National Entrance Screening Test: Difference between revisions

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{{more footnotes|date=January 2019}}
{{short description|Entrance test for Integrated-MSc admissions in India}}
The '''National Entrance Screening Test''' (popularly known as '''NEST''') is an annual college entrance examination in [[India]], conducted for admission into the [[National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar]] (NISER) and the Center for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS), Mumbai. These two institutes use NEST as a sole criterion for admission to their undergraduate programs. Also, the Integrated Science Education & Research Centre (ISERC) of [[Visva-Bharati University]] has been using the merit list of NEST for admission into its undergraduate program.
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox examination
| name                = National Entrance Screening Test
| image_name          =
| image_alt          = 
| caption            =
| acronym            = NEST
| type                = [[Computer Based Test]]
| test_admin          = [[National Institute of Science Education and Research]]
| skills_tested      = Academic knowledge
| purpose            = Admission to Integrated-MSc Program
| year_started        = {{Start date and age|df=yes|paren=yes|2007}}
| duration            = 3.5 hours
| attempt_restriction = No restriction on the number of attempts, There is no age limit for appearing.
| score_range        = 200
| score_validity      = 1 year
| offered            = Once in a year
| regions            = India
| language            = [[English language|English]]
| test_takers        = *{{Decrease}} 27,973 (2024)
*{{Increase}} 44,920 (2023)
*{{Decrease}} 22,000 (2022)
*{{Increase}} 24,328 (2021)
*{{Decrease}} 21,275 (2020)
| prerequisite        = {{hlist|[[Physics]] | [[Chemistry]] | [[Mathematics]] | [[Biology]]}}
| fee                = *₹1400 for male applicants of the General and OBC categories.
*₹700 for all female applicants and male applicants of SC, ST, Divyangjan.
| score_users        = 2 institutes
| qualification_rate  =
| website            = {{URL|https://www.nestexam.in/}}
}}


[[NEST - 2022]] will be conducted across India on June 18, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=::::NEST:::: |url=https://www.nestexam.in/ |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=www.nestexam.in}}</ref>
The '''National Entrance Screening Test''' (popularly known as '''NEST''') is an annual college entrance examination in [[India]], conducted for admission into the [[National Institute of Science Education and Research]] (NISER), Jatani and the Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS), Mumbai. These two institutes use NEST as a sole criterion for admission to their undergraduate programs.


As of 2018, obtaining a seat in [[NISER]] has become highly competitive. From a total of roughly 80,000 applicants nationwide, only 0.5% qualify for admission. As of 2018, the total intake of NISER and UM-DAE CBS is 200+2 students and 45+2 students respectively (where two seats in each college are reserved for students belonging to the state of Jammu and Kashmir).  
2017 was the year in which NISER received highest applicants ( 68,544 ) and students appeared ( approx. 47000 ) for NEST exam.
NEST is conducted in both English as well as Hindi language.
Afterwards it's starts declining in 2018 - 44060 students appeared then in 2019 - 37510 ; 2020 - 21275 ; 2021 - 24328 students appeared for NEST exam<ref>{{Cite web |title=Annual Reports |url=https://www.niser.ac.in/content/annual-reports |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=NISER}}</ref> ( official annual reports published by NISER on its official website ) . For about approx. 100 Unreserved seats out of 202 in NISER, one can get admission upto 400-700 general rank ( cutoff vary year on year ) in NEST Exam till last round. This is due to the fact many candidates choose to prefer other career option like Engineering, Medical, Natural Science at IISc or IISERs, etc.
 
Students were admitted through the NEST examination only at [[Visva-Bharati University|ISERC, Visva-Bharati]], which was an [[Institution of National Importance]]. Starting in 2023, students who take the NEST Exam will not be accepted into their Five-Year Integrated M.Sc. Programme.


== Pattern of the test ==
== Pattern of the test ==
The NEST question paper has five sections. The first section, which is compulsory for all candidates, includes general questions. The next four sections includes questions on (1) [[Biology]], (2) [[Chemistry]], (3) [[Mathematics]] and (4) [[Physics]]. Candidates can attempt  all the four sections out of which the best three will be taken to calculate the final marks and percentile. All sections carry equal marks (17 questions as of 2022) and has sectional cutoff. The questions are aimed at testing the [[Conceptual understanding]] and [[Analytical skill|analytic ability]] of the candidates. The questions are of objective type with four answers given for each question, for 12 questions there may only be one relatively correct answer for each which fetches 2.5 marks. Wrong answers are awarded -1 marks. Remaining 5 questions have multiple correct options for partially correct or incorrect answers students are awarded 0 marks and for completely correct 4 marks.
Before 2024, the question paper pattern of NEST was different. From 2024 onwards, the question paper consists of 4 sections of Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology. Each section contains 20 questions (MCQs) with single correct answers. So, the total number of questions in all sections is 80 (20×4). +3 marks is awarded for correct answer, -1 for incorrect answer and 0 if unanswered. The total marks of question paper is 240 (80×3). However, the merit list is prepared out of 180 marks (Best 3 sections). So, if you need you can leave any one section as per your preference. The toughness level of questions of NEST is comparable to that of JEE Advanced but the questions in NEST is more conceptual. The cutoff varies yearly but you can target 90-100 marks out of 180 for your selection.  
 
