IIT JAM Chemistry Bible: 6 steps to get a good rank in IIT JAM | How to Study for IIT JAM Chemistry PDF Download

IIT JAM is the Joint Admission Test for Masters, conducted by one of the participating IITs (Indian Institute of Technology). The aspirants interested in pursuing a Master's program from renowned Indian colleges like IITs, NITs, and IISc can apply for this exam.

Why Qualify IIT JAM Chemistry?

• Qualifying IIT JAM Chemistry provides you a chance to study in IITs, IISc, NITs, and CFTIs for MSc and other post-graduation courses. It helps you get theoretical and practical knowledge in a particular area.
• IIT’s offer stipends to students who enroll in the Joint MSc-PhD program through JAM. The standard of questions asked in IIT JAM for the Chemistry subject is of 10+2+3 level.

How was this guide made?

• This guide has been made by EduRev experts by referring to the strategies & interviews of the toppers including Raksha Jain (AIR- 01), Ritika Goswami (IIT-B).
• Study pattern, schedule and strategy of the toppers have been studied deeply while making this document so that students get the right way towards the preparation.

Why did EduRev make this guide?

• We wanted to answer the question "How to Prepare for IIT JAM Chemistry" once and for all in the best / perfect way possible.
• Since students waste a large amount of time, effort, and money while preparing for IIT JAM Chemistry just because of a lack of the right direction. We believe this guide will be very very valuable for every aspirant.
• This guide was made to teach in a guided way so that you can clear your IIT JAM Chemistry exam with the least amount of time, effort, and money spent, by just making sure you Study What Actually Matters for the preparation for the exam.

How to qualify IIT JAM Chemistry with a good rank?

This section guides you in creating a strategic study plan for the forthcoming IIT JAM Chemistry exam, focusing on the IIT JAM chemistry syllabus. Let’s have a look at the fool-proof STEP by STEP preparation strategy for preparing for JAM Chemistry exam.

Step 0: What to do Before you begin your IIT JAM preparation? 

First-Year Students: 
If you are in the first year of college, then you have got a good amount of time in your hand. Here is what you should do before you begin your IIT JAM preparation:

• Make a study schedule and stick to it.
• Revise the basic concepts and formulas which you have learned in your Class 11 & Class 12 Chemistry.
• Gather recommended books! (Reading books are very important in your case for complete conceptual understanding)
• Revise the Chemistry subject notes you made in your first year of college.

EduRev Infinity Package for IIT JAM Chemistry offers online courses for IIT JAM Chemistry preparation, covering Physical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry & Inorganic Chemistry. The package provides topic wise videos, detailed notes, tests, previous year papers, mock tests, and other resources to help you crack IIT JAM & get into your dream IIT.

Second-Year Students: 
If you are in second year of college. You have relatively less time in hand than those in first year. You need to work very smart and find your own smart balance between reading books, referring to notes, and practicing questions. Here is what you should do before you begin your IIT JAM preparation:

• Revise the basic concepts and formulas you have learned in your two years in under graduation as well as in Class 11 & Class 12 Chemistry.
• Make a study plan and prioritize subjects based on strengths and weaknesses.
• Choose the study method that suits you best, whether it be books or already prepared notes, based on your personal preference

Most recommended IIT JAM Organic Chemistry Books 

Third-Year Students: If you are in the third year of college. You have a very little amount of time in your hand. You should not devote much time to books and should cover the topics mentioned in the syllabus through already prepared notes. Here is what you should do before you begin your IIT JAM preparation:

• Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses in the subjects.
• Create a study plan and allocate time effectively.
• Brush up on basic concepts and formulas.
• Select the most appropriate study material for your preparation and stick to it. 

Study Material provided in EduRev Infinity Package for IIT JAM Chemistry is the best and most appropriate choice for all the students preparing for IIT JAM Chemistry.

College Pass-outs: If you have passed the college, and have dropped out only to prepare for JAM Chemistry, then you have a good amount of time to devote. Here is what you should do before you begin your IIT JAM preparation:

• Reflect on the reasons why you did not qualify for IIT JAM Chemistry in the past.
• Determine how to avoid repeating your past mistakes in order to qualify for IIT JAM Chemistry this year.
• Make a timetable of your entire day and decide to set up a fine balance between books and notes. 
• Assess your strengths and weaknesses in the subjects & brush up on basic concepts and formulas.

