NEST 2024: Notification (Out), Registration (Mar 20), Exam (Jun 30)

Hafsha Qureshi
Hafsha Qureshi

Updated on - Mar 11, 2024

Latest Updates for NEST

  • 11 March 2024 :

    NEST Application Form 2024 will be released by Mar 20, 2024. The exam is scheduled for Jun 30, 2024.

NEST 2024 notification has been released at nestexam.in. The NEST 2024 registration for the 2024–2025 session will begin from Mar 20, 2024. A few days before to the commencement of online registration, the organising body, NISER & UM-DAE CEBS, will distribute the flyer and information brochure. The exam will take place on Jun 30, 2024.

Before submitting NEST application form 2024, candidates getting ready for the entrance exam must review the minimal qualifying requirements established by the organisation in charge of holding the exam. The last date to apply for the same is May 31, 2024.

Candidates for NEST will have about two months to complete the NEST 2024 application. Additionally, candidates will have the chance to revise the form if they made any mistakes when completing the online NEST 2024 application. Soon after the application procedure concludes, the NEST application correction window will open.

National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) is a national-level exam conducted for admission to the five years integrated M.Sc program in 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 Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS), Mumbai.

Table of Content

About NEST Exam

National Entrance Screening Test, commonly known as NEST, is a national-level computer-based exam for admission to the five years integrated M.Sc program in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics at the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar and University of Mumbai - Department of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS), Mumbai.

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 jointly conducts NEST exam once a year for admission to the five years integrated M.Sc program in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics.

NEST Exam

NEST 2024 Notification

NEST 2024 notification has been released on the official website of the examination by the conducting body. The official notification includes NEST 2024 exam dates and result date. Candidates must regularly check this page for further information and updates about the examination.

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NEST 2024 Highlights

NEST 2024 is a computer-based test. The question paper will be available in English and Hindi language. The difficulty of the exam is perceived as moderate to difficult.

NEST Exam 2024 Highlights
Particulars Details
Exam Name NEST
Full Form National Entrance Screening Test
Conducting Body NISER Bhubaneshwar and UM-DAE CBS Mumbai
Timings

Session 1: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM

Session 2: 2:00 PM to 5:30 PM

Exam Mode Online i.e. Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Course Offered Master of Science (M.Sc)
Official Website www.nestexam.in
Helpdesk

+91-674-2494002/4003/4005
nest-exam@niser.ac.in

NEST Exam Dates 2024

NEST 2024 exam date has been announced by NISER on the official website. The exam was conducted online, as a computer-based test, on Jun 24, 2024. NEST 2024 provisional answer key challenging window was active from Jun 28 - 30, 2024, and the scorecard will be out on Jul 10, 2024. Candidates can check the important NEST 2024 exam dates in the table below.

NEST Exam 2024 Important Dates
Events Dates
Upcoming Events
Availability of Application Form Mar 20, 2024
Last Date to Fill Out Online Application Form May 31, 2024
Application Form Correction Window May 2024
Admit Card Download Jun 15, 2024
Date of NEST Examination Jun 2024
Answer Key Release and Objection Window Jun 2024
Results Date Jul 10, 2024
Counselling Date Jul 2024
Past Event
NEST Official Notification Date Mar 10, 2024

Candidates can check on this page for further updates on the official schedule of NEST 2024 examination and other associated events.

NEST Eligibility Criteria 2024

Candidates are required to make sure that they clear or meet the NEET 2024 eligibility criteria prior to applying for the exam. The organizing body of the exam sets the NEST 2024 eligibility criteria. Failing to meet the eligibility criteria will result in the candidates being deemed ineligible for the exam, and their application forms will be invalid.

NEST 2024 eligibility condition includes educational qualification, class XII passing year, age limit and nationality. Also, an advantage is there for the candidates belonging to certain states. The various eligibility conditions to attend NEST exam are as given below.

