NEST 2026 Exam Pattern includes 80 questions distributed across four sections. Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics are the subjects for NEST. Each section has 60 questions. For the merit list, only Best of Four will be considered.
- NEST 2026 has four sections.
- Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology are the four sections in NEST 2026.
- Each section has 20 questions, carrying 3 marks each
- Negative marking of -1 applies for wrong answers.
- No marks will be deducted for unanswered questions.
- For merit list preparation, the Best of three will be considered.
- The rank list is prepared with a percentile.
NEST exam is the popular name for the National Entrance Screening Test conducted by the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) and the University of Mumbai Department of Atomic Energy Center for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS) for admission into post-graduate science courses.
NEST 2026 Exam Pattern Highlights
A detailed highlights table of the NEST 2026 exam pattern has been tabulated below:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the exam | NEST 2026 |
| Full Form | National Entrance Screening Test 2026 |
| Conducting Body | NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai |
| Mode of the exam | Online-proctored and Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Number of Papers | 1 |
| Number of Sections | 4 |
| Name of the Subjects | Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (objective type) |
| Marks Distribution | 60 Marks for each of 4 sections |
| Total Marks | 240 |
| Maximum score for Result | 180 (Best of Four) |
| Duration of the exam | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Language of the exam | Hindi and English |
NEST 2026 Exam Pattern Details
- NEST 2026 is expected to continue the same format as 2025.
- Candidates will have to answer all four sections.
- Each section has 20 questions.
- Equal marks are distributed across the sections.
| Section | No of Questions | Marks per question | Marks Allotted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 20 | 3 | 60 |
| Chemistry | 20 | 3 | 60 |
| Mathematics | 20 | 3 | 60 |
| Physics | 20 | 3 | 60 |
| Total | 80 | 240 |
Ques: What is the pattern of the NEST exam?
Ans: NEST has four sections: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology.
- Each section has 20 MCQs.
- 3 marks for correct answers and -1 for wrong answers are applicable.
- The exam will be written for 240 marks, and the result will be declared for 180 marks.
Ques: Is 120 a good score in NEST?
Ans: Yes, 120 is a good score in NEST
- It will place you above the 95th percentile.
- You can get into NISER with 120 if you belong to the reserved category.
- If you belong to the General category, aim for above 130.
Ques: What is the level of the NEST exam?
Ans: NEST is a national-level entrance exam.
- It has a difficulty level in par with JEE Advanced.
- Syllabus level is generally equal to UG.
NEST 2026 Marking Scheme
- The marking scheme is the same for all four sections.
- All sections carry an equal 25% weightage in the question paper.
- Correct answers will give +3 marks.
- 1 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer.
| Correct answer | +3 |
|---|---|
| Wrong answer | -1 |
| Unanswered question | 0 |
Ques: Can I get NISER with 60 marks?
Ans: No, it is almost impossible to get into NISER with 60 marks.
- It is below the common cut-off.
- In rare cases, ST/PwD may get into NISER with 60 marks.
Ques: How are NEST marks calculated?
Ans: Candidates will attempt four subjects carrying a maximum of 60 marks each (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics.
- Only your best 3 subject scores are counted. So, the maximum NEST score is considered 180, not 240.
- Out of 180, the percentile is calculated.
- Candidates should score a minimum in each section called SMAS.
Ques: What are the cut-off marks for NEST 2026?
Ans: The cut-off in NEST is known as MAP.
