Understand the exam
Exam overview
National entrance examination for specified integrated science programs at NISER and CEBS.
NEST
Admission
Undergraduate
Institutional
National Entrance Screening Test
Last updated · Confirm dates, fees and eligibility on the official website before you apply.
National entrance examination for specified integrated science programs at NISER and CEBS.
Who can appear
Eligibility to appear
Class 12
Class 12 science with the subject combination and marks stated for the current integrated science admission cycle. Year-of-passing, age and category relaxations must be verified from the current NEST brochure.
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 national entrance screening test for the integrated science programmes at the National Institute of Science Education and Research and the Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences. Like the IISER route, it is aimed at students heading towards research.
Subjects
What the paper tests
A general section plus physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology. Your best three subject sections count towards the score alongside the general section, so one weaker subject need not be fatal.
PreparationPlan
How to prepare
Because the best three subjects count, identify early which three you will lead with and prepare them properly rather than spreading effort thinly across four. The paper favours conceptual clarity over speed. Sitting this alongside the IISER test makes sense - the preparation is essentially the same and both lead to comparable research-oriented programmes.
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. NISER and UM-DAE CEBS.
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
How does the scoring work?
A general section plus four subject sections, with your best three subject scores counting alongside the general section. One weaker subject need not be fatal, which is a meaningful difference from similar examinations.
Which three subjects should I focus on?
Decide early and prepare those properly rather than spreading effort thinly across four. Identifying your strongest three in advance is the main strategic decision for this paper.
What institutions does it lead to?
The integrated science programmes at the National Institute of Science Education and Research and the Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences, both aimed at students heading towards research.
Is it easier than the IISER test?
Not easier, but the best-three scoring gives more flexibility if one subject is weaker. The style similarly favours conceptual clarity over speed.
What is National Entrance Screening Test used for?
Integrated M.Sc admission at NISER Bhubaneswar and CEBS Mumbai.
Who is eligible to appear for National Entrance Screening Test?
12th with science subjects. Confirm this against the current official notification, because eligibility rules are revised between sessions.
How often is National Entrance Screening Test held, and in what format?
Once a year. Computer-based.
Who conducts National Entrance Screening Test?
NISER and UM-DAE CEBS.