  • Educational Qualification: All test-takers should have passed 10+2 or its equivalent examination in the Science domain, i.e. Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics/ Biology, as their mandatory subjects from a recognised board or university.
  • Passing Year: Aspirants must have passed the class XII board examination or its equivalent in 2022 or 2024 from any recognized Higher Secondary Education Board in India. Candidates who will attend the 10+2 board exam in 2024 are also eligible to attend NEST exam.
  • Minimum Marks: Candidates must have a minimum aggregate mark of 60% in the qualifying exam (+2). For SC/ ST and Divyangjan candidates, the minimum qualifying mark is 55%.
  • Age Limit: Candidates should be born on or after Aug 1, 2003, to be eligible to write this exam. For students belonging to SC/ ST/ PWD category, age relaxation of 5 years is allowed.
  • Nationality: Only Indian citizens are allowed to give this exam. NRIs and PIOs cannot appear for this exam.
  • State Quota: Candidates from J&K, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana states have 15%.
NEST 2024 Eligibility
Particulars Details
Nationality Indian Nationals only (NRI PIO/ OCI Candidates Not Eligible)
Education 10+2 or Equivalent
Minimum Marks

General Category: 60% Aggregate

SC/ST Category: 55% Aggregate

Passing Year Should have passed 12th in 2021 & 2021 or 2024
Age Limit Born After Aug 1, 2003 (5 Years Relaxation for SC/ ST Candidates)
State Quota 15% Reservation for Candidates from J&K, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana

The candidates are advised to regularly check in with this page for further updates and information regarding NEST 2024 to not miss out on any vital information.

Read More: NEST 2024 Eligibility

NEST Application Form 2024

The NEST application form 2024 will be released by UM-DAE CEBS and NISER. According to the notification, the online application form will open on Mar 20, 2024 and will close on May 31, 2024. On the official website, nestexam.in, candidates could obtain all the information they needed about the NEST 2024 and its entire process. 

Candidates can edit their application form through this facility if they make any mistakes while filling out the form or want to update any information.

After filling in the personal details and academic details, candidates should upload their scanned copies of photographs and signatures and submit an application fee to end NEST 2024 application process.

NEST 2024 Application Fee

NEST 2024 application fee for different categories is mentioned below.

Category-Wise Application Fee for NEST 2024
Category Application Form Fee
General/ OBC INR 1200
Female Candidates INR 600
SC/ ST/ PwD INR 600

Mode of Payment of NEST 2024 Application Fee

Candidates can pay the application form fee for NEST 2024 through the below-mentioned modes.

  • Credit Card
  • Debit Card
  • Net Banking

Documents Required for NEST 2024 Application Form

Candidates should have the following documents while filling up NEST 2024 application form.

  • SSC Marksheet
  • HSC Marksheet
  • Scanned copy of candidate's photograph
  • Scanned copy of candidate's signature
  • Category Certificate (if applicable)
  • Jammu and Kashmir Resident Certificate (if applicable)

Candidates should upload the scanned copies of their photograph and signature in NEST 2024 exam form as per the following specifications.

Documents Specifications for NEST 2024 Application Form
Image Size Format
Photograph Up to 80 KB .Jpeg or.Jpg
Signature Up to 80 KB .Jpeg or.Jpg

NEST 2024 Application Process

NEST 2024 exam will have mainly four stages, i.e., registration, application form filling, uploading documents, and, finally, the payment of the application fee. After that, the candidates have to print out the application form. Therefore, it is required that the candidates read the instructions carefully and fill in the details during NEST 2024 application process.

How to Apply for NEST 2024 Exam?

The details related to applying for NEST 2024 are stated below.

  • Step 1: Visit the official site and register by providing the candidate's name, mobile number and email ID details.
  • Step 2: Completing the registration process will generate a username and password.
  • Step 3: Enter the candidate's login credentials and fill out the basic form containing the candidate's information.
  • Step 4: Upload the candidate's photo and signature in .jpg format.
  • Step 5: Pay the application fees through debit/ credit card or net banking.
  • Step 6: Verify all the filled-up information, click on submit and take a printout of the application form.

