NEST 2020 Logo

NEST

National Entrance Screening Test

Computer Based Test

NEST Basic Information

  • Application Fee:₹ 1,200
  • Number Of Attempts:1
  • Examination Modes:Computer Based Test
  • Exam Conducting Body:National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER B)
  • Courses:MSc
  • Streams:Science

NEST 2023: Answer Key, Syllabus, Result - All You Need to Know

Updated On - July 17 2023 by Abhinandan Singh

NEST 2023 is a national-level entrance test scheduled to be conducted on June 24, 2023. It is jointly organized by 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. The purpose of this exam is to offer admission to eligible candidates in 5-year Integrated M.Sc programs in Biological, Mathematical, Chemical, and Physical sciences.

To apply for NEST 2023, candidates need to complete the registration process on the official website of NEST, starting from February 28, 2023. This exam provides an opportunity for students to pursue integrated M.Sc programs in basic sciences, including biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics, at NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai.

It is important for aspiring candidates to gather comprehensive information about the NEST 2023 exam, including details about the application form, eligibility criteria, and admit card. Therefore, candidates are advised to go through the complete article to ensure they have all the necessary information before applying for NEST 2023.

NEST 2023 Scorecard Released: Important Details to Know

  1. The scorecard for NEST 2023 exam is now available.
  2. The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is mandatory for admission to NISER, Bhubaneswar, and Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence of MU.
  3. Candidates who appeared for NEST 2023 can download their scorecard from the official website nestexam.in.
  4. The NEST 2023 result was declared on July 10, and section-wise minimum admissible scores (SMAS) have been released.
  5. To download the NEST 2023 scorecard, candidates need to log in with their roll number and application number.
  6. The computer-based NEST 2023 exam was conducted online in two shifts on June 24.
  7. The morning shift was from 9 AM to 12:30 PM, and the evening shift was from 2:30 PM to 6 PM.
  8. The conducting body has also uploaded the minimum admissible percentiles (MAP) for the merit list.
  9. For general category candidates, MAP is equal to or more than 90, while for OBC-NCL candidates, it is also equal to or more than 90.
  10. For SC, ST, Divyangjan, and JK candidates, the MAP is equal to or more than 60.
  11. NEST is compulsory for admission to NISER, Bhubaneswar, and UM-DAE CEBS, Mumbai.
  12. Admitted candidates are eligible for an annual scholarship of Rs 60,000 through the DISHA program of the Department of Atomic Energy.
  13. Additionally, candidates receive a grant of Rs 20,000 per annum for the summer internship.

Note: Candidates are advised to refer to the NEST 2023 website for further information and instructions regarding the answer key and result.

NEST 2023 Exam Status 

  • The National Entrance Screening Test (NEST 2023) has opened the application correction window from May 26 to 29, 2023.
  • Candidates who have already submitted their NEST application form can make corrections in their form on the official website nestexam.in until May 29, 2023.
  • The NEST 2023 exam is scheduled to take place on June 24, 2023.
  • The NEST syllabus includes five subjects: mathematics, general, chemistry, physics, and biology.
  • The exam duration is 3 hours and 30 minutes.
  • The NEST question paper 2023 will be divided into four sections, each carrying 150 marks.
  • In all sections except section 2, there will be a deduction of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
  • The NEST 2023 application correction window will be open from May 26 to 29, 2023.
  • To check the NEST exam eligibility, fee, and steps to fill the application form, refer to the official website.
  • The NEST 2023 application deadline has been extended until May 24, 2023.
  • Candidates interested in appearing for the NEST 2023 exam on June 24, 2023, can apply on the official website, nestexam.in.
Candidates can check the important details of the NEST 2023 exam which are mentioned below in a table:
ParticularStatus

National Entrance Screening Test 2023 Status

Registration Soon

NEST 2023 Exam Dates 

Important Dates: The registration process for NEST 2023 begins on February 27, 2023, and the last date to register is May 17, 2023. The admit card for the exam will be available for download from June 12, 2023, onwards. The exam is scheduled to be held on June 24, 2023. Candidates can take a look at the vital dates for NEST 2023.
NEST Exam Dates
EventDate
Online registration for NEST 2023 beginsFebruary 27, 2023
Online registration for NEST 2023 closesMay 17, 2023
Admit cards for NEST 2023 releasedJune 12, 2023
NEST 2023 exam held in two sessionsJune 24, 2023
NEST 2023 results announcedJuly 10, 2023

