Understand the exam
Exam overview
Admission test used for specified IISER undergraduate programs under the current admissions process.
IAT
Admission
Undergraduate
Institutional
IISER Aptitude Test
Last updated · Confirm dates, fees and eligibility on the official website before you apply.
Admission test used for specified IISER undergraduate programs under the current admissions process.
Who can appear
Eligibility to appear
Class 12
Class 12 science education with subjects and qualifying conditions specified for the selected IISER program. Year-of-passing, category, marks and program subject requirements change by admission cycle; use the current IISER admission portal.
Eligibility to appear is not the same as eligibility to be admitted. Individual institutions add their own criteria on top of the exam's rules.
Overview
What this exam is
The admission test for the five-year integrated BS-MS programme at the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, entered after Class 12. The programme is built for students intending to go into research rather than into professional practice.
Subjects
What the paper tests
Physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology, all four, at Class 11 and 12 standard. Requiring all four is unusual and means students who dropped one subject after Class 11 are at a disadvantage they often do not anticipate.
PreparationPlan
How to prepare
Do not neglect the subject you are weakest in, since all four sections count and most candidates are strong in only two or three. The questions reward conceptual understanding rather than the speed-and-formula approach that engineering entrance preparation encourages. Be clear that this programme leads towards research and a doctorate, which is a different life from an engineering or medical degree.
AdmissionProcess
Who can take it, and how it runs
Who can appear. 12th with science subjects.
How often. Once a year.
Format. Computer-based.
Conducted by. IISERs.
Dates, eligibility and the paper pattern change from year to year. Check the current official notification before you plan around any of this.
Where the score is used
Courses connected to this exam
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need all four science subjects?
Yes - physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology are all tested, which is unusual. Students who dropped one after Class 11 are at a disadvantage they often do not anticipate until they see the paper.
How is it different from engineering entrance preparation?
It rewards conceptual understanding rather than the speed-and-formula approach engineering coaching encourages. Candidates trained purely for engineering entrances sometimes find the style unfamiliar.
What does the programme actually lead to?
A five-year integrated BS-MS aimed at research careers and doctoral study, not at professional practice. That is a different life from an engineering or medical degree and worth being clear about before applying.
Should I also sit NEST?
Yes - the preparation is essentially the same and both lead to comparable research-oriented programmes, so sitting both roughly doubles your chances for little extra work.
What is IISER Aptitude Test used for?
Integrated BS-MS admission at the IISERs.
Who is eligible to appear for IISER Aptitude Test?
12th with science subjects. Confirm this against the current official notification, because eligibility rules are revised between sessions.
How often is IISER Aptitude Test held, and in what format?
Once a year. Computer-based.
Who conducts IISER Aptitude Test?
IISERs.