Read More: NEST 2024 Application Form

NEST Admit Card 2024

The NEST 2024 admit card will be released on Jun 15, 2024 on nestexam.in. Candidates who have registered can download it by providing their login details. Exam day policies and instructions, exam date, exam time, exam centre address, and personal information are all contained on the NEST admit card.

Candidates can download the admit card through NEST login 2024 using their registration ID and password. Applicants must take a printout of the admit card and carry it with a valid photo ID card issued to the allotted exam centres.

All the necessary details related to the exam centre like the address of the venue, and exam timings will be mentioned in the admit card. It will only be available online, and no hard copy will be sent through post or any other offline mode.

How to Download NEST 2024 Admit Card?

The steps involved in downloading NEST 2024 admit card are mentioned below.

  • Step 1: Candidates must visit the official website of NEST 2024 examination.
  • Step 2: NEST admit card 2024 link can be found highlighted on the main page itself. Click on the link to be redirected.
  • Step 3: Provide the necessary credentials like login details on this newly redirected page.
  • Step 4: Click on admit card and download the same after verifying the details given.

Note: Candidates should make sure to possess NEST 2024 admit card at the time of the exam, without which they will be denied entry. It is also important for the candidates to keep their admit cards in good condition.

Read More: NEST 2024 Admit Card

NEST Exam Pattern 2024

NEST 2024 exam pattern has been set by the organizing and coordinating bodies of the exam. Candidates should thoroughly go through NEST 2024 exam pattern before starting the preparation for the same. Knowing the exam pattern will allow the candidates to overview the types of questions asked in the exam and their distribution throughout the question paper. Hence they will be able to prepare accordingly and score very high in the exam.

NISER and UM-DAE CEBS conduct NEST exams in the computer-based test pattern once a year. The question paper will have multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from the five different subjects, which are as follows.

  • General Ability
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Mathematic 
  • Biology

NEST exam will be conducted for 3 hours and 30 minutes for 180 marks. Negative marking will be there for certain sections of the question paper only. Candidates should note that some questions may have one or more correct answers. Hence, marks can only be earned for such questions by marking all the correct answers.

The question paper will be available only in the English language. A merit list for both the institutes will be prepared with the best 3 of the subject sections (in addition to the general section). Therefore, a section with the worst score will be omitted. Details highlighting NEST 2024 exam pattern specifications are mentioned below in the following table.

NEST 2024 Exam Pattern
Components Details
Exam Type Online i.e. Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Type of Questions Objective/ Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Language English
Duration 210 Minutes
Total Marks 180
Marking Scheme

+1 Mark for the Correct Answer

Negative Marking Only in Subject Sections

Read More: NEST 2024 Exam Pattern

NEST Exam Centres 2024

NEST 2024 will be conducted in 120 exam centres across the country. When filling the application form, candidates must select the exam centres according to their preferences. Candidates can select up to 5 different exam centres from the given list depending upon their convenience or priority. Aspirants will be allotted any exam centres among the selected centres. Candidates must report to NEST 2024 exam centre before the reporting time given on the admit card. Documents that must be carried to the exam centre are as given below.

  • NEST Admit Card Printout.
  • Photo ID such as Aadhar, Driving License, etc.

Candidates can choose from the various available exam centres based on their comfort and vicinity. NEST 2024 exam centres and the states where they are located are as follows.

