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Updated By Debanjalee Sen on 05 Dec, 2025 15:54
NEST exam pattern indicates that there are 4 sections: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics. Overall, each segment includes 20 questions and is worth 60 marks. The merit list is created using the best three section scores, while the lowest-scoring section is excluded.
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NEST 2026 Exam Pattern is designed to evaluate students through four subject-specific sections, namely, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics, each carrying 60 marks. Students have to answer 20 MCQs from each component, with +3 for each correct answer. For wrong responses, -1 is deducted, with no penalty for unattempted questions. The merit list is decided based on the best three section scores, bringing the total marks to 180 (instead of 240).
NEST is conducted in a fully CBT format, where questions appear on the screen and responses are recorded electronically. The question paper is available in both English and Hindi, although the English version is treated as the final reference in case of discrepancies. You are encouraged to attempt all sections to maximise your chances of securing a high rank. The exam duration is 3 hours and 30 minutes. While planning your NEST preparation strategy, make sure you focus on the exam pattern and NEST syllabus.
Follow the sections below on this page to learn more NEST 2026 exam pattern.
Take a look at the NEST 2026 exam pattern highlights below:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Total Sections | 4 (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics) |
| Total Marks | 240 mark, however, as the best 3 scores are used for the merit list, the total is 180 |
| Questions per Component | 20 questions |
| Total Questions | 80 (best 3 sections will be considered, which makes it overall 60) |
| Marks Per Section | 60 mark |
| Marks per accurate answer | +3 |
| Negative marking applicable | Yes |
| Duration | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Question Paper Language | English and Hindi |
The section-wise mark according to the NEST exam pattern is 60. Each component has 20 questions of 3 marks each.
There are 4 segments as per the NEST exam pattern, which include Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics. You are advised to prepare for all subjects as your best 3 scores are considered for the merit list.
Check the section-wise marks distribution as per NEST 2026 exam pattern below:
| Name of the Component | Questions Per Component | Marks Per Component |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 20 | 60 |
| Chemistry | 20 | 60 |
| Biology | 20 | 60 |
| Mathematics | 20 | 60 |
| Total | 80 | 240 (out of 240, 180 will be counted as the total mark is decided as the best 3 scores out of 4 sections) |
Yes, negative marking applies uniformly across all four subjects, with 1 mark deducted for every incorrect answer. This makes it important for students to attempt only those questions about which they are confident.
The marking scheme for correct answers for NEST 2026 mentions that for all accurate answers, you will be awarded plus 3.
Here is a quick glimpse of the marking scheme as per the NEST 2026 exam pattern:
| Particulars | Marks Awarded |
|---|---|
| For each correct answer | +3 |
| For each inaccurate response | -1 |
| For unattempted questions | 0 |
Here are some important points related to the NEST 2026 exam pattern:
It is also crucial to know the NEST 2026 syllabus apart from the pattern. Check the table below to know the NEST syllabus.
Subject | Topics |
|---|---|
Physics |
|
Chemistry |
|
Mathematics |
|
Biology |
|
Want to know more about NEST
The NEST exam pattern is issued by NISER Bhubaneswar and UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai. To check the details, refer to the official brochure once released by the conducting body.
The NEST 2026 exam pattern is crucial as it provides a complete picture of the test format. Knowing this helps to understand how many sections are included, the marks per component, the marking scheme, the duration, etc.
There will be 20 questions in each section of the NEST 2026 paper, for a total of 80 questions. The question type is multiple-choice.
The NEST 2026 paper will have four sections: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. Out of 4 sections attempted, score of 3 segments will be considered.
NEST 2026 will be conducted as a Computer-Based Test (CBT). The total mark in the entrance exam is 240.
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