IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) / National Entrance Screening Test (NEST)
Standard Difficulty Rating: Lvl 7
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The IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) and National Entrance Screening Test (NEST) are two prominent entrance examinations for admission to integrated science programs in India. IAT is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) for their 5-year BS-MS Dual Degree programs across seven IISER campuses. NEST is jointly conducted 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, for their 5-year integrated M.Sc. programs. Both exams target students who have completed their 10+2 with a science stream, typically requiring a minimum of 60% marks. IAT tests Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology (PCMB) with 15 questions each, totaling 60 questions for 240 marks, over 3 hours. NEST, a 3.5-hour exam, has a compulsory General section and optional PCMB sections, where candidates choose any three, each carrying 50 marks. Both exams assess Class 11 and 12 level science knowledge, preparing students for careers in scientific research.