"Organic Chemistry" by Jonathan Clayden is considered the ultimate guide for developing a strong understanding of organic chemistry. It is often referred to as the "bible" of the subject. For recommendations on essential books on Organic, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry, go through this document: Most recommended IIT JAM Organic Chemistry Books 

Step1: Understand the Syllabus, Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme

A great way to start the preparation for the JAM Chemistry Exam is by knowing the complete IIT JAM chemistry syllabus and exam pattern. This is the initial stage to prepare for the exam. 

• Exam Pattern: 
  The entire JAM Chemistry paper will be separated into three sections. Section A consists of Multiple Choice Questions. Section B consists of Multiple Select Questions. Section C  consists of Numerical Answer Type Questions. Here is the detailed pattern of questions asked in exam: 

• Exam Syllabus: 
  Thorough knowledge of the updated IIT JAM Chemistry Syllabus is very important for you to get the best results. JAM Chemistry paper is divided into 3 distinct parts- Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry,
  Here is the list of chapters asked in JAM Chemistry:

Step 2: Make Subject Wise Preparation Strategy

Chemistry is divided into three sections/subjects. After going through Step 0 and 1, analyze in which subject/section you are more comfortable in. One smart way of preparing for IIT JAM Chemistry is if you focus on two subjects more and one subject a little less, chances are you will get a good rank! Analyze your strength and weaknesses and prepare accordingly.
Of course preparing all three subjects: Inorganic, Organic, and Physical well, will give you an edge over other students,  but focussing on two will fetch you a good rank as well.  

Step 2.1: How to prepare for Organic Chemistry

Some students love organic chemistry. They love to play around with reagents and functional groups on paper. If you are also an organic chemistry lover then, you can make Organic your strength. Practice more and more questions of Organic and prepare it in a 100% manner along with Inorganic. So, 100 % focus on Organic and Inorganic and 60- 70% focus on physical, during your preparation will fetch you good rank. 
Here are some tips which you can follow to prepare well for Organic Chemistry.
1. Start with GOC and then Stereochemistry: As Organic Chemistry is a totally interlinked subject. Understanding GOC is a must to start Organic Chemistry. Stereochemistry is a high weightage topic which you should cover along with GOC.
You can cover GOC from here and Stereochemistry from here  
2. Do not skip Independent Topics: Independent topics like Natural Products, Biochemistry, Spectroscopy are easy to score as they do not ask very difficult questions from them. One must not skip them.
3. While practicing organic, always use pen and paper: Organic is a subject that can not be solved without pen and paper. Even if you are solving a  single question of Organic, do not solve it without using a pen and paper
4. Solve JEE, JAM & GATE PYQs: Solving IIT JEE previous years, IIT JAM previous Years, GATE previous Years will be of immense help to you!
To know the strategy in detail check: How to prepare Organic Chemistry for IIT JAM Chemistry.

Organic Chemistry Course in EduRev Infinity Package for IIT JAM Chemistry provides comprehensive coverage of organic chemistry with topic wise detailed notes, video lectures, tests, and a lot more.

Step 2.2: How to prepare for Inorganic Chemistry

Students generally, find this subject relatively easy to understand. This subject should be prepared in a 100 percent manner, as it is easy to remember and scoring.
Here are some tips which you can follow to prepare well for Inorganic Chemistry.
1. Get a clear idea of where to start your preparation from?: It is recommended to start and complete the chapters: Chemical Bonding and Periodic Properties first. 
2.  Cover High weightage topics first: Coordination and Organometallics: The two very high-weightage topics of Inorganic Chemistry are Coordination Chemistry and Organometallic Chemistry. They are a must to cover. You can cover Coordination from here and Organometallic Chemistry from here. 
3.  Do not focus on cramming things: Inorganic requires a lot of cramming instead focus on conceptual things like the concepts of Back Bonding - their conditions, bridge bonding - their conditions, Borazene, Phosphazene, concept of solvent. 
4. Analyze PYQS for Small Chapters: Analyze Previous Year Questions and see yourself that these topics are very low weightage topics. Less questions are asked from them. Do not spend much time on these chapters. Go through these chapters very quickly.
To know the strategy in detail check: How to prepare Inorganic Chemistry for IIT JAM Chemistry. 

