JEST stands for Joint Entrance Screening Test is a national-level entrance exam for admission to PhD and Integrated Ph.Dprogramme. The exam is organized by Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB) and recognizes as National Eligibility Test (NET).
Through the JEST exam, admission will be offered to Ph.D. / Integrated Ph.D.courses in Physics or Theoretical Computer Science or Neuroscience or Computational Biology at various participating institutes such as IISc, IISERs, NISER, etc.
Interested and eligible candidates must submit their JEST application form 2024 on or before the due date. Aspirants can check the complete details regarding JEST 2024 from the article below.
JEST 2024 Highlights
| Name of exam | JEST |
| JEST Full form | Joint Entrance Screening Test |
| Conducting Body | Science & Engineering Research Board (SERB) |
| Level of exam | National-level |
| Courses offered | Ph.D. /Integrated Ph.D. |
| Application mode | Online |
| Frequency of exam | Once a year |
| Examination mode | Offline (Pen-paper based test) |
| Number of colleges accepting JEST Score | 33 colleges in India |
| Number of test cities | 38 |
Courses offered through the JEST exam
The exam is held to offer admission to two courses namely Ph.D. in Physics, Neuroscience, Theoretical Computer Science, and Integrated Ph.D. in Theoretical Computer Science, Computational Biology.
JEST Important Dates2024
Aspirants can check the tentative schedule regarding JEST 2024 from the article below.
| Events | Dates |
| The process of online application will commence from | January 2024 |
| Last date to submit the application form | March 2024 |
| Start of correction facility | March 2024 |
| Availability of admit card | March 2024 |
| Date of entrance exam | March 2024 |
| Release of admit card | March 2024 |
| Display of answer key | April 2024 |
| Announcement of result | April 2024 |
| Date of Interview | April 2024 |
JEST Eligibility Criteria
Interested candidates must satisfy the necessary eligibility criteria before applying for the JEST exam 2024.
Eligibility for Ph.D. Courses
| Phd Course | Eligibility Criteria |
| PhD in Physics | The applicant should have done BE/ B. Tech/ M.Sc./ M.Tech in applied physics and mathematics |
| PhD in TheoreticalComputer Science | Applicant must have cleared M.Tech, M.Sc., ME degree in Computer Science and Mathematical aspects. |
| PhD in Computational Biology | Candidates must have done M.Tech, M.Sc., ME, or MCA in any engineering or science subject. |
| Ph.D. in Neuroscience | The aspirants should have done M.Sc., MCA,B. Tech, in Computer Science, and Physics/ Mathematics. |
For Integrated PhD Courses
| Stream of subject | Eligibility Criteria |
| Theoretical Computer Science | Applicants must qualify B.Tech.,B.Sc., MCA in Computer Science and should be interested in mathematical aspects |
| PhD | Applicants must have cleared M.Sc. in Applied Physics/ Post-Basic (Hons)/Physics in Optics and Optoelectronics |
JEST Application Form 2024
It is expected that the JEST application process will be commenced in January 2024. Interested and eligible candidates will be able to fill out the application form through online mode only.
For online registration, candidates must visit the official website page and enter their name, email id, and date of birth.
After completing the online registration, applicants must fill out the application form with details likeeducational details, personal, contact details, etc.
Candidates have to upload the scanned passport-size photograph and signature in the specific format.
Candidates should pay the required application fee through online mode.
Applicants must submit the form before the due date and take the printout of the application form for further use.
JEST 2024 Application Form Fees
The fee payment can be made online using a debit card, credit card, and net banking gateways.
For the general category, the application fee is Rs 800/- whereas candidates from SC/ST category have to pay Rs 400/-.
JEST Exam Pattern 2024
Candidates can check the details related JEST