NEST 2024 Exam Centres
NEST 2024 Exam Centres
Guntur (AP) New Delhi (DL) Mangaluru (KA) Pathanamthitta (KL) Angul (OD) Sambalpur (OD) Tirunelveli (TN)
Kurnool (AP) Ahmedabad (GJ) Mysore (KA) Thiruvananthapuram (KL) Balasore (OD) Bhatinda (PB) Hyderabad (TS)
Rajahmundry (AP) Hamirpur (HP) Alappuzha (KL) Thrissur (KL) Bargarh (OD) Jalandhar (PB) Karimnagar (TS)
Tirupathi (AP) Shimla (HP) Ernakulam (KL) Bhopal (MP) Baripada (OD) Mohali (PB) Warangal (TS)
Vijayawada (AP) Jammu (JK) Idukki (KL) Gwalior (MP) Berhampur-Ganjam (OD) Jaipur (RJ) Agartala (TR)
Visakhapatnam (AP) Srinagar (JK) Kannur (KL) Indore (MP) Bhubaneswar (OD) Jodhpur (RJ) Allahabad (UP)
Vizianagaram (AP) Bokaro Steel City (JH) Kasaragod (KL) Jabalpur (MP) Cuttack (OD) Udaipur (RJ) Kanpur (UP)
Guwahati (AS) Dhanbad (JH) Kollam (KL) Mumbai (MH) Dhenkanal (OD) Chennai (TN) Lucknow (UP)
Patna (BR) Jamshedpur (JH) Kottayam (KL) Nagpur (MH) Jharsuguda (OD) Coimbatore (TN) Noida (UP)
Chandigarh (CH) Ranchi (JH) Kozhikode (KL) Pune (MH) Khurda (OD) Madurai (TN) Varanasi (UP)
Bhilai Nagar (CG) Bengaluru (KA) Malappuram (KL) Imphal (MN) Rayagada (OD) Salem (TN) Dehradun (UK)
Raipur (CG) Hubli (KA) Palakkad (KL) Shillong (ML) Rourkela (OD) Tiruchirappalli (TN) Haldwani (UK)
Roorkee (UK) Asansol (WB) Burdwan (WB) Durgapur (WB) Hughli (WB) Kolkata (WB) Siliguri (WB)

Read More: NEST 2024 Exam Centre

NEST Syllabus 2024

Candidates must go through NEST 2024 syllabus prior to starting preparation for the examination. This will be essential since NEST 2024 syllabus consists of 5 sections: one general section and four core sections. The general section aims to test the candidate's aptitude for a career in Science. Questions are designed to test the candidate's familiarity with major historical milestones in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, Computer Science, and the environment.

The core section syllabus and question paper will include Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology of 11th and 12th grades. Candidates choose to attempt any three subjects out of the given four. Candidates must focus on books from the NCERT and CBSE syllabus of the 11th and 12th grades. Questions will have a moderate to easy level of difficulty. Some questions might appear tricky, but most are based on the fundamentals.

Read More: NEST 2024 Syllabus

How to Prepare for NEST 2024?

Before starting exam preparation, go through the entire syllabus and NEST 2024 reference books to get familiar with the topics and understand the depth and difficulty level of NEST. Accordingly, make a well-planned and attainable timetable. Give the utmost priority to following this self-made study plan. Also, make sure you give higher preference and more time to topics that have appeared repeatedly in the past years. Moreover, for difficult topics, this will help the candidate score well.

For revision, solve NEST's previous year's question paper within a fixed time and in a real exam-like environment. This will bring the best in you and make you more confident about the preparation. Attempting NEST 2024 mock tests regularly is the best strategy for mastering objective-type papers like NEST.

The main aspects that the students need to focus on to prepare well for NEST 2024 exam has been elaborated below.

