IIT JAM 2027 is the national entrance test for M.Sc., joint M.Sc.-PhD and other science master's programmes at the IITs. IIT Kharagpur is running it this year. The exam is on Sunday, 14 February 2027. Registration has closed, so this guide covers what comes next, plus a study plan and worked examples.
Key takeaways
- IIT Kharagpur organises JAM 2027. The exam is on 14 February 2027 in two sessions, and results come out on 18 March 2027.
- There are seven papers: Biotechnology, Chemistry, Economics, Geology, Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics and Physics. You can take one paper or two.
- Each paper has 60 questions for 100 marks in 3 hours. Only Section A (MCQ) has negative marking.
- The fee was ₹1,000 or ₹1,350 for female/SC/ST/PwD candidates and ₹2,000 or ₹2,700 for everyone else. Registration closed on 24 October 2026.
- Your score is used at 23 IITs (around 3,000 seats) and through CCMN at IISc, NITs, IISER Pune, IISER Bhopal and other institutes (over 2,000 seats).
What is IIT JAM 2027 and who conducts it?
Quick answer: IIT JAM 2027 (Joint Admission Test for Masters) is a computer-based test for entry to postgraduate science programmes. IIT Kharagpur is the organising institute. The exam is on 14 February 2027. Scores are used for M.Sc., M.Sc. (Tech), MS (Research), joint M.Sc.-PhD, dual degree and Integrated PhD admissions.
The official website is jam.iitkgp.ac.in. The rules are in the JAM 2027 Information Brochure.
If you are still deciding on a science career, our guides on how to become a scientist and how to become a mathematician explain where an M.Sc. leads.
Which papers are in JAM 2027, and when is each one?
JAM 2027 has seven test papers. Each paper is in either the morning or the afternoon session on 14 February 2027.
The seven JAM 2027 papers and their sessions.
Chemistry (CY), Geology (GG) and Mathematics (MA) are in the forenoon session, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Biotechnology (BT), Economics (EN), Mathematical Statistics (MS) and Physics (PH) are in the afternoon session, 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm.
You can take two papers only if one is in the morning and one is in the afternoon.
Source: JAM 2027 test schedule. Mathematics plus Physics works; Mathematics plus Chemistry does not. PwD candidates get one extra hour per paper.
What are the important dates for JAM 2027?
Here is the timeline from the official important dates page and the brochure.
JAM 2027 key dates, from registration to result.
Registration opened on 11 September 2026 and closed on 24 October 2026 after two extensions.
The paid correction window opens on 10 November 2026 (tentative).
Admit cards come out on 5 January 2027. The exam is on 14 February 2027, and results are due on 18 March 2027.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Information brochure released | 31 August 2026 |
| Registration opened | 11 September 2026 |
| Registration closed (extended twice) | 24 October 2026 |
| Last date for fee payment (registered candidates only) | 26 October 2026 |
| Paid data correction window opens | 10 November 2026 (tentative) |
| Admit card download | From 5 January 2027 until exam day |
| JAM 2027 exam | 14 February 2027 (Sunday) |
| Result | 18 March 2027 |
| Admission brochure for IITs | Second week of March 2027 |
IIT admission portal dates and CCMN dates are not announced yet. Check the official pages.
Who is eligible for IIT JAM 2027?
You can sit JAM 2027 if you have finished a bachelor's degree, or if you will write the final exam of your degree in 2027. That is the whole rule for taking the exam. The eligibility page and the official FAQ add these points:
- There is no minimum percentage to appear.
- Candidates with backlogs can apply.
- There is no age limit.
- There is no limit on the number of attempts.
- Indian and foreign nationals can both apply.
Admission is a separate step. You must finish your degree before the institute's admission date and meet the programme's Minimum Educational Qualifications (MEQs): the subjects your degree must include, and for how long. A few programmes also ask for minimum marks. For example, some programmes in the brochure ask for 60% marks or a 6.5 CGPA. Check Annexure II of the brochure for each programme you want.
Are there JAM exam centres outside India?
No. There are no international centres for JAM 2027. The exam runs in around 114 cities across India, split into eight zones. Your three city choices had to be in one zone. See the exam cities list.
What is the JAM 2027 exam pattern and marking scheme?
Every JAM paper has 60 questions for a total of 100 marks. You get 3 hours. All three sections are compulsory.
How a JAM 2027 paper is built.
Section A has 30 MCQs worth 50 marks, with negative marking of 1/3 or 2/3 of a mark for wrong answers.
Section B has 10 MSQs worth 20 marks, with no negative and no partial marking.
