NEST Exam Pattern 2026: The UM-DAE CEBS, in collaboration with the NISER Bhubaneswar, conducts the NEST exam for admission to MSc programmes. Candidates who are willing to appear in the NEST examination must be aware of the exam pattern. The NISER Bhubaneswar released the NEST exam pattern 2026 on its website. The NEST 2026 exam pattern consists of four sections: mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry.
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It must be noted by the aspirants that only the best 3 marks will be considered while preparing the NEST merit list 2026. To understand the NEST exam pattern, one needs to know its marking scheme and other details very thoroughly. This article will help the aspirants to understand the NEST exam pattern very well.
The exam pattern of the NEST exam includes details such as time duration, maximum questions, total marks, number of sections and marking scheme. Aspirants preparing for the NEST 2026 exam are advised to check all the necessary details below:
Types of questions | Multiple Choice Questions |
Total sections | 4 |
NEST exam total marks | 240 |
NEST exam duration | 3 hours (180) minutes |
Marks for each section | 60 |
NEST 2026 marking scheme |
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Candidates who are getting prepared for the NEST entrance exam 2026 need to know how the exam will be graded. Each section of the examination has its own NEST exam marking scheme. There are negative marks in each of the four sections: biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. There may be one or more correct answers to some questions. The number of questions for the NEST 2026 exam changes each year.
Negative marks are awarded for incorrect answers in NEST 2026. Candidates who plan to take the NEST entrance exam 2026 should be aware of the marking scheme, as it will assist in better exam preparation. All four of NEST's sections have negative marking. It is important to note that questions left unanswered do not result in a penalty point. For each incorrect response on the NEST 2026 exam, students will lose one mark.
Sections | Subjects | Maximum marks |
Section 1 | Physics | 60 |
Section 2 | Chemistry | 60 |
Section 3 | Biology | 60 |
Section 4 | Mathematics | 60 |
NEST Total Marks | 240 |
Note: It must be noted that when the NEST 2026 merit list is being prepared, only the top three sections will be taken into account. 180 marks will be used to calculate the effective marks.
Aspirants can check the NEST paper pattern according to section-wise from the table below.
Section | Subject | Marks |
I - Biology | 20 questions | 60 marks |
II - Chemistry | 20 questions | 60 marks |
III - Mathematics | 20 questions | 60 marks |
IV - Physics | 20 questions | 60 marks |
Total | 80 questions | 240 marks |
It is necessary for applicants to attempt multiple-choice questions on the NEST exam 2026. Applicants have to select one response from a list of four.
Every applicant must mark all of the right responses.
Negative marks do not apply to questions that are not attempted.
The top three subjects' grades will be taken into account for determining the NEST 2026 result.
Candidates should avoid answering a question where he or she is unsure, in order to prevent negative marking.
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To familiarise themselves with the subjects from which the questions in the exam come, students planning to take the NEST exam 2026 must review the syllabus. All of the units, topics, and themes that will be covered in the entrance exam are included in the NEST syllabus 2026. The five subject areas included in the NEST 2026 syllabus are mathematics, general, chemistry, physics, and biology. Candidates can create an effective NEST 2026 preparation plan by familiarising themselves with the syllabus.
Candidates must bring their NEST admit card, as they are not allowed to enter the examination centre without a valid one.
It is strictly prohibited for candidates to bring any electronic or communication device into the examination centre.
It is advised that applicants arrive at the centre according to their scheduled reporting and entry time.
Without undergoing the required screening using a handheld metal detector (HHMD), no applicant will be allowed to enter the examination centreThere won't be any physical contact during the procedure.
Note: Candidates are not allowed to leave the NEST Exam centre before the exam is over.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The conducting authority will release the NEST exam pattern on the NEST website at nestexam.in.
Candidates will be awarded +3 for every correct answer marked, and -1 will be given for each wrong answer.
Marks of the best three will be considered to prepare the NEST merit list.
The duration of the NEST entrance is 3 hours and 30 minutes.
There are four sections in the NEST exam: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
CEBS has started the NEST 2026 registration process on January 5 at nestexam.in. Candidates can fill and submit the NEST 2026 application form till April 6. The last date to pay the NEST application fee 2026 is April 12.
For NEST Exam Eligibility 2026, Age Limit, Qualification, Marks Required,
Hi, the exact data for 2025 is not available. However, in 2024, over 45,000 students registered for the exam and more than 27,000 appeared. The NEST 2026 exam is scheduled to be held on June 6.
If any candidate has lost their NEST exam certificate, they can visit the official website, nestexam.in to request another copy of the certificate.
https://www.nestexam.in/qnsans/NEST-25.pdf
HELLO,
Yes , the NEST exam is generally considered tougher than NEET as it requires more focus towards conceptual understanding and thinking , while NEET generally tests NCERT based knowledge where as in NEST it requires you to have deeper clarity in Physics , Chemistry , Biology and Mathematics.
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