How to Prepare for JAM Chemistry 2026: Preparation Strategy, Tips, Study Plan, Timetable

Units

Topics

Physical Chemistry

Basic Mathematical Concepts

Functions, Maxima and Minima, Integrals, Ordinary Differential Equations, Vectors and Matrices, Determinants, Elementary Statistics and Probability Theory

Atomic and Molecular Structure

Fundamental Particles, Bohr’s Theory of Hydrogen-like Atom, Wave-Particle Duality, Uncertainty Principle, Schrödinger’s Wave Equation, Quantum Numbers, Shapes of Orbitals, Hund’s Rule and Pauli’s Exclusion Principle, Electronic Configuration of Simple Homonuclear Diatomic Molecules

Theory of Gases

Equation of State for Ideal and Non-Ideal (Van Der Waals) Gases, Kinetic Theory of Gases, Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution Law, Equipartition of Energy.

Solid state

Crystals and Crystal Systems, X-rays, NaCl and KCl Structures, Close Packing, Atomic and Ionic Radii, Radius Ratio Rules, Lattice Energy, Born-Haber Cycle, Isomorphism, Heat Capacity of Solids.

Chemical Thermodynamics

Reversible and Irreversible Processes, First Law and Its Application to Ideal and Nonideal Gases, Thermochemistry, Second Law, Entropy and Free Energy, Criteria for Spontaneity.

Chemical and Phase Equilibria

Law of Mass Action, Kp, Kc, Kx and Kn, Effect of Temperature on K, Ionic Equilibria in Solutions, PH and Buffer Solutions, Hydrolysis, Solubility Product, Phase Equilibria–Phase Rule and its Application to One-Component and Two-Component Systems, Colligative Properties

Electrochemistry

Conductance and its Applications, Transport Number, Galvanic cells, EMF and Free Energy, Concentration Cells with and without Transport, Polarography, Concentration cells with and without Transport, Debye-Huckel-Onsager Theory of Strong Electrolytes, Chemical Kinetics, Reactions of Various Order, Arrhenius Equation, Collision Theory, Transition State Theory, Chain Reactions – Normal and Branched, Enzyme Kinetics, Photochemical Processes, Catalysis.

Adsorption

Gibbs Adsorption Equation, Adsorption Isotherm, Types of Adsorption, Surface Area of Adsorbents, Surface Films on Liquids.

Spectroscopy

Beer-Lambert Law, Fundamental Concepts of Rotational, Vibrational, Electronic and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Organic Chemistry

Basic Concepts in Organic Chemistry and Stereochemistry

Electronic Effects (Resonance, Inductive, Hyperconjugation) and Steric Effects and its Applications (Acid/Base Property), Optical Isomerism in Compounds with and without any Stereocenters (Allenes, Biphenyls), Conformation of Acyclic Systems (Substituted Ethane/n-Propane/n-Butane) and Cyclic Systems (Mono- and Di-Substituted Cyclohexanes).

Organic Reaction Mechanism and Synthetic Applications

Dozens Reaction, Wittig Reaction and McMurry Reaction, Pinacol-Pinacolone, Favorskii, Benzilic Acid Rearrangement, Dienone-Phenol Rearrangement, Baeyer-Villiger Reaction, Oxidation and Reduction Reactions in Organic Chemistry, Organometallic Reagents in Organic Synthesis (Grignard, Organolithium and Organocopper), Diels-Alder, Electrocyclic and Sigmatropic Reactions, Functional Group Interconversions and Structural Problems using Chemical Reactions, Chemistry of Reactive Intermediates (Carbocations, Carbanions, Free Radicals, Carbenes, Nitrenes, Benzynes etc…), Hofmann-Curtius-Lossen Rearrangement, Wolff Rearrangement, Simmons-Smith Reaction, Reimer-Tiemann Reaction, Michael Reaction.

Qualitative Organic Analysis

Identification of Functional Groups by Chemical Tests, Elementary UV, IR and 1H NMR Spectroscopic Techniques as Tools for Structural Elucidation

Natural Products Chemistry

Chemistry of Alkaloids, steroids, Terpenes, Carbohydrates, Amino Acids, Peptides and Nucleic Acids.

Aromatic and Heterocyclic Chemistry

Monocyclic, Bicyclic and Tricyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and Monocyclic Compounds with One Hetero Atom, Synthesis, Reactivity and Properties.

Inorganic Chemistry

Periodic Table

Periodic Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties, General Methods of Isolation and Purification of Elements, Chemical Bonding and Shapes of Compounds, Types of Bonding, VSEPR Theory and Shapes of Molecules, Hybridization, Dipole Moment, Ionic Solids, Structure of NaCl, CsCl, Diamond and Graphite, Lattice Energy

Main Group Elements (s and p blocks)

General concepts on Group Relationships and Gradation in Properties, Structure of Electron Deficient Compounds involving Main Group Elements

Transition Metals (d block)

Characteristics of 3d Elements, Oxide, Hydroxide and Salts of First Row Metals, Coordination Complexes, Structure, Isomerism, Reaction Mechanism and Electronic Spectra, VB, MO and Crystal Field Theoretical Approaches for Structure, Color and Magnetic Properties of Metal Complexes, Organometallic Compounds having Ligands with Back Bonding Capabilities such as Metal Carbonyls, Carbenes, Nitrosyls and Metallocenes, Homogeneous Catalysis.

