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NEST 2025 Preparation: Candidates who wish to appear for the NEST Exam must know that
All the applicants who are planning to appear in the NEST exam must know How to prepare for NEST 2025. This year NEST 2025 exam was held on June 30, 2025. The exam conducting authority released the NEST Application Form 2025 on April 3, 2025, in online mode.
There are various things such as knowing the syllabus, exam pattern & marking scheme, solving previous year question papers, and many others that are part of NEST 2025 preparation.
NEST 2025 Preparation is a major factor for candidates to crack a competitive exam like the National Entrance Screening Test (NEST). The exam is expected to be conducted in the third week of June jointly by the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar and Mumbai University - Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS), Mumbai.
NEST 2025 will be a Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode and, there will be two sessions on the same day. Candidates appearing for the Integrated MSc entrance exam by NISER and CEBS can check here NEST preparation tips including, study plan, exam pattern, syllabus, and books.
Also, Check how to fill NEST 2025 Application Form
NEST Preparation Strategy 2025
Since four different subjects are expected in the question paper of NEST 2025 from last year's trend, candidates should go for a section-wise preparation strategy. For this, the candidates should:
- Make a proper study plan
- Know the exam pattern of NEST
- Get the books and study material
- Know the NEST exam syllabus of each section
- Practice mock test papers/ online mock tests
- Solve the paper in time bound manner it will give applicants the feel the exam like pressure at home.
Making a Study time-table For NEST 2025
There will be section-wise cut-off mark criteria for the NEST 2025 exam. Candidates should begin the preparation with a section-wise strategy only. Candidates appearing for the NEST 2025 exam should make a proper timetable with equal focus on each section of the question paper. Devoting sufficient time to each subject will be fruitful for the candidates.
While preparing for NEST subjects, candidates should allot two hours on each subject - one hour on clearing the concepts, 30 minutes on making notes, 15 minutes on revising the concepts, and the remaining 15 minutes on attempting questions/ mock tests either online or offline mode.
By following this strategy on regular basis will help the applicants to qualify the exam.
NEST 2025 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
It is essential to know the pattern including test paper structure, type of questions, and marking scheme before appearing for the national-level Integrated MSc exam. The details of the NEST exam are mentioned below.
- Exam mode - The exam will be held in a CBT mode wherein candidates will be allotted systems to take the exam.
- Test paper language - All the NEST questions will be in the English language only.
- Type of questions - NEST question papers will be of an objective-type nature i.e. carrying multiple choices, and candidates have to darken the correct option in OMR sheets.
- Total number of questions - The total number of questions to be attempted is 70 divided into five sections.
- Total marks - The results will be evaluated out of 180 marks for the General section and the 'best three' of the subject sections.
These things will work as NEST 2025 preparation tips 2025.
Candidates should have a look at the sectional weightage of the NEST question paper mentioned below:
| Subject |
Questions per section |
Marks per section |
|---|---|---|
| Section A - Biology |
17 questions | 50 marks |
| Section B - Chemistry |
17 questions |
50 marks |
| Section C - Mathematics |
17 questions | 50 marks |
| Section D - Physics |
17 questions | 50 marks |
| Total |
68 questions | 200 marks |
NEST 2025 Section-wise Syllabus
The question paper will be based on the Class 12 level for all the sections, candidates appearing for the exam can check the Important topics to study from the NEST syllabus for each subject as mentioned below:
| Subjects | Topics |
|---|---|
| Biology section | Cell Biology, Genetics and Evolution, Ecology, Humans and Environment, Biotechnology, Biology of Animal Systems, Biology of Plant Systems, and Systematics |
| Chemistry section | Measurements in chemistry, Mole concept, Gaseous and liquid states, Atomic structure and chemical bonding, Thermodynamics, Chemical equilibrium, Electrochemistry, Chemical kinetics, Ionic equilibrium, Solid-state, Solutions, Surface chemistry, Adsorption, Colloidal State, Classification of elements and periodicity in properties, Hydrogen, s– Block elements, p– Block elements, d–Block elements, f–Block Elements, Coordination compounds, Metals and metallurgy, Basic concepts of organic chemistry, Reactive intermediates, Isomerism, Nomenclature, Alkanes, Alkenes and Alkynes, Aromatic compounds, Haloalkanes (Alkyl halides), Haloarenes, Alcohols, Phenols, Ethers, Aldehydes and Ketones, Carboxylic acids, Amines, Carbohydrate, Amino acids and proteins, Polymers |
| Physics section | Units and dimensions, Design of some simple experiments, Systems of particles, Law of gravitation, Hooke’s law and stress, Conservation of angular momentum, Pressure in a fluid, Sound and mechanical waves, Thermal physics, Electricity and magnetism, Capacitance, Electric current, Biot-Savart’s law and Ampere’s law, Magnetic moment of a current loop, Electromagnetic induction, Optics, Modern physics, Photoelectric effect |
| Mathematics section | Algebra, Trigonometry, Analytical geometry, Differential calculus, Integral calculus, Vectors |
By checking these topics from different subjects and after that making short notes to revise at elventh hour will help applicants to prepare for NEST 2025 exam.
Best Books for NEST 2025 Preparation
Candidates must refer to the best study material to prepare for each section of NEST 2025. Listed below are some books considered best for NEST 2025 that cover the entire syllabus and, will help prepare for the examination in 3 months:
| Subject |
Books for NEST 2022 preparation |
|---|---|
| Biology by Dinesh | |
| Chemistry |
Chemistry by RPH Editorial |
| Mathematics |
Mathematics by RD Sharma |
| Physics by DC Pandey |
Take NEST 2025 Mock Tests
Along with the books and study material, candidates should also practice the mock test papers in online mode as well as the question papers of NEST from previous years. By attempting mock tests and previous years' papers, candidates would be able to know the exact status of their preparation. The mock tests will give an analysis of the candidate's strengths and weaknesses along with improving the speed and accuracy of taking the exam. Therefore to improve test skills, and to score well in each section of NEST 2025, candidates must practice mock tests.
News & Updates
Get prep tips, practice papers, exam details and important updates
3 Institutes accepting NEST
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- Total Fees: ₹ 7,500
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- 5 years
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- Full Time
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- Total Fees: ₹ 88,250
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- 5 years
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- Full Time
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- Total Fees: ₹ 20,000
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- 5 years
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- Full Time