NEST Exam Pattern 2025: Dress Code, Marking Scheme, Subjects & No. of Questions

National Entrance Screening Test 2024 ( NEST )

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Updated on Dec 10, 2024 18:03 IST

NEST 2025 Exam Pattern 2025 will be published by the exam conducting authority NEST on their official website along with the release of notification. The exam pattern helps candidates know the information related to the questions paper of the NEST Exam they are preparing for.

The NEST Exam Pattern 2025 is divided into four sections and the chances of it remaining the same as the previous year are high. The authorities will release the NEST 2025 Admit Card in the third week of June 2025, tentatively in online mode. 

There is no specific dress code specified by the NISER and CEBS during the NEST Entrance Exam 2025. Candidates are allowed to wear any comfortable attire of their choice. The National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar is the conducting body of NEST 2025 jointly with the Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, University of Mumbai (UM-DAE CEBS). The entrance exam will be held in a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode in the last week of June 2025. 

Candidates must be aware of the NEST syllabus 2025 along with the NEST exam pattern to improve their chances of qualifying exam. Candidates can check all about the exam pattern of NEST 2025 including, key features, exam schedule, subject details and marking scheme as mentioned on this page below. 

 

Q:   What is the marking scheme of NEST 2024?

A:

All four sections will have 17 questions each (12 MCQ & 5 MSQ). There is a differential marking scheme in the NEST exam. Each MCQ will carry 2.5 marks for each correct answer and a negative mark for each wrong answer. While MSQs will carry four marks and there is no negative marking for each wrong answer. 

Overall there will be 68 questions and 200 marks will be allotted to it. Applicants are advised to attempt questions from all four sections as their score from the top 3 sections will be considered for their qualification. 

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Q:   Is there any negative marking in NEST 2024?

A:

Yes, according to the NEST previous year exam pattern, there will be differential marking scheme for MCQs and MSQs. 

Candidates can expect a negative marking in the MCQ-type questions. For each wrong answer, there will be a negative marking of one mark. For each correct answer 2.5 marks will be awarded. 

No marks will be deducted for wrong or unattempted MSQ questions, though 4 marks will be awarded for each correct answer. The latest update on the negative marking will be updated soon after the release of the NEST 2024 notification.

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Q:   How many questions will be in NEST exam?

A:

The NEST 2024 exam will have 17 questions in each section or subject. All these four section will be 12 will be MCQ type and five will be MSQ type questions. Each section has 50 marks each. For all four section the total number of questions will be 68 and total marks will be 200.

Applicants are advised to check the previous year questions as well to prepare for the exam and accordingly increase their chances of qualifying the exam. 

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NEST 2025 Exam Pattern Highlights

Here are some of the key features of the NEST question paper for candidates who are preparing for this exam must be aware of.

Features Details 
Exam mode Online mode - CBT 
Exam Level National level - Undergraduate exam 
Test language  English only
Type of questions

Objective-type of questions -

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Multiple Selection Questions (MSQs)

Total Questions 68 questions 
Total marks  200 marks

The exam timings for both sessions of NEST 2025 will be expected as under:

Shift

Timing

Morning shift

will be out soon

Evening shift

will be out soon

Q:   What is the minimum score to qualify for each section of the NEST exam?

A:

The exam authority has not mentioned any section-wise cut off marks for the NEST exam. Hence there is no minimum qualifying or passing marks in the exam. 

However, out of the four sections - the best three scores of the subject section i.e. Biology, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry will be taken for preparation of the merit list.

Hence applicants need to try to solve the questions from all four sections as the section from which applicants will score less will be ommiited and will not be consideration for preparing the merit list. 

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NEST 2025 Sectional Weightage

Candidates must check out the section-wise allotment of questions and marks as mentioned in the below table. 

Section Subject Marks
I - Biology 17 questions (12 MCQs + 5 MSQs) 50 marks 
II - Chemistry 17 questions (12 MCQs + 5 MSQs) 50 marks 
III - Mathematics 17 questions (12 MCQs + 5 MSQs) 50 marks 
IV - Physics 17 questions (12 MCQs + 5 MSQs) 50 marks 
Total  68 questions  200 marks 

Q:   Which fields of study are covered by the NEST examination?

