NEST Exam Pattern 2025: Dress Code, Marking Scheme, Subjects & No. of Questions

The NEST 2024 exam will have 17 questions in each section or subject. All these four section will be 12 will be MCQ type and five will be MSQ type questions. Each section has 50 marks each. For all four section the total number of questions will be 68 and total marks will be 200.

Applicants are advised to check the previous year questions as well to prepare for the exam and accordingly increase their chances of qualifying the exam. 

For each section, "20% of the average of the best 100 scores in that section" will be considered as the section–wise Minimum Admissible Score (SMAS).
For example, if the average of the best 100 scores in the Chemistry section is 43 out of 50, then SMAS for the Chemistry section would be 43*0.20 = 8.6 marks. It will be same for other section too. 

SMAS for the two sessions, for any particular section, can be of different numerical values. The value of SMAS will be different for different category students i.e if it 100 for General candidates then it will be 90 for OBC and 50 for SC/ST and Divyangjan applicants.  

Though there are not any optional subject in the NEST exam, applicants who will appear in the exam are advised to solve questions from all four section as their marks from top 3 sections will be taken into consideration for their result declaration. 

The language of NEST exam will be in English only. Applicants who want to appear in the exam must solve NEST previous year paper to increase their chances of qualifying the exam.

Applicants who are planning to appear in NEST exam must note that there is no sectional weightage to any perticular section in the exam. All the sections carry same marks 50-50 each. 

The total marks for which exam will be conducted is 200 marks and total there will 17-17 questions in each four section. 

Applicants must note that the authorities will consider the marks secured in 3 best section to prepare the merit list and for the section which have less marks will be ommitted and will not be taken into consideration. 

For entrance exam since marks from three section are considered hence it can be said that it not compulsory. In the NEST exam your marks will be considered from any of 3 subjects out of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. but if you know basics it will help you to secure marks and for further study during campus classes.

In first year after joining NISER you would be taught basic biology. In fact many students who did not have biology in class 12 and did fairly well in the biology exams during first year.

Ideally applicants should not skip any pericular section before appearing in the NEST exam. As authority will consider the marks from top 3 sections to prepare the merit list. Hence even if one paper from any section except math if don't go well then by securing good marks in math section you can increase your chances of qualifying the exam. Along with this if there are easy questions in math section then there is high probability to secure good marks in it. 

Hence it is advised not to skip any section while preparing for the NEST exam. 

Yes, according to the NEST previous year exam pattern, there will be differential marking scheme for MCQs and MSQs. 

Candidates can expect a negative marking in the MCQ-type questions. For each wrong answer, there will be a negative marking of one mark. For each correct answer 2.5 marks will be awarded. 

No marks will be deducted for wrong or unattempted MSQ questions, though 4 marks will be awarded for each correct answer. The latest update on the negative marking will be updated soon after the release of the NEST 2024 notification.