NEST Exam Pattern 2026: Subjects & Number of Questions, Marking Scheme
National Entrance Screening Test 2026 ( NEST )
Registration - 5 Jan '26 - 6 Apr '26
NEST 2026 Exam Pattern has been announced by the exam conducting authority along with the release of the information bulletin. The NEST 2026 exam will be held on June 6, 2026. Students planning to appear for the NEST exam in 2026 on June 6 should know the pattern in detail to prepare well and crack the test.
The NEST exam pattern for 2026 has remained the same as last year. The exam will be held in a computer-based mode for a duration of three hours. There will be a total of four sections, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. Candidates will have to attempt at least three sections out of four to be eligible for the scoring system. The NEST 2026 application process is underway from January 5 to April 6, 2026.Â
The NEST exam is conducted for admission to Integrated MSc courses offered at NISER Bhubaneswar or UM-DAE CEBS.Â
- NEST 2026 Exam Pattern Highlights
- NEST 2026 Sectional Weightage
- NEST 2026 Syllabus
- NEST Question Papers of Previous Years
- NEST 2026 Exam Pattern FAQs
NEST 2026 Exam Pattern Highlights
The table below brings the highlights of the NEST 2026 exam pattern.
| NEST Exam | Information |
|---|---|
| Mode of exam | Online mode - CBTÂ |
| 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 2026 Sectional Weightage
The NEST 2026 exam pattern, or structure, is explained in the table below.
| Section |
Number of Questions |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
| I -Â Biology |
20 |
60 marks |
| II -Â Chemistry |
20 |
60 marks |
| III -Â Mathematics |
20 |
60 marks |
| IV -Â Physics |
20 |
60 marks |
| Total |
80Â |
240Â |
Candidates have to attempt at least three sections. PWD category candidates will 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. Â
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 2026 Syllabus
NISER Bhubaneswar has released the NEST 2026 syllabus for each section or subject. The table below brings the subject-wise syllabus PDFs for NEST 2026.
| Subject | PDF File |
|---|---|
| Physics | Download Here |
| Chemistry | Download Here |
| Mathematics | Download Here |
| Biology | Download Here |
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.
NEST Question Papers of Previous Years
To prepare for the NEST 2026 exam, students are advised to solve past years' NEST question papers. The exam authorities have provided past years' NEST question papers along with answer keys. By solving them, students will not only get a thorough idea about the NEST exam pattern, question types and topics covered. The table below brings the past five years' NEST question paper PDFs.
| Year | NEST Question Paper PDF |
|---|---|
| NEST 2025 | Download Now |
| NEST 2024 Session 1 | Download Now |
| NEST 2024 Session 2 | Download Now |
| NEST 2023 Session 1 | Download Now |
| NEST 2023 Session 2 | Download Now |
| NEST 2022 Session 1 | Download Now |
| NEST 2022 Session 2 | Download Now |
| NEST 2021 Session 1 | Download Now |
| NEST 2021 Session 2 | Download Now |
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 2026 Exam Pattern FAQs
Take a look at the frequently asked questions regarding the NEST 2026 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.
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.
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.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 days ago
The process to retrieve the NEST password is mentioned below
- Go to NEST 2026 website.
- Click on the Login link.
- Then click on forget password.
- Provide the user id and click on "Get Password".
- Enter new password.
- Click on the Change Password button.
- Use your new password to log in.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The following candidates are eligible to apply for NISER 2026.
- Candidates who have completed class 10+2 from a recognised board with at least three out of four disciplines - Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology.
- Obtained 60% marks (55% for SC, ST and Divyangjan categories) in aggregate.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
There is no option to get NISER with 60 marks. The safe marks in NEST for NISER admission are 120+ marks.Â
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The NEST question paper comprises 4 sections, including Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. Each section carries 20 questions. Each question carries three marks. NEST 2026 total marks are 240.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
The authority releases the NEST answer key online. The answer key is released in pdf formation. The process to download the answer key for NEST 2026 is mentioned below.
- Visit NEST website, nestexam.in.
- Click on the Answer key link
- NEST answer key pdf will appear
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
NEST question paper comprises 4 sections. Each section has 20 multiple-choice questions. The questions are based on Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. Each question will comprise 3 marks. Negative marking is done for wrong answers.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
Based on exam analysis, NEST is of a moderate difficulty level. Students whose conceptual knowledge is good can easily crack the exam. To prepare for the test candidates must follow the exam syllabus.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
NEST exam is for admission to 5-year Integrated M.Sc. programme in Biological, Chemical, Mathematical and Physical sciences offered at National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) and the University of Mumbai - Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
NEST 2026 result date will be announed on the official website. The result is expected to release in the last week of June 2026. NEST result link will be updated on online.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
Yes, candidates who have passed class 12 with PCM or BiPC can appear for NEST. They alos need to obtain 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/ Divyangjan) in aggregate.
V
Contributor-Level 10
3 Institutes accepting NEST
West Bengal - Other ⢠Public
4.6Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in...
Santacruz East, Mumbai ⢠Public
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