Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) is a popular exam among the research candidates. JEST is a common window for admission to Ph.D programs in Physics and computer science in the participating institutes. The prominent research institutes in the country are made JEST the admission criteria for the aspirants.  Each year the examination is conducted by any one of the participating institutes and in 2011 it was conducted by Institute of Mathematical Sciences. The candidates are called for the final round of selection process based on the JEST score and selected candidates can receive a Research Fellowships from the particular institute.

Structure of JEST

The JEST examination is of objective type multiple choice and descriptive question with two hours duration. The examination patter will vary for each program and carries maximum of 50 questions with 100 marks. The detailed information will be available from the exam booklet.

Syllabus for JEST

The syllabus of eth test will differ according to the programs opted by the students. For the integrated program the syllabus covers the areas of Bachelors course and for the Ph.D program it will follow the ration of 60:40, form the Masters course and bachelor’s course.

Physics

The examination will have two areas, the easier and difficult part carrying 25 question from each. The question covers the syllabus of Physics in bachelors and masters program.

Theoretical Computer Science

The paper includes the short answering problems and problems need detailed solutions. The theoretical computer science follows the syllabus of

Analytical Reasoning and Deduction

• Combinatorial
• Data Structures and Algorithms
• Discrete Mathematics
• Graph Theory
• Principles of Programming
• Simple Mathematics

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility varies according to the institute and programs offered by the institutes.

Physics Ph.D. Programme

The candidates must have a master’s degree in Physics or Mathematics or related discipline. The M E/ M Tech graduates are also eligible for taking the exam. Some institutes also consider the B E/B Tech Graduate for the admission process.

Theoretical Computer Science Ph.D. Programme

The candidates must have a master’s degree in Science or Engineering or Computer application or the related disciplines. They should have an aptitude in the mathematical application in the computer science.

Integrated Maters- Ph.D. Programme

Graduates in Physics and Mathematics are considered for the integrated M. Sc- Ph.D Programs. Candidates with bachelor’s degree in Engineering, suggested streams are eligible to opt for the M.Tech Ph. D Program. The M. Sc candidates in required subjects are also eligible to opt for the M.Tech program.

How to Apply?

The candidates can apply for the exam by online by visiting the official site of JEST. The applicants having difficulty to access the internet can get the application form by post. They have to send a request letter to the respective institute Registrar before the deadline with the set DD for application fee.

How to fill the Form?

The candidates must be very careful while filling the form. For the online users the instructions are available in the site itself and should read those before filling the form. The given information should be correct and valid in any case and do not left any column unfilled. You must have a soft copy of the recent size photo which should be uploaded in the required place.

The offline applicants should read the information given in the booklet and follow the instruction while filling the form. They should also past the photo on the required place and sign across those. Keep the Xerox copy of the final application form for the further referrals and send the original to the set address before the deadline.

Important Dates

Written test: Second Week of February

Hall ticket downloading:  First Week of February.

ON-LINE submission of applications: Second Week of December.

Last Date for request of Application form: Mid of December

List of JEST centers

• Visakhapatnam.
• Udaipur
• Thiruvananthapuram
• Siliguri
• Silchar
• Sambalpur
• Roorkee
• Raipur
• Pune
• Patna
• Nainital
• Nagpur
• Mumbai
• Madurai
• Kolkata
• Kochi
• Kharagpur
• Kanpur
• Jaipur
• Indore
• Hyderabad
• Guwahati
• Goa
• Delhi
• Chennai
• Chandigarh
• Bhubaneswar
• Bhopal
• Bardhaman
• Bangalore
• Allahabad
• Aligarh
• Ahmedabad

Contact Address for the JEST

• The Registrar,
• The Institute of Mathematical Sciences,
• C I T Campus, Taramani,
• Chennai - 600 113.
• Ph: 044 - 2254 3100.
• Fax: 044 2254 1586

Colleges Accepting the JEST Score

• Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital
• Harish-Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad
• Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai
• Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali:
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune
• Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram
• Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
• Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam
• Institute for Plasma Research, Gandhinagar
• Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar
• Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune
• Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore
• National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, TIFR, Pune
• National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar
• Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad
• Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore:
• Raman Research Institute, Bangalore
• Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata
• Satyendra Nath Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata
• The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai
• UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Indore
• Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, Kolkata

Reference Books for JEST

• Problems of Physics- IE by Resnick and Haliday
• Trignometry: S.L LONEY
• Coordinate Geometry by S.L LONEY
• Calculus by J.EDWARD
• Vectors by SHANTI NARAYAN
• IIT Mathematics by DASGUPTA
• IIT Mathematics by TATA MACGRAW HILL PUBLICATIONS
• Algebra by HALL & KNIGHT
• Calculus in One Variable by I.A MARON

Coaching Centers for JEST

• Career Avenues
• Career Forum
• Career Launcher India Limited
• Career Plan
• FIITJEE
• IMS Learning Centre
• Manya Education Private Limited
• RESONANCE
• Sachdeva New P. T. College
• Triumphant Institute of Management Education(T.I.M.E.)

Study Plan

The competitive nature of the examination is little higher and only a well prepared student can meet the challenges offered by the examination. The students need to through the subjects and syllabus in their bachelors as well as in the masters programs. There are many online materials are available for the aspirants. The students can refer those for a sound preparation. The coaching centers and reference books are also useful for the research aspirants. Practice with the model question papers and previous year papers. Take the exam with a confident and clear mind.

How and Where To Get the Results?

The result is obtained form the official website of the conducting institute and the eligible candidates for the next round of selection process will get the information by post.

Score Validity

The score will valid for one year and will consider only at the time of the admission period.