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The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST 2025) is a highly competitive examination for admission into the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) and the Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (CEBS). The latest update is that the exam pattern has changed for NISER and CEBS. Earlier, four sections were mandatory for NISER and three sections for CEBS.
Earlier, four sections were mandatory, but now, only three sections are mandatory for both the Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (CEBS) and NISER.
The added benefit is that math or bio is not mandatory to attempt, giving students more flexibility in their exam strategy. You can choose any combination of subjects for the subject section, but you need to score well in at least three subjects to qualify for NISER or CEBS.
But, how Can I Easily Prepare Both Mathematics and Biology for IAT and NEST?
Stay Tuned!
Cut-Off Trends and Expected Cut-Off for 2025:
The cut-off for NEST has varied over the years due to changing difficulty levels and the number of test-takers. In NEST 2024, the cut-off for general category candidates was set by a combination of section-wise and overall percentile scores. A similar trend is expected for 2025:
- Section-Wise Minimum Admissible Score (SMAS): This score varies by section and is calculated as 20% of the average of the top 100 scores in each section. For instance, if the average top score in Chemistry is 48 out of 60, the SMAS would be set at 9.6.
- Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP): Candidates need a percentile of 95 or higher for the general category, 90 for OBC, and 75 for SC/ST/Divyangjan.
Most Common Mistakes to Avoid in NEST
Seat Intake:
The total number of seats available for NEST 2024 is divided between NISER and CEBS. The seat matrix is as follows:
NISER Bhubaneswar:
- General: 101
- OBC NCL: 54
- SC: 30
- ST: 15
- Divyangjan: 5% of seats in each category
UMDAE CEBS Mumbai:
- General: 23
- OBC NCL: 15
- SC: 9
- ST: 4
- EWS: 6
- Divyangjan: 5% of seats in each category
Reservation Criteria:
The reservation criteria for NEST 2024 follow the central government norms:
- OBC NCL: 27%
- SC: 15%
- ST: 7.5%
- Divyangjan: 5% of seats in each category
- Supernumerary Quota: Two seats each at NISER and CEBS for candidates from Jammu and Kashmir
NEST 2025 Cutoff:
The category-wise cutoff for the NEST 2024 depends on many factors, such as the number of applicants, the number of candidates appearing for the exam, the number of seats in NISER and CEBS, and the difficulty level of NEST 2024. The cutoffs for NEST 2024 expected by our experts using previous years’ records of NEST cutoffs are given below:
| Category | Marks |
| General | 90-110 |
| EWS | 90-110 |
| OBC | 80-95 |
| SC | 50-70 |
| ST | 40-50 |
| Jammu and Kashmir | 50-70 |
Remember that this is an expected cutoff based on the data for the NEST 2024.
Detailed NEST 2025 Exam Syllabus:
The NEST Exam Syllabus 2025 follows the NCERT/CBSE syllabus for Classes XI and XII in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. Some of the topics covered are:
| Subject | Syllabus |
| Physics | Mechanics, electricity and magnetism, optics, thermodynamics, modern physics, and more. |
| Chemistry | Inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry topics, such as atomic structure, chemical bonding, periodic properties, and reaction mechanisms. |
| Mathematics | Algebra, trigonometry, calculus, probability, and statistics. |
| Biology | Genetics, cell biology, human physiology, ecology, and evolution. |
Candidates should cover these topics thoroughly as questions will test both conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills. They can find the detailed syllabus and topic breakdowns on the official NEST website.
However, NEST 2024 is not the only option if you are interested in basic science. You can also appear for the IAT 2024, which is easier than NEST 2024 and is an entrance exam to institutes like IISERs, IISc and IIT Madras (4-year BS in medical sciences and Engineering).
Must read: How to Prepare for NEST and IAT Within 6 Months?
About Us: Sciastra
At SciAstra, we guide students who want to become scientists and pursue research by helping them secure admissions in the top colleges for the same like IISER, NISER, CEBS, ICAR, CMI, etc.
Our mentors are from the top research institutes like IISER, NISER, IACS, CMI, ISI, IISC Bangalore, 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!