NEST 2023 Application Form 

The application form will be released tentatively in February 2023. Candidates can check the all-important information regarding NEST 2023 Application form in the given below points:

  • The application form will be available on the official website of the conducting body.
  • Candidates have to submit their applications via online mode only.
  • A valid e-mail id & contact number are needed to get future notifications.
  • Applicants have to upload required documents such as class 10th and 12th passing certificates, scanned copies of photographs, and signatures.
  • Candidates need not send any document to the NEST office in the entire application process.
  • No correction is possible in the application form, so candidates must fill very carefully.
  • Candidates have to choose any test centre preference from 91 test centres.
  • After filling the form must submit the registration fee to complete the application process.
  • Must take out the printout for future use.

Registration Process: Interested candidates can register for NEST 2023 on the official website of NEST - nestexam.in. Candidates need to fill in their personal and academic details and upload their photograph and signature in the prescribed format. They also need to pay the application fee online.

NEST 2023 Application Fee

Candidates must check the NEST application fees 2023 in the given below table:
Mode of Payment: The applicants can make the payment by using a Credit card/ Debit card/ Net–Banking.
NEST Registration Fee
CategoryFees
General and OBC (Male candidates)Rs. 1200/-
SC/ST/PwD (Male candidates)Rs. 600/-
Female (all categories)Rs. 600/-
Divyang CategoryRs. 600/-
  • The application fee will not be accepted via any other mode.
  • There will no refund of the fee in any case.

NEST 2023 Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates who have passed class XII examination in the science stream with a minimum of 60% marks are eligible to apply for NEST 2023. Candidates belonging to reserved categories such as SC/ST/PwD must have a minimum of 55% marks in their class XII examination. Candidates who are appearing for their class XII examination in 2023 are also eligible to apply.

Candidates must check their NEST 2023 eligibility before applying for the entrance exam. The list of criteria are mentioned below:

  • Age Eligibility Criteria: Candidates of General/OBC category candidates must be born on or after August 01, 2001, and the age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC / ST / PwD candidates.
  • Education Qualification: Candidates must pass the class 10th and 12th examinations from any recognized board.
  • Minimum Marks: Candidates must secure an aggregate of 60% in class 12th board examination. For SC/ST/PwD students need 55% marks.
  • Compulsory Subjects: Candidates should be from the science stream only. They must have physics, chemistry, mathematics, and biology in class 11th and 12th

NEST 2023 Exam Pattern

Exam Pattern: The NEST 2023 exam will be a computer-based test of three and a half hours duration. The exam will consist of five sections - General Section, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. The General Section will include questions on English, logical reasoning, and general knowledge. The questions in the Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology sections will be based on the syllabus of class XI and class XII.
Candidates must read the given below topic regarding NEST Exam Pattern 2023:
Paper Pattern for NEST 2023
Exam ModeOnline(Computer Based Test)
Type of QuestionsMultiple Choice Questions
Duration180 Minutes(3 Hours)
Section

Section 1: General

Section 2:

  • Physics
  •  Chemistry
  •  Mathematics 
  •  Biology
MediumEnglish
Total Marks230
Marking Scheme
  • There is no negative marking in section 1
  • In the 2nd sections, for certain questions, there will be negative marking for incorrect answers
  • The questions for which there will be one or more correct answers, marks will be given when all answers will be marked.
Section-wise marks distribution for the NEST entrance exam
The section-wise marks distribution for NEST are given in the table:
Section-wise division of Marks for NEST 2023
SectionSubjectMarks Distribution
Section 1General Section30
Section 2Physics50
Chemistry50
Mathematics50
Biology50

