Is Biology/Maths a Compulsory section in NEST?

Short answer- NO, Mathematics or Biology is not compulsory in the NEST examination. You can be a PCB or PCM student or attempt any three best out of 4 sections you want.

Here’s the long answer & full details-

If you are a student who is interested in pursuing a research career, you might have heard of the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST). NEST is a computer-based test that is conducted for admission to the 5-year Integrated BS-MS programme in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics at NISER, Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai. NEST is a highly competitive exam that tests your aptitude and knowledge in the four subjects. But what if you are not comfortable with one of the subjects, say Biology or Mathematics? Do you have to attempt all the four sections in the exam? Is there any advantage or disadvantage of choosing a particular subject combination? In this blog, we will clear your confusion, answer these questions and help you prepare for NEST in the best possible way.

NEST Exam Pattern:

The NEST exam consists of 4 subject sections of 50 marks each, containing subject-specific questions from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. Each subject section has 17 questions, out of which 12 questions are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), and 5 questions are Multiple Selection Questions (MSQs). For every MCQ, each correct answer fetches 2.5 marks, while each incorrect answer has a penalty of 1 mark (-1 mark). The medium of the question paper is English only. In MSQs you get +4 marks for correct options, there is no partial marking or negative marking. 

Last year, the NEST 2023 exam consisted of 68 questions in total with a total of 200 marks and the questions were of the objective type, including Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Multiple Selection Questions (MSQs). Furthermore, the questions that are asked in the NEST  examination are from the moderate tough to difficult level. Wanna know about NEST 2024 eligibility criteria, exam pattern and many more, click here.

The duration of the exam is 3 hours 30 minutes, and the total marks are 200 but they consider only the best 3 sections so the merit list is made out of 150 marks. The exam is conducted in two sessions on the same day, and you can choose your preferred session while filling out the application form.

Understanding NEST Sections:

Unlike some other entrance exams, NEST gives you the flexibility to choose the sections you want to attempt that you are most confident in and skip the ones that you are not comfortable with. One of the most important features of the NEST exam is that you can choose any three subjects or all four subjects in the test. It’s all about tailoring the test to your strengths and preferences.

Scoring Mechanics: Best of the Best Count-

In NEST, your score is calculated based on the best three sections you attempt. Yes, you read that right – you have the freedom to select the sections where you shine the brightest, only the best 3 section scores will be counted for evaluation and merit list preparation. This doesn’t mean that you have to handle all three subjects. If you’re great at Physics or love Chemistry, just concentrate on your strengths.

PCM or PCB: NEST is for everyone-

Let’s clear up a common misunderstanding – NEST isn’t limited to a specific field. Whether you’re into JEE with PCM or NEET with PCB, you can dive into the NEST challenge. It’s open to all science enthusiasts.

If you are a JEE aspirant who has PCM as your core subject, you can attempt the Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics sections in NEST, and ignore the Biology section. Similarly, if you are a NEET aspirant who has PCB as your core subjects, you can attempt Biology, Chemistry, and Physics sections in NEST, and ignore the Mathematics section. You can also attempt all four sections if you want to, but only the best three scores will be considered.

Therefore, the answer to the question “Is Biology/Maths a Compulsory section in NEST?” is: No, it is not compulsory. You can choose any three subjects or all four subjects in the exam, depending on your preference and preparation.

NEST Preparation Tips:

Now that you know the exam pattern and subject combination of NEST, you might be wondering how to prepare for the NEST exam. Getting ready for the NEST 2024 exam might feel like a big challenge, but don’t worry— you’ve got this! Here are some tips that can help you ace the exam:

• Utilize your time: Firstly, make the most of your time. If you’re in class 12 or taking a year off, it’s important to focus on both the 11th and 12th standard syllabus. Sometimes, students forget about the 11th class stuff when they’re studying for the 12th class, but that can cause problems later. So, make sure to go over both to build a strong foundation.

• Revision is important: Secondly, revising is key. After you finish a chapter, go back and look at the ones you did before. This helps you remember things better and makes sure you understand the subject well.

• Practice more and more: Preparing for exams can be a bit scary, but it gets easier with the right approach. Reading and understanding are important but don’t forget to practice what you’ve learned. Solve questions related to the topics you’ve covered. This not only helps you understand better but also improves your scores. Remember, practice is key!

• Practice mock tests and solve PYQs: To get a good grip on a subject, try solving questions from previous exams and practice mock tests. It is one of the best ways to get familiar with the exam pattern, difficulty level, and types of questions asked in NEST. This not only helps you understand better but also improves your speed, accuracy, time management skills and thinking skills. You can also get feedback on your strengths and weaknesses, and work on them accordingly. You can also practice mock tests from other sources, such as online like SciAstra which offers free mock tests to help you get a feel for the actual exam and identify areas that need improvement.

Conclusion:

NEST is a great opportunity for students who want to pursue a career in basic sciences. It offers admission to some of the most reputed and prestigious institutes in India, such as NISER, and CEBS. However, it is also a challenging exam that requires a lot of hard work and dedication. Therefore, you should prepare well for it and follow the tips given above. We hope this blog has helped you understand the exam pattern, subject combination, and preparation tips of NEST. 

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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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