IAT 2026: Notification, Application Form, Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern & Preparation Tips

The IISER Aptitude Test 2026 notification (IAT 2026 Notification) is expected to be released in the fourth week of January 2026 at iiseradmission.in. The notification will be official document containing key details such as important dates, application process, syllabus, exam pattern, and the courses offered through the IISER 2026 exam.

The IISER 2026 exam is likely to be conducted in the fourth week of May 2026 in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for admission to the 5-Year BS-MS Dual Degree, 4-Year BS (IISER Bhopal & IISER Tirupati), and BTech (IISER Bhopal) programmes.

To appear for IAT 2026, candidates must fill out the exam application form. The IISER 2026 application form is expected to be released in the second week of March 2026 (tentative) on iiseradmission.in. The application window is likely to remain open until the third week of April 2026.

If you are interested in pursuing these programmes at IISERs, check out complete details about the IISER Aptitude Test 2026, the admission process, participating institutes and other important details about the entrance test in this article.

Latest Update: 

• IISER 2026 Eligibility Criteria
• IISER 2026 Exam Notification

What is IISER?

The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) are a group of autonomous institutions that focus on imparting and promoting science and research education in India. These institutes were established by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

What is the IISER Exam? 

The IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted for admission to 5-Year BS-MS Dual Degree, 4-Year BS (IISER Bhopal & IISER Tirupati), and B.Tech (IISER Bhopal) programmes.

The exam is held in an online mode called “Computer-Based Test (CBT)” once a year. It consists of 60 multiple-choice questions from biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics subjects.

IISER 2026: Highlights

To know all the important details about the IISER Aptitude Test 2026, check out the following table:

How many IISERs are there in India? 

There are seven IISERs in India, each located in a different state. Check out the list of IISERs along with their official websites below:

IISER 2026: Offered Courses

IISERs offer seven courses through the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) listed as follows:

IISER Seat Intake 2026

Based on the previous year’s IISER seat intake data, the number of seats expected to be offered through the upcoming entrance test is given below. Candidates must note that this information is subject to change and will be updated after the release of the IISER 2026 official notification.

Check out the IISER 2026 seat intake for BS-MS, BS, and B.Tech programmes at different IISERs below:

IISER Vs. NISER Vs. IIT

To compare IISER, NISER and IIT, different parameters such as education focus area, seats, fees, NIRF Rankings and others need to be considered. The comparison among these institutions based on different parameters has been provided as follows:

Is IISER better than NISER?

The answer depends on a student’s educational aspirations and career goals. Those interested in pure or applied sciences and planning to build a career in research should consider IISER. On the other hand, students who wish to focus on atomic energy and related fields should apply to NISER through the NEST exam.

As per the latest research rankings, IISERs—particularly IISER Kolkata and IISER Pune—are considered better than NISER. However, if affordability is a major concern, NISER offers a more economical option.

Is IISER better than IITs?

The IITs primarily focus on developing engineering competencies and innovation skills. Therefore, students aiming to pursue careers in engineering, research, and development should choose IITs.

In contrast, IISERs are ideal for students who wish to pursue PhD-level research and work at leading research institutes. When it comes to affordability, IISERs are generally more cost-effective than IITs.

IISER Aptitude Test 2026: Dates

To stay updated about the IISER 2026 exam schedule, check out the IISER 2026 exam dates below:

IISER Eligibility Criteria 2026 

Only candidates who meet the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2026 eligibility criteria can apply for IAT 2026. The overview of the exam eligibility criteria has been provided as follows:

• Candidates must have passed Class XII (or equivalent) in 2024 or 2025 or 2026 from an institute recognised by the Council of Boards of School Education (COBSE) in India.
• Candidates must be from the science stream and have at least three subjects among Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics in Class XII.
• Indian nationals, PIO/OCI holders, and foreign nationals are allowed to apply for IISER 2026.
• Foreign applicants must upload an equivalence certificate issued by AIU unless their board is COBSE recognised.

IISER Application Process 2026

The application form for IISER 2026 will be released in the second week of March 2026 (tentative) on the official IISER website – iiseradmission.in. The application process will only be available in the online mode. Candidates can check the application steps mentioned as follows:

1. Go to the official website – iiseradmission.in.
2. Fill in the required details: email ID and phone number and generate a password to create a login account.
3. Enter your educational details and personal details.
4. Upload your passport-size photo and a scanned copy of your signature.
5. Pay the application fee online and submit the form.

IISER Exam Pattern 2026

There will be 60 MCQ questions from Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics in the IISER 2026 question paper. Each question will carry 4 marks. There will be a deduction of 1 mark for each incorrect answer. Check out the complete IISER exam pattern below:

IISER Syllabus 2026

Check out the subject-wise syllabus for IISER below:

Is biology compulsory for IISER Aptitude Test?

Yes, biology is a compulsory subject in the IISER exam question paper. Candidates can check the IISER Biology syllabus mentioned in this article. Moreover, they can use the preparation tips mentioned in the next section to prepare for the exam.

IISER Preparation Tips 2026 

Candidates must have a preparation strategy to score well in IISER 2026. To achieve this objective, they can use the following preparation tips:

• Know the entire IISER Aptitude Test syllabus (Physics, Chemistry, Math, Biology).
• Learn NCERT books well for good fundamentals.
• Practice previous year papers and mock tests regularly.
• Conceptual clarity rather than learning by heart.
• Improve problem-solving and numerical abilities.
• Stick to a time schedule with good time management.
• Revising using short notes and key formulas.
• Recognise weak subjects/topics and work on those.
• Stay healthy, confident, and stress-free during study.

Also Read: 

• IISER Previous Years’ Question Papers

IISER Admit Card 2026

The IAT 2026 admit card will be released after the conclusion of the IISER 2026 registration process. Check out the steps below to download the admit card:

1. Visit the official website - iiseradmission.in.
2. Enter your login details: application number/registered email address and password.
3. Your admit card will appear on the screen.
4. Hit the download button to save the admit card as PDF.

Also Read: 

• IISER 2026 Answer Key

IISER Result 2026

IISER results 2026 will be declared after the conclusion of the entrance exam. The results will be made available online on the official website - iiseradmission.in.

Candidates need their login details: application number/registered email address and password to download the IISER 2026 scorecard. Based on IAT 2026 results, institute-wise merit lists will be prepared.

How many times can a candidate appear for IAT?

A candidate can appear for the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) up to three times.

The specific years for these attempts are following:

• The year in which the candidate appears for their Class 12 final exam.

• The next two consecutive years after Class 12 final exam.

For example:

If you appear for your Class 12 final exam in 2026, you are eligible to take the IAT in 2026, 2027, and 2028.

This gives students three chances to crack the IISER exam.

IISER Counselling 2026

The IISER 2026 counselling will commence after the announcement of IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) 2026 results. Shortlisted candidates who pass the exam will be called for counselling and seat allocation.

At the time of counselling, students must register online, enter their choice of IISERs and courses, submit documents, and pay the counselling fee. Seat allocation will be made on the basis of rank, choice, and vacant seats at IISERs for the candidate. The final admission will only be provided after proper document verification and payment of fees.

Read More: 

• IISER Analysis
• IISER 2026 Cutoffs 

Conclusion

IISER Exam 2026 will provide admissions to the five year BS-MS dual degree, four year BS degree and BTech degree courses offered at seven IISERs, IIT Madras and IISc Bangalore institutes. Candidates interested in pursuing their career in research and science must consider IAT 2026 as one of the career options. The exam provides enrolment of courses with the seat seat intake nearly around 2600 seats to the finest research institutions across the nation.