NEST 2023 Syllabus

The NEST 2023 syllabus can be checked below:
  • General Section
    • This section is to test the candidate's aptitude for a career in Science.
    • Some questions will be designed to test the grasp of mathematics up to 10th standard and application capabilities of the same to simple problems.
  • Biology
    • Cell Theory
    • Genetics and Evolution
    • Ecology
    • Humans and Environment
  • Chemistry
    • Measurements in chemistry 
    • Mole Concepts
    • Gaseous & Liquid states
    • Atomic Structure & Chemical Bonding
    • Chemical Equilibrium
    • Electrochemistry
    • Chemical Kinetics
    • Solid State
  • Mathematics
    • Algebra
    • Trigonometry
    • Analytical geometry
    • Differential calculus
    • Integral calculus
    • Vectors
  • Physics
    • Mechanics
    • Thermal Physics
    • Electricity and magnetism:
    • Optics

NEST 2023 Admit Card

Candidates can check the information regarding NEST Admit Card 2023 in the below-given points:

  • The admit card has been released online at least 10 days before the examination.
  • The admit card is issued under the login of the students and to access it the students have to use their user id and password. 
  • Only the students who carry the admit card on the exam day can enter the exam hall and appear for the exam
  • Candidates have to download their Admission Ticket from the official website.
  • Hall Ticket will not be sent by any other medium.
  • Admit card downloading link is available till the examination day.
  • NEST committee reserves the right to cancel any of the test cities without notice to candidates.
  • The allotted exam centre name and address are also communicated via the admit card.
  • The students have to be present on the exam day as per the instructions in the NEST admit card
With the admit card the candidates have to carry:

– School photo Identity
– Card or any other photo ID issued by Government agencies

Candidates can download the NEST 2023 Information Brochure PDF here.

 NEST 2023 Answer Key

Candidates can check below for more information regarding NEST Answer Key:

  • The answer key of NEST 2023 will be released online on the website of NEST.
  • To check the answer key the candidates will need not use their login details. The answer key is made available in PDF format.
  • On the answer key, they can check the questions and the correct answer to the question. The candidates will not be given any challenge facility.
  • Therefore in NEST, the candidates can check the answers to their questions with the help of the answer key and they can also raise objections before the prescribed schedule.
  • Also, the result will declare after the release of the NEST answer key.

NEST 2023 Result

The appeared candidates can check their NEST 2023 results on the official website of the authorized body. The body will prepare a separate merit list for providing admission.
  • The percentile score will be calculated based on the relative performance of all the candidates in the respective session.
  • The scorecard can be downloaded & the candidates are advised to get the printout of the result for further use. 

NEST 2023 Merit List 

The final ranking of a candidate will be based on percentile scores calculated from the best three subject scores and the general section score. NISER and CEBS will publish separate merit lists. The details are mentioned below:
Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score ( SMAS) 
  • The total score of each candidate will be the direct sum of his/her score in the general section and his/her best three scores in the subject sections.
  • For each section, “20% of the average of the best 100 scores in that section” will be considered as Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score (SMAS).
  • SMAS for OBC candidates would be 90%.
  • SMAS for SC/ST/PwD students would be 50%.

NEST 2023 Tie-breaking for merit list

In case 2 or more candidates score equal marks then the following ways will be applied to break the ties:

  • Candidates with a higher score in the general section will be ranked higher.
  • If the tie is still there, the best scores in the subject section of the two candidates would be compared. The student with a better score in any of the subject section would get a better rank.
  • If the tie persists, the students would be given the same provisional rank at the time of declaration of the result and the tie would be broken by comparing class 12th marks and date of birth.

NEST 2021 Counselling

National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) counselling 2021 will be done for the qualified candidates after the result will be disclosed by the authority.

  • The counselling based on NEST 2021 result is done separately bu NISER and CEBS
  • The first counselling of NISER Bhubaneswar & CEBS Mumbai will be done in July 2021.
  • The students have to appear for the counselling and admission process that the institutes conduct separately based on their norms and strictly based on NEST merit.
  • Applicants will have to carry documents like- Admit Card, 10th & 12the mark sheet, degree certificate, caste certificate, etc.
  •  The offer of admission is subject to verification of all original certificates at the time of admission/counselling.
The admission process in the institutes are as follows:
  • Visit the official website of respective institutes and check the admission events.
  • Under the tab, the candidates can check the call list for counselling based on NEST 2021 rank list.
  • Register on the institute’s website for admission using the online form available.
  • Report at the counselling venue with all the documents.

