
IIT JAM Exam Pattern 2027 includes 60 questions carrying 100 marks, with a total exam duration of 3 hours. The examination is conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode and consists of three sections: Section A (MCQ), Section B (MSQ), and Section C (NAT). Section A has negative marking, while Sections B and C do not have negative marking.
The IIT JAM 2027 examination will be conducted on 14 February 2027 in two sessions. Candidates can appear for one or two Test Papers, provided the selected papers are scheduled in different sessions.
Understanding the IIT JAM paper pattern, section-wise marks, question types, and marking scheme is important for planning preparation and attempting questions effectively.
The IIT JAM 2027 examination will be conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) in English. The question paper will contain 60 questions for a total of 100 marks and will be divided into three compulsory sections: A, B, and C.
Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Section B: Multiple Select Questions (MSQs)
Section C: Numerical Answer Type (NAT) Questions
There are seven IIT JAM Test Papers: Biotechnology (BT), Chemistry (CY), Economics (EN), Geology (GG), Mathematics (MA), Mathematical Statistics (MS), and Physics (PH).
The examination duration is 3 hours.
The following table provides the major IIT JAM exam details and paper pattern for 2027:
| Exam Details | IIT JAM 2027 Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | IIT JAM 2027 |
| Full Form | Joint Admission Test for Masters |
| Conducting Institute | IIT Kharagpur |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Date | 14 February 2027 |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours |
| Total Questions | 60 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Question Types | MCQ, MSQ and NAT |
| Number of Sections | 3 |
| Section A | 30 MCQs |
| Section B | 10 MSQs |
| Section C | 20 NAT Questions |
| Negative Marking | Applicable only in Section A |
| Test Papers | BT, CY, EN, GG, MA, MS and PH |
| Exam Language | English |
JAM 2027 will be held in two sessions. Candidates can appear for one or two Test Papers, but two Test Papers can be selected only when they are scheduled in different sessions.
The IIT JAM 2027 examination will be conducted on 14 February 2027 (Sunday) in two sessions.
| Session | Time | Test Papers |
|---|---|---|
| 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) |
The duration of each paper is 3 hours.
Candidates planning to appear for two Test Papers should check the session schedule before selecting their papers, as two Test Papers can be taken only if they are scheduled in different sessions.
The IIT JAM question paper is divided into three compulsory sections: Section A, Section B, and Section C. Each section contains a different type of question and follows a different marking scheme.
| Particulars | Section A | Section B | Section C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Question Type | MCQ | MSQ | NAT |
| Number of Questions | 30 | 10 | 20 |
| Total Marks | 50 | 20 | 30 |
| Negative Marking | Yes | No | No |
| Partial Marking | Not applicable | No | Not applicable |
Section A contains 30 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs).
Only one option is correct out of the four given choices.
Questions 1 to 10 carry 1 mark each.
Questions 11 to 30 carry 2 marks each.
The section carries a total of 50 marks.
Negative marking applies to incorrect answers.
Section B contains 10 Multiple Select Questions (MSQs).
One or more options may be correct, but not all four options are correct.
Each question carries 2 marks.
The section carries a total of 20 marks.
There is no negative marking.
There is no partial marking.
Section C contains 20 Numerical Answer Type (NAT) questions.
Candidates must enter the numerical answer on the computer screen.
No answer choices are provided for NAT questions.
Questions 41 to 50 carry 1 mark each.
Questions 51 to 60 carry 2 marks each.
The section carries a total of 30 marks.
There is no negative marking.
The IIT JAM marking scheme differs across the three sections. Candidates should understand the marking rules before attempting questions, particularly because negative marking is applicable only in Section A.
| Section | Question Type | Question Distribution | Marks | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | MCQ | 10 × 1 mark + 20 × 2 marks | 50 | Yes |
| Section B | MSQ | 10 × 2 marks | 20 | No |
| Section C | NAT | 10 × 1 mark + 10 × 2 marks | 30 | No |
| Total | — | 60 Questions | 100 | — |
Negative marking is applicable only to Section A (MCQs).
For an incorrect answer to a 1-mark question, 1/3 mark is deducted.
For an incorrect answer to a 2-mark question, 2/3 mark is deducted.
There is no negative marking in Section B or Section C.
Unattempted questions receive zero marks.
The IIT JAM 2027 paper contains three types of questions:
1. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ): MCQs have four answer choices, out of which only one option is correct. Candidates select the answer using the mouse. Negative marking applies to incorrect MCQ responses in Section A.
2. Multiple Select Questions (MSQ): MSQs may have one or more correct options, but all four options cannot be correct. Candidates need to select the applicable answer option(s). There is no negative or partial marking for Section B.
3. Numerical Answer Type (NAT): NAT questions do not provide answer choices. Candidates have to enter the numerical answer using the virtual numeric keypad available on the computer screen. The computer keyboard is disabled for entering NAT responses.
Candidates should keep the following instructions in mind for the IIT JAM 2027 examination:
All three sections of the question paper are compulsory.
Questions may appear in a random sequence on the computer screen.
MCQ and MSQ answers are selected using the mouse.
NAT answers must be entered using the virtual numeric keypad provided on the screen.
Candidates cannot use their own calculator during the examination.
A virtual calculator will be available on the computer screen.
A scribble pad will be provided for rough work.
Candidates must write their name and registration number on the scribble pad before using it.
The scribble pad must be returned after the examination.
The examination will automatically end after the stipulated time.
Unattempted questions receive zero marks.
A mock test facility will be made available on the official JAM website.
Previous years' question papers are also available on the official JAM website.
The complete distribution of questions and marks is given below:
| Section | Question Numbers | Type | Marks per Question | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | Q.1–Q.10 | MCQ | 1 mark | 10 |
| Section A | Q.11–Q.30 | MCQ | 2 marks | 40 |
| Section B | Q.31–Q.40 | MSQ | 2 marks | 20 |
| Section C | Q.41–Q.50 | NAT | 1 mark | 10 |
| Section C | Q.51–Q.60 | NAT | 2 marks | 20 |
| Total | Q.1–Q.60 | — | — | 100 |
Understanding the paper pattern can help candidates plan how they divide their preparation and practice time across MCQs, MSQs, and NAT questions.
Candidates should focus on the following while preparing:
Practice all three question types regularly.
Solve IIT JAM previous year question papers to understand the actual question format.
Practise numerical problems without relying on answer choices.
Pay special attention to accuracy while attempting Section A because incorrect answers carry negative marks.
Practise MSQs carefully because there is no partial marking.
Take computer-based mock tests to become familiar with the online examination interface.
Analyse mistakes after every mock test and revise the related concepts.