Inorganic Chemistry course in EduRev Infinity Package for IIT JAM Chemistry, covers all the essential topics of inorganic chemistry and provides you with a comprehensive understanding of the subject.

Step 2.3: How to prepare for Physical Chemistry

Generally, chemistry students fear physical. Physical can be tedious because of it’s lengthy numerical and tough questions. Even if you are not that good in physical, try to remember the formulas of each chapter. Try to solve their numericals and practice well just the numerical solving portion for the exam. And if you are good at solving Physical Numericals and love the mathematics calculations involved, then you should make it your strength. Practice more and more questions and prepare it in a 100 percent manner along with inorganic. So, 100 % focus on Physical and Inorganic and 60- 70% focus on Organic during your preparation will fetch you a good rank. 

Here are some tips which you can follow to prepare well for Physical Chemistry.
1.  Start with Unit Conversion 

Start your preparation of Physical Chemistry for JAM by practicing Unit Conversions. This is the most important thing and one must begin with this only. 

2. Focus on High Weightage Topics First
Some of the important topics that carry a good amount of marks are: Electrochemistry and Conductance, Chemical Kinetics, Thermodynamics & Thermochemistry, and Solid State. You should not skip them at any cost. 
3.  Spend more time in practicing questions 
The more and more questions you solve of physical chemistry the more you get command over the subject. Your speed and accuracy will be improved if you practice physical rather than studying or cramming it. 

4. Always use Virtual Calculator for practicing calculations
After one month of starting your preparation for physical chemistry, you should start practicing with the help of a virtual calculator to get a complete idea of the exam. This will help a lot in increasing your speed. Practice the usage of predefined, inverse, log etc. function. Practice using brackets while calculating a big equation to avoid wrong calculations.
Check here: Learn How to use the virtual calculator.  

5. Make a Formula List of all the chapters  
Make a formula list of all the chapters you have covered, and revise the formulas daily so that they get engraved in your mind. Every year, few questions are asked in IIT-JAM from Physical Chemistry which are direct formula based. But you can solve them only if you have the right formula in mind at that time. So revising formulas repeatedly will help you a lot in the exam.
To know the strategy in detail check: How to prepare Physical Chemistry for IIT JAM Chemistry. 

Physical Chemistry course covers fundamental concepts through topic wise notes, video lectures, practice tests, solved questions and provides students with everything that matters to ace the subject.

Step 3: Practice MCQs, MSQs, and NAT Questions Individually

Make sure you are aware of the level-wise questions asked in JAM. The chemistry pattern is divided into these levels of Questions 

• MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)
  Each MCQ type question has four choices, out of which only one choice is the correct answer. Practice MCQ-type questions well during your preparation. Understand the situations where leaving a question is better for you. You will be doing guesswork at times too, during your preparation practice some clever MCQ hacks too. Section A will contain a total of 30 MCQs. 
  Practice topic-wise MCQs through this link. 
• MSQs (Multiple Select Questions)
  Each MSQ type question will be similar to MCQ but with the difference that there may be one or more than one choice that are correct out of the given choices. These type of questions are confusing for students. Suppose there are four options in a question and three of the options are correct. While answering such questions you need to keep in mind, that you tick all three of them. You will not get the marks if you ticked two correct answers out of three. Section B will contain a total of 10 MSqs and there is no negative marking in this section. These questions require thorough knowledge. Practice these questions well during your preparation, so that you don’t get confused in the exam.
  Practice MSQs through this link. 
• NAT (Numerical Answer Types)   
  No choice will be shown for such questions and the answers need to enter using the virtual keyboard. To answer such types of questions, you need to be strong with the calculation part. Take care of rounding off your answers properly. Numerical answer-type questions do not have negative markings, which means that even if you attempt it wrongly, no marks will be deducted so it may seem a good idea to attempt these questions even when you have no clue about the question. But it is suggested that you should not attempt that NAT question that you have no clue about. Even if your marks are not affected by wrong NATs but your rank will get affected (in case of a tie)
  Practice NAT through this link. 

