tha. Jo cheez nahi samajh aa rahi thi, usko thoda dheere karke repeat mein dekhta tha.”

How Omkar Prioritised Topics During Preparation 

One interesting part of Omkar’s strategy was that he did not spend the same amount of time on every topic.

His previous GATE preparation had already given him familiarity with some areas. For example, he was comfortable with several concepts from Mathematical Physics.

He said:

“Mathematical Physics ke lectures nahi dekhe the, kyunki woh saare topics mujhe GATE preparation ki wajah se aate the.”

Omkar’s Approach to DPPs

Omkar did not follow the approach of solving a DPP immediately after every lecture.

Instead, he preferred cumulative DPP practice.

Once he felt that he had understood a particular topic properly, he attempted the related DPP questions. This helped him check whether he had actually understood the topic or had simply followed the lecture.

He explained:

“Jab main sure hota tha ki haan, ye topic mere ko aa gaya, tab main DPP ki taraf badhta tha.”

How Omkar Used PYQs for IIT JAM

Previous Year Questions (PYQs) were another important part of Omkar’s preparation. He practised IIT JAM PYQs and also solved relevant questions from TIFR and JEST. These questions helped him understand how the same concept could be tested in different ways.

He said:

“PYQs hi dekh lo toh kaafi repetitive topics aa jaate hain. Unpe focus kar lo toh bhi score achha aa jaata hai.”

For him, PYQs were not just a source of practice but also a way to identify important concepts and improve problem-solving speed.

Omkar’s Revision Strategy: Become Your Own Teacher

Omkar followed a detailed approach during revision.

After the Sakaar syllabus was completed around December, he started revising his notes systematically. Instead of simply reading the notes, he questioned every concept.

For example, while revising a formula, he would think about:

• Why the formula was derived

• What logic was behind it

• Where the formula could be applied

• What kind of questions could be asked from it

• How the formula connected with other concepts

He explained:

“Ek-ek formula woh aaya kaise, uske peeche ka logic kya hai aur us formula se IIT JAM mein kya-kya question ban sakte hain, woh main khud sochne ki koshish karta tha.”

How Omkar Balanced BTech and IIT JAM Preparation

Preparing for IIT JAM while pursuing BTech was another challenge.

Along with his entrance preparation, Omkar had college examinations, semester work, and project responsibilities. His solution was to avoid creating a huge backlog.

He followed the Sakaar course through recordings and tried to stay close to the pace of the batch.

His approach shows that students preparing alongside college do not necessarily need to study for extremely long hours every day. What matters more is maintaining a realistic and consistent schedule.

IIT JAM 2026 Physics Paper Was on the Tougher Side

After appearing for IIT JAM 2026, Omkar felt that the Physics paper was moderate to difficult, particularly when compared with the previous year questions he had solved.

He found that some questions required a different level of logical thinking and more effort to reach the answer.

Talking about the paper, he said:

“Mere ko is baar ka paper on a tougher side laga. Medium se tough wali bracket mein tha.”

He also noticed that some questions required a change in approach compared with the questions he had practised from previous years.

Despite finding the paper challenging, Omkar scored 54 marks and secured AIR 18.

Omkar’s Biggest Advice: Stay Consistent

When asked what he would recommend to his juniors, Omkar gave a simple answer: consistency.

He believes students should not study for extremely long hours on one day and then take a break the next day.

Instead, they should maintain a similar study routine every day.

He said:

“Aisa nahi hai ki tumne ek din bahut zyada padh liya, phir agle din rest le liya. Tumhe almost similar hi padhna hai.”

According to Omkar, even three focused hours can be enough if students use those hours properly.

“Agar tum three hours padh rahe ho, woh three hours bhi sufficient hain, agar tum dedicatedly padh rahe ho.”

His advice is particularly useful for students who feel pressured to study for 10–12 hours every day.

Avoid Following Too Many Resources

Omkar also advised students not to keep collecting new books, courses, and study materials.

According to him, following one reliable resource properly is more useful than switching between multiple sources.

He said:

“Bahut zyada extra cheezein karne ki zarurat nahi hai.”

Do Not Memorise PYQ Answers

One important point from Omkar’s interview was about the way students practise PYQs. Simply remembering that a particular question had an answer like “B” is not enough. The question may be changed slightly in the actual examination. Students should instead understand why a particular answer is correct.

This also helps improve calculation speed and confidence.

Repeatedly solving questions makes students more comfortable with common calculations and reduces the time spent on basic steps during the examination.

Omkar Also Solved TIFR and JEST PYQs

Apart from IIT JAM questions, Omkar solved relevant PYQs from TIFR and JEST. He found this useful because the syllabus overlaps to a considerable extent, while the level of questions can be more challenging.

Practising these questions gave him an opportunity to test whether he could handle concepts beyond the usual IIT JAM question pattern.

Omkar Ahuja’s IIT JAM 2026 AIR 18 Success Story

Omkar Ahuja’s AIR 18 in IIT JAM 2026 Physics is an inspiring example of how a student can change academic direction with the right preparation.

Coming from a BTech Electrical Engineering background, he did not have the conventional BSc Physics foundation that many IIT JAM aspirants possess. Yet his interest in Physics motivated him to make the transition.

His preparation with PW Sakaar, along with recorded lectures, DPPs, PYQs, detailed revision, and mock tests, helped him build the required understanding.

His journey offers a clear message to future IIT JAM aspirants:

“Stick to one resource and consistency maintain rakho.”

For students preparing for IIT JAM 2027, the key takeaway is simple: start early, understand concepts instead of memorising answers, practise PYQs, revise regularly, and stay consistent. Omkar’s story shows that your previous academic background may influence where you begin, but your preparation and determination can shape where you finish.