NEST 2021: Application Form (Out), Exam Date, Admit Card, Syllabus, Pattern & Results

What is NEST?

National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is conducted jointly by National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar and Mumbai University - Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS), Mumbai. Candidates that are able to successfully qualify the exams will be offered admission in the above mentioned prestigious universities. The NEST Exam is conducted annually to offer admission for Integrated MSc programmes in:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Physics

NEST 2021 exam will be conducted in a computer-based test mode. Aspirants can check all about NEST 2021 including exam dates for availability of online application forms, admit cards as well as eligibility criteria, seat intake and exam centres as mentioned on this page below.

Latest Update:

February 24, 2021: NEST 2021 application form released

February 12, 2021: NEST 2021 important dates announced

February 1, 2021: NEST 2021 exam to be conducted on June 14, 2021.

NEST 2021 Eligibility Criteria 

The eligibility criteria for the NEST exam is as follows:

• Candidates should be a Class XII pass in science stream from a recognised board in India with a minimum of 60% aggregate marks. (55% for SC/PwD category candidates)
• Candidates should have passed Class XII either in 2018 or 2019. Candidates who have appeared for their Class XII exams in 2021 are also eligible to apply.
• Candidates should have studied a combination of three subjects - Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics in classes XI and XII.

Age Criteria

Candidates belonging to General and OBC categories should be born on or after August 1, 2000, in order to fulfil the NEST eligibility criteria. Age limit relaxation of five years is given to candidates belonging to SC/ ST /Divyangjan category.

NEST Exam 2021 Important Dates

NISER has announced the exam calendar of NEST 2021 and, the events related to the exam will be as under:

NEST 2021 Seat Intake

The exam is conducted in order to provide admission to candidates in five-year integrated MSc programme in basic sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics) offered at both NISER and UM-DAE CEBS. Seats available at both institutes are as mentioned below:

Admissions in NISER, Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai are done on the basis of a candidate’s score in NEST exam. Candidates who have passed Class 12^th from Science stream are eligible to apply for NEST exam.

NEST 2021 Admission Process

Candidates can go through the steps they need to follow in order to successfully secure admission through NEST exam.

Step 1: Fill NEST Application Form

For NEST 2021 registrations, candidates will need to fill the application form in the online mode on the official website of the exam. After all details on NEST application form are filled, candidates need to pay the application fee. Candidates can make the payment of NEST 2021 application fee in the online (through credit/ debit card) mode.

Candidates are not required to send any document to NEST office in the complete application process, informs the official website.

Check complete details about NEST application form.

Step 2: Download NEST Admit Card

After successful payment of application fee, candidates need to download their NEST 2021 admit card from the official website of the exam. “The admit card download link will be available only till the day of the examination,” states the official website.

It may be noted that NEST admit card is a mandatory document to be carried to the exam centre.

Check complete details about NEST admit card.

Step 3: Appear for NEST

Next, candidates need to appear for the Science entrance exam at the allotted NEST exam centre. NEST 2021 exam will contain five sections carrying multiple-choice questions. Candidates need to complete the exam in three hours duration.

Check NEST exam pattern.

Step 4: Check NEST Result

NEST 2021 result will be declared on the official website of the exam. NEST merit list/ result will contain the roll numbers and/or names of candidates qualifying the integrated MSc entrance exam.

Check complete details about NEST result.

Step 5: Appear for NEST Counselling 

Finally, candidates need to appear for the counselling session where they will be allotted seats in their respective courses and colleges. 

Check complete details about NEST counselling.

FAQs on NEST

Q. When will the application form of NEST 2021 be available? 

A. NISER has started the application process of NEST 2021 from February 24. The application form is available in online mode only at the official website - nestexam.in. 

Q. Is there any age limit to apply for NEST exam?

A. Yes, candidates applying for NEST 2021 should be more than 20 years of age if belonging to the General and OBC category. The candidates belonging to SC/ST category should be 15 years or more at the time of admission.

Q. When is the last date of application fee payment for NEST 2021?

A. The final date to pay the application fee of NEST 2021 is April 30. 

Q. What is the mode of NEST exam?

A. The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) for admissions to Integrated MSc courses will be held in a Computer-Based Test mode. 

Q. When is the exam date of NEST 2021?

A. NEST 2021 exam will be conducted on June 14, 2021.

Q. Is there any exam centre for NEST 2021 in Delhi NCR?

A. Yes, there is an exam centre in Noida location for Delhi NCR. Check the complete list of test centres for NEST 2021 here.

Q. What are the subjects for NEST 2021 question paper?

A. The question paper will be based on science subjects including, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, as well as General Aptitude. 

Q. Who should give NEST exam?

A. Candidates need to appear for NEST exam in order to secure admission in five years integrated MSc programme in basic sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics) offered at NISER and UM-DAE CEBS.

Q. Is NEST tougher than JEE?

A. NEST exam comprises of multiple choice objective type questions from subjects like General Aptitude, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. The standard of questions asked in the NEST exam is more difficult than the ones asked in JEE Main. However, experts share that with respect to difficulty level, JEE Advanced is tougher than NEST.

Q. Who qualifies for NEST exam?

A. Candidates who have secured more than 60% aggregate marks (55% for SC/PwD category candidates) in their Class 12 exams are eligible to take NEST exam provided they have science stream at the 10+2 level. Apart from this, aspirants should be born on or after August 1, 1999 (General and OBC categories) in order to fulfil NEST eligibility criteria. Age relaxation of five years is given to candidates belonging to SC/ST/PwD category.

Q. How difficult is the NEST exam?

A. NEST exam isn't difficult for students who have their basics clear of topics taught in the science stream at Class 11 and Class 12 level. If the comparison is done then NEST is more difficult than JEE Main but easier than JEE Advanced.

Q. How many questions will be asked in NEST question paper?

A. There will be a total of 70 questions divided into five sections.