Section C has 20 numerical answer questions worth 30 marks, with no negative marking. The paper totals 60 questions, 100 marks and 3 hours.
| Section | Type | Questions | Marks | Wrong answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | MCQ: one correct option out of four | 10 of 1 mark, 20 of 2 marks | 50 | Minus 1/3 (1-mark) or minus 2/3 (2-mark) |
| B | MSQ: one or more correct, but not all four | 10 of 2 marks | 20 | No negative, no partial marks |
| C | NAT: type a number | 10 of 1 mark, 10 of 2 marks | 30 | No negative marking |
Source: JAM 2027 brochure, sections 2.5 and 2.6.
You enter NAT answers on an on-screen keypad. There is a virtual calculator; you cannot bring your own.
A useful fact: a blind MCQ guess averages zero. On a 2-mark question, 1/4 × 2 minus 3/4 × 2/3 = 0 (the 1-mark case works the same way). If you can rule out one option, the odds turn in your favour.
How much is the JAM 2027 application fee?
The fee depends on gender, category and the number of papers. It is not refundable.
| Category | One paper | Two papers |
|---|---|---|
| Female / SC / ST / PwD | ₹1,000 | ₹1,350 |
| All others | ₹2,000 | ₹2,700 |
Source: JAM 2027 application fees.
Changing your city, paper, category, gender or date of birth costs ₹300 plus any fee difference. Fixing scrutiny defects is free.
At the admission stage, the IITs charge a ₹750 processing fee. If you get a seat, you pay a seat booking fee. It is ₹15,000 for General, OBC-NCL and EWS candidates and ₹7,500 for SC, ST and PwD candidates. This amount is adjusted against your institute fee.
What is the syllabus for each JAM 2027 paper?
The full syllabus is in Annexure I of the brochure and on the syllabus page. Here is a short summary.
| Paper | Main areas |
|---|---|
| Mathematics (MA) | Real analysis; multivariable calculus and differential equations; linear algebra and algebra, including groups |
| Physics (PH) | Mathematical methods; mechanics; oscillations, waves and optics; electricity and magnetism; kinetic theory and thermodynamics; modern physics; solid state, devices and electronics |
| Chemistry (CY) | Basic maths (Class 12 level); physical, organic and inorganic chemistry |
| Mathematical Statistics (MS) | Maths about 25%; statistics about 75%: probability, distributions, limit theorems, sampling, estimation, testing, non-parametric methods, Markov chains |
| Biotechnology (BT) | General biology; microbial, plant and animal biotechnology; biotechniques; plus chemistry, maths and physics at school level |
| Economics (EN) | Maths and statistics for economics; microeconomics; macroeconomics; Indian economy |
| Geology (GG) | Planet Earth; geomorphology; structural geology; palaeontology; stratigraphy; mineralogy; petrology; economic and applied geology |
If you are aiming at Mathematical Statistics, our guide on how to become a data scientist shows where that path can lead.
Which institutes accept the JAM 2027 score, and how do admissions work?
There are two routes after the result.
Two admission routes after the JAM 2027 result.
First you sit JAM 2027 and get your All India Rank in each paper.
For the 23 IITs, you apply through the JAM admission portal with one application.
For IISc, NITs, IISER Pune, IISER Bhopal and other result-sharing institutes, you apply through CCMN.
Route 1: the 23 IITs. There are around 3,000 seats. You make one online application for all eligible programmes, even if you qualified in two papers. You list programmes in order of preference and pay ₹750. Seats are given by All India Rank, reservation rules and seat availability. There is no extra interview or written test. There are up to four rounds. In each round you can accept and freeze, accept and ask for an upgrade, or reject and leave.
Route 2: result-sharing institutes. Over 2,000 seats at IISc, CFTIs, NITs, DIAT, IIEST Shibpur, IISER Pune, IISER Bhopal, IIPE, JNCASR, SLIET and others use JAM scores. Admission runs through CCMN. For the IISc side, see our guide on how to get into IISc.
The IISER BS-MS route after Class 12 is different; see our IISER IAT 2027 guide.
How do you apply for JAM 2027, step by step?
Registration closed on 24 October 2026. If you applied, the later steps still matter.
- Register on JOAPS. You give your name, email, mobile number and a password. Your Enrollment ID and OTP come by email and SMS.
- Fill the form. Add your degree details, papers, three exam cities and photo ID (Aadhaar, driving licence, PAN, passport or voter ID).
- Upload documents. You need a photo, signature, Class 10 marksheet with date of birth, and any category or PwD certificate. OBC-NCL and EWS certificates must be issued on or after 1 April 2026.
- Pay online. Use net banking, a debit or credit card, UPI or a wallet.
- Watch for scrutiny emails. Fix any defect within the time given. Defect fixes are free.
- Make paid changes if needed. The correction window opens on 10 November 2026 (tentative).
- Download your admit card from 5 January 2027. Print it, preferably in colour. Carry it with the original photo ID you used in the form.
- Sit the exam on 14 February 2027 and check the result on 18 March 2027.
- Apply for admission through the JAM admission portal (IITs) and/or CCMN.
