NEST 2023 Prep Tips: How to Prepare for NEST in 3 Months
National Entrance Screening Test 2024 ( NEST )
Registration - 17 Feb '25 - 9 May '25
The tentative date of NEST 2023 is June 18, and the time is coming close so here we bring preparation tips which students should follow in the last three months before the test.
The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is conducted by is conducted jointly by 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, and over 70,000 applicants appear for the national-level entrance exam. Through NEST, candidates can get admission to integrated MSc programmes offered at the two renowned institutes, however, only a handful of students are able to clear the entrance exam, get the desired result and secure admission in the programme applied for.
Know how to prepare for NEST 2023 for the last coming months before the exam, what all points one must cover, the prep books one must purchase, the details one must keep in mind in order to prepare well for NEST 2023.
Explore colleges based on NEST
The NEST Exam Highlights are as follows:
| Exam Name |
National Entrance Screening Test |
| Exam Frequency |
Once a year |
| Exam Mode |
Online |
| Exam Duration |
3 hours 30 minutes |
| Test Takers |
Approx. 70,000 |
| Accepting Colleges |
|
| Official Website |
www.nestexam.in |
Step Wise Preparation for NEST 2023
Step 1: Know the NEST syllabus thoroughly.
Step 2: Understand the NEST exam pattern and marking scheme and prepare accordingly.
Q: What is maximum mark in which NEST 2024 exam merit list be prepared?
Q: Can I skip math section in NEST exam?
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.
Q: What is good score in NEST exam?
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.
Step 3: Get all the study material for NEST such as prep books and previous years question papers to help better understand what to expect in the exam.
Step 4: Create a monthly time-table on how much material to cover on a daily basis.
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Step 5: Solve question papers, sample papers and mock tests.
Know the NEST Course Syllabus
To perform well in NEST, one has to thoroughly go through the syllabus. Aspirants need to strategize their plans on a monthly, weekly and daily basis. There is no success without hard work and in order to qualify for the entrance exam, candidates can prepare better by knowing which topics to cover in-depth and which require superficial knowledge.
Go through Prep books
In order to perform well in NEST, make a list of books which you can study from for the entrance exam. Candidates are advised to purchase at least two to three prep books, depending on the course applied for. The books can help aspirants determine which topics to cover and study along with what to expect for the entrance exam.
Q: How should I prepare for the NEST exam?
Applicants who want to prepare for the NEST 2024 exam must follow the below mentioned things to increase their chances of qualifying the exam.
- Solve previous year question & Mock test
- Prepare a time table
- Know the NEST exam syllabus & exam pattern
- Prepare notes in advance to revise in last time.
- Study from authentic & good study matterial
- Learn time management skills which will help in real time exam
Students who follow the above mentioned techniques, they can easily qualify the exam with good marks.
Q: Which fields of study are covered by the NEST examination?
The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) examination primarily covers the following fields of study:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- 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.
Prepare a Time Table
With three months in hand, one needs to make a time table on what topics to cover when, which subjects requires high priority and how much to cover on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Revise the syllabus and content, attempt as many question papers, mock papers and previous years question papers to better help prepare. Through this, a candidate can have a fair idea of what to expect in the entrance exam.
Solve sample papers and Mock tests
The best way for a candidate to know their strengths and weakness is by solving question papers, sample papers and mock tests. Through this, candidates can also figure out the best approach to be followed when they head out to attempt the actual NEST question paper. From formulating time management to understanding the format of the paper, solving sample papers can help candidates prepare better for the entrance exam.
Refer to Past Year’s Question Papers
A great way to know the exam pattern and marking scheme is by solving the last five years question papers. Through the previous questions, candidates can understand which subjects are given high importance and topics which can help the aspirant score better in the exam.
Books for NEST Preparation
Candidates must refer the best study material to prepare for each section of NEST 2023. Listed below are some books considered best for NEST 2023 that cover the entire syllabus and, will be helpful to prepare the examination in last months:
| Subject |
Books for NEST 2023 preparation |
|---|---|
| Section A - General section |
NEST Exam Guide by SURABOOKS experts |
| Section B - Biology |
Objective Biology by Dinesh |
| Section C - Chemistry |
Objective Chemistry by RPH Editorial |
| Section D - Mathematics |
Objective Mathematics by RD Sharma |
| Section E - Physics |
Objective Physics by DC Pandey |
Read More:
Being a post-graduate and BEd degree holder, I'm an innovative, task-driven and immensely motivated science enthusiast, making me a passionate content writer. I love providing meaningful and constructive articles in... Read Full Bio
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a week ago
The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) 2025 application form date has been announced on February 17, 2025. The NEST application process end date is May 9, 2025.
NEST 2025 registration process will be completely online. Aspirants who will be appearing for the examination are advised to check th
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
The test centres of NEST exam are allotted based on the number of applicants opting for a particular test. It is to be noted that NEST committee reserves the right to cancel or add any of the test cities without prior notice to applicants.
The final allocation of NEST Test Centres will be mentioned o
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
The exact dates of NEST online correction will open between May 10, 2025, to May 14, 2025, as per the official notification. Candidates who will fill the NEST 2025 application form would get the opportunity to update or change the details which were earlier got filled incorrectly.
Candidates would
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Applicants must have the following document to upload while filling NEST application form:
- Class 10 mark sheet/ report card/ certificate
- Class 12 mark sheet/ report card/ certificate
- Digital copy of the photograph
- Scanned signature
The size of photograph and signature will be mentioned in official notifi
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
While filling the NEST online form, candidates must ensure that they uploaded the photograph in the format prescribed by exam authorities. The digital photograph uploaded by candidates need to be in JPEG format and should not have exceeded 80 KB.
If all the image specifications are correct then also
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Here is the application fee of the NEST Exam which is conducted once a year. NEST is a national-level exam and candidates who wish to appear for the exam can check out the category-wise application fee for the exam.
| Category | NEST Application Fee (in INR) |
|---|---|
| All Females and Divyangjan (specially-abled category) | INR 700 |
| General/ OBC (Only Males) | INR 1400 |
| SC/ ST/ PwD (Only Males) | INR 700 |
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
Applicants are advised to fill the exam centres while filling the application form of NEST exam. There will be around 120 NEST exam centres mentioned in the official notification. Students who want to apply and participate in the NEST exam must fill the 5 exam centres of their preferred choice from
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a week ago
The application form of NEST 2025 will start on February 17, 2025 by exam conducting authorities on the official website. Applicants are advised to check the eligibility criteria before filling the form. The last date to fill in the application form and to submit the application fee is May 9, 2025.
S
I
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
Mumbai University conducts NEST for admission to its Integrated M.Sc courses. However, it is not compulsory for selection. Aspirants with a required score in other accepted exams: JEE Main, MAH MCA CET, CUET PG etc. are also eligible to apply. Moreover, aspirants shall check out the eligibility requ
M
Beginner-Level 5
Answered a month ago
Eligibility criteria for admission:
Candidates must qualify these eligibility criteria listed below:
The candidates who have cleared the 12th Standard examination or equivalent in 2022, 2023 or those who will be appearing for the 12th Standard examination or equivalent in 2024, irrespective of categ
P
Beginner-Level 5
The NEST merit list will be prepared by taking into account the best scores from three subjects. The total marks for which NEST 2024 exam will be conducted is 200.
Since each section carries 50 maximum marks, hence the final merit list be prepared out of 150 marks. The NEST cutoff marks will be prepared from this 150 marks only.