What is the NEST Exam?
The NEST (National Entrance Screening Test) is the entrance examination for admission into:
- NISER Bhubaneswar — National Institute of Science Education and Research
- UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai — Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences
The course offered is a 5-year Integrated M.Sc. in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.
Exam Details
- Mode: Computer-Based Test (online)
- Frequency: Once a year
- Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Eligibility Criteria
- Must pass Class 12 in Science stream
- General/OBC: Minimum 60% | SC/ST/PwD: Minimum 55%
- Passed in the current year or last 2 years
- Age Limit: General/OBC ≤ ~20 years (5-year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD)
Exam Pattern
The exam has 5 sections:
- General Section (compulsory) — scientific awareness and reasoning
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Mathematics
You must attempt any 3 out of 4 subject sections. Questions include MCQs and multiple-correct-answer types with negative marking.
Syllabus
Based on Class 11 and 12 NCERT/CBSE syllabus covering:
- Physics: Mechanics, Optics, Electricity, Modern Physics
- Chemistry: Organic, Inorganic, Physical Chemistry
- Mathematics: Algebra, Calculus, Trigonometry, Vectors
- Biology: Genetics, Ecology, Cell Biology, Biotechnology
Selection & Seats
Around 200 seats are available. Merit is based on the General section score plus best 3 subject scores. Separate merit lists are prepared for NISER and CEBS.
Scholarship & Career
- INSPIRE Scholarship: Rs 60,000/year + Rs 20,000 contingency grant
- After graduation: PhD opportunities, scientist roles at ISRO, DRDO, BARC, and academia
Preparation Tips
- Build strong NCERT conceptual foundation
- Practice previous year NEST question papers
- Focus on analytical and conceptual problem-solving
- The difficulty level is moderate to high — similar to JEE but includes Biology