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IISER IAT | Complete Information Guide
IISER IAT is a national-level entrance exam for admission to undergraduate science programs offered by the IISERs. It is ideal for students aspiring to build careers in scientific research, innovation, and higher education.
The IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) is a national-level, computer-based entrance exam that decides admission to the 5-year BS-MS (Bachelor of Science–Master of Science) dual degree programme — the flagship offering at all seven Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs) — along with select 4-year BS and B.Tech programmes at specific IISER campuses. IISERs are autonomous institutions set up by India’s Ministry of Education specifically to integrate rigorous science education with research, in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Earth Sciences, Data Science, and related interdisciplinary fields.
A major structural change took effect from 2026: admission to IISERs is now based solely on IAT scores. In earlier years, IISERs offered multiple parallel admission channels — including one based on JEE Advanced rank — but this JEE-based channel has been discontinued, making IAT the single, unified gateway. The IAT’s reach has also expanded: alongside the 7 IISERs, IISc Bangalore’s BS (Research) programme and select IIT Madras BS programmes have long accepted IAT scores, and in 2026, IACS Kolkata, IIT Guwahati, and IIEST Shibpur joined as new participating institutes, bringing the total to 11.
| Particular | Details |
| Full Form | IISER Aptitude Test |
| Conducted By | IISER system, via the official IISER Admission Portal (iiseradmission.in) |
| Purpose | Admission to the 5-year BS-MS dual degree, select 4-year BS programmes, and B.Tech (Engineering Science) at IISER Bhopal |
| Participating Institutes (2026) | 11 — 7 IISERs, plus IISc Bangalore, select IIT Madras programmes, IACS Kolkata, IIT Guwahati, and IIEST Shibpur |
| Exam Mode | Online, Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Date (2026) | June 7, 2026, 9:00 AM IST |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours (4 hours for eligible PwD candidates, with 1-hour compensatory time) |
| Language Medium | English and Hindi |
| Total Questions / Marks | 60 MCQs (15 each from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics), 240 total marks |
| Marking Scheme | +4 for correct answer, −1 for wrong answer, no deduction for unattempted questions |
| Application Fee | ₹2,000 (General/EWS/OBC/OBC-NCL); ₹1,000 (SC/ST/PwD/Kashmiri Migrants); ₹12,000 (Foreign Nationals) |
| Minimum Marks in Class 12 | 60% aggregate (General/OBC/EWS); 50% aggregate (SC/ST/PwD) |
| Official Website | iiseradmission.in |
| Criteria | Requirement |
| Qualifying Exam | Passed Class 12 (or equivalent) in Science stream in 2024, 2025, or 2026, from a board recognised by COBSE, AICTE, or a State Board of Technical Education |
| Mandatory Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics and/or Biology |
| Minimum Marks — General/OBC/EWS | 60% aggregate in the qualifying examination |
| Minimum Marks — SC/ST/PwD | 50% aggregate in the qualifying examination |
| Programme-Specific Mathematics Requirement | Mathematics is mandatory for BS-MS Computational & Data Sciences (IISER Kolkata), B.Tech/BS Economic Sciences (IISER Bhopal), and BS Economic & Statistical Sciences (IISER Tirupati) |
| Foreign Nationals | May apply, provided they upload an equivalence certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), unless they passed their qualifying exam from a COBSE/AICTE/State Board-recognised Indian board |
| Kashmiri Migrants | Must upload a valid domicile/migrant certificate at the time of application to avail reserved seats |
| Age Limit | No specific age limit is prescribed by IISER for IAT eligibility |
| Step | What to Do |
| 1 | Visit the official IISER Admission Portal — iiseradmission.in — and register with a valid email ID and mobile number. |
| 2 | Log in and fill in personal, academic, and category details in the application form. |
| 3 | Upload scanned photograph, signature, and category/domicile/equivalence certificates as applicable to your case. |
| 4 | Select your preferred exam cities from the available list of centres. |
| 5 | Pay the application fee online based on your category — ₹2,000, ₹1,000, or ₹12,000 for Foreign Nationals. |
| 6 | Review and submit the application; use the correction window, when opened, to fix specific editable fields before the deadline. |
| 7 | Download the admit card once released (typically about 6 weeks before the exam), and appear for the CBT exam on the scheduled date. |
| 8 | Check the provisional and then final answer key when released, and await your result and category-wise merit rank. |
| 9 | Participate in IISER counselling, filling your preferred campus and programme choices in order of priority. |
| 10 | If allotted a seat, pay the Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) within the stipulated deadline to confirm your admission. |
The IAT is a single computer-based paper of 60 MCQs across four sections — Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics — 15 questions each, worth 240 marks total, to be completed in 3 hours. Each correct answer earns +4 marks, each wrong answer deducts 1 mark, and unattempted questions are not penalised.
| Section | Questions | Marks (at +4 each) |
| Physics | 15 | 60 |
| Chemistry | 15 | 60 |
| Mathematics | 15 | 60 |
| Biology | 15 | 60 |
The IAT syllabus is drawn from the Class 11 and 12 NCERT/CBSE-aligned curriculum, but is widely considered comparable in difficulty to JEE Advanced, with the added expectation of strong Biology fundamentals — a subject JEE does not test at all.
