NEST Exam 2020 Dates, Pattern, Syllabus, Application Process

National Entrance Screening Test (NEST 2020) is a compulsory test for students seeking admission to 5-year Integrated M.Sc. Programs in Basic Science (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics) at the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) Bhubaneswar and University of Mumbai - Dept. of Atomic Energy Centre for Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE CEBS), Mumbai.

NEST 2020 will be conducted in around 90 towns and cities all over India on 06th June 2020 (Saturday).

Both NISER and UM-DAE CEBS were set up by Dept. of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India in 2007.

NEST 2020 Registration / Online application Opens

07th January 2020

Online application Closes

03rd April 2020

Download of admit Card Starts

24th April 2020, 6:30 pm

Date of NEST Exam 2020

06th June 2020 (Saturday)

Session-I - 9:00 am - 12:30 pm,

Session-II - 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm

First Counselling of NISER Bhubaneswar

To be Announced

First Counselling of CEBS Mumbai

To be Announced

Class XII qualifying examination should be passed in either 2018 or 2019.

Candidates appearing in 2020 are also eligible. (Where only Letter Grade is given by the Board, a certificate from the Board specifying equivalent percentage marks will be required. In the absence of such a certificate the decision of the respective Admission Committees will be final.)

At least 60% marks in aggregate (or equivalent grade) in Class XII (or equivalent) examination from any recognized Board in India. For Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates and for Divyangjan candidates, the minimum requirement is 55%.

Candidate should secure a position in the NEST merit list.

Age Limit

Candidates in General and OBC category should be born on or after August 01, 2000. The age limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ ST/ Divyangjan candidates.

NEST 2020 examination will be conducted at multiple centres (major towns or cities) all over India on June 06, 2020 (Saturday), 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM (first session) and 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM (second session).

The candidates will be assigned to either of the sessions. Based on the performance in NEST 2020, Merit List of the candidates will be prepared and posted on NEST 2020 website.

NEST 2020 Exam will be a Computer-Based Test (CBT/online Exam)

The question paper will consist of 5 (five) sections of objective (MCQ) type questions. Section 1 is the general section and is of 30 marks.

There will be no negative marking in the general section.

Sections 2 through 5 are of 50 marks each and will contain subject specific questions from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.

The syllabus for NEST 2020 primarily follows the NCERT/CBSE science syllabus of class XI–XII.

The syllabus can also be downloaded on the www.nestexam.in website under the ‘Syllabus’ tab.

A proposed list of about 90 centres (cities and towns of India) for the NEST exam.

Candidates must choose 5 (five) centres in order of their preference while filling out the application form. Every effort will be made to allot the centre of first preference.

Please note that ultimately, the allotment of an examination centre by the NEST Committee has to be regarded as final and request for change of centre will, in general, not be entertained.

The address of the test venue allotted to the applicant, will be mentioned on the NEST admit card. Admit cards will be available for download from online application portal from April 24, 2020.

To apply for NEST 2020, candidates must fill out the online application form through www.nestexam.in on or after January 7th, 2020.

Application can be submitted only through NEST 2020 website. There is no other mode of application submission.

Login credentials for logging into application submission and fee payment portals will be provided upon online registration.

Candidates need not send any document to NEST office in the entire application process.

Payments can be made using credit card/debit card/net–banking through online payment gateway. Please use Mastercard/Visa/RuPay cards only.