National Entrance Screening Test commonly known as NEST is conducted to select the most appropriate candidate for 5 year integrated program in Master of Science. National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar and Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Science under the University of Mumbai take students for the integrated course in mathematical, biological, physical and chemical sciences based on the score in the NEST exam.

Candidates who get admission in NISER and UM-DAE CBS receives grant from the central government and enjoys a prestigious position as these institutes rank as top and  best  in the educational field. There are about 25 test centers through which NEST exam is conducted all over India.

Eligibility for NEST

Candidates with 60% marks for the Higher Secondary Certificate exam can apply for the National Entrance Screening Test. Candidates belonging to the reserved category like Scheduled cast and scheduled tribe can attend the exam even with 55% marks in the twelfth class. The candidates writing the final year exam can also apply for the test. The candidate’s age should not exceed 25 years as it is considered as the upper age limit. The reserved category students are given age relaxation for 5 years.

Structure and Syllabus for NEST Exam

NEST exam like any other competitive exam is of objective type. There will be five sections in the test and the candidates have to attempt 200 questions.

The first section of the test includes general questions and every student need to attend this compulsory part. The students can choose any three from the remaining four sections and the time allotted for the students to answer these four sections is three hours. Four options are provided for each question from which the candidate can choose the right and most appropriate answer. Candidate should take enough care in answering each question as there will be negative marks for each wrong answer. The questions for the five sections are from the following subjects i.e. Biology and Physics along with Chemistry and   Mathematics.

The candidates can prepare for the exam according to the CBSE syllabus of the plus 2 class.

• Cell Biology
• Zoology
• Botany
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Physics

Preparing for NEST Exam

Candidates planning to attend the NEST exam need to really work hard to perform well in the examination. The syllabus and topics for the examination can be collected from the internet and can start preparing at the earliest possible time. Systematic planning and dedication in studies will help the candidate to score good marks in the NEST exam. The students can spend at least two hours daily for preparation. Revision is to be done on the topics that the candidates have learned previously. This will help them to remember all the topics covered and will be helpful during the exam time. They can note down important points while studying and can keep it for further reference. The candidates can prepare with the help of previous years question papers so that they will gain confidence and learn the art of time management. Proper planning, dedication and confidence will help the candidate achieve their goals.