NEST exam pattern

Understand the four-section structure and, more importantly, how SMAS changes the way the final score is built.

Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, with 20 questions in each section in the 2026 pattern.

Each section uses 3 marks for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong answer and 0 for unanswered.

You need at least three sections to meet the applicable section-wise minimum admissible score.

If all four sections qualify, the three highest qualifying section scores are used for the total.

Why NEST is different

A high raw total is not enough by itself. Section-wise qualification and the category-wise MAP both affect whether a merit rank is produced.

Reference cycle: NEST 2026. Future NEST rules can change.