NEST 2024: Exam Pattern, Scheme, Mode of Exam

Are you a 12th student who wants to join NISER or the National Institute of Science Education and Research to pursue science? If yes, then you must appear for NEST. NISER has released important information about NEST 2024. In this article, we will explain every detail about NEST.

What Is NISER?

NISER, or the National Institute of Science Education and Research, stands as a cornerstone in scientific education and research in India. Established in 2007 by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, NISER is committed to nurturing scientific talent and fostering advanced research across various disciplines. NISER is an institute of national importance and one of the best places for science lovers. If you are in 12th and you are planning for alternatives to IIT and AIMS, you must consider NISER.

Click here to learn about the placement opportunities after NISER.

NISER is one of the premium research institutes of India and has several features as listed below:

• Educational Programs: Offers a 5-year integrated M.Sc. program in Biological, Chemical, Mathematical, and Physical sciences. Allows students to choose a major subject and a minor in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, or Physics.
• Teaching Excellence: Faculty comprises distinguished scientists and teachers dedicated to providing high-quality education. Strong emphasis on a vibrant academic ambience to facilitate optimal learning experiences.
• Campus and Affiliation: Operates from a well-equipped campus with a modern infrastructure. Degrees awarded by the Homi Bhabha National Institute, a deemed-to-be University within the Department of Atomic Energy.
• Admissions and Reservations: Total of 200 seats available, including reserved seats for SC/ST/OBC/Divyangjan candidates in accordance with government norms. Reserves 2 supernumerary seats for eligible candidates from J&K and Ladakh. Requires OBC-NCL category applicants to provide a valid certificate during admission.

NISER takes admission through a national-level entrance test called NEST.

What Is NEST?

NEST or National Entrance Screening Test is an offline Computer Based Test conducted by NISER. The scores of NEST are used for admission into NISER and CEBS. NEST is conducted once a year and is scheduled for 30th June this year.

• The NEST exam includes 4 sections: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics.
• Each section has 20 questions with one correct answer, and answering correctly earns 3 marks.
• Choosing an incorrect answer will result in a deduction of 1 mark, and not answering a question will not result in any deduction.
• The merit list will be based on the best three scores out of the four sections, and the lowest score will not be considered. 
• The exam is computer-based, and applicants are encouraged to practice using a mock test link before the exam date. 
• The language of the question paper will be in Hindi and English, and in case of any confusion, the question paper in English will be considered the standard one.

What Are The Eligibility Criteria For NEST?

• Candidates seeking admission to NISER and UM-DAE CEBS for the Integrated MSc programme 2024-29 should be from the regular science stream in classes XI and XII.
• Candidates must have passed the class XII examination from any recognized Board in India in the years 2022 or 2023 or should be appearing for the same in 2024.
• Candidates who are appearing for the board examination in 2024 must pass it by the time of admission into the programme.
• Candidates must secure at least 60% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade in class XII examination to be eligible for admission to NISER and UM-DAE CEBS.
• For candidates belonging to scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST), and Divyangjan categories, the minimum requirement of marks is relaxed to 55% in aggregate or equivalent grade in class XII examination.
• There is no age limit for appearing in the NEST 2024 examination and admission to either NISER or UM-DAE CEBS.
• To become eligible for the programme, a candidate needs to secure a position in the NEST merit list, pass the XII standard board examination, and secure at least 60% in aggregate in the XII standard board examination.

Important Dates:

• Online application opens : 30.03.2024
• Online application closes : 31.05.2024
• Correction & Update Window : To be updated soon.
• Mock test opens: To be updated soon.
• Download of admit card : 15.06.2024
• Date of examination : 30.06.2024
• Online portal to challenge the answer keys : To be updated soon.
• Date of Result Announcement : 10.07.2024

Application Fee:

• Female applicant: ₹700.00
• Applicant of SC/ST/Divyangjan category: ₹700.00
• Male/Others applicant of the General/OBC category: ₹1400.00

You can make a payment using different methods such as credit card, debit card, UPI, and net-banking. The payment process will be carried out via an online payment gateway.

Merit List Preparation:

NEST merit list is prepared based on the following points.

1. Scoring System: 

• The NEST 2024 exam has four sections, each worth 60 marks.
• Percentile scores are calculated based on performance in each session.
• Only the best three scores out of four sections are considered for the merit list.
• Total marks considered for merit calculation are 180.

2. Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score (SMAS):

• SMAS is the minimum score required in each section.
• It’s determined as 20% of the average of the best 100 scores in that section.
• SMAS can vary for different sections and sessions.
•   SMAS for OBC students is 90% of that for general category, and for SC/ST/Divyangjan, it’s 50%.

