How to Prepare for the IISER Aptitude Test 2026 in 3 Months: Complete Guide

How to Prepare for IISER Aptitude Test 2026 in 3 Months: JEE Main, JEE Advanced, and NEET are not the only entrance exams to pursue a career in Science. These exams are highly competitive, as a very large number of candidates take them every year. Therefore, students who have passed Class 12 or are expected to pass the class in 2026 must appear for the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT), which is an alternative for admission to the highly reputed Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc Bangalore).

Through IAT 2026, candidates can get admission to BS-MS dual degree programmes, 4-year BS degree programmes, and BTech courses. If you have only three months to prepare for the test, there is no need to worry, as with the right IAT preparation strategy, study plan, and consistent effort, you can score well in the exam.

Taking into account all your preparation requirements, this SciAstra article serves as a comprehensive preparation guide by explaining how to prepare effectively for IAT 2026 in 3 months.

Can You Prepare for IAT in 3 Months?

Preparing for the IAT in 3 months is possible if candidates focus on the following aspects of preparation:

1. Understanding the IAT syllabus and pattern

2. Conceptual understanding of topics covered in the syllabus

3. Practising previous years' question papers (PYQs)

4. Solving mock tests regularly

These four strategies form the fundamentals for IAT 2026 preparation. A detailed 3-month plan to crack the test is provided below.

How to Prepare for the IISER Aptitude Test in 3 Months (Detailed Plan)

To prepare for IAT 2026 in 3 months, candidates need to follow a 3-month study plan consisting of three phases: Concept building, solving PYQs, and taking mock tests and revising.

IAT 2026 Study Plan: First Month

In the first month of IAT preparation, candidates must thoroughly understand the IAT 2026 exam pattern and syllabus and strengthen their fundamentals in the topics covered.

1. IAT 2026 Exam Pattern

To understand the nature of the IAT question papers, candidates should refer to the IAT 2026 exam pattern as follows:

2. IAT 2026 Syllabus

To strengthen fundamentals for the IAT preparation, candidates must refer to the syllabus of the exam. An overview of the IISER Aptitude Test 2026 syllabus is available as follows:

3. Solve Level-1 IAT Questions

After understanding the exam pattern and syllabus, the second step to prepare for the IAT 2026 is to solve level 1 questions.

The level 1 questions are mentioned as follows:

1. NCERT Exemplars

2. Solve the best IAT 2026

Target 50–60 questions per subject per week to boost your IAT preparation.

IAT 2026 Study Plan: Second Month

The second month of IAT preparation should be focused on strengthening problem-solving skills. For this, candidates should focus on solving IAT PYQs and take mock tests.

1. Solve IAT PYQs

To get familiar with the types of questions asked in IAT question papers, candidates should solve IAT PYQs. This can help candidates understand the following:

1. The IAT exam pattern

2. The difficulty level of the exam in previous years

3. Recurring topics, solving which candidates can score high

4. The time required to solve each question

2. Take IAT Mock Tests

To build speed and accuracy, candidates should start solving the IAT mock tests under the strict exam conditions mentioned as follows:

• 180 minutes

• No calculator

• Attempt all 4 subjects

After each mock test, spend 1 hour analysing your errors. Practise the topics in which you made mistakes. Increase the weekly target to 100+ questions per subject per week.

IAT 2026 Study Plan: Third Month

The final month of IAT 2026 preparation is about polishing your performance through revision.

1. Attempt 3 Full-Length IAT Mock Tests Per Week

Taking mock tests in the third month of IAT preparation is important, as it helps maintain speed and accuracy for solving the actual test. It will also provide candidates with the following benefits:

• Boosting confidence

• Improving question selection skills

• Teaching time management

2. Revise the Entire IAT Syllabus

Follow this revision order as the final phase of the IAT preparation:

1. Revise the entire NCERT Class 12 syllabi for all subjects. The IAT 2026 syllabi for Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology are based on the NCERT Class 12 syllabi for these subjects.

2. Prepare notes for formulas & important terms. Revise these notes 3-4 days each week.

3. Solve PYQs again.

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Tips to Score High in IAT 2026

Some specific steps focusing on the right ways to solve the IAT 2026 question paper can help candidates score well in the exam. These steps are:

1. Attempt first the IAT section in which you are strong.

2. Do not get stuck on lengthy questions; skip these and solve the ones you are confident about.

3. Aim for 70–80% accuracy.

4. If you are not sure about the answer to a question, do not attempt it as there is a -1 negative marking for each wrong attempt in IAT 2026.

5. Keep the first 10 minutes for scanning the question paper to identify questions you can solve easily.

Conclusion

Cracking the IISER Aptitude Test in just 3 months is an achievable goal if candidates follow a disciplined study plan, focus on clarity of concepts, and practice consistently.

The main strategies to prepare for IAT 2026 include understanding the exam pattern and syllabus and strengthening the fundamentals in the first month. In the second month, candidates should start solving IAT PYQs and mock tests. The third month of IAT 2026 preparation requires candidates to revise all the syllabus concepts strategically. These strategies can help increase their chances of scoring well in IAT 2026.