The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISER) declared the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2026 results on June 29, 2026, on the official admissions portal. Candidates who qualified in the entrance exam can now download their rank cards and participate in the admission process, as the online counselling registration began on July 2, 2026.
Source: iiseradmission.in/
More than 70,000 candidates appeared for the exam this year, competing for around 2,343 seats in BS-MS dual degree and other programmes across seven campuses.
- IISER IAT 2026 results were out on June 29, 2026, on the official website.
- IISER IAT Final Answer Key was released at the same time on June 29, 2026.
- IISER IAT 2026 counselling registration has begin on July 2 2026, with 8–9 rounds of online seat allotment spread across the summer.
- General category candidates usually need around 130+ marks in IISER IAT to have a chance of admission.
- For top campuses like IISER Pune and Kolkata, a score of 150+ marks is generally considered safe, with about 2,343 seats available across all IISERs.
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What is IISER IAT 2026?
IISER IAT stands for the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Aptitude Test. It is a national-level entrance exam conducted jointly by the seven IISERs for admission to their science programmes.
The exam is held once a year, and IISER Berhampur is the organising institute for the 2026 edition.
The seven IISERs are located at Berhampur (Odisha), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Kolkata (West Bengal), Mohali (Punjab), Pune (Maharashtra), Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh).
Together, they offer around 2,343 seats in BS-MS dual degree and other programmes in the sciences.
All IISERs offer a 5-year BS-MS dual degree, while IISER Bhopal also provides 4-year BS and BTech programs. The IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) is now the sole entry channel; older pathways like JEE Advanced and KVPY are discontinued.
More than 70,000 candidates appeared for IISER IAT 2026. The exam tests deep conceptual understanding of NCERT Class 11 and 12 content in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology.
Each subject carries equal weight, and candidates are not required to attempt all four sections.
IISER IAT 2026 Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2026 |
| Full Form | Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Aptitude Test |
| Conducting Body | All 7 IISERs jointly (Organising Institute: IISER Berhampur) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Date | June 7, 2026 |
| Exam Results | June 29, 2026 (Out) |
| Exam Timing | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM IST |
| Duration | 3 hours (4 hours for PwD candidates with 40%+ disability) |
| Total Questions | 60 MCQs (15 per subject) |
| Total Marks | 240 |
| Subjects Covered | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology |
| Marking Scheme | +4 for correct, -1 for wrong, 0 for unanswered |
| Total Seats (2026) | ~2,343 across 7 IISERs |
| Courses Offered | BS-MS Dual Degree (5 years), BS (4 years), BTech (IISER Bhopal) |
| Admission Channel | IAT only (JEE Advanced / KVPY channel discontinued since 2024) |
| Official Website | iiseradmission.in |
IISER IAT 2026 Important Dates
The IISER IAT 2026 exam was conducted today on June 7, 2026. The immediate upcoming events are the answer key release and the objection window. Candidates should track the result and counselling schedule in the coming weeks.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Provisional Answer Key Release | June 7, 2026 |
| Objection Window Opens | June 9, 2026 |
| Objection Window Closes | June 13, 2026 |
| Final Answer Key Release | June 29, 2026 |
| IISER IAT 2026 Result | June 29, 2026 (Out) |
| Counselling Registration Begins | July 2, 2026 (Active) |
| Seat Allotment Round 1 | July 2026 (expected 3rd week of July) |
| Final Counselling Round Ends | September 2026 (tentative) |
Source: iiseradmission.in
IISER IAT 2026 Answer Key
The IISER IAT 2026 Final Answer Key has been released on June 29, 2026. Now that the final answer key has been released, the candidates will not be allowed to raise any kind of objections. The organising committee will not review all challenges. Your IISER IAT 2026 marks will be calculated based on the final answer key only, not the provisional one.
IISER IAT 2026 Result
The IISER IAT 2026 Result was released on June 29, 2026, and the final answer key was published simultaneously. The result is available on at iiseradmission.in for candidates to download. However, the rank card will be published on July 9, 2026.