3. Overall Cut-off or Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP):

• It’s the minimum percentile required for merit ranking.
• MAP is 95 for general, 90 for OBC, and 75 for SC/ST/Divyangjan candidates.
• Scoring below MAP disqualifies from merit ranking, even if SMAS is met.

4. Merit List Rank Preparation:

• Final ranking is based on percentile scores from the best three sections.
• A candidate must score above SMAS in at least three sections to qualify.
• The total score is the sum of scores from the qualifying sections.
• In case of a tie, comparison starts from section scores, then moves to class 12th marks and age.

5. Admission:

• Meeting SMAS and MAP doesn’t guarantee admission.
• Further details about admission/counselling will be provided on the website.

Syllabus:

NEST syllabus generally follows the class XI and XII NCERT. Detailed syllabus for each subject (Chemistry, Physics, Biology and Mathematics) is given on the NEST Website [::::NEST:::: (nestexam.in)]. Detailed syllabus is also present on our SciAstra app. It should be noted that the NCERT is not enough for the NEST. Hence, explore the courses offered by SciAstra to strengthen your chances of cracking NEST.

How to Prepare For NEST?

Aspirants aiming for success in NEST should consider the following strategies:

1. Understanding the Syllabus: A thorough understanding of the NEST syllabus is essential. It covers subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and General Aptitude.
2. Regular Practice: Regular practice through mock tests and previous years’ question papers helps in mastering time management and improving accuracy. Download our SciAstra app to access the mock tests and free PYQs.
3. Focus on Weak Areas: Identifying and focusing on weaker areas ensures a balanced preparation, increasing overall performance.
4. Time Management: Allocating specific time to each section during preparation and adhering to time limits during the exam is crucial.

• Join Our Course: SciAstra offers courses that help you prepare for NEST, IAT and other exams. Click here to know more. Several of our students have cleared NEST in the past.

Conclusion:

The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2024 is a key exam for 12th graders aiming to join the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) or UM-DAE CEBS for integrated M.Sc. programs. NISER, established in 2007, is known for its scientific education and research excellence in India. NEST 2024, an offline computer-based test, is scheduled for June 30, covering Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. The application period opens on March 30 and closes on May 31. Eligibility requires passing class XII with at least 60% marks, with a relaxation for SC/ST/Divyangjan categories. The exam format includes deductions for incorrect answers and the merit list considers the best three of four sections. Key dates and application fees are outlined, with the exam language in Hindi and English.

FAQs:

1. What is NISER?

NISER is the National Institute of Science Education and Research, a premier institute offering a 5-year integrated M.Sc. program in various science disciplines. It’s known for its excellent faculty, modern infrastructure, and research opportunities.

2. What is NEST?

NEST (National Entrance Screening Test) is a computer-based entrance exam for admission into NISER and UM-DAE CEBS M.Sc. programs.

3. What are the sections in NEST?

NEST has four sections: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics.

4. What is the marking scheme for NEST?

Each section has 20 questions (60 marks). There’s a +3 mark reward for a correct answer and a -1 deduction for an incorrect answer in single answer type questions. Multiple answer type questions might have different marking schemes. The merit list considers the best three scores out of four sections.

5. Who can appear for NEST?

Students from the science stream in Class 11 & 12, with at least 60% marks in Class 12 (55% for SC/ST/Divyangjan) can apply. There’s no age limit.

6. When will NEST 2024 be conducted?

The exam is scheduled for June 30th, 2024.

7. How can I prepare for NEST?

Focus on understanding the NEST syllabus (refer to NISER website or SciAstra app). Practice regularly with mock tests and previous years’ question papers. Identify and improve your weaker areas. Develop good time management skills. You can also explore courses offered by SciAstra to strengthen your preparation.

About us: 

SciAstra is a team of scientists and research scholars from the top research institutes around the world, like Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge, and so on. Our vision is to promote critical thinking and scientific temperament by helping students pursue careers in science.

We offer many free and paid courses where our mentors from the top research institutes like IISER, NISER, IACS, CMI, ISI, IISC Bangalore, etc., teach students in live classes, with study materials,  mock tests, books, and everything needed. We have taught more than 10,000 students already since 2021 and achieved over 1000 selections with AIR 1, 7,10, 12, and 13 in  IISc Bengaluru, IISERs, NISER, IACS, and so on.  If you are looking to prepare for IAT / NEST 2024, you can check out our courses and get access to live classes, recorded lectures, study material, mock tests, doubt-clearing classes, and much more!

To know more about us, click here OR download the SciAstra App from the Play Store and App Store!