IIT JAM Physics 2026 has 60 questions across three sections - 30 MCQs in Section A, 10 MSQs in Section B, and 20 NAT questions in Section C - totaling 100 marks in 3 hours. Negative marking applies only to Section A, making Sections B and C the safest scoring zones in the paper. Download the last 10 years IIT JAM Physics PYQs with solutions below and check the chapter wise weightage table before you set your practice schedule.
Official website: jam2026.iitb.ac.in
- IIT JAM 2026 exam date: February 15, 2026 | Organized by IIT Bombay | Computer Based Test (CBT)
- Physics paper: 60 questions - 30 MCQs (Section A), 10 MSQs (Section B), 20 NAT (Section C)
- Total marks: 100 | Duration: 3 hours
- Negative marking: Section A only - minus 1/3 for 1-mark, minus 2/3 for 2-mark MCQs; Sections B and C carry no negative marking
- Results: March 20, 2026 | Qualifying score for General and EWS: 55% of cutoff
- Over 30,000 students appear for IIT JAM Physics each year
IIT JAM Physics Sample Papers 2026 - Download PDF
These papers follow the current IIT JAM Physics format with all three section types. Solve each paper under full 3-hour timing from the start.
| Sample Paper | PDF Download |
|---|---|
| IIT JAM Physics Sample Paper 1 | Download PDF |
| IIT JAM Physics Sample Paper 2 | Download PDF |
| IIT JAM Physics Sample Paper 3 | Download PDF |
| IIT JAM Physics Sample Paper 4 | Download PDF |
| IIT JAM Physics Sample Paper 5 | Download PDF |
| IIT JAM Physics Sample Paper 6 | Download PDF |
| IIT JAM Physics Sample Paper 7 | Download PDF |
| IIT JAM Physics Sample Paper 8 | Download PDF |
| IIT JAM Physics Sample Paper 9 | Download PDF |
| IIT JAM Physics Sample Paper 10 | Download PDF |
PDFs will be updated as new papers are added. Bookmark this page.
| Year | Paper Available | Solutions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Full paper (February 15) | Available | Collegedunia |
| 2025 | Full paper with answer key | Available | Collegedunia |
| 2024 | Full paper with answer key | Available | Collegedunia |
| 2023 | Full paper with answer key | Available | Collegedunia |
| 2020 to 2022 | Full papers with answer keys | Available | Official Site |
IIT JAM Physics Exam Pattern and Marks Distribution 2026
Know the section-wise marks breakdown before you start timed practice - each section needs a different approach.
| Section | Type | Questions | Marks | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A | MCQ (single correct) | 30 | 50 (10 x 1 mark + 20 x 2 marks) | Minus 1/3 and 2/3 |
| Section B | MSQ (multiple correct) | 10 | 20 (2 marks each) | None |
| Section C | NAT (numerical entry) | 20 | 30 (10 x 1 mark + 10 x 2 marks) | None |
- In Section A, skip 2-mark MCQs where you are under 70% confident - minus 2/3 is costly
- In Section B, never leave blank - selecting only correct options earns partial marks
- Attempt all 20 Section C NAT questions without exception
IIT JAM Sample Papers Across Three Section Types - Why 2024 and 2025 Papers Matter Most
Papers from 2024 and 2025 reflect the current difficulty and topic mix best - Electricity and Magnetism, Modern Physics, and Mathematical Methods account for over 40% of recent questions. The MCQ + MSQ + NAT format has been stable since 2018; earlier papers are useful only for topic-level practice.
