IIT JAM Biotechnology Mock Test 2026

The IIT JAM Biotechnology (BT) paper is one of the seven test papers of the Joint Admission Test for M.Sc. (IIT JAM), a national computer-based entrance exam held once a year by one of the IITs on rotation. It is the entry route to M.Sc. Biotechnology and related programmes at the IITs and other institutes that accept JAM scores. Eligibility, seats, important dates and the cut-offs are in the official JAM information brochure and change every cycle, so always check them there.

Every JAM paper has 60 questions for 100 marks in 3 hours, in three sections: Section A has 30 single-answer multiple-choice questions (10 of 1 mark and 20 of 2 marks); Section B has 10 multiple-select questions of 2 marks; Section C has 20 numerical-answer questions (10 of 1 mark and 10 of 2 marks). A wrong MCQ answer costs one-third of its marks (⅓ for a 1-mark and ⅔ for a 2-mark question); multiple-select and numerical-answer questions carry no negative marking. The test is computer-based and in English.

The Biotechnology paper tests biology (biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, immunology, plant and animal biology) together with chemistry, physics and mathematics at the basic level. Questions are conceptual and application-based, so reading a book once is not enough: you need to solve many problems under a time limit.

BT me biology ka bada hissa hai, par chemistry, physics aur maths ke sawal bhi aate hain; unhe ignore karne se rank neeche aati hai.

How to prepare: Anchor your preparation in biochemistry and molecular biology, practise the numerical side of genetics and kinetics, and keep a weekly slot for chemistry and maths. Take our free Biotechnology mock to find out where you stand, and see the IIT JAM Biological Sciences paper too if your plan involves a second subject.

• Biochemistry: amino acids and proteins, enzyme kinetics (Km, Vmax, inhibition), glycolysis, TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation
• Molecular biology and genetic engineering: DNA replication, transcription, translation, lac operon, restriction enzymes, PCR and blotting techniques
• Genetics: Mendelian ratios, linkage and mapping, Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, pedigrees
• Microbiology and immunology: bacterial cell wall, antibodies, MHC molecules, T and B cell roles
• Plant and animal biology: C3 and C4 photosynthesis, plant hormones, tissue culture
• Chemistry, physics and maths: buffers and pH, absorbance, basic calculus and probability