The result will include your subject-wise scores and total marks out of 240. A merit list will be prepared for each category — General, OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST, and PwD — based on your IAT 2026 score and rank. Only candidates on the merit list will be eligible for counselling.
How to check your IISER IAT 2026 result:
- Visit iiseradmission.in
- Log in using your registered email ID and password
- Click on the result or scorecard link
- Download your scorecard and save it — it is a mandatory document for counselling
What the IISER IAT 2026 scorecard will contain:
- Marks secured in each subject (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology)
- Total marks out of 240
- Your overall rank in the merit list
- Category-wise rank (for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD candidates)
IISER IAT 2026 Marks vs Rank
Last year, the paper was considered easier than in 2024, especially in Chemistry and Biology. This pushed scores higher and caused significant rank inflation. A score of 132 marks that secured top IISERs in 2024 resulted in a rank of 4,800+ in 2025. The difficulty level of the 2026 paper will determine how closely the 2025 benchmarks apply this year.
| Score Range (out of 240) | Expected AIR (General) |
| 200+ | 1 – 100 |
| 185 – 199 | 101 – 450 |
| 175 – 184 | 451 – 750 |
| 165 – 174 | 751 – 1,100 |
| 155 – 164 | 1,101 – 1,800 |
| 140 – 154 | 1,801 – 4,000 |
| 130 – 139 | 4,001 – 6,500 |
| 120 – 129 | 6,501 – 9,000 |
| 110 – 119 | 9,001 – 12,000+ |
Campus-wise safe score estimates for IISER IAT 2026:
- IISER Pune, IISER Kolkata: 150+ marks (General category)
- IISER Mohali, IISER Bhopal: 130 – 145 marks (General category)
- IISER Thiruvananthapuram, IISER Tirupati, IISER Berhampur: 110 – 130 marks (General category)
- OBC-NCL category: 100 – 115 marks safe score
- SC / ST category: 65 – 80 marks safe score
IISER IAT 2026 Cutoff
The official IISER IAT 2026 cutoff will be released along with the results in the fourth week of June 2026. The cutoff is the minimum score a candidate must secure to be eligible for the counselling process. IISER does not publish separate campus-wise cutoffs at the result stage. Admission cutoffs are reflected as opening and closing ranks during each counselling round.
IISER IAT Expected Qualifying Cutoff 2026
| Category | Expected Qualifying Marks 2026 (out of 240) | 2025 Qualifying Marks (Reference) |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 130 – 140 | ~130 |
| OBC-NCL | 100 – 110 | ~100 |
| EWS | 115 – 125 | ~115 |
| SC | 65 – 75 | ~65 |
| ST | 65 – 75 | ~65 |
| PwD (40%+ disability) | 65 – 75 | ~65 |
Note: These are estimated qualifying marks based on past trends. The official IISER IAT 2026 cutoff will be published on iiseradmission.in with the results.
Also Check: IISER IAT Cutoff 2026: Expected July 2026, Category Wise Closing Ranks and Marks vs Rank
IISER IAT Campus-wise Closing Ranks
During counselling, each IISER campus publishes opening and closing ranks per subject and category for every round. Below are the approximate final-round closing ranks from 2025 for the General category:
| IISER Campus | Approximate Closing Rank — General (Final Round) |
|---|---|
| IISER Pune | ~200 – 800 (varies by subject) |
| IISER Kolkata | ~250 – 1,000 |
| IISER Mohali | ~500 – 2,000 |
| IISER Bhopal | ~600 – 2,500 |
| IISER Thiruvananthapuram | ~800 – 4,000 |
| IISER Tirupati | ~1,000 – 5,000 |
| IISER Berhampur | ~1,000 – 8,789 (last round) |
Note: Closing ranks vary by programme, category, and counselling round. These are approximate figures from 2025. The 2026 counselling closing ranks will depend on this year’s score distribution and the total seat matrix.
Source: List of Top Colleges in India Accepting IISER Based on 2026 Ranking
IISER IAT 2026 Counselling
The IISER IAT 2026 counselling process is expected to begin in the fourth week of June 2026, after the result is declared. The entire counselling process is conducted online at iiseradmission.in. There will be around 8–9 rounds of seat allotment, with the final rounds expected in September 2026. Physical reporting at the allotted IISER campus is required at the end of the process for final admission confirmation.
