How to Prepare for IAT 2026 Physics Section: Preparation Tips, Important Topics, PYQs & More

How to Prepare for IAT 2026 Physics Section: Are you aiming to appear for IAT 2026 and get admission to one of the seven IISERs, IISc Bangalore, or IACS Kolkata? If yes, then mastering the Physics section of the exam is non-negotiable.

Scoring well in the Physics section of IAT is crucial, as it can improve your overall score in the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2026. Considering this requirement, this SciAstra article recommends the best preparation tips for the IAT 2026 Physics section. These tips have been suggested by the expert mentors of SciAstra. So, read on!

IAT 2026 Overview

The application process for IAT 2026 will start on March 5, 2026, at iiseradmission.in. The last date to fill out the form is April 13, 2026.

The IAT 2026 exam date is June 7, 2026. All candidates aspiring to take the exam must know all the important details related to the exam. Check out the details below:

Also Read:

• IAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

• IISER Pune Fees 2026

• IAT 2026: Changes Introduced
  

How to Prepare for IAT 2026 Physics Section

Physics is equally important to all sections of IAT 2026. There will be 15 questions in the section, each carrying 4 marks. Therefore, the total marks for the section are 60 marks. Check out the IAT 2026 Physics preparation tips below.

Know the IAT 2026 Exam Pattern

While this article focuses on Physics preparation for the IISER Aptitude Test, remember that it is a multi-subject exam. Therefore, you must understand the complete structure of the exam by knowing the exam pattern. Check out the IAT 2026 exam pattern below:

Unlock Complete Analysis for “IAT Chemistry Section”

The complete chapter-wise trend analysis for IAT 2026 from 2017 to 2025 for Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Maths has been provided in the IISER Aptitude Test - IAT Mock Book.

Click on the link below to purchase it:

Also Read: 

IAT 2026 Exam Pattern

IAT 2026 Dates

Cover IAT 2026 Physics Syllabus

The IAT Physics syllabus is based on NCERT Class 11 and 12 Physics textbooks. Covering the syllabus can help candidates gain clarity about all the important topics. Check out the IAT 2026 Physics syllabus below:

• Units and Measurements:

The international system of units; Significant figures; Dimensions of physical quantities; Dimensional formulae and dimensional equations; Dimensional analysis and its applications.

• Motion in a Straight Line:

Instantaneous velocity and speed; Acceleration; Kinematic equations for uniformly accelerated motion

• Motion in a Plane:

Scalars and vectors; Multiplication of vectors by real numbers; Addition and subtraction of vectors – graphical method; Resolution of vectors; Vector addition – analytical method; Motion in a plane; Motion in a plane with constant acceleration; Projectile motion; Uniform circular motion.

• Laws of Motion:

The law of inertia; Newtons first law of motion; Newtons second law of motion; Newtons third law of motion; Conservation of momentum; Equilibrium of a particle; Common forces in mechanics; Circular motion.

• Work, Energy and Power:

Notions of work and kinetic energy: The work-energy theorem; Work; Kinetic energy; Work done by a variable force; The work-energy theorem for a variable force; The concept of potential energy; The conservation of mechanical energy; The potential energy of a spring; Power; Collisions

• System of Particles and Rotational Motion:

Centre of mass; Motion of centre of mass; Linear momentum of a system of particles; Vector product of two vectors; Angular velocity and its relation with linear velocity; Torque and angular momentum; Equilibrium of a rigid body; Moment of inertia; Kinematics of rotational motion about a fixed axis; Dynamics of rotational motion about a fixed axis; Angular momentum in case of rotations about a fixed axis.

• Gravitation

Kepler’s laws; Universal law of gravitation; The gravitational constant; Acceleration due to gravity of the earth; Acceleration due to gravity below and above the surface of earth; Gravitational potential energy; Escape speed; Earth satellites; Energy of an orbiting satellite.

• Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Pressure; Streamline flow; Bernoulli’s principle; Viscosity; Surface tension

• Mechanical Properties of Fluids

Stress and strain; Hooke’s law; Stress-strain curve; Elastic moduli; Applications of elastic behaviour of materials.

• Thermal Properties of Matter

Temperature and heat; Measurement of temperature; Ideal-gas equation and absolute temperature; Thermal expansion; Specific heat capacity; Calorimetry; Change of state; Heat transfer; Newton’s law of cooling.

• Thermodynamics

Thermal equilibrium; Zeroth law of thermodynamics; Heat, internal energy and work; First law of thermodynamics; Specific heat capacity; Thermodynamic state variables and equation of state; Thermodynamic processes; Second law of thermodynamics; Reversible and irreversible processes; Carnot engine.

• Kinetic Theory

Molecular nature of matter; Behaviour of gases; Kinetic theory of an ideal gas; Law of equipartition of energy; Specific heat capacity; Mean free path.

• Oscillations

Periodic and oscillatory motions; Simple harmonic motion; Simple harmonic motion and uniform circular motion; Velocity and acceleration in simple harmonic motion; Force law for simple harmonic motion; Energy in simple harmonic motion; The Simple Pendulum.

• Waves

Transverse and longitudinal waves; Displacement relation in a progressive wave; The speed of a travelling wave; The principle of superposition of waves; Reflection of waves; Beats.

• Electric Charges and Fields

Electric Charge; Conductors and insulators; Basic properties of electric charge; Coulomb’s law; Forces between multiple charges; Electric field; Electric field lines; Electric flux; Electric dipole; Dipole in a uniform external field; Continuous charge distribution; Gauss’s law; Applications of Gauss’s law.

• Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance

Electrostatic potential; Potential due to a point charge; Potential due to an electric dipole; Potential due to a system of charges; Equipotential surfaces; Potential energy of a system of charges; Potential energy in an external field; Electrostatics of conductors; Dielectrics and polarisation; Capacitors and capacitance; The parallel plate capacitor; Effect of dielectric on capacitance; Combination of capacitors; Energy stored in a capacitor.

• Current Electricity

Electric current; Electric currents in conductors; Ohm’s law; Drift of electrons and the origin of resistivity; Limitations of Ohms law; Resistivity of various materials; Temperature dependence of resistivity; Electrical energy, power; Cells, emf, internal resistance; Cells and resistors in series and in parallel; Kirchhoff’s rules; Wheatstone bridge.

• Moving Charges and Magnetism

Magnetic force; Motion in a magnetic field; Magnetic field due to a current element, Biot-Savart law; Magnetic field on the axis of a circular current loop; Ampere’s circuital law; The solenoid; Force between two parallel currents, the Ampere; torque on current loop, magnetic dipole; The moving coil galvanometer.

• Magnetism and Matter

The bar magnet; Magnetism and Gauss’s law; Magnetisation and magnetic intensity; Magnetic properties of materials.

• Electromagnetic Induction

The experiments of Faraday and Henry; Magnetic flux; Faraday’s law of induction; Lenz’s law and conservation of energy; Motional electromotive force; Inductance; AC generator.

• Alternating Current

 AC voltage applied to a resistor; Representation of AC current and voltage by rotating vectors – phasors; AC voltage applied to an inductor; AC voltage applied to a capacitor; AC voltage applied to a series LCR circuit; Power in AC circuit: the power factor; Transformers.

• Ray Optics and Optical Instruments

 Displacement current; Electromagnetic waves; Electromagnetic spectrum.

• Wave Optics

Huygens principle; Refraction and reflection of plane waves using Huygens principle; Coherent and incoherent addition of waves; Interference of light waves and Young’s experiment; Diffraction; Polarisation.

• Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter

Electron emission; Photoelectric effect; Experimental study of photoelectric effect; Photoelectric effect and wave theory of light; Einstein’s photoelectric equation: energy quantum of radiation; Particle nature of light: the photon; Wave nature of matter.

