Have you been thinking about your career path toward becoming a scientist? Are you preparing for the IISER Aptitude Test, commonly known as IAT? If yes, then you are reading the correct blog. With their modern facilities, interdisciplinary approach, and top-notch faculty, IISERs give students an ideal environment for a career in science. IAT is the entrance exam for these institutions. Apart from IISERs, it also serves as an entrance exam to IISc and IIT Madras.
In this blog, we will discuss
- IAT Exam Highlights
- IAT Exam Eligibility
- IAT Exam Syllabus
- IAT Exam Pattern
- FAQs
IAT Exam highlights:
The SCB (State and Central Boards) channel is the only way for students to apply for admission to the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs). The IISER system considers that each state board has its own curriculum and set of marking guidelines. There is a cutoff for every board exam in the 12th grade. If the overall percentage of your class XII score is higher than the cutoff, you can apply to take the IAT 2024. Here is an overview of the exam:
- Name of the exam: IISER Aptitude Test
- Conducted by: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research
- Exam Level: for undergraduate
- Exam frequency: once in a year
- Exam mode: computer-based exam
- Exam Medium: English/Hindi
- Total registration: The number of students appearing for the IISER aptitude test can vary from year to year. Roughly, it is around 50,000
- Application fee: Rs. 2,000/- for candidates applying under the General, EWS, OBC, and OBC-NCL categories. Rs. 1,000/- for candidates applying under persons with disabilities (PwD), persons registered as Kashmiri Migrants (KM), and SC/ST category.
- Total Seats in IISERs: around 2000
- Courses Offered through IISER Aptitude Test: 5-Year BS-MS Degree by most of the IISERs. BS Engineering by IISER Bhopal.
- Colleges Accepting IISER Aptitude Test Scores: IISERs, IISc and IIT Madras (4-year BS in medical sciences and engineering)
IAT Exam Eligibility:
The eligibility for the IAT exam is given below:
- You have to be a citizen of India.
- As of 2024, you must have passed the science stream in Class XII or have passed an exam of equivalent difficulty in 2022, 2023, or 2024. This indicates that second droppers are also welcome this year, so if you’re one of them, this is your best chance.
- In your +2, you had to have taken a minimum of three subjects from the following: biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics.
- You must have obtained an equivalent grade in XII, or 55% aggregate, if you fall under the SC/ST category. If you fall into any other category, you need to have received an XII aggregate grade of 60% or higher.
- If they meet all other eligibility requirements, students from the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) who took the Class XII or equivalent level exam in December 2021 and reside in the Kashmir division, Jammu division’s Winter Zone areas, and the U.T. of Ladakh are also eligible to apply for the IAT 2024.
IAT Exam Syllabus:
The IAT 2024 will broadly follow the rationalised NCERT syllabus for 2023-2024.
Biology |
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Chemistry |
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Physics |
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Maths |
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IAT Exam pattern:
This is a computer-based exam, and question types are only MCQs. The subject-wise marking scheme will be:
| Subject | Total Questions | Total marks |
| Mathematics | 15 | 15*4=60 |
| Chemistry | 15 | 15*4=60 |
| Physics | 15 | 15*4=60 |
| Biology | 15 | 15*4=60 |
| Grand total= | 240 |
The exam will be 3 hours long. Each correct answer carries 4 marks, and -1 will be deducted for one incorrect answer. The question paper will be in English. You can attempt any one in biology and mathematics. However, we advise you to attempt all four sections in order to score high.
The difficulty level of IAT is near JEE Mains(a little more than that) while far below JEE Advanced and NEST. Also, the exam pattern is almost same except that IAT has only MCQ questions and only 15 questions per subject. Check out this blog to learn more about how IAT differs from JEE and NEST.
FAQs:
- I have passed XII in 2021. Can I apply?
Students who passed Class XII (or equivalent) in 2021 cannot apply. Only students who have passed out in 2022, 2023, or 2024 are eligible to apply.
- How many seats are available for admission to the BS Degree program in 2024?
Currently, only IISER Bhopal offers a 4-year BS degree program in Economic Sciences and Engineering Sciences. The tentative total number of seats available for the BS program is 115.
- Can candidates from any board (e.g., CBSE, ISC, State Boards) apply for the IISER Aptitude Test Exam?
Yes, candidates from any recognised board are eligible to apply, provided they meet the specified eligibility criteria.
- Is there any age limit for appearing in the IISER Aptitude Test Exam?
No, there is no age limit for candidates appearing in the exam.
- Is the IISER Aptitude Test Exam the only criterion for admission to IISERs?
Every admission is processed centrally. Students are admitted by IISERs using a common application process, and the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2024 will be used to evaluate all applicants exclusively.
- What are the channels available for admission in IISERs?
There is a single channel available for admission into IISERs. All candidates will be admitted through the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2024.
- How can I prepare for IAT 2024?
Make an organised study schedule covering every subject and start early. Make use of high-quality SciAstra study resources and complete past years’ exam questions. Practice often and concentrate on gaining a solid understanding of the foundational ideas in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
Conclusion:
To sum up, the IISER Aptitude Test Exam is an important first step for prospective students who want to get into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research. By thoroughly comprehending the program’s highlights, eligibility requirements, syllabus, exam structure, and frequently asked questions, candidates can efficiently prepare for and start their journey towards scientific excellence. So, get ready, prepare well, and get to your dream college through the IISER Aptitude Test Exam.
If you aim to get into IISc and want to know what courses are available there, check out this blog.
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 in their 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!
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