In 2025, counselling registration opened on July 21, 2025. For 2026, a similar timeline is expected, with the first round of seat allotment in late June or early July depending on when the result is declared.
IISER IAT 2026 Counselling Process — Step by Step
- Step 1 – Register for Counselling: Log in to iiseradmission.in with your IAT 2026 credentials and register for the counselling process within the specified window.
- Step 2 – Fill Preference Form: Fill in your choice of IISER campus and subject major in order of preference. You can list multiple IISER-programme combinations to maximise your chances.
- Step 3 – Upload Documents: Upload required documents including Class XII marksheets, IAT scorecard, admit card, identity proof, and category or disability certificate where applicable.
- Step 4 – Pay Seat Acceptance Fee: Pay the seat acceptance fee online within the specified deadline to confirm your participation in each round.
- Step 5 – Seat Allotment: Seats are allotted based on your IAT 2026 rank, category, preferences, and seat availability at each IISER campus.
- Step 6 – Accept or Upgrade: If allotted a seat, accept it within the deadline. You can choose to upgrade to a better option in the next round or freeze your current seat if satisfied.
- Step 7 – Physical Reporting: After all counselling rounds end, report in person at the allotted IISER campus with original documents for final admission confirmation.
Documents Required for IISER IAT 2026 Counselling
- IISER IAT 2026 scorecard (downloaded from iiseradmission.in)
- IISER IAT 2026 admit card
- Class X marksheet and pass certificate
- Class XII marksheet and pass certificate
- Valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, Passport, or Voter ID)
- Caste certificate from a competent state authority (for SC/ST/OBC candidates)
- EWS certificate issued in the current financial year (for EWS candidates)
- Disability certificate showing 40% or more impairment (for PwD candidates)
- Recent passport-size photographs (carry multiple copies)
Note: The exact list of documents for physical reporting may vary by campus. Always refer to the official allotment letter for the complete list.
IISER IAT 2026 Seat Matrix
Around 2,343 seats are available across the seven IISERs for the 2026 session. IISER Tirupati has increased its intake this year to 350 seats. The BS-MS dual degree programme (5 years) is the flagship programme at all seven IISERs. IISER Bhopal additionally offers 4-year BS and BTech programmes in engineering and economic sciences.
| IISER Campus | Location | Approx. Seats (2026) | Programmes Offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| IISER Berhampur | Odisha | 300 | BS-MS (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Earth Sciences) |
| IISER Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh | 300+ | BS-MS; 4-yr BS in Economic Sciences; BTech in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering & CS, Data Science & Engineering |
| IISER Kolkata | West Bengal | 310 | BS-MS; BS-MS in Computational and Data Sciences |
| IISER Mohali | Punjab | 270 | BS-MS (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Geology, Environmental Sciences) |
| IISER Pune | Maharashtra | 288 | BS-MS (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Earth Sciences, Data Science) |
| IISER Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala | 320 | BS-MS (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics) |
| IISER Tirupati | Andhra Pradesh | 350 | BS-MS (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, CS, Economic and Statistical Sciences) |
| Total | – | ~2,343 | – |
Note: Seat numbers are approximate based on 2025–26 data. The final seat matrix for IAT 2026 counselling will be published on iiseradmission.in before the first round of seat allotment.
Reservation of seats across all IISERs:
- SC: 15% of total seats
- ST: 7.5% of total seats
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 27% of total seats
- EWS: 10% of total seats
- PwD: 5% horizontal reservation across all categories
- Kashmiri Migrants / Pandit Families: 3 supernumerary seats per IISER
FAQs on IISER IAT 2026
Ques. What is the IISER IAT 2026 exam date?
Ans. The IISER IAT 2026 exam was conducted on June 7, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM IST in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode. IISER Berhampur was the organising institute. PwD candidates with 40% or more disability received 60 additional minutes, making their exam time 4 hours.