Bioinorganic Chemistry

Essentials and Trace Elements of Life, Basic Reactions in Biological Systems and the Role of Metal Ions, especially Fe2+, Fe3+, Cu2+ and Zn2+, Structure and Function of Hemoglobin and Myoglobin and Carbonic Anhydrase.

Instrumental Methods of Analysis

Essentials and Trace Elements of Life, Basic Reactions in Biological Systems and the Role of Metal Ions, especially Fe2+, Fe3+, Cu2+ and Zn2+, Structure and Function of Hemoglobin and Myoglobin and Carbonic Anhydrase.

Analytical Chemistry

Principles of Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis, Acid-Base, Oxidation-Reduction and Complexometric Titrations using EDTA, Precipitation Reactions, Use of Indicators, Use of Organic Reagents in Inorganic Analysis, Radioactivity, Nuclear Reactions, Applications of Isotopes.

Exam

IIT JAM

Exam conducted

IIT Delhi

Type of questions

MCQs, MSQs and NAT

Duration

3 hours

Sections

Section A, B and C

Total Marks

100

Total no of questions

60

SECTION

SCORE ALLOCATION

NEGATIVE MARKS

A

• 
  1 Mark questions

• 2 Mark questions

• 
  -⅓ marks for 1 mark questions

• -⅔ marks for 2 mark questions

B

• 
  2 Mark for each question

• 
  No Negative Marking

C

• 
  2 Mark for each question

• 
  No Negative Marking

Topics

Books and Authors

Physical Chemistry

Theory of Gases

Physical Chemistry–Puri, Sharma, Pathania

Atomic and Molecular Structure

Physical Chemistry–Peter W. Atkins

Chemical and Phase Equilibria

Principles of Chemical Equilibrium & Phase Rule–K.G. Denbigh

Phase Rule–Gurdeep Raj

Basic Mathematical Concepts

Differential Equation & Matrices–Shanti Narayan

Engineering Mathematics–B.S. Grewal

Chemical Thermodynamics

Physical Chemistry–Thomas Engel & Phillip Reid

Basic Physical Chemistry–Peter W. Atkins

Adsorption

Surface Chemistry–A. Goel

Introduction to Surface Chemistry & Catalysis–Gabor A. Somorjai

Electrochemistry

An Introduction to Electrochemistry–Samuel Glasstone

Electrochemistry–Philip H. Rieger

A textbook of Physical Chemistry (Vol-III)-K. L. Kapoor

Chemical Kinetics

Chemical Kinetics–Keith J. Laidler

Physical Chemistry–Thomas Engel & Phillip Reid

A textbook of Physical Chemistry (Vol-V)-K. L. Kapoor

Solid state

Solid State–Peter W. Atkins

Solid State Physics–R.K. Puri & V.K.Babbar

Organic Chemistry

Basic Concepts in Organic Chemistry and Stereochemistry

Stereochemistry Conformation and Mechanism-P.S. Kalsi

Stereochemistry of Organic Compound-E. L. Eliel

Organic Chemistry (Vol-I)-I. L. Finar

Heterocyclic Chemistry

Organic Chemistry (Vol-I)-I. L. Finar

Natural Products Chemistry

Organic Chemistry (Vol-II)-I. L. Finar

Organic Reaction Mechanism and Synthetic Applications

Organic Chemistry-Clayden, Greeves, Warner and Wothers

Organic Chemistry-T.W. Graham Solomons

Organic Chemistry-Morrison & Boyd

Qualitative Organic Analysis

Qualitative organic Analysis

Qualitative Organic Analysis-A. I. Vogel

Inorganic Chemistry

Chemical Bonding and Shapes of Compounds

Inorganic Chemistry-J. E. Huheey

Inorganic Chemistry-Miessler & Tarr

Analytical Chemistry

Quantitative Inorganic Analysis-A. I. Vogel

Bioinorganic Chemistry

Inorganic Chemistry–Shriver & Atkins

Inorganic Chemistry–James E. Huheey, E.A. Keiter, R. L. Keiter, O. K. Medhi

Instrumental Methods of Analysis

Instrumental method-Skoog, Holler & Crouch

Periodic Table

Concise Inorganic Chemistry-J. D. Lee

Basic Inorganic Chemistry-F. A. Cotton & Wilkinson

Main Group Elements (s and p blocks)

Concise Inorganic Chemistry-J. D. Lee

Transition Metals (d block)

Concise Inorganic Chemistry-J. D. Lee

Inorganic Chemistry-Miessler & Tarr

Year

Question Paper

2024

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2023

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2022

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2020

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2019

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2018

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2017

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2015

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Years

Gen

SC/ST/PwD

OBC (NCL)

2020

16.96

8.48

15.26

2019

20.31

10.15

18.28

2018

28.46

14.23

25.61

2017

23.35

11.68

21.02

Topic

Number of Questions

Key Focus Areas

Organic Chemistry

15

Reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, spectroscopy

Inorganic Chemistry

12

Coordination compounds, periodic trends

Physical Chemistry

13

Thermodynamics, kinetics, quantum chemistry

Analytical Chemistry

5

Spectroscopy, titrations

Environmental Chemistry

3

Pollution, green chemistry

Biochemistry

2

Proteins, enzymes

Section

Difficulty Level

Section A (1 mark question)

Moderate – Conceptual questions requiring direct application of principles.

Section B (2 mark questions)

Challenging – Required multi-concept integration and advanced problem-solving skills.

Section C (Numerical Answer Type)

Moderate to Difficult – Precision and calculation-based questions with limited room for error.