You must be thinking of saving yourself from a Drop year, and keeping any of these EXAMS as your backup. Right?
If you failed to succeed in NEET then NEST will be your backup. Are you really rethinking about your choice! Your decision should depend on your passion and Interest and not Fear. If you really want to be in the field of Science and either these exams will help you stick to it then you should understand that they are nowhere close when it comes to Career. They are completely DIFFERENT. NEET helps you pursue Medicine, saving lives, where you have 24-48 hours of continuous working hours doing surgeries in the OT, think it in that way, while NEST opens the door to Research, becoming the future hope, satisfying the demands according to the Needs whether in discovering new Antibiotics or launching a new mission to space.
Still trying to figure it out? Don’t worry! In this blog, we’ll help you shape your decision, and opt for a career that is better for you.
Let’s explore and find the right fit for you!
What is NEET?
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the national-level exam conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission into MBBS and BDS programs in India. Almost 23 lakh plus candidates appear for NEET every year and it’s increasing exponentially. The statistics say around 20 lakh students appeared in 2023, and it increased to 23 lakh in 2024.
What is NEST?
National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is an annual entrance exam in India. It is a Computer-Based Test (CBT) designed to evaluate scientific aptitude. In NEST, the number of students appearing for the exam is very very low as compared to NEET.
It is conducted for admission into India’s prestigious science institutes:
NEST is the sole criterion for admission to undergraduate programs in these institutes. Learn more about these exams here.
Career Options After NEET and NEST:
Both exams offer exciting career opportunities from a Doctor to a Medical Research scientist. Let us explore further:
Career Options After NEET:
Career Options After NEST:
Can NEET Preparation Help with NEST?
NEET tests your subject knowledge, while NEST focuses on applying that knowledge and solving problems.
- Common Topics: Both exams cover Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany & Zoology).
- How does NEET Help with NEST?: NEET strengthens your Biology foundation. It also improves your MCQ practice, analytical skills, and time management, which are helpful for NEST.
- NEST Prep Differences: NEST includes Mathematics, which NEET does not. Focus on mock tests for the Math section to improve your NEST preparation.
For more details? Check out this blog!
NEET vs NEST: How to Choose?
Let’s keep this simple. Firstly, explore every area offered by NEST and NEET. Then, think of what excites you the most. Is it becoming a Doctor? Or performing research in labs? Both exams can earn you the title of “Doctor”. However, NEET-Doctors will be treating patients, whereas, NEST-Doctors (PhDs) will be conducting research.
Here are some key factors that you may consider while shaping your decision:
- Career Goals: If you aspire to be a doctor, NEET is the gateway to top medical institutes in India, such as AIIMS, where you can pursue an MBBS and become a physician. But NEET isn’t limited to producing only medical doctors—it also opens pathways to other fields like BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), Veterinary Sciences, and more. On the other hand, if your passion lies in scientific research, NEST might be a better fit. It paves the way for careers in basic sciences and can lead to advanced research opportunities.
While both paths can lead to the prestigious title of “doctor,” it’s essential to note the subtle difference: NEET doctors are physicians who diagnose and treat patients, while NEST can lead to a PhD—another kind of doctor, one dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge through research.
- Competition and Scope: NEET is extremely competitive, with over 20 lakh plus candidates appearing each year while NEST has fewer aspirants – around 70k to 1 lakh students annually offering a chance to study at prestigious research institutes like NISER and CEBS. NEET is extremely competitive because with growing candidates the number of seats are not fulfilled.
- Long-Term Vision: NEET leads to careers in clinical practice, hospitals, or medical research. Meanwhile, NEST opens opportunities for academic research, national labs, and emerging fields in science and technology.
- Preparation Requirements: NEET preparation focuses on Biology, Physics, and Chemistry, especially from the NCERT syllabus. NEST, however, requires preparation in Mathematics. It also demands strong analytical skills and a deep understanding of scientific concepts.
- Scholarships and Opportunities: NEET provides scholarships to support your MBBS journey. NEST, on the other hand, offers research-focused scholarships under the DISHA program. It also gives you access to internships in national labs, which can jumpstart your research career.
Conclusion:
Both NEET and NEST lead to rewarding careers in medicine and scientific research. However, they come with different challenges. NEET is more competitive, with higher cut-off scores for institutes like AIIMS. NEST, though less competitive, can still be tough because of the paper’s difficulty level.
Choosing between NEET and NEST depends on your career goals. If you dream of becoming a doctor, aim for NEET and work to clear the cut-offs. If you don’t make it, you can still explore other fields like veterinary science. On the other hand, if you’re passionate about research in biology, go for NEST. Clear the paper, and you can join research institutes like NISER or CEBS.
In the end, it all comes down to one question: What do you want to be?
FAQs:
- Can NEET preparation help me crack NEST?
NEET preparation provides a strong foundation in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, which overlaps with the NEST syllabus. However, NEST also requires proficiency in Mathematics and advanced problem-solving. Additional preparation for Mathematics and NEST-specific question patterns is essential for success.
- What career options do NEST and NEET lead to?
NEET opens pathways to careers in medicine, dentistry, and healthcare. NEST is ideal for those pursuing scientific research and advanced studies in basic sciences, leading to opportunities in national labs, academic institutions, and industry research.
- Which exam is more competitive: NEET or NEST?
NEET is more competitive, with over 18 lakh aspirants annually for limited medical seats. NEST has a smaller applicant pool (around 50,000 annually), but it is more challenging conceptually and focused on analytical thinking.
- What scholarships are available for NEST and NEET students?
NEST students at NISER receive the DISHA scholarship (INR 60,000 annually, plus INR 20,000 for summer internships). NEET-qualified students can apply for various state and central government medical scholarships, such as those offered by AIIMS or state health departments.
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 2025, 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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