The MAP is generally as follows;
| Category | Qualifying Cut-off percentile |
| General | 95 and above |
| OBC-NCL | 85-90 |
| SC | 75-80 |
| ST | 70-75 |
| PwD | 70-75 |
| JK | 70-75 |
NEST 2026 Physics Syllabus
| Sl.No | Chapter |
|---|---|
| 1 | Physical World |
| 2 | Units and Measurements |
| 3 | Motion in a Straight Line |
| 4 | Motion in a Plane |
| 5 | Laws of Motion |
| 6 | Work, Energy and Power |
| 7 | System of Particles and Rotational Motion |
| 8 | Gravitation |
| 9 | Mechanical Properties of Solids |
| 10 | Mechanical Properties of Fluids |
| 11 | Thermal Properties of Matter |
| 12 | Thermodynamics |
| 13 | Oscillations |
| 14 | Waves |
| 15 | Electric Charges and Fields |
| 16 | Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance |
| 17 | Current Electricity |
| 18 | Moving Charges and Magnetism |
| 19 | Magnetism and Matter |
| 20 | Electromagnetic Induction |
| 21 | Alternating Current |
| 22 | Electromagnetic Waves |
| 23 | Optics |
| 24 | Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter |
| 25 | Atoms |
| 26 | Nuclei |
| 27 | Semiconductor Electronics |
NEST 2026 Chemistry Syllabus
| Sl.No | Chapter |
|---|---|
| 1 | Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry |
| 2 | Structure of Atom |
| 3 | Classification of Elements and Periodicity |
| 4 | Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure |
| 5 | States of Matter |
| 6 | Thermodynamics |
| 7 | Equilibrium |
| 8 | Redox Reactions |
| 9 | Hydrogen |
| 10 | The s-Block Element (Alkali & Alkaline Earth Metals) |
| 11 | The p-Block Element (Groups 13 & 14) |
| 12 | Organic Chemistry – Basic Principles and Techniques |
| 13 | Hydrocarbons |
| 14 | Environmental Chemistry |
| 15 | Solid State |
| 16 | Solutions |
| 17 | Electrochemistry |
| 18 | Chemical Kinetics |
| 19 | Surface Chemistry |
| 20 | General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements |
| 21 | The p-Block Element (Groups 15, 16, 17 & 18) |
| 22 | The d-Block Element (Transition Elements) |
| 23 | The f-Block Element (Lanthanides & Actinides) |
| 24 | Coordination Compounds |
| 25 | Haloalkanes & Haloarenes |
| 26 | Alcohols, Phenols & Ethers |
| 27 | Aldehydes, Ketones & Carboxylic Acids |
| 28 | Amines |
| 29 | Biomolecules |
| 30 | Polymers |
| 31 | Chemistry in Everyday Life |
NEST 2026 Biology Syllabus
| Sl.No | Chapter |
|---|---|
| 1 | Diversity of the Living World |
| 2 | Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants |
| 3 | Cell Structure and Function |
| 4 | Plant Physiology |
| 5 | Human Physiology |
| 6 | Reproduction |
| 7 | Genetics and Evolution |
| 8 | Biology and Human Welfare |
| 9 | Biotechnology and Its Applications |
| 10 | Ecology and Environment |
NEST 2026 Mathematics Syllabus
| Sl.No | Chapter |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sets |
| 2 | Relations and Functions |
| 3 | Trigonometric Functions |
| 4 | Principle of Mathematical Induction |
| 5 | Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations |
| 6 | Linear Inequalities |
| 7 | Permutations and Combinations |
| 8 | Binomial Theorem |
| 9 | Sequence and Series |
| 10 | Straight Lines |
| 11 | Conic Sections |
| 12 | Introduction to Three-Dimensional Geometry |
| 13 | Limits and Derivatives |
| 14 | Mathematical Reasoning |
| 15 | Statistics |
| 16 | Probability |
| 17 | Relations and Functions |
| 18 | Inverse Trigonometric Functions |
| 19 | Matrices |
| 20 | Determinants |
| 21 | Continuity and Differentiability |
| 22 | Applications of Derivatives |
| 23 | Integrals |
| 24 | Applications of Integrals |
| 25 | Differential Equations |
| 26 | Vector Algebra |
| 27 | Three-Dimensional Geometry |
| 28 | Linear Programming |
| 29 | Probability |
Ques: What is the syllabus of the NEST exam?
Ans: NEST Syllabus includes topics from Class 11 and Class 12 Science.
- The topics are drawn from the NCERT.
- There will be some applicative questions.
Ques: Is NEST harder than NEET?
Ans: NEET and NEST differ in terms of exam pattern.
- The NEET question paper has 50% weightage for Biology.
- NEST has PCMB questions distributed equally.
- Difficulty level is considered to be almost the same.
Ques: Is NEST difficult than JEE?
Ans: Pattern differs between NEST and JEE.
- JEE has tougher Math and Physics questions.
- NEST has trickier applicative questions.
Ques: Is NCERT enough for NEST?
Ans: NCERT is prescribed for NEST.
- But, NCERT lacks PYQs and NEST-style mock questions.
- It is recommended to use any one comprehensive prep book alongside the NCERT.