  • Plan Properly: Candidates should make sure to plan very well before the exam. They can create a timetable or a schedule chart for them to follow, and that way, they will be able to stay on course and not deviate from the track. Hence proper planning is very important.
  • Know the Topics: Candidates needs to focus on the topics in each subject. Topic-wise learning will help you understand the concepts well and help them remember the answers to the questions during the main exam. You can prepare by going through every topic in all the subjects by learning and going through them.
  • Time Optimization: Time optimization or efficiently utilizing the time for writing the answers during the exam is very important. You can efficiently utilize time by practicing answering questions with a stopwatch. When you practice with a stopwatch, you can eventually improve the candidate's time management skills and will not miss out on answering any questions in the exam.
  • Attempt all the Known Questions First: Candidates should attempt all the known and familiar questions before attending to the unknown and doubtful ones. This way, they will attend to all the questions quicker than the allotted time. Then, the rest of the questions can be attended in the remaining time. This can minimize time being wasted.
  • Mock Test: With a stopwatch, you can also practice by answering questions from NEST mock test papers and even perform a candidate's practice exam, replicating the exact scenario in which you will be attending the actual NEST 2024 exam. This way, you will be able to manage time and get an overview of the questions and the ways of answering them in the exam.

Read More: NEST 2024 Reference Books

NEST Paper Analysis 2024

This national-level entrance exam will be held in two shifts in morning (9:00 AM to 12:30 PM) and afternoon (2 PM to 5:30 PM). NEST 2024 Shift 1 exam will be concluded and paper analysis will be released.

The difficulty level of previous year NEST exam is projected to be easy to moderate. Physics will be the most difficult section, followed by Mathematics. Chemistry and biology are two of the easiest subjects. The exam schedule and question types were similar to the previous year's. 

NEST Answer Key 2024

The NEST 2024 answer key is expected to be released by Jun 2024. Together with the answer scripts, candidates' registered email addresses will receive the NEST 2024 answer keys. Through email, candidates can assess their chances of admission to the NEST participating institutes by verifying the correct answer, calculating their predicted score, and so on.

Moreover, test takers have the option to protest to one or more NEST 2024 answer keys. The submission of objections against answer keys is free of cost. NEST 2024 answer key is contained in a single PDF file and includes the right answers for each area, which includes Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

Candidates can raise objections only within the given bracket of dates, along with solid proofs to support their challenges. No challenges will be entertained after those dates have passed. Candidates can merge their responses with the final NEST answer key and derive an estimated score until they are announced.  

Steps to Check NEST Exam 2024 Answer Key

Candidates can follow the steps mentioned below to check 

  • Step 1: Candidates must visit the official website at nestexam.in.
  • Step 2: Click on the 'NEST Answer Key 2024' link on the homepage.
  • Step 3: Subject and shift-wise answer key links will be displayed on the screen.
  • Step 4: Candidates can click on the link and download the NEST 2024 answer keys as PDF file.

NEST Results 2024

The release of the NEST 2024 results is scheduled for Jul 10, 2024. Roll numbers and/or names of candidates who qualified for the integrated MSc entrance exam were listed in the NEST merit list or result. NEST scorecards for each candidate had to be downloaded by inputting their login information.

All India Rank (AIR), percentile, and sectional and aggregate scores are all listed on the scorecard. Additionally, the scorecards ought to be kept up till the conclusion of the NEST 2024 admissions process.

Qualified candidates will be called for counselling process. NEST 2024 counselling schedule will also be released soon. A merit list will be prepared based on the general section and the best of three scores from the core subjects.

Steps to Download NEST 2024 Results

The stepwise process of obtaining NEST 2024 result is given below. Candidates can follow the steps provided below.

  • Step 1: Candidates must navigate to the official website at nestexam.in.
  • Step 2: Click on the 'Results' link.
  • Step 3: Enter the application number click on the 'Submit' button.
  • Step 4: Download and print NEST exam results.

NEST Cut Off 2024

NISER Bhubaneswar and CEBS Mumbai are scheduled to release the NEST 2024 cut-off marks categorised by subjects, sessions, and subjects. NEST 2024 cutoff will be made available in two categories: the overall percentile, or Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP), and the sectional cutoff, or Section-wise Minimum Admissible Score (SMAS).

Twenty percent of the average of the top 100 scores in each section will be deemed SMAS, according to the officials. SMAS might have varying numerical values for distinct sections. Candidates must pass both the sectional cut off and the overall NEST 2024 cut off percentile.