Candidates can go through the NEST Seat Reservation

Please check the category wise seat reservation distribution below in the table:
Seat Reservations For NEST 2023
CategoryReservation
OBC/NCL(Other Backward Classes/Non–Creamy Layer)27%
Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST)15%
A person with Disabilities (PwD)5%
The quota for students from Jammu and Kashmir (JK)2 seats in both the institute

NEST 2023 Seat Matrix

The number of seats available at NISER and CEBS for admission in the year 2023 would be as follows.

NEST Seat Matrix
CategoryNISERCEBS
General10123
General – EWS006
OBC – NCL5415
SC3009
ST1504
Divyangjan5% of seats in each category5% of seats in each category
Total20057
Total proposed intake20057

NEST 2023 Exam Centres

The test centres details can be checked below in the table:
Test Centres for NEST 2023
StatesNumber of Centres
Andhra Pradesh07
Assam01
Bihar01
Chandigarh01
Chattisgarh02
New Delhi01
Gujarat01
Himachal Pradesh02
Jammu & Kashmir02
Jharkhand04
Karnataka04
Kerala13
Madhya Pradesh04
Maharashtra03
Manipur01
Meghalaya01
Orissa13
Punjab03
Rajasthan03
Tamil Nadu06
Telangana03
Tripura01
Uttar Pradesh05
Uttarakhand03
West Bengal06
The candidates will have to select any five cities as per their preference.

NEST 2023 Highlights

The highlights for the NEST 2023 exam is given below in the table:
NEST Basic Details 2023
Exam NameNational Entrance Screening Test 
AcronymNEST 2023
Conducting BodyNational Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER)
Level of ExamNational Level
FrequencyOnce a year
Exam ModeCBT Mode
Medium English
SectionsTwo section
NEST Official Websitehttps://www.nestexam.in/
Application FormApply Here

About National Institute of Science Education and Research

Conclusion: NEST 2023 is a highly competitive exam for students who want to pursue a career in science. Candidates who fulfill the eligibility criteria can apply for the exam on the official website of NEST. It is important for candidates to prepare well for the exam as it is the basis for admission to the five-year integrated MSc programme in basic sciences. Candidates must also ensure that they submit their application before the last date.

The NISER was established in the year 2006. The National Institute of Science Education and Research is one of the best in the field of basic Science and Research and is mainly known for its quality education and infrastructure. The Physics & Mathematics departments of NISER are the best in the country mainly due to their association with HBNI and BARC (under DAE).

The NISER is dedicated to graduate education & research only. It offers MSc as well as Ph.D. degrees and applied sciences. Those performing well in MSc have a chance to be absorbed in R&D units and autonomous research institutions of the Department of Atomic Energy. NISER has eight schools these are:

  • School of Biological Sciences
  • School of Chemical Sciences
  • School of Mathematical Sciences
  • Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences
  • School of Earth and Planetary Sciences
  • School of Computer Sciences
  • School of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • School of Physical Sciences

About National Entrance Screening Test (NEST)

The NEST is a mandatory test for admission to the 5-year Integrated MSc program in basic sciences - Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics - at the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar and the University of Mumbai - Department of Atomic Energy's UM-DAE CBS, Mumbai. 

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NEST Important Dates

TitleDates
NEST 2023 Form Date23 Feb - 21 Mar 2023
Admit Card Downloading Date07 Jun 2023
NEST 2023 Exam Date18 Jun 2023
Result Date 202305 Jul 2023

National Entrance Screening Test Exam Pattern

Paper 1
Exam Duration:

3 hours 30 minutes

Total Marks:

230

Question Paper Type :

Multiple Choice Questions

Negative Marking:

Yes

NOTE:There is negative marking for all sections except the general awareness section.

S.No
Subjects
Questions
Marks
Total
1Physics50150
2Chemistry50150
3Mathematics50150
4Biology50150
5General Knowledge & Current Affairs30130

Frequently Asked Questions

Comments

Form Start Date:

23 Feb 2023

Form End Date:

21 Mar 2023

The last date to submit the form was on 21 Mar 2023
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