Every year, thousands of students across India set their sights on the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) NEST 2025 preparation — a gateway to top-tier institutes like NISER and CEBS. But the path to cracking this exam isn’t just about books and formulas; it’s about persistence, self-doubt, sleepless nights, and the ultimate triumph of hard work.
If you’re reading this, you’re probably one of the many aspirants dreaming of a future in science, standing at the edge of uncertainty. I’ve been there too. I know the frustration of a tricky physics question at 2 AM, the exhaustion after long study hours, and the anxiety that creeps in when you compare your preparation with others. But trust me—you are not alone, and you CAN do this.
Stay Tuned!
Best Books for NEST 2025: Your Weapons for the Battle
The right books can make a difference between an average attempt and a stellar performance. Here’s what you need:
Physics
- Concepts of Physics (Vol 1 & 2) – H.C. Verma (For clarity and strong conceptual understanding)
- Fundamentals of Physics – Halliday, Resnick & Walker (For deeper insight and problem-solving)
- Problems in General Physics – I.E. Irodov (For advanced questions and conceptual clarity)
Chemistry
- Physical Chemistry – P. Bahadur (Best for numerical problems)
- Organic Chemistry – Morrison & Boyd / Solomon & Fryhle (For in-depth understanding)
- Inorganic Chemistry – J.D. Lee / NCERT (For building strong fundamentals)
Mathematics
- IIT Mathematics – M.L. Khanna (For extensive problem-solving)
- Cengage Series / Arihant Series (For topic-wise practice)
- NCERT Mathematics (Class 11 & 12) (For basics and direct questions)
Biology
- NCERT Biology (Class 11 & 12) (Absolutely essential!)
- Trueman’s Biology (For a little extra detail)
- Dinesh Objective Biology (For practice questions)
General Section (Logical Reasoning & Current Affairs)
- Lucent’s General Knowledge (For quick revision)
- Daily newspaper reading (The Hindu / Indian Express)
- Practice Logical Reasoning books (RS Aggarwal or Arihant)
Pro Tip: Stick to limited resources and revise multiple times instead of hoarding books and getting overwhelmed.
The Golden Strategy: How to Study Smart, Not Just Hard
1. The Power of a Realistic Timetable
- Don’t make a “perfect” schedule. Make a realistic one that you can actually follow.
- Allocate time for conceptual learning, problem-solving, and revision separately.
- Use the Pomodoro technique (study 50 mins, break for 10 mins).
2. Understand, Don’t Memorize
NEST isn’t about rote learning. It’s about conceptual clarity.
- Ask ‘Why?’ every time you read something.
- Use real-world examples to connect theory to reality.
3. Solve, Solve, and Solve!
- Practice PYQs (Previous Year Questions) regularly.
- Solve mock tests in real exam conditions (time yourself!).
- Make error logs—track where you make mistakes and revisit them.
4. Revision is Your Best Friend
- Revise daily, weekly, and monthly.
- Make flashcards, short notes, and mind maps for quick revision.
- Before sleeping, recall everything you studied in the day (it strengthens memory).
5. The Mental Game: Conquering Stress and Self-Doubt
- It’s okay to feel scared. It’s normal. But don’t let fear control you.
- Avoid toxic comparisons. Everyone has a different journey.
- Take small wins seriously (solving a tough problem = a mini victory).
- Take care of your health! Proper sleep, light exercise, and good food can work wonders.
The Final Countdown: One Month Before the Exam
- Solve at least 10 full-length mock tests.
- Analyze your weak areas and focus on them.
- Prioritize PYQs—they reveal important trends.
- Sleep well and stay positive. The real battle is mental.
NEST 2025 Expected Cutoff: Category-Wise Marks
Follow us to our SciAstra Blog page!!
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!
To know more about us, click here OR download the SciAstra App from Play Store or App Store!