Step 4: Practice PYQs, Topic Wise & Subject Wise MCQs

  Topic Wise Practice Questions 

• Applying the concepts you have learned is very important. Solving Topic Wise Practice Questions about a particular topic will strengthen your concepts and will help you to retain them in mind. Topic Wise Practice Questions should be easy and basic. Do not try to attempt difficult questions soon after reading the topic for the first time. 

• EduRev has topic-wise questions of almost every topic which might get asked in JAM. Easy questions have been curated so that you do not end up getting disappointed. You can cover them through this link 

Chapter Wise Practice Questions

• After practicing topic-wise questions, practice Chapter Wise Practice Questions so that you get to practice the concepts of the complete chapter at one go. Level of these questions should be moderate. 

• EduRev has chapter-wise questions of all the chapters given in JAM official syllabus. You can cover them through this link.

Subject Wise Practice Questions

• After covering the topic-wise and chapter-wise practice questions,  attempt the practice questions of the entire subject. You should practice giving a 3-hour test of each subject: Organic, Inorganic, and Physical. The level of questions should be moderate to easy. 

• EduRev has subject-wise practice questions of all three subjects. Find them here. 

Previous Year Questions

• Make Previous year's questions papers your bible. Get properly solved previous year question papers of last 5 to 7 years and solve each and every question. Then compare your way of solving with the given solution to make sure you are using the fastest method. If you find a better method note it down. Follow same approach with mocks and sectional tests.

• Solving previous year's question papers does help a lot since you get a flavor of kind of questions asked in the exam and you also get to know which topic in the IIT JAM Chemistry syllabus has how much weightage. So, analyzing and solving PYQs in this manner will be very helpful: 
  Topic Wise JAM PYQs
  Chapter Wise JAM PYQs
  Subject Wise JAM PYQs

Mock Test and Sectional Tests

• Solving mocks will give you an idea of the kind of questions that can be expected on exam day. Mocks will familiarize you with the kind of syllabus, pattern, and difficulty level of the actual exam. It is essential to give mocks that are at par with the exam.

• Do not just attempt the mocks and leave, go through the solutions, analyze your mistakes and improve.
  You can find EduRev's Mock Test Series. for IIT JAM here. 
  

Step-5: Learn to Use the Calculator 

• Start using the online calculator more often. Download any IIT JAM virtual calculator app and use it for solving questions of JAM(Chemistry). 

• Try using different options available like memory save, memory recall, direct root, square, reciprocal, etc with different questions, and slowly you'll see calculations will not take much time.

• Go through this document and know the importance of Calculator in IIT JAM chemistry exam.  IIT JAM Chemistry: Learn How to use the virtual calculator. 

Step-6: Some Last Minute Preparation Tips

Get ready to ace your IIT JAM Chemistry Exam with these helpful last minute preparation tips:  

• Frequent Revision is a must:  Isn’t it annoying when you learn something by heart and end up forgetting the concept on the day of the exam? It usually happens when you do not revise your subjects, especially a few days before the exam. The best way to revise any topic is to solve as many questions as possible related to it.
• Find out your areas of improvement: As you revise your notes and solve IIT JAM sample papers, you may come across a few areas where you still lack consistency or clarity. To eliminate your weak points, try solving questions of varying difficulty levels.

• Refrain from studying fresh topics: Starting off with a fresh topic will cut down your revision hours and may also create confusion. Students often try to cover every topic of the IIT JAM Chemistry syllabus and end up retaining partial information. Instead, it is recommended that they emphasise on revising key topics and solving questions related to the same.

• Set yourself a timer and do an exam rehearsal: Find yourself in a peaceful place and start attempting any mock test or a sample paper. Set yourself a timer of three hours and try to complete the test within the prescribed limit. Attempt as many questions as you can with the utmost accuracy. Doing such exam rehearsal will help you test your speed and accuracy.

• Don't waste time: If you can manage your time well, you will even have an ample amount of time to work on your weak areas. Do not indulge yourself in watching television or plan a day out with friends as every minute counts from here onward. Prepare a small pocket notebook and note down important formulas, definitions, graphs, diagrams, etc. and carry it along wherever you go.

We hope that the information provided by us will benefit you to give your best in the exam.! Happy Learning with EduRev Infinity Package for IIT JAM Chemistry!