A:

The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) examination primarily covers the following fields of study:

  1. Biology
  2. Chemistry
  3. Mathematics
  4. Physics

NEST is designed to assess a candidate's knowledge and aptitude in these core Science subjects. The examination is conducted to admit students to integrated M.Sc. programs in these disciplines at the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar, and the University of Mumbai - Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS), Mumbai. Candidates can choose their preferred subject or subjects based on their interest and career aspirations.

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Q:   is there any sectional weightage to any section in NEST 2024 exam?

A:

Applicants who are planning to appear in NEST exam must note that there is no sectional weightage to any perticular section in the exam. All the sections carry same marks 50-50 each. 

The total marks for which exam will be conducted is 200 marks and total there will 17-17 questions in each four section. 

Applicants must note that the authorities will consider the marks secured in 3 best section to prepare the merit list and for the section which have less marks will be ommitted and will not be taken into consideration. 

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NEST 2025 Marking Scheme

Students must check out the NEST Marking Scheme before they appear for the exam to understand the difficulty level. 

Question Type Marking Scheme
MCQs
  • +2.5 for each correct answer
  • -1 for each incorrect answer
  • No negative marking for unattempted questions
MSQs
  • +4 for each correct answer 
  • No negative marking scheme 

Along with knowing the NEST Marking Scheme, applicants are advised to attempt the questions from all sections. The merit list of NEST 2025 will be prepared using the best three qualifying scores out of four sections and the section which has a minimum or less score will be omitted. Thus attempting all sections will increase the probability of qualifying for the exam. 

NEST 2025 Exam Pattern FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about NEST 2025 Exam Pattern

Q:   Can I skip math section in NEST exam?

A:

Ideally applicants should not skip any pericular section before appearing in the NEST exam. As authority will consider the marks from top 3 sections to prepare the merit list. Hence even if one paper from any section except math if don't go well then by securing good marks in math section you can increase your chances of qualifying the exam. Along with this if there are easy questions in math section then there is high probability to secure good marks in it. 

Hence it is advised not to skip any section while preparing for the NEST exam. 

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Q:   What is good score in NEST exam?

A:

For each section, "20% of the average of the best 100 scores in that section" will be considered as the section–wise Minimum Admissible Score (SMAS).
For example, if the average of the best 100 scores in the Chemistry section is 43 out of 50, then SMAS for the Chemistry section would be 43*0.20 = 8.6 marks. It will be same for other section too. 

SMAS for the two sessions, for any particular section, can be of different numerical values. The value of SMAS will be different for different category students i.e if it 100 for General candidates then it will be 90 for OBC and 50 for SC/ST and Divyangjan applicants.  

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Q:   Is there any optional subject in the NEST exam?

A:

Though there are not any optional subject in the NEST exam, applicants who will appear in the exam are advised to solve questions from all four section as their marks from top 3 sections will be taken into consideration for their result declaration. 

The language of NEST exam will be in English only. Applicants who want to appear in the exam must solve NEST previous year paper to increase their chances of qualifying the exam.

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Q:   Is Biology compulsory for NEST exam?

A:

For entrance exam since marks from three section are considered hence it can be said that it not compulsory. In the NEST exam your marks will be considered from any of 3 subjects out of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. but if you know basics it will help you to secure marks and for further study during campus classes.

In first year after joining NISER you would be taught basic biology. In fact many students who did not have biology in class 12 and did fairly well in the biology exams during first year.

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Ishita Chauhan

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If a candidate scores average marks in the first attempt in a mock test then it is a good start. However, it's necessary to improve your mock test scores with time, practice and preparation to do your best on the NEST exam day.

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Ishita Chauhan

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Ishita Chauhan

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    Crowd & Campus Life

    4.5

    Value for Money

    5.0

    Learning Experience

    0.0

    Course Support

    0.0
    (4)
  • |
  • Total Fees: ₹ 7,500
  • |
  • 5 years
  • |
  • Full Time
Integrated B.Sc. + M.Sc
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    3.1

    Infrastructure

    4.5

    Faculty & Course Curriculum

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    Crowd & Campus Life

    4.0

    Value for Money

    4.7

    Learning Experience

    0.0

    Course Support

    0.0
    (26)
  • |
  • Total Fees: ₹ 88,250
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  • 5 years
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  • Full Time
Integrated M.Sc. in Biology
  • 3.6

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    3.0

    Infrastructure

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    Crowd & Campus Life

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    Value for Money

    5.0

    Learning Experience

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  • 5 years
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  • Full Time

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