NEST 2024 cutoff will be 75 percentile for candidates in the reserved category, 90 percentile for OBC candidates, and 95 percentile for general category candidates. This information is based on an analysis of the NEST cutoff from the prior year. The detailed cut off information is depicted below. Candidates can check their cut off based on the information provided.

Section-Wise Minimum Admissible Score (SMAS) or Section-Wise NEST 2024 Cut Off Marks

  • According to the official website, 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). For instance, if the average of the best 100 scores in the Physics section is 40 out of 50, then SMAS for the Physics section would be 20% of 40, which is 8.
  • SMAS for OBC students will be 90% of respective SMAS for general category students. For instance, if the SMAS is 8 for general category students in the Physics section, then SMAS for OBC category students would be 7 (approximately 90% of 8).
  • SMAS for SC/ ST/ Divyangjan students will be 50% of respective SMAS for general category students. For example, if the SMAS is 8 for general category students in the Physics section, then SMAS for SC/ ST/ Divyangjan students would be 4 (50% of 8).

Overall NEST 2024 Cut Off or Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP)

In addition to SMAS, a candidate must score equal to or above a total Minimum Admissible Percentile (MAP) to get a merit rank.

  • MAP is 95 percentile for General category candidates.
  • MAP is 90 percentile for OBC candidates.
  • MAP is 75 percentile for SC/ST/Divyangjan candidates.

Read More: NEST 2024 Cut Off

NEST Counselling 2024

NEST 2024 counselling process is the final step to admission in the five-year integrated program. Only the candidates who qualify for NEST exam will be called for the counselling round. Candidates can choose either NISER or CEBS as their NEST counselling location.

A merit list will be uploaded to the official website. Candidates will be allotted a venue and counselling based on the merit list. Attendance for all the candidates present at NEST counselling 2024 venues will be taken. Based on the students' attendance at NISER and CEBS, a modified merit list will be prepared. Seats will be allotted to the candidates based on the modified merit list and not the original merit list.

Documents Required for NEST 2024 Counselling

Candidates must carry the original and a photocopy of the documents mentioned below.

  • Class 10th and 12th Marksheets
  • Passport size photographs (2)
  • Government-issued ID Proof
  • Certificate (if applicable)
  • PWD Certificate (if applicable).

NEST Coaching Centres 2024

To secure admission into the institutes that accept NEST examination, the aspirants must prepare hard and be thorough with the examination pattern and sample test papers. Consequently, the candidates can join coaching centres that offer crash courses to prepare their students for NEST 2024 examination. The candidates can enrol themselves in several NEST coaching centres. However, there are only a few institutes in Delhi, which are as follows.

  • Target Tutorials
  • The Pathshala
  • The Study
  • The Wise Study Circle
  • AMITY
  • Narayana IIT Academy.

NEST Contact Details 2024

In case of questions or queries candidates can reach out to the concerned authorities through the following contact details. 

Address: 
National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER),
Jatni post, Khurda,
Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. 
Pincode - 752050.

Official Website: www.nestexam.in

Email: nest-exam@niser.ac.in

NEST Exam Contact Number: +91-674-2494002/4003/4005

FAQs

When will the NEST exam 2024 be held?

NEST 2024 exam will commence on Jun 30, 2024. It will be commenced in two shift, from 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM (first session) and 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM (second session).

When will the NEST exam result 2024 release?

NEST 2024 result is scheduled to be released on Jul 10, 2024 on the official website.

How can I convert my CGPA into Percentage?

Every board has some guidelines associated with the CGPA, please follow that. Generally, it's done by multiplying the CGPA by 9.5.

What are the documents that should be uploaded while filling the form?

The candidates are required to upload the photograph and signature in .jpg format.

Is NEST application form available offline?

No, candidates can apply for NEST exam 2024 only on online mode, on the official website at nestexam.in.

When will the NEST application form 2024 be released?

The application form for NEST 2024 will be released by Mar 20, 2024 and will last till May 31, 2024.

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