Ques. When will the IISER IAT 2026 answer key be released?
Ans. The IISER IAT 2026 provisional answer key is expected to be released at iiseradmission.in on or shortly after June 7, 2026. In 2025, it was released one day after the exam. The objection window is expected from June 9 to June 13, 2026. The final answer key will follow in the fourth week of June 2026, and marks will be calculated from the final key.
Ques. When will the IISER IAT 2026 result be declared?
Ans. The IISER IAT 2026 result is expected in the fourth week of June 2026. In 2025, the result was declared on June 24, 2025. The result will be available at iiseradmission.in after you log in with your application credentials. It will include subject-wise marks, total marks out of 240, and your category rank.
Ques. How many seats are there in IISER IAT 2026?
Ans. Around 2,343 seats are available across the seven IISERs for the 2026 session. These are spread across BS-MS dual degree, 4-year BS, and BTech programmes at IISER Berhampur, Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, and Tirupati. The final seat matrix will be published on iiseradmission.in before the counselling rounds begin.
Ques. What is the IISER IAT 2026 exam pattern?
Ans. The IISER IAT 2026 has 60 MCQs — 15 each from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology — for a total of 240 marks. Each correct answer gives +4 marks and each wrong answer deducts 1 mark. Unanswered questions carry 0 marks. The duration is 3 hours. Candidates are not required to attempt all four sections.
Ques. What is the IISER IAT 2026 cutoff marks?
Ans. The official IISER IAT 2026 cutoff will be released with the result in the fourth week of June 2026. Based on 2025 trends, General category candidates need 130+ marks out of 240 to qualify. The safe score for IISER Pune and IISER Kolkata is 150+ marks for General category. SC and ST candidates typically need around 65–75 marks to qualify.
Ques. Is IAT the only way to get into IISERs in 2026?
Ans. Yes. Since 2024, IISER IAT is the only admission channel for all seven IISERs. The JEE Advanced and KVPY pathways for IISER admission were discontinued. All candidates — including those with strong JEE Advanced scores — must appear for and qualify the IAT to get an IISER seat. There is no alternate route for the 2026 cycle.
Ques. What is the eligibility criteria for IISER IAT 2026?
Ans. To appear for IISER IAT 2026, you must have passed Class XII in 2024, 2025, or 2026, with at least three subjects from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. Minimum aggregate marks required: 60% for General, OBC, and EWS candidates; 55% for SC, ST, and PwD candidates. There is no age limit. Candidates already enrolled in a degree programme (other than Class XII) are not eligible.
Ques. When will IISER IAT 2026 counselling start?
Ans. IISER IAT 2026 counselling is expected to begin in the fourth week of June 2026 after the result is declared. The process involves online registration, preference form submission, document upload, and 8–9 rounds of seat allotment spread over the summer into September. In 2025, counselling registration opened on July 21, 2025. Final admission requires physical reporting at the allotted IISER campus.
Ques. What subjects are covered in the IISER IAT 2026 syllabus?
Ans. The IISER IAT 2026 syllabus covers Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology — all based on the NCERT Class 11 and Class 12 curriculum. Questions test conceptual understanding and application. You can attempt only the subjects relevant to your preferred major, since all four sections are optional.
Ques. Which IISER is best and what score do I need?
Ans. IISER Pune and IISER Kolkata are generally the most competitive. Based on 2025 closing ranks, you need 150+ marks (General category) for a reasonable chance at these two campuses. IISER Mohali and Bhopal require around 130–145 marks. IISER Berhampur, Tirupati, and Thiruvananthapuram are more accessible, with closing ranks extending to 5,000–8,000 in later counselling rounds. All seven IISERs offer strong, research-focused science programmes at the undergraduate level.
Ques. How is the tiebreaker applied in IISER IAT 2026 merit list?
Ans. If two candidates have the same total score in IISER IAT 2026, the one with higher marks in Biology gets a better rank. If the tie remains, Chemistry marks are compared next, followed by Mathematics, and then Physics. This tiebreaker rule applies across all categories in the merit list.
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