Are you a PCB student exploring options beyond NEET and don’t want to shape a career in the medical field? Worry not, we’ve got a solution for you – NEST. It’s not about medicine, but it opens the door to a thrilling journey in science and research. Also now you’re worried about whether you can tackle National Entrance Screening Test alongside your NEET preparation or thinking about which exam is more challenging together. Let’s explore this post and get your answer.
Meet NEET:
NEET is the key to your dream of becoming a doctor. Yes, it’s tough – a vast syllabus, tough competition, and a bit of pressure. NEET checks what you know in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. It’s like a 180-question marathon to be finished in 180 minutes. Sounds like a lot, right? But trust me, with the right plan and a bit of belief in yourself, you can beat NEET and open the door to medical school.
Understanding the NEST:
Now, let’s talk about NEST. It’s not for medical school but for getting into science and research institutes like NISER and UM-DAE CEBS. National Entrance Screening Test is different from NEET. NEST, unlike NEET, is a more concept-driven exam, testing your understanding of fundamental principles rather than just rote memorization. It tests your ability to apply your knowledge to solve problems and think critically. It checks how good you are in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and even Math. The format is not the same as NEET, with different sections and marks for each.
Bridging the Gap: From NEET to NEST
While NEET focuses on Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB), NEST introduces an additional element – Mathematics. This might seem like an extra hurdle, but don’t panic! Here’s the great news: Mathematics isn’t a compulsory requirement! The exam is structured with sections covering physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biology. Here’s the exciting part: while three sections are a must, you have the freedom to tackle as many sections as you wish. Your final score will be derived from your best performance across these four sections.
Difficulty Level:
NEET and NEST are both competitive exams that test your knowledge and aptitude in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics. However, there are some differences in the level and type of questions asked in these exams.
- NEET focuses more on the factual and conceptual aspects of the subjects, while NEST emphasizes more on the analytical and logical aspects.
- NEET questions are mostly based on the NCERT syllabus, while National Entrance Screening Test questions are more application-oriented and go beyond the NCERT syllabus.
- NEET has a fixed number of questions (200 out of which 180 need to be answered) and marks (720), while NEST has a variable number of questions and marks depending on the difficulty level of the paper. 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 National Entrance Screening Test examination are from the moderate tough to difficult level. On the other hand, NEET is very tough. As compared to NEET, the difficulty level of NEST is much easier.
Benefits of NEST:
- Preparation of other examinations: Furthermore, the added benefit of the preparation of this examination is that students can also easily prepare for the JEE Mains and JEE Advanced exams. Here’s another fantastic news: if you’re already preparing for the NEET examination, you’re automatically preparing yourself for the NEST too! Why? Because the syllabus for both exams is like a close match. It’s a win-win situation – your efforts for one are essentially an investment in acing the other.
- Scoring: The process of scoring in this examination is fairly easy. Each section of the National Entrance Screening Test exam carries 50 marks. The set of questions in this examination varies and depends upon different sessions. Scoring a seat can become far easier for the candidates who have been able to score higher in the examination.
Syllabus:
The syllabus for NEET and NEST is similar but not identical.
- NEET covers the topics of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Whereas National Entrance Screening Test covers all 4 subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics from Class 11 and 12 (although Maths is not compulsory here).
- NEST has a slightly broader and deeper syllabus than NEET, as it includes some topics that are not covered in NEET (especially maths such as calculus, and statistics).
- NEST also expects the students to have a good understanding of the basic concepts and principles of the subjects, as well as their applications and implications in the real world. NEET, on the other hand, follows the NCERT syllabus more closely and tests the students on the facts and concepts that are given in the textbooks.
Therefore, if you want to take NEST along with NEET, you must study some extra topics and go beyond the NCERT books.
You can refer to SciAstra for the detailed syllabus as well as important topics. You can also check out some PYQs and mock tests to analyze the exam pattern and difficulty level on free study material from the SciAstra app. Also, there are so many books available for the NEET examination in the market, but for the first time, SciAstra launched books specifically for IAT & NEST preparation.
Exam Pattern:
The pattern of NEET and NEST is also different in some aspects.
- NEET is a pen and paper-based test, while NEST is a computer-based test.
- NEET has a single paper of 3 hours duration, while National Entrance Screening Test has two sessions of 3 hours 30 minutes each.
- NEET has 180 questions of 4 marks each, while NEST has a variable number of questions of different marks each. Last year, the NEST 2023 exam consisted of 68 questions in total (both MCQs and MSQs) with a total of 200 marks.
- NEET has only single correct answer questions, while National Entrance Screening Test has both single and multiple correct answer questions.
- NEET has a fixed total of 720 marks, while NEST has a variable total depending on the difficulty level of the paper. NEET has a single merit list for all candidates, while National Entrance Screening Test has separate merit lists for different categories of candidates.
Therefore, if you want to take National Entrance Screening Test along with NEET, you will have to familiarize yourself with the different patterns and formats of both exams. You can practice some mock tests of NEST here to get a feel of the exams and improve your speed and accuracy.
Future Scope:
The scope of NEET and NEST is also different in terms of the courses and colleges that they offer.
- NEET is the sole entrance test for admission to undergraduate medical courses (MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH) in government and private colleges in India, as well as for those intending to pursue primary medical qualification abroad. NEET also covers some allied health sciences courses such as B.Sc. Nursing, B.Sc. Radiography, BPT, etc.
- NEST, on the other hand, is the entrance test for admission to the 5-year Integrated Bs-MSc programme in basic sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics) at NISER, Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai.
Therefore, if you want to take National Entrance Screening Test along with NEET, you will have to decide which course and college you are interested in and apply accordingly. You can also check out our blog: IAT 2023, NEST 2023 – Eligibility Criteria for IISER, NISER, and CEBS to get more information and guidance on these exams.
Conclusion: So, which exam is harder?
Different students may find different exams more challenging depending on their strengths and weaknesses. However, some general observations can be made based on past trends and statistics.
- NEET is more popular and has more applicants than NEST, which means that the competition and cutoffs are higher for NEET.
- NEET also has a higher qualification rate than National Entrance Screening Test, which means that more students clear the minimum marks required for admission through NEET than NEST.
- NEST, on the other hand, has a lower number of seats and a higher level of difficulty than NEET, which means that the students who qualify for NEST are more likely to get admission to the institutes of their choice than the students who qualify for NEET.
Well, there is no definitive answer to this question, as it all depends upon your choice and your decision. Therefore, if you are looking for a more challenging and rewarding exam, you might want to consider taking National Entrance Screening Test along with NEET. However, if you are more comfortable with the NEET syllabus and pattern, you should focus on NEET and prepare accordingly. Therefore, you should carefully weigh the pros and cons of taking both exams and choose the one that suits your interests, abilities, and goals.
Your Winning Plan – You! Whether you’re getting ready for NEET or thinking about NEST, the secret to success is in you. Make a plan that fits your strengths, ask for help when you need it, and take breaks when things get too much. If you want to prepare for NEST 2024, you should follow some important tips like you must follow a structured plan, learning from your mistakes, and staying focused on your goals. You should also prepare well for both exams and practice a lot of questions and mock tests to improve your chances of success. Remember, there is no shortcut to success, only hard work and dedication.
Are you worried about what to do as you have limited time left, and you haven’t started your preparation yet? Don’t worry; we have the solution for you.
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!
