NEST 2026 Exam Pattern is prescribed by the exam conducting authority. The exam pattern include details of exam mode, type of questions, number of questions, marking scheme etc.
Curious about exam pattern of NEST 2026? Just scroll below and find out.
NEST exam is conducted for admission to the candidates into 5-year integrated M.Sc. course. It is a national level entrance test. The entrance test is organized by NISER and UM-DAE-CEBS jointly.
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Here, in this article we are providing complete details of NEST Exam Pattern 2026 including marking scheme and syllabus.
NEST 2026 Exam Pattern
Candidates appearing in the NEST 2026 entrance test must prepare themselves according to the below exam pattern. NEST 2026 exam will be conducted on 6th June 2026.
- Mode of Exam: NEST 2026 entrance exam will be organized in online mode (computer based test).
- Exam Duration: The time duration to complete the examination will be 3 hours.
- Sections: In the question paper, there will be four sections consisting of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology.
- Type of Questions: The question paper will be Multiple Choice Types.
- Language: The question paper will be of English language.
- Total Marks: Question paper will be of 240 marks.
- Marking Scheme: In single correct answer MCQs candidates will earn 3 marks & for multiple correct answer MCQs 4 marks will be awarded.
- Negative Marking: No marks will be deducted for not answering a question & 1 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer.
The distribution of marks for each section is as given below:
| Sections | No. of Questions |
| Physics | 20 |
| Chemistry | 20 |
| Biology | 20 |
| Mathematics | 20 |
| Total | 80 |
NEST 2026 Marking Scheme
The details regarding marking scheme of NEST 2026 is given below:
- The question paper will comprise a total of 240 marks whereas candidates will have to score maximum of 240 marks.
- There will be no negative marking for not answering a question & 1 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer.
The marks distribution for each subjects will be done according to the following pattern:
| Sections | Subjects | Maximum marks |
| Section 1 | Physics | 60 |
| Section 2 | Chemistry | 60 |
| Section 3 | Biology | 60 |
| Section 4 | Mathematics | 60 |
| Total marks scored in 4 sections | 240 | |
NEST 2026 Syllabus
NEST Syllabus 2026 consist of topics from the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and General Ability. Candidates have to study for only 4 subjects chosen by them.
Some of the topics contained in NEST 2026 syllabus for each of subjects are provided below:
Physics:
General, Mechanics, Sound, Fluids, Thermal physics, Rotational Dynamics, Wave Optics, Electricity, Magnetism, Semiconductors, Capacitance, Modern Physics, Electromagnetic Induction, Ray Optics, X Rays.
Chemistry:
Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics, Mole Concept, Solutions, Chemical Kinetics, Periodic Table, Metallurgy, d-block Elements, p-block Elements , f-block Elements, s-block Elements, Metals and Non Metals, Colloids, Coordination Compounds, Surface Chemistry, Solid State, Solutions, Hydrogen Element; Organic Chemistry-Reactive intermediates, Alkanes, Nomenclature, Alkenes and Alkynes, Isomerism, Haloalkanes (Alkyl halides), Aromatic compounds
Biology:
Ecosystems, Evolution, Biotechnology, Anatomy, Genetics, Humans and Environment, Biology of Plant Systems, Reproduction, Physiology, Human Health and Diseases, Ecology, Biology of Animal Systems
Also Check:
Mathematics:
Algebra, Quadratic equations, Probability, Arithmetic, Harmonic and Geometric Progression, Arithmetic, Harmonic and Geometric Means, Permutations and combinations, Logarithms, simultaneous linear equations, Binomial theorem, Matrices
General Ability:
The authority will not prescribe any syllabus for General Ability section. However, this section will contain questions from Science, English, Mathematics, G.K, History, Geography and Current affairs. Questions from mathematical ability of class 10th might be asked in the paper. Some passage type questions from science may also be asked.
NEST 2026 Exam pattern must be understood by the candidates for better preparation of the exam. The questions asked in the entrance test will be designed by the authority to check the logical and understanding skill of the student in a subject.
If you have any query regarding NEST Exam Pattern 2026, you can ask your query in the below comments section.