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NEST exam pattern 2024 is set 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. As per the NEST exam pattern, there are five sections, namely General Aptitude, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. Each section is allotted 50 marks as per the NEST 2024 exam pattern, apart from the General Aptitude section of 30 marks. The NEST total marks a candidate can score is 180.
NEST Exam Pattern 2024: Highlights
Students must understand the general overview of the NEST exam pattern 2024. Therefore, highlights are the preferred way to project an overall understanding of the NEST exam pattern. In addition, it is also essential for candidates to know the NEST syllabus 2024.
Some of the highlights related to the NEST 2024 exam pattern are tabulated below.
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Full Form | National Entrance Screening Test |
| NEST Conducting Body | National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Bhubaneswar |
| Official Website | nestexam.in |
| Mode of NEST Exam | Pen-and-Paper Based (Offline) |
| Exam Duration | 3 Hours (180 Minutes) |
| Number of Papers | 1 |
| Number of Sections per Paper | 5 |
| Sectional Details |
General Aptitude (Section 1) Physics (Section 2) Chemistry (Section 3) Mathematics (Section 4) Biology (Section 5) |
| NEST Section Time-Limit | No Sectional Time Limit |
| NEST Exam Medium | English |
| Total Number of Questions | 230 |
| Type of Questions | Multiple Choice Questions (Objective) |
| Total Marks | 180 |
| Marking Scheme | No Negative Marking in Section 1 |
| Onwards Section 2 - Questions Have Multiple Correct Answers |
NEST Exam Pattern 2024: Question Distribution
Candidates must understand the question distribution scheme as per the NEST exam pattern. There will be 230 questions distributed in five sections as per the NEST exam pattern 2024.
The section-wise question distribution as per the NEST 2024 exam pattern is provided below.
| NEST Section Name | Number of questions |
| General Aptitude | 30 |
| Physics | 50 |
| Mathematics | 50 |
| Chemistry | 50 |
| Biology | 50 |
NEST Exam Pattern 2024: Marks Distribution
The question paper will consist of 5 sections of objective-type questions. Candidates must understand the section-wise marks distribution as per the NEST exam pattern. The marks division as per the NEST exam pattern 2024 is as follows.
| NEST Section Name | Marks |
| Section 1 (General Ability) | 30 |
| Section 2 (Physics) | 50 |
| Section 3 (Chemistry) | 50 |
| Section 4 (Mathematics) | 50 |
| Section 5 (Biology) | 50 |
| Total | 180 |
NEST Exam Pattern 2024: Marking Scheme
NEST exam 2024 will be a computer-based test (CBT). There is no negative marking in the NEST exam pattern 2024 for Section 1, i.e., General Aptitude. However, from Section 2 onwards, there will be negative markings for incorrect answers in the subject sections for certain questions. Some questions may have one or more correct answers, for which marks can only be earned by marking all correct answers. Therefore the NEST total marks is 180.
NEST Exam Pattern 2024: Syllabus
Candidates must understand the section-wise NEST syllabus 2024. The section-wise syllabus, as per the NEST exam pattern, is provided below.
NEST Syllabus for Physics
The Physics section syllabus as per the NEST exam pattern 2024 is as follows.
| NEST Section Name | Topics |
| Physics | Physical-world and measurement |
| Electro statistics | |
| Kinematics | |
| Current Electricity | |
| Laws of Motion | |
| Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism | |
| Work, Energy, and Power | |
| Electromagnetic induction and alternating currents | |
| The motion of systems of particles and rigid body | |
| Electromagnetic waves | |
| Gravitation | |
| Thermodynamics | |
| Atoms and Nuclei | |
| The behavior of Perfect Gas and Kinetic theory | |
| Electronic Devices | |
| Optics | |
| Properties of Bulk Matter | |
| Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation |
NEST Syllabus for Mathematics
The Mathematics section syllabus as per the NEST 2024 exam pattern is as follows.
| NEST Section Name | Topics |
| Mathematics | Sets and Functions |
| Relations and Functions | |
| Vectors and Three–Dimensional Geometry | |
| Mathematical Reasoning | |
| Linear Programming | |
| Statistics and Probability | |
| Algebra | |
| Coordinate Geometry | |
| Calculus |
NEST Syllabus for Biology
The Biology section syllabus as per the NEST exam pattern 2024 is as follows.
| NEST Section Name | Topics |
| Biology | Diversity in the Living World |
| Reproduction | |
| Structural Organisation – Plants and Animals | |
| Genetics and Evolution | |
| Biotechnology and its applications | |
| Human physiology | |
| Ecology and environment | |
| Cell Structure and Function | |
| Biology and Human welfare | |
| Plant Physiology |
NEST Syllabus for Chemistry
The Chemistry section syllabus as per the NEST exam pattern is as follows.
| NEST Section Name | Topics |
| Chemistry | Some basic concepts of Chemistry |
| Solid-state | |
| Structure of atom | |
| Solutions | |
| General principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements | |
| Equilibrium | |
| P Block elements | |
| Redox reactions | |
| D and F block elements | |
| Hydrogen | |
| Coordination compounds | |
| Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties | |
| Electrochemistry | |
| Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure | |
| Chemical Kinetics | |
| States of Matter: Gases and liquids | |
| Surface Chemistry | |
| Thermodynamics |
