IISER Tirupati has released the JEST 2026 exam pattern online. The authority has made changes in the exam pattern of JEST 2026. Candidates must prepare for the Joint Entrance Screening Test as per the latest exam pattern.
JEST exam pattern comprises the marking scheme, types of questions, duration of exam, etc. Practice the JEST sample question paper to know the structure of papers. Moreover, the exam syllabus is available online. Check the page for the changed exam pattern.
- JEST 2026 Exam Pattern for Physics
- JEST 2026 Marking Scheme
- Important Topics in JEST 2026
- JEST 2025 Exam Pattern FAQs
JEST 2026 Exam Pattern for Physics
As mentioned above, the authority has revised the JEST exam pattern. The changes are made to the marking scheme and the number of questions. According to the new exam pattern, the JEST question paper will comprise three sections. Part A and Part B of the JEST question paper will have multiple choice question, and Part C will have numerical-type questions. Check the table for JEST question structure.
JEST Exam Pattern for Physics:
| Particulars | Pattern |
| Mode of exam | Online |
| Duration of exam | Three hours |
| Types of Questions | MCQs NAT |
| Total questions | 40 questions Part A - 10 questions (MCQs) Part B - 20 questions (MCS) Part C - 10 questions (NAT) |
| Marking Scheme | Part A - 1 mark Part B - 3 marks Part C - 3 marks |
| Negative Marking | Part A: −1/3 marks Part B: −1 mark Part C: No negative marking |
| Total Marks | 100 |
Changes in the JEST Exam Pattern
| Particulars | JEST 2026 Pattern | JEST 2025 Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Part A | 10 questions | 15 questions |
| Part B | 20 questions | 10 questions |
| Part C | 10 questions | 25 questions |
In this exam pattern, the total marks allotted for the JEST exam were 100 for three sections.
Commonly asked questions
There are various premier research institutes and universities in India that accept JEST scores for admissions purposes. Each institute has its own eligibility and selection criteria for the exam takers. So, it is advisable for all the applicants to go through the eligibility criteria of the institute if they wish to get admission so that they exactly know whether they are eligible to appear for the exam or not.
JEST 2026 exam date was April 12, 2026. The authority had conducted the exam for three hours. JEST was conducted for PHYSICS and THEORETICAL COMPUTER SCIENCE. Candidates must appear for the exam as per the schedule.
JEST 2026 Marking Scheme
The marking scheme is different for each section because there is a differential marking technique in the JEST exam. The following table conveys the precise new marking scheme for the JEST 2026 exam.
JEST Exam Marking Scheme
| Section | Marks for Each Correct Answer | Marks for Each Incorrect Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Part A | +1 mark | −1/3 marks |
| Part B | +3 marks | −1 mark |
| Part C | +3 marks | 0 |
| Maximum Marks | 100 | |
* There was no negative marking for wrong answers for Part C questions.
Commonly asked questions
Here are the list of courses offered by JEST. Candidates who wish to appear for the exam must be aware of the following courses to prepare for the JEST Exam accordingly.
- MSc, PhD, and Integrated PhD in Physics
- PhD and Integrated PhD in Theoretical Computer Science
- PhD in Neuroscience and Computational Biology
Candidates with an MSc or an advanced BSc degree in Physics or Computer Science are eligible, based on the programme and the institute's eligibility criteria they want to apply for. So, the best suggestion is to check out the eligiblity criteria of all the institutes a candidates wish to get admission to avoid any sort of confusion.
Important Topics in JEST 2026
Candidates who are preparing for the JEST exam can check the exam syllabus to know the important topics. Focusing on JEST important topics will help to score good marks. Moreover, students need to be very strong in conceptual knowledge. If you are not good with concepts, then it might be difficult to crack the exam. Here we have mentioned some important topics. For a detailed check the JEST exam syllabus.
Important Topics:
- Mathematical Methods
- Classical Mechanics
- Electromagnetism & Optics
- Quantum Mechanics
- Thermodynamics & Statistical Physics
- Electronics
Commonly asked questions
No, the Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) is conducted once a year. JEST 2026 was conducted on April 12. The duration of the exam was three hours.
There are 40 questions in JEST. The question paper has three parts. Part A and C have 10 questions, while Part B has 20 questions.
JEST 2025 Exam Pattern FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions of JEST Exam Pattern
Commonly asked questions
The exam is conducted annually at various JEST Exam centres across India. It is conducted at the level of an MSc or advanced BSc in Physics or Computer Science. Although, it is not as difficult as the other big competitive exams still it demands a decent amount of time, consistency and dedication to crack this exam to get admission to the preferred institute.
Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) is an entrance exam test for admission to PhD and International PhD programme of different participating institutes for two subjects Physics and theoretical Computer Science/Neuroscience.
This exam is conducted in offline mode/ pen-paper mode. This year exam conducting authorities have changed, earlier it used to be Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) but now it has changed to Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST). Hence the final validation will be declared along with releasing of notification but as per previous year JEST exam pattern it will be conducted in offline mode only.
No, apart from Physics, JEST is also for those candidates who are interested in pursuing Theoretical Computer Science, Neuroscience, and Computational Biology at the PhD level. Therefore, candidates who wish to appear for the JEST Exam must go through the eligibility criteria in detail before filling out the JEST Application Form.
Applicants need to follow the below mentioned tips to qualify JEST exam.
Go through the exam pattern and structure of the test.
Follow best books for JEST preparation and make short notes.
After completing the syllabus, they should take regular mock tests and analyse their performance.
Solving JEST previous year question papers will also help them to understand the question trends and types to expect in the actual exam.
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