IIT JAM

IIT JAM, the Joint Admission Test for Masters, is the national computer-based exam for admission to M.Sc., joint M.Sc.-Ph.D., M.Sc.-M.Tech. dual degree, MS (Research) and integrated Ph.D. programmes at the IITs. IIT Kharagpur is organising JAM 2027, and the exam is scheduled for Sunday, 14 February 2027 in seven test papers.

This page brings the JAM 2027 cycle together in one place: important dates, eligibility, fees, the 100-mark exam pattern, a paper-wise syllabus summary, the admission process and official qualifying marks from the last two cycles. Each section links to a detailed page in this cluster. Registration opened on 11 September 2026, and the last date to apply has been extended to 19 October 2026, so if you have not applied yet, start with the dates table below.

IIT JAM 2027 at a Glance

JAM 2027 Notification Highlights

IIT Kharagpur released the JAM 2027 information brochure in late August 2026. The exam structure is unchanged from recent cycles: seven test papers, one 3-hour paper per session, and three question types with negative marking only in Section A.

• Registration window: The portal opened on 11 September 2026, later than the 5 September date first announced, and the last date has been extended from 12 October to 19 October 2026.

• Two papers allowed: You can take one or two papers, but two papers are possible only if one falls in the forenoon session and the other in the afternoon session.

• Score use: JAM ranks are used for admission to the 23 admitting IITs, and other institutes such as IISc, NITs and IISERs use them through the result-sharing and counselling process.

IIT JAM 2027 Important Dates

Tentative dates come from the brochure and news of official notices, and they can change. Track the announcements on the official JAM 2027 website and your registered email. The brochure prints the correction date as 10 November 2027, which appears to be a typing error, so confirm the exact window on the application portal.

Test Papers and Exam Sessions

A common two-paper combination is Mathematics with Mathematical Statistics, or Chemistry with Physics, because each pair spans both sessions. Choose a second paper only if your degree subjects meet the admitting institute's requirements for those programmes.

Eligibility for IIT JAM 2027

Educational qualification

Candidates who hold a bachelor's degree, or who are appearing for the final examination of their qualifying degree in 2027, can apply. The undergraduate programme must be completed before the date of admission, and proof must reach the admitting institute within its deadline.

Minimum marks

The JAM 2027 brochure does not set a common aggregate percentage for appearing in the exam. Older pages may still show 55% for General candidates and 50% for reserved categories; that rule applied up to JAM 2021. Each programme lists its own Minimum Educational Qualifications (MEQs), and a few programmes ask for 60% in the bachelor's degree.

Age and nationality

There is no age limit. Indian and foreign nationals can apply, and foreign nationals are admitted under the admitting institute's rules for foreign students.

Application Fee and How to Apply

The fee is non-refundable. Applications are made only online through the JAM Online Application Processing System (JOAPS).

1. Register: Create an account on the JOAPS portal with a valid email and mobile number.

2. Fill the form: Enter personal, category and academic details exactly as they appear in your certificates.

3. Choose papers and cities: Select one or two test papers and your exam city preferences; your zone is decided by the first-choice city.

4. Upload documents: Upload your photograph, signature and category or PwD certificates where applicable. OBC-NCL and EWS certificates must be issued on or after 1 April 2026.

5. Pay and save: Pay the fee online and keep a copy of the submitted form.

IIT JAM 2027 Exam Pattern

What this means for you:

• Section A carries half the paper: A wrong 2-mark MCQ costs two-thirds of a mark, so a blind guess gains nothing on average. Attempt once you can eliminate at least one option.

• MSQ is all or nothing: You must mark every correct option and no wrong one to earn the 2 marks, but a wrong answer costs nothing.

• NAT rewards accuracy: Thirty marks have no negative marking, so attempt every NAT question you can compute with the virtual calculator.

Read the full IIT JAM exam pattern and marking scheme for section-wise strategy.

IIT JAM Syllabus Summary

Selection and Admission Process

1. Result and rank: Each test paper has its own All India Rank (AIR). Candidates who reach the qualifying marks for their category are placed on the merit list.

2. Admission application: Qualified candidates apply online for programmes in order of preference, with a non-refundable processing fee of Rs. 750.

3. Seat allocation: Seats are offered over up to four rounds, with a possible additional round, on the basis of AIR, category, MEQs and seat availability.

4. Seat acceptance: In each round you can freeze the seat, accept it while staying in line for a higher choice, or reject it and exit. The seat booking fee is Rs. 15,000 for General, OBC-NCL and EWS, and Rs. 7,500 for SC, ST and PwD candidates, adjusted against institute fees.

5. Joining: There is no separate interview or written test at the admitting IITs, but a physical fitness certificate may be required.

Qualifying in JAM does not by itself guarantee a seat. The opening and closing ranks for each programme, which vary year to year, decide your realistic options.

Previous Year Qualifying Marks

These are official qualifying marks out of 100 from the JAM 2026 (IIT Bombay) and JAM 2025 (IIT Delhi) statistical reports. Qualifying marks only place you on the merit list; admission to a sought-after programme needs a much higher score.

How to Prepare for IIT JAM 2027

With about four months left before 14 February 2027, a structured plan matters more than the number of books.

• Finish the syllabus by December: Cover every section of your paper once, using your degree textbooks and the official syllabus as the checklist.

• Solve previous year papers: JAM papers from recent cycles show the depth and the MCQ, MSQ and NAT mix you will face.

• Make short notes: Keep a formula sheet and an error log for each section; our IIT JAM study notes page shows how.

• Take full-length mocks from January: Practise in the 3-hour CBT format with a virtual calculator, and analyse each attempt the same day.