==Important dates==
• Start of Online application for
  NEST 2021: February 24, 2021
• Closing of Online application:
  July 15, 2021
• Download of Admit Card begins:
  August 3, 2021
• NEST 2021 examination: August 14, 2021 (Hours of examination:
9:00 am – 12:30&nbsp;pm and 2:30&nbsp;pm – 6:00&nbsp;pm)
• Announcement of results on NEST
  website: September 1, 2021


==Seats and intake==
==Seats and intake==
The number of students taking the examination has been increasing since it was first conducted in 2007. In 2020 200+2 seats were for NISER and 45+2 seats for UM-DAE CBS.  About 90,000 students appeared in the exam. The exam was conducted in two sittings. 9hrs to 12:30hrs and 14hrs to 17:30hrs.
The number of students taking the examination has been increasing since it was first conducted in 2007. In 2020 200+2 seats were for NISER and 45+2 seats for UM-DAE CBS.  About 21,275 students appeared in the exam. The exam was conducted in two sittings. 9hrs to 12:30hrs and 14hrs to 17:30hrs.


The availability of seats in recent years is as given in table below:
The availability of seats in recent years is as given in table below:
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!Intake (2021)
!Intake (2021)
|-
|-
|[[National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar|National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER)]]
|[[National Institute of Science Education and Research|National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER)]]
|40
|40
|40
|40
Line 53: Line 73:
|202
|202
|-
|-
|[[Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences]] (UM-DAE CBS)
|Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CBS)
|20
|20
|12
|12
Line 69: Line 89:
==See also==
==See also==


* [[National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar]]
* [[National Institute of Science Education and Research, Jatani]]


==References==
==References==
Line 75: Line 95:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://nestexam.in/ National Entrance Screening Test official website]
* [http://nestexam.in/ National Entrance Screening Test offici] [http://nestexam.in/ al website]
 
* [https://www.niser.ac.in/content/annual-reports/ Annual Reports (2021-22, Page Number 160) of NISER for data about Candidates appeared in NEST exam]


{{Standardized tests in India}}
{{Standardized tests in India}}

Latest revision as of 17:35, 31 December 2025


National Entrance Screening Test
AcronymNEST
TypeComputer Based Test
Developer / administratorNational Institute of Science Education and Research
Knowledge / skills testedAcademic knowledge
PurposeAdmission to Integrated-MSc Program
Year started2007 (19 years ago) (2007)
Duration3.5 hours
Score / grade range200
Score / grade validity1 year
OfferedOnce in a year
Restrictions on attemptsNo restriction on the number of attempts, There is no age limit for appearing.
Countries / regionsIndia
LanguagesEnglish
Annual number of test takers
  • Decrease 27,973 (2024)
  • Increase 44,920 (2023)
  • Decrease 22,000 (2022)
  • Increase 24,328 (2021)
  • Decrease 21,275 (2020)
Prerequisites / eligibility criteria
Fee
  • ₹1400 for male applicants of the General and OBC categories.
  • ₹700 for all female applicants and male applicants of SC, ST, Divyangjan.
Scores / grades used by2 institutes
Websitewww.nestexam.in

The National Entrance Screening Test (popularly known as NEST) is an annual college entrance examination in India, conducted for admission into the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Jatani and the Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS), Mumbai. These two institutes use NEST as a sole criterion for admission to their undergraduate programs.

2017 was the year in which NISER received highest applicants ( 68,544 ) and students appeared ( approx. 47000 ) for NEST exam. Afterwards it's starts declining in 2018 - 44060 students appeared then in 2019 - 37510 ; 2020 - 21275 ; 2021 - 24328 students appeared for NEST exam[1] ( official annual reports published by NISER on its official website ) . For about approx. 100 Unreserved seats out of 202 in NISER, one can get admission upto 400-700 general rank ( cutoff vary year on year ) in NEST Exam till last round. This is due to the fact many candidates choose to prefer other career option like Engineering, Medical, Natural Science at IISc or IISERs, etc.

Students were admitted through the NEST examination only at ISERC, Visva-Bharati, which was an Institution of National Importance. Starting in 2023, students who take the NEST Exam will not be accepted into their Five-Year Integrated M.Sc. Programme.

Pattern of the test[edit | edit source]

Before 2024, the question paper pattern of NEST was different. From 2024 onwards, the question paper consists of 4 sections of Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Biology. Each section contains 20 questions (MCQs) with single correct answers. So, the total number of questions in all sections is 80 (20×4). +3 marks is awarded for correct answer, -1 for incorrect answer and 0 if unanswered. The total marks of question paper is 240 (80×3). However, the merit list is prepared out of 180 marks (Best 3 sections). So, if you need you can leave any one section as per your preference. The toughness level of questions of NEST is comparable to that of JEE Advanced but the questions in NEST is more conceptual. The cutoff varies yearly but you can target 90-100 marks out of 180 for your selection.

Seats and intake[edit | edit source]

The number of students taking the examination has been increasing since it was first conducted in 2007. In 2020 200+2 seats were for NISER and 45+2 seats for UM-DAE CBS. About 21,275 students appeared in the exam. The exam was conducted in two sittings. 9hrs to 12:30hrs and 14hrs to 17:30hrs.

The availability of seats in recent years is as given in table below:

Institute Intake (2007) Intake (2008) Intake (2009) Intake (2010) Intake (2011) Intake (2012) Intake (2013) Intake (2014) Intake (2020) Intake (2021)
National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) 40 40 52 60 60 60 60 100 202 202
Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CBS) 20 12 35 35 35 35 35 35 59 59

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Annual Reports". NISER. Retrieved 27 August 2024.

External links[edit | edit source]