How should you prepare for IIT JAM 2027?
You have about 14 weeks from 8 November 2026 to exam day. Here is a simple plan.
- Weeks 1-2: map the syllabus. Mark each topic strong, shaky or new. Solve one old paper untimed.
- Weeks 3-8: fix weak topics. Two or three topics a week: theory first, then old JAM questions.
- Weeks 9-11: timed practice. One full old paper a week in 3 hours. Use the official mock test to learn the keypad and calculator.
- Weeks 12-14: revise and test. Two full papers a week, plus a one-page sheet of formulas and repeated errors.
Worked example 1 (Mathematics): eigenvalues
Question (NAT style): Let A be the 2 × 2 matrix with rows (2, 1) and (1, 2). Find the sum of the eigenvalues of A^2.
Step 1. For a 2 × 2 matrix, the eigenvalues add up to the trace and multiply to the determinant. Trace = 2 + 2 = 4. Determinant = 2 × 2 minus 1 × 1 = 3.
Step 2. So the eigenvalues solve t^2 minus 4t + 3 = 0. That gives t = 1 and t = 3.
Step 3. The eigenvalues of A^2 are the squares: 1 and 9. Their sum is 10.
Check: A^2 has rows (5, 4) and (4, 5), trace 10. Build this check habit for NAT questions, where no options catch your slip.
Worked example 2 (Physics): spring-mass oscillator
Question (NAT style): A 0.5 kg block on a smooth floor is attached to a spring with k = 200 N/m. Find the time period of oscillation in seconds, to two decimal places.
Step 1. The angular frequency is omega = square root of (k / m) = square root of (200 / 0.5) = square root of 400 = 20 rad/s.
Step 2. The period is T = 2 pi / omega = 2 × 3.1416 / 20 = 0.314 s, so T = 0.31 s to two decimals.
Check the units: k / m is in 1/s^2, so its square root is in 1/s. Round only at the last step.
If you are also eyeing GATE later for an M.Tech or PhD, the habits are the same. See our GATE 2027 guide.
Want a mentor to plan these 14 weeks with you? Book a free demo class, or check our plans and fees.
What are common mistakes in JAM preparation?
- Choosing two papers in the same session. It is not allowed. Pairs must be one morning paper and one afternoon paper.
- Guessing blindly in Section A. Guess only when you can rule out an option.
- Ticking only one option in MSQs. Section B can have more than one correct answer. You get no marks unless your choice is fully right.
- Ignoring NAT rounding. Round only at the end, to the places asked.
- Ignoring MEQs. A good rank does not help if your degree subjects do not match. Read Annexure II early.
How Asymptode helps you with IIT JAM 2027
At Asymptode, a qualified mentor teaches your child one-to-one, live online. The classes follow the official syllabus of their JAM 2027 paper, whether that is Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Mathematical Statistics. The plan works back from the real dates: the admit card on 5 January 2027 and the exam on 14 February 2027.
Between classes, your child gets practice made just for them. Each worksheet is built from what their last attempt showed they had not yet understood, such as a slip in eigenvalue reasoning or a sign error in an MCQ. It is set at their level and is never a generic sheet. Asymptode uses AI to draft this practice to the mentor's brief, and the mentor checks and approves it before it is sent.
The mentor then marks the work. You, as a parent, see what was understood and what to practise next. So preparation keeps correcting itself, week by week, toward the JAM paper your child will sit.
To see how it works, book a free demo class or look at our fees.
Facts checked against official sources on 8 November 2026.
FAQ
Is there a minimum percentage required to write IIT JAM 2027?
No. The official FAQ says there is no minimum percentage to appear, and backlogs are allowed. However, some programmes set minimum marks or subject rules (MEQs) for admission. Check Annexure II of the brochure for each programme you want.
Can I take two papers in JAM 2027?
Yes, you can take one or two papers. The two papers must be in different sessions: one in the forenoon and one in the afternoon. For example, Mathematics (morning) and Physics (afternoon) is a valid pair.
Can final-year students apply for JAM 2027?
Yes, if your final degree exam is in 2027. You must finish the degree before the admitting institute's admission date and submit proof within its deadline.
Is there negative marking in IIT JAM?
Only in Section A (MCQ): minus 1/3 for a wrong 1-mark answer and minus 2/3 for a wrong 2-mark answer. Sections B and C have no negative marking.
Can I write JAM 2027 from outside India?
Foreign nationals can apply, but there are no international centres. The exam runs only in around 114 Indian cities. Foreign nationals must also meet the admitting institute's rules.
When will the JAM 2027 result come out?
The official website lists 18 March 2027 as the result date. The IIT admission brochure is due in the second week of March 2027. Admission portal dates are not announced yet, so check jam.iitkgp.ac.in.
Ready to start? Book a free demo class and advisor call, or see our plans and fees.