NEST Marking Scheme: Check Exam Pattern, How to Attempt Questions & Question Paper
National Entrance Screening Test 2026 ( NEST )
NEST 2026 Exam Date
6 Jun '26
NEST 2026 marking scheme is available online. Candidates can check the NEST marking scheme to get insight into the question paper. Knowing the marking scheme will help in exam preparation. Students can plan their preparation strategy to score higher marks in the NEST exam 2026. In this article, students will get NEST marking scheme, exam pattern, question paper and steps to attempt NEST question paper.
NEST Marking Scheme 2026
NEST marking scheme 2026 is available online. Candidates can check the NEST marking scheme to know the section wise marks distributions. Every section of the NEST question paper has equal weightage. Knowing the marking scheme, students can plan their NEST preparation accordingly. They have to follow the exam syllabus to know important topics for exam. NEST exam syllabus 2026 is available online. NISER and CEBS will conduct the NEST exam 2026 on June 6, 2026. Check the page for more information on NEST marking scheme.
- NEST Marking Scheme 2026
- NEST Exam Pattern 2026
- How to Attempt NEST Questions?
- NEST Question paper: Previous Year Paper
NEST Marking Scheme 2026
Candidates have to check the NEST exam pattern to know the marking scheme. NEST question paper 2026 will have four sections. Each section will have 20 multiple choice questions (MCQs). Every question carries 3 marks. Negative marking is done for wrong answers.
| Particulars | Details |
| No. of sections in NEST question paper | Four sections |
| Total number of questions | 80 questions (20 questions in each section) |
| Marking Scheme | 3 marks for each correct answer |
| Negative marking | - 1 for wrong answer |
Also Read: NEST 2026 marks vs rank
Commonly asked questions
Getting admission to NISER with 60 marks totally depends on candidates category. Candidates belonging to General category has less chance of getting admision with 60 marks in NEST. However, students belonging to SC/ST category have better chance of admission. The entire decision of admission will be based on the cutoff trends and Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score (SMAS).
Candidates can calculate their NEST scoring based on marking scheme. NEST questions will carry 3 marks per answer. Negative marking is done for wrong answers.
Total Marks = 3 * Correct Answers - Wrong Answers
The total marks for NEST exam is 240 marks. However, the exam authority will consider marks out of 180 to prepare the merit list.
NEST Exam Pattern 2026
The authority has released the NEST exam pattern online. Candidates have to check the NEST information brochure for the paper pattern. This will help students to understand the structure of the question paper. NEST paper pattern consists of marking scheme, mode of exam, duration of test, etc. Check the table for NEST exam pattern 2026.
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode of exam | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| Exam Duration | 180 minutes (3 hours) |
| Exam Timing | 2 PM to 5 PM |
| Total marks | 240 marks |
| Total question | 80 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
How to Attempt NEST Questions?
As mentioned above, the NEST exam duration is 180 minutes, and there will be 80 questions. Candidates will have around two minutes per question. The best way to attempt NEST questions according to the exam time is mentioned below.
- Candidates must give priority to the easy sections.
- Candidates will have approx 2 minutes to solve a question.
- Do not guess the answer. Negative marking is done for wrong attempts.
- Leave the doubtful question. Try solving them after attempting all other questions.
- Visit all questions if time is left before the final submission.
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NEST Question paper: Previous Year Paper
Candidates can find the previous year NEST question paper online. They can use the question paper for revision and self-assessment. Solving the NEST PYQs will help students to identify the weaker sections and focus on high-weightage topics. This will improve the chance of scoring higher marks in the exam. Candidates must solve the NEST question paper daily and keep track of their improvement; this will boost confidence and improve time management.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 6 days ago
The process for downloading the NEST response sheet PDF is mentioned below.
- Go to NEST 2026 website, nestexam.in
- Click on Login button
- Enter the application no./login Id and password
- Click on the NEST response sheet
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
Students can check the NEST answer key through login portal. They will have to provide their application number / login ID, and password to download NEST 2026 answer key.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, the NEST response sheet will be released alongwith the answer key. Students can check their NEST response sheet through the login portal.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, Nest Academy of Sports Management (NASM) is a good college. The flagship programmes available at the college are Masters in Sports Management & Bachelor / Bachelor (Hons.) of Sports Management. The college provides good placements to students.
L
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months ago
There is no option to get NISER with 60 marks. The safe marks in NEST for NISER admission are 120+ marks.
V
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months 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 2 months 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 2 months 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