The NEST 2026 exam will be conducted on April 6, 2026 for admission to Integrated 5-year MSc courses offered by NISER Bhubaneswar and the University of Mumbai - Department of Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (DAE CEBS).

To get admission to the Integrated 5-year MSC courses at NISER and CEBS offered through NEST, candidates will have to prepare strategically for the exam and score more than or equal to the NEST cutoff 2026. Considering candidates’ needs regarding the test preparation, this SciAstra exam page provided tips for the NEST 2026 preparation.

NEST 2026 Exam Pattern

Before starting the NEST preparation, candidates must know the overall structure of the NEST 2026 question paper. For this, they need to refer to the NEST 2026 exam pattern, which provides an overview of the question paper.

Check out the pattern below:

Features

Details

Exam Name

National Entrance Screening Test (NEST)

Exam Conducting Body

  • National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar

  • University of Mumbai – The Department of Atomic Energy, Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, Mumbai

Exam Level

Undergraduate Level

Courses Offered

  • 5-year Integrated MSc in Physics

  • 5-year Integrated MSc in Chemistry

  • 5-year Integrated MSc in Biology

  • 5-year Integrated MSc in Mathematics

Exam Mode

Online (Computer-Based Test)

Exam Duration

3 hours

Exam Frequency

Once a year

Type of Question

Multiple Choice Question (80 questions)

Marking Scheme

+3 marks for each correct answer

-1 mark for each incorrect answer

0 mark for unattempted question

Official Website

https://www.nestexam.in/

NEST 2026 Preparation Tips

The following tips can help candidates with the preparation for NEST 2026:

1. Familiarise yourself with the NEST Exam Pattern & Syllabus

Before beginning your preparation, it is advisable to go through the NEST examination pattern and marking scheme as well as the official syllabus that is largely based on NCERT classes 11 and 12. This will help you know the section-wise weightage of each subject.

2. Build Strong Concepts from NCERT

NCERT textbooks must be your major guide for Biology and Chemistry. For Physics and Mathematics, understanding is more important than learning for exams, keeping in mind the application-based nature of the NEST question papers.

3. Solve NEST previous year question papers

Solving NEST previous year question papers helps you understand the following aspects of the exam preparation:

  • Question difficulty level

  • Frequently asked topics

  • Time management strategy

Analyse your mistakes after every paper to improve accuracy.

4. Take NEST Mock Tests regularly

Attempt full-length NEST mock tests once your syllabus is mostly covered. This improves speed, accuracy, and exam temperament. Track your performance and revise weak areas regularly.

5. Focus on High-Scoring Sections

Since NEST allows the best three out of four sections to be considered, focus more on your strongest subjects while maintaining a basic understanding of all four.

Click on the link below to check all the important topics related to NEST.

NEST 2026 Important Topics