NEST 2026 Preparation Books
Here are some preparation books for candidates appearing for NEST 2026
| S.No | Book Name | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Problems in Physics | A.A Pinsky |
| 2. | Practice Problems in Physics for Engineering and Medical Entrance Exams | S. Mishra |
| 3. | An Objective Approach to Organic Chemistry | R.K. Gupta |
| 4. | Higher Algebra | Hall and Knight |
Ques: How to start preparing for NEST?
Ans: Start with NCERT Class 11 and 12 Science and Maths and get perfect with.
- Practice at least 5-7 years PYQs.
- Take 5-10 mocks.
- Practice more understanding and application-based questions.
Ques: Is NEST based on NCERT?
Ans: Yes, NEST is based on NCERT.
- NEST officially recommends NCERT for practice.
- Some questions do go beyond basics.
NEST Previous Years' Question Papers
| Yeat | NEST Question Paper Download Link |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Session 1 |
| Session 2 | |
| 2023 | Session 1 |
| Session 2 | |
| 2022 | Session 1 |
| Session 2 | |
| 2021 | Session 1 |
| Session 2 | |
| 2020 | Session 1 |
| Session 2 | |
| 2019 | Session 1 |
| Session 2 | |
| 2018 | Click here |
| 2017 | Click here |
| 2016 | Click here |
| 2015 | Click here |
| 2014 | Click here |
| 2013 | Click here |
| 2012 | Click here |
| 2011 | Click here |
| 2010 | Click here |
| 2009 | Click here |
| 2008 | Click here |
| 2007 | Click here |
Ques: Is the NEST exam difficult?
Ans: Yes, NEST is generally difficult.
- The level is in par with JEE Mains, and applicative questions are as difficult as JEE Advanced
Ques: Is NEST CBT or OMR?
Ans: NEST is completely CBT.
- No OMR is used for NEST.
- It is done in a fully online mode.
Ques: What is a good score in the NEST exam?
Ans: A score between 110-130+ is good in the NEST exam.
- 130+ is most desirable in NEST for NISER, Bhubaneswar, and UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai
NEST 2026 Exam Pattern FAQs
Ques: What is the exam pattern of the NEST exam?
Ans: The exam has four sections: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology.
- Each section carries 60 marks, making a total of 240 marks.
- Questions are of the MCQ type with negative marking in some sections.
- The duration of the exam is 3.5 hours, conducted in CBT mode.
Ques: Is NEST more difficult than NEET?
Ans: NEET focuses mainly on Biology, while NEST is balanced across all sciences.
- NEST has analytical and conceptual questions, making it tricky.
- The NEET competition is higher in terms of the number of applicants.
- Overall, NEST is considered less tough than NEET but more concept-based.
Ques: What is the difference between NEST and NISER?
Ans: NEST is the entrance exam, NISER is the institute.
- Clearing NEST gives eligibility for admission to NISER.
- NEST is conducted jointly by NISER and UM-DAE CEBS.
- NISER is the college where students pursue science courses.
Ques: Can I give NEST without Maths?
Ans: Yes, you can skip the Mathematics section during the exam.
- Only the best three subject scores are considered for merit.
- Students can attempt Physics, Chemistry, and Biology instead.
Ques: Is the NEST exam MCQ or written?
Ans: NEST is fully MCQ-based.
- Each section has multiple-choice questions with negative marking.
- There are no descriptive or written questions.
- The exam is computer-based (online).
Ques: Can I skip Biology in the NEST exam?
Ans: Yes, you can skip Biology.
- If you are not good at and confident in Biology, you can skip.
- But you should make sure that the other 3 subjects are performed well.
Ques: How can I crack the NEST exam?
Ans: Focus on the NCERT textbooks of Classes XI and XII.
- Practice previous years’ question papers regularly.
- Take mock tests.
- Work on your 3 strong subjects.
Ques: Is NEST CBT or OMR?
Ans: NEST is conducted in CBT (Computer-Based Test) mode.
- No OMR sheets are used.
- Candidates mark answers directly on the computer screen.
Ques: Is NEST difficult than JEE Advanced?
Ans: JEE Advanced is tougher in terms of difficulty and competition.
- NEST focuses on conceptual and analytical science questions.
- NEST has fewer applicants compared to JEE Advanced.
- Overall, JEE Advanced is harder, but NEST is not easy either.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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