NEST 2027 exam pattern: NISER & CEBS will release the NEST exam pattern 2027 online. Candidates will have to check the information brochure for the exam pattern. They can check the NEST exam pattern to know the structure of the question paper and marking scheme. This will help them in planning their preparation section-wise. NEST exam 2027 will be held online for 180 minutes (3 hours). Candidates can check detailed information on the NEST exam pattern 2027 on this page.
- NEST 2027 Exam Pattern
- NEST 2027 Sectional Weightage
- NEST 2027 Syllabus
- Instructions to Mark Answers in NEST 2027
- NEST 2027 Exam Pattern FAQs
NEST 2027 Exam Pattern
NISER will soon release the NEST paper pattern 2027 online. The exam pattern gives insight into the marking scheme, exam duration, mode of exam, duration of test, etc. NEST question paper will have four sections. Each section will have 20 questions. Every question carries 3 marks, and negative marking will be applied for wrong answers. Check the table for the NEST exam pattern.
| NEST Exam | Information |
|---|---|
| Mode of exam | Online mode - CBT |
| Level of exam | National level - Undergraduate exam |
| Language of NEST Exam | English and Hindi |
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Exam Timing | 2 PM to 5 PM |
| Type of questions | Objective-type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Total Questions | 80 questions |
| Number of Sections | 4 - Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics |
| Minimum Number of Sections to Attempt | 3 |
| Total marks | 240 marks |
| Number of Options Per Questions | 4 |
| Marking Scheme |
|
Commonly asked questions
The NEST exam has 20 questions from four sections. The total number of questions is 80. Students have to attempt at least three sections or 60 questions.
NEST 2027 Sectional Weightage
The NEST 2027 exam pattern, or structure, is explained in the table below.
| Section |
Number of Questions |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I - Biology |
20 |
60 marks |
| II - Chemistry |
20 |
60 marks |
| III - Mathematics |
20 |
60 marks |
| IV - Physics |
20 |
60 marks |
| Total |
80 |
240 |
Candidates have to attempt at least three sections. PWD category candidates shall be allowed compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour as per the Government of India rules. Candidates will not be allowed to enter the exam hall after 3 PM, and the earliest one can leave is 4 PM, on medical grounds only.
Commonly asked questions
NEST is the entrance exam for the Integrated MSc programmes. Hence, it is an undergraduate level entrance exam. Candidates who have passed or appeared for the Class 12 Board exam are eligible for the exam.
NEST 2027 Syllabus
NISER and CEBS will release the NEST exam syllabus for 2027 online. The exam syllabus will be based on the CBSE curriculum (2025-26). Candidates can refer to Class 11 & 12 NCERT textbooks for exam preparation. This will help to score good marks in NEST 2027.
Commonly asked questions
The NEST Syllabus is available on the official portal for those students who wish to appear for the exam. One needs to visit the official portal to be able to download the syllabus for all subjects. They need to click on the syllabus and information brochure link in the top right corner of the homepage. Then, students need to click on the link available for Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics to access the PDFs of all these NEST Subjects.
Instructions to Mark Answers in NEST 2027
Candidates appearing for the NEST 2027 exam must be familiar with the marking scheme. We have mentioned above that each question in NEST carries 3 marks, while -1 is deducted for wrong answers. Here we have mentioned a few points to remember while marking the answer.
- Read the questions and options carefully.
- Mark your answer if you are confident about the answer.
- No guesswork. Wrong answer and mark will be deducted.
- Skip the unknown question.
Commonly asked questions
The total duration of the NEST exam is three hours. The timing of the exam is from 2 PM to 5 PM. Candidates belonging to the PWD category will be given compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour as per the Government of India guidelines. Test takers will not be allowed to leave the centre before 4 PM for medical reasons. Entry will not be allowed after 3 PM. Students have to attempt at least three sections in the exam.
The NEST question papers will be in English and Hindi. Candidates have to select their question paper medium while filling out the application process. In the case of any confusion or discrepancy due to language, the question paper in English will be final.
NEST 2027 Exam Pattern FAQs
Take a look at the frequently asked questions regarding the NEST 2027 exam pattern.
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.
There is equal weightage for each section of the NEST exam. There are four sections, each carrying 60 marks. There is negative marking of one mark for wrong answers.
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.
Yes, according to the NEST exam pattern, there will be negative marking. For each wrong answer, one mark will be deducted. The marks per question are three. Full marks in the exam are 240.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 months ago
NEST 2026 result was declared on June 24, 2026. The result applies only to the current academic year 2026-27.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
No, NEST exam is conducted once a year. NEST 2026 exam was conducted on June 6, 2026. The exam timing was 2 PM to 5 PM.
V
Contributor-Level 10
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