Physical World & Measurement, Kinematics, Laws of Motion, Work-Energy-Power, Motion of System of Particles and Rigid Body, Gravitation, Properties of Bulk Matter, Thermodynamics, Behaviour of Perfect Gas and Kinetic Theory, Oscillations and Waves, Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism, and Electromagnetic Waves.
Physical, Organic, and Inorganic Chemistry topics from the Class 11–12 syllabus, including Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Electrochemistry, and Organic Reaction Mechanisms, at a conceptual depth comparable to JEE Advanced.
Algebra, Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry, Calculus, Vectors, Probability, and Statistics, tested with an emphasis on analytical problem-solving rather than rote formula application.
Diversity of Life, Cell Biology and Unit of Life, Plant and Animal Physiology, Genetics, Ecology, Origin and Evolution of Life, and Multicellularity — the section that most clearly distinguishes IAT preparation from JEE Advanced preparation.
| Stage | Details |
| Result & Rank List | Category-wise merit ranks (General-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, ST, and others) released online on iiseradmission.in. |
| Rank Cut-Off | A separate cut-off decides which candidates receive a rank at all; not every candidate who appears is ranked. |
| Choice Filling | Ranked candidates log in to the counselling portal and fill preferred campus and programme choices in order of priority. |
| Seat Allotment | Allotment is based on rank, category, seat availability, and the preferences filled, conducted across multiple rounds. |
| Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) | Allotted candidates must pay the SAF within the stipulated deadline to confirm their offer; the fee is later adjusted against first-semester fees. |
| Reporting | Physical reporting and document verification at the allotted IISER/institute to complete admission formalities. |
Q1. Is JEE Advanced rank still valid for IISER admission?
No. From 2026, IISER admission is based solely on IAT scores, and the earlier JEE Advanced-based admission channel has been discontinued. Candidates must appear for and qualify the IAT itself.
Q2. Is Biology compulsory in the IAT exam paper?
Yes, Biology is one of the four sections in every IAT question paper, alongside Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. However, candidates are not required to attempt all four sections — which sections to attempt depends on the specific requirements of their target programme.
Q3. What is the exam pattern for the IAT?
The IAT has 60 MCQs across four sections (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology; 15 questions each) for 240 total marks, to be completed in 3 hours, with +4 for a correct answer and −1 for a wrong answer, and no penalty for unattempted questions.
Q4. Getting a rank in IAT — does that guarantee admission?
No. Not every candidate who appears is even awarded a rank, since a separate rank cut-off applies. Even with a rank, actual admission depends on your rank, category, chosen campus/programme preferences, and seat availability during counselling.
Q5. What is the application fee for the IAT?
₹2,000 for General/EWS/OBC/OBC-NCL candidates, ₹1,000 for SC/ST/PwD/Kashmiri Migrant/Kashmiri Pandit candidates, and ₹12,000 for Foreign National candidates.
Q6. Which institutes accept IAT scores in 2026?
All 7 IISERs, IISc Bangalore’s BS (Research) programme, select IIT Madras BS programmes, and — newly added in 2026 — IACS Kolkata, IIT Guwahati, and IIEST Shibpur, bringing the total to 11 participating institutes.
Q7. What is the Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF), and when is it paid?
The SAF is paid after receiving an admission offer, to confirm your seat — ₹35,000 for General/EWS/OBC/OBC-NCL/PwD/KM/Kashmiri Pandit candidates and ₹17,500 for SC/ST candidates. It is later adjusted against your first-semester fees, but missing the payment deadline cancels your offer.
Q8. What is the minimum Class 12 percentage required for IAT eligibility?
60% aggregate for General/OBC/EWS candidates, and 50% aggregate for SC/ST/PwD candidates, in the qualifying Class 12 (or equivalent) examination.
Disclaimer
This document is an unofficial educational resource created for exam aspirants. All information should be verified on the official recruitment website before applying. Vacancy numbers, age limits, and eligibility criteria are subject to change with each notification.
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