• Atoms

Alpha-particle scattering and Rutherford’s nuclear model of atom; Atomic spectra; Bohr model of the hydrogen atom; The line spectra of the hydrogen atom; De Broglie’s explanation of Bohrs second postulate of quantisation.

• Nuclei

Atomic masses and composition of nucleus; Size of the nucleus; Mass-energy and nuclear binding energy; Nuclear force; Radioactivity; Nuclear energy.

• Semiconductor Electronics

 Materials, Devices and Simple Circuits: Classification of metals, conductors, and semiconductors; Intrinsic semiconductor; Extrinsic semiconductor; p-n junction; Semiconductor diode; Application of junction diode as a rectifier.

Also Read: 

How to Prepare for IAT Biology Section

IAT 2026 Important Topics for Good Score

How to Prepare for IAT Chemistry Section

Focus on High-Weightage Topics

The team of expert mentors at SciAstra have analysed the IAT previous years’ question papers from 2017 to 2025 to find out the total number of questions asked from each topic of Physics.

Based on the analysis, check out the topic-wise weightage for each Physics topic from 2020 to 2025:

As per the analysis, the most important chapters for the Physics section are Electricity and Magnetism, as a total of 20.8% of questions each have been asked from them in the IAT from 2017 to 2025.

The second most important chapter is Electromagnetism, with a weightage of 13.3%. The weightage of inorganic chemistry is 38%.

The chapter-wise weightage distribution is available as follows:

Focus on “Must Do” Physics Topics

The analysis has also helped the SciAstra team identify the exact number of questions from each topic that occurred in IAT from 2017 to 2025. We address these topics as “Must Do” topics to score well in IAT 2026. These topics are the following:

IAT Preparation Tips for Physics

Solve IAT PYQs

Solving IAT PYQs can be beneficial for candidates in terms of the exam preparation. It can provide them with the following benefits:

• Help in understanding the overview of the question paper

• Practice relevant questions

• Increase speed and accuracy in solving questions

Therefore, candidates must solve the IAT PYQs. The link to the PYQs is available below:

IAT Previous Year Question Papers - Click Here

Solve NEST PYQs

The team SciAstra and IAT toppers have noticed that questions similar to NEST have been asked in IAT. The IAT questions are the simplified version of the questions asked in NEST. Therefore, candidates must solve NEST PYQs while preparing for IAT.

Click on the link below to access the NEST PYQs:

NEST Previous Year Question Papers - Click Here

Take IAT 2026 Mock Test

SciAstra has developed an IAT Mock Test that simulates the actual test conditions and replicates the IAT exam pattern. This helps candidates to be prepared for the real IISER Aptitude Test.

Conclusion

Preparing for the IAT 2026 Physics section requires clarity, consistency, and smart strategy. By thoroughly understanding the exam pattern, completing the NCERT-based syllabus, focusing on high-weightage and “must-do” topics, and regularly solving IAT and NEST PYQs, you can significantly boost your score. Mock tests will further sharpen your accuracy, speed, and confidence.

Take IAT 2026 Mock Test

SciAstra has developed an IAT Mock Test that simulates the actual test conditions and replicates the IAT exam pattern. This helps candidates to be prepared for the real IISER Aptitude Test.
The SciaAstra team has recently launched a FOCUS test series, which will emphasise Full Online Controlled Understanding and Simulation, helping candidates experience the real-time environment of the IISER aptitude test 2026.

The IAT 2026 FOCUS mock test is designed based on the official exam pattern, and the difficulty level is determined through an in-depth analysis of previous years’ question papers. Candidates will get Unit-wise, Half-length, and Full-length test series, covering all chapters to assess their domain understanding, cognitive skills, and analytical abilities as per the IISER 2026 syllabus.

Attempt the IISER Exam 2026 Test Series to check your exam preparation level to get admissions to the IISERs, IISc and IIT Madras here:

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