IIT JAM Physics Chapter Wise Weightage - High Scoring Topics to Focus in Sample Papers
Weightage based on question distribution across IIT JAM Physics papers from 2020 to 2025.
| Chapter | Questions (approx) | Difficulty | What to Watch For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Methods | 8-10 | Moderate | Fourier series, eigenvalue problems |
| Electricity and Magnetism | 8-10 | Moderate-Hard | Maxwell's equations, boundary conditions |
| Modern Physics | 7-9 | Hard | Schrodinger equation, uncertainty principle |
| Mechanics and General Properties | 6-8 | Moderate | Lagrangian mechanics, special relativity |
| Kinetic Theory and Thermodynamics | 6-8 | Moderate | Entropy, Carnot efficiency |
| Oscillations, Waves and Optics | 5-7 | Moderate | Coupled oscillators, diffraction grating |
| Atomic and Molecular Physics | 4-6 | Moderate | Selection rules, molecular spectra |
| Solid State Physics and Electronics | 4-6 | Easy-Moderate | Miller indices, p-n junction |
| Nuclear and Particle Physics | 3-5 | Hard | Q-value, radioactive decay law |
Do not skip Solid State Physics and Electronics. These 4-6 Easy-Moderate questions are the fastest marks in the paper.
IIT JAM Physics Sample Paper Video Solutions 2026 - Watch Before You Start Solving
Watching a full walkthrough first shows how to move between sections and where to save time for Section C.
Watch: IIT JAM Physics Feb 2026 Detailed Paper Solution and Answer Key Discussion
How to Use IIT JAM Physics Sample Papers to Clear in First Attempt
- Solve Section C first in every session - 30 marks, zero penalty, and your floor score depends on it
- Mark confidence (high, medium, low) on each Section A MCQ, then review low-confidence ones before submitting
- Track wrong answers by chapter - a pattern tells you exactly where to focus next
- After each paper, list 5 questions you should have gotten right but missed - these drive your next revision
IIT JAM Physics NAT and MSQ Strategy - The Skill That Separates 60 and 80 Percentile
MSQ scoring: 2 marks for all correct options with no wrong ones, partial marks for only correct options even if not all, and 0 marks if any wrong option is included. Never guess in Section B.
- For NAT questions: write every step on rough paper - errors almost always happen at unit conversion, not in the setup
- Round only at the last step - rounding intermediate values causes compounding errors that push your answer outside the accepted range
- Check dimensions before entering any NAT answer - a dimensionally wrong number is always wrong
- For MSQ: identify definitely wrong options first, then select confidently from what remains
IIT JAM Physics 4 Week Preparation Plan Using Sample Papers
- Week 1 - Solve the 2025 paper untimed. List the 3 chapters with the most wrong answers and name the specific concept gap in each.
- Week 2 - Work those 3 chapters, then solve the 2024 paper timed. An improved Section C score is the clearest signal of progress.
- Week 3 - Solve 2023 and 2022 papers on consecutive days. More than 8 two-mark MCQs skipped in Section A means coverage is still thin.
- Week 4 - One full paper every other day. Use alternate days for error log review. Stop new papers 2 days before the exam.
FAQs on IIT JAM Physics Sample Papers 2026
Ques. How many IIT JAM Physics sample papers are enough to clear in first attempt?
Ans. 10 to 12 full papers with error log review after each. Students who solve more without reviewing mistakes rarely improve past 60 percentile.
Ques. Are IIT JAM Physics PYQ questions repeated in new papers?
Ans. Direct repeats are rare, but concept types recycle - the same Schrodinger equation setup, the same boundary value structure. PYQs train you to recognize these fast.
Ques. Which section should I attempt first in IIT JAM Physics?
Ans. Section C (NAT) first, then Section B (MSQ), then Section A. This keeps you away from negative marking until you have secured the no-penalty marks.
Ques. Can I clear IIT JAM Physics in 60 days using only PYQs and sample papers?
Ans. Possible but tight. Use 3 weeks closing gaps in Mathematical Methods, Electricity and Magnetism, and Modern Physics, then shift to one full paper a day.
Ques. Where to download IIT JAM Physics previous year question papers with answer key PDF for free?
Ans. The official JAM portal at jam2026.iitb.ac.in hosts papers back to 2007. Collegedunia's question paper section has the last 10 years with detailed solutions.
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