Indian Institutes for Science Education and Research (IISERs) are among the top institutions of India dedicated to Science Education and Research. From 2024, the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT 2025) became the only admission exam for admission to the IISERs, eliminating the KVPY and JEE Advanced channels. This year, IISER Tirupati is conducting the IISER Aptitude Test 2025. For the first time, the IISER Aptitude Test 2025 will not be taken by different IISERs in turns but by IISER Tirupati alone.
It is expected that this major change significantly affects cutting trends for the IAT 2025 due to increased competition. IAT 2025 Expected Cutoff: Category-Wise Marks | Sciastra.
This blog is a detailed version of IAT’s Eligibility and guidelines.
Stay tuned!
Major Changes in IAT 2025:
1. Increase in Competition
Since 2021, the number of registrations for IAT has increased 3X to 4X. This year, the competition is expected to rise even further as there are no upper limits on the number of applications.
2. New Courses Offered
- The Application portal will open on March 10, 2025.
- A new 4-year BS course in Economics and Statistical Sciences has been initiated at IISER Tirupati.
- IISER Bhopal has overhauled its course in engineering sciences by replacing a BS degree by B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, Data Science & Engineering and Electrical & Computer Science Engineering.
- IISER Kolkata is starting a new 5-year BS-MS dual degree program in Computational and Data Sciences from Academic Year 2025-2026. To enroll in this program, it is mandatory to have mathematics as a subject in Class-XII (or equivalent).
3. Eligibility Criteria – Biggest Change!
1.Applicants must be Indian nationals, OCI/PIO/Foreign Nationals to apply for IAT 2025.
- Candidates must have passed the Class XII (or equivalent) examination in 2023 or 2024 or 2025 with science stream from any board recognized by the Council of Boards of School Education (COBSE) in India. Foreign Nationals need to upload an equivalence certificate issued by the Association of Indian Universities unless they have passed the Class XII or equivalent level examination in 2023 or 2024 or 2025 with science stream from any board recognized by the Council of Boards of School Education (COBSE) in India.
The equivalence certificate must be uploaded while submitting the IAT 2025 Application Form under “Please upload a copy of document supporting your claim of Foreign National (You’ll need to produce original when necessary)”.
3.Candidates must have taken at least three subjects among Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics during their Class XII (or equivalent) examination.
4.For admissions to the following programs, candidates must have Mathematics during their Class XII (or equivalent): 5-year BS-MS in Computational and Data Sciences program at IISER Kolkata, 4-year B. Tech. program at IISER Bhopal, 4-year BS in Economic Sciences program at IISER Bhopal and 4-year BS in Economic and Statistical Sciences program at IISER Tirupati.
5.Candidates belonging to SC/ST/PwD are required to score a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade in their Class XII (or equivalent) examination. Candidates belonging to other categories are required to score a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate or equivalent grade in their Class XII (or equivalent) examination. Note that, the percentage needs to be calculated using aggregate marks, that is, considering ALL the subjects taken in class XII (or equivalent) level.
NOTE:
1. The students from the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE), from Kashmir division/Winter Zone areas of Jammu division and the U.T. of Ladakh, who appeared in their Class XII or equivalent level examination in Dec 2022, are also eligible to apply for the IAT 2025, provided they satisfy all the other eligibility criteria. During the application process, these students must pick 2023 as their year of passing the Class XII examination.
2. Candidates belonging to Kashmiri Pandit/Kashmiri Hindu Families (Non-Migrants) may apply for the IAT 2025 as Kashmiri Migrants subject to the fulfilment of other eligibility criteria. These candidates must upload a valid domicile certificate at the time of application under “Kashmiri Migrant Certificate”.
IAT 2025 Exam Pattern (IISER Aptitude Test)
| Mode: | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration: | 3 Hours |
| Total Marks: | 240 |
| Subjects & Marking: | Physics: 60 marks
Chemistry: 60 marks Mathematics: 60 marks Biology: 60 marks |
| Marking Scheme: | +4 for each correct answer
-1 for each wrong answer |
Recent Groundbreaking news from IISERs
As of February 2025, the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) have been involved in several notable developments:
- IIT-Bombay and IISER Pune Designated as Research Hubs: In January 2025, IIT-Bombay and IISER Pune were named as Hubs under the Advanced National Research Foundation (ANRF). Each institution is set to receive ₹100 crore over five years to promote multidisciplinary research and innovation in India. Read more
- India Science Fest 2025 at IISER Pune: In January 2025, IISER Pune hosted the India Science Fest 2025, featuring interactive stalls on topics like balloon physics and the relationship between bacteria and antibiotics.
- AFM Workshop at IISER Thiruvananthapuram: On January 10, 2025, IISER Thiruvananthapuram organized a workshop titled “Cutting-Edge Scanning Probe Techniques (CSPT 2025)” focusing on advanced Atomic Force Microscopy methods.
- Leadership Appointment at IISER Mohali: In April 2024, Professor Anil Kumar Tripathi, a distinguished academician from Banaras Hindu University, was appointed as the Director of IISER Mohali.
- Establishment of IISER in Gandhinagar: In September 2024, the Government of India approved the establishment of a new IISER in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, aiming to enhance science education and research infrastructure in the region.
Read about different IISERs across the country.
- IISER Pune:Admission 2025, Courses, Fees, Cutoff, Placements,
- IISER Bhopal: Admission 2025, Courses, Fees, Cutoff,
- IISER Kolkata: Admission 2025, Courses, Cutoff, Placements,
- IISER Mohali: Admission 2025, Courses, Cutoff, Placements,
- IISER Thiruvananthapuram: Admission 2025,Courses, Placements,
- IISER Tirupati: Admission 2025, Courses,Cutoff, Placements
Which SciAstra Course Should I Choose For IAT 2025 and NEST 2026?
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Strategies:
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Complete Guide On How To Prepare For IAT 2025
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