The NISER Bhubaneswar & UM-DAE CEBS Mumbai has jointly prescribed the NEST exam pattern 2026 for aspiring students who wish to enroll in Integrated M.Sc program in either of the Institutions. The NEST paper pattern 2026 specifies that the test will be conducted through Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. The question paper will contain subject-specific questions from 4 sections including Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics in both Hindi and English languages.
The article provides detailed information on NEST exam pattern 2026 such as exam mode, sections, marking scheme, facilities for PwD applicants, and so on.
NEST Exam Pattern 2026: Overview
The NEST stands for National Entrance Screening Test, a National-level entrance exam. The NEST pattern 2026 states that the question paper will have 20 multiple choice questions from each section in the entrance test.
For key-highlights about the NEST exam pattern 2026, aspirants can refer to the below-mentioned table:
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Particular
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Details
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Exam Mode
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Online - CBT (Computer Based Test)
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Exam Medium / Language
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English & Hindi
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Sessions
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Single
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Sections
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4
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Exam Duration
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3 Hours
*Divyangjan / PwD category candidates will get a compensatory time of 1 hour for 3 hours of exam.
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Total Marks
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240
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Marking Scheme
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- For the right answer: +3 marks.
- For wrong answer: -1 mark.
- 0 marks for unanswered questions.
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Type of Questions
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MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)
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Number of Questions
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80
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Number of Answer Choices
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4 Answer Choices per Question
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* Candidates are advised to go through the NEST Exam Syllabus 2026, along with its paper pattern in order to perform well in the examination.
NEST Exam Pattern 2026: Subject-Wise Pattern
As per the NEST exam pattern 2026, the question paper consists of multiple choice questions from 4 subjects in both Hindi & English languages. The subject-wise NEST exam 2026 pattern is listed below:
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Section
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Number of Questions
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Maximum Marks
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Biology
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20
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60
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Mathematics
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20
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60
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Physics
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20
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60
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Chemistry
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20
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60
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Total
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80
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240
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* In case of any discrepancy in the question paper, the English language will be considered as correct and final.
* Aspirants can attempt questions from all 4 sections. Although, they have to attempt at least 3 sections in order to be considered for the scoring process.
NEST Exam Pattern 2026: Marking Scheme
The conducting body specifies the NEST exam marking scheme, to check the performance of the students in the entrance test. The details about the marking scheme of the NEST Exam are as follows:
- Students will be awarded with 3 marks for every correct answer.
- For every incorrect answer, 1 mark will be deducted.
- No marks will be given for unattempted questions.
* Aspiring candidates are suggested to check NEST Exam Eligibility Criteria 2026, before proceeding for the NEST Exam Registration 2026, in order to avoid any problem at the last moment.
NEST Exam Pattern 2026: Facilities for PwD Candidates
In the NEST Exam 2026, the Divyangjan / PwD category applicants can get the scribe and total compensatory time facility in compliance with the latest guidelines of the Government of India; the details are as follows:
Scribe Facility
In accordance with NEST exam pattern 2026, PwD candidates can bring their own scribes for assistance at the examination center.
* The scribe will only help aspirants in reading the questions and the scribe will not be allowed to explain or suggest any answer to the candidates.
Compensatory Time
The PwD candidate gets 20 minutes of compensatory time per hour of examination as described under the guidelines of Government of India. Hence, they are eligible for a total compensatory time of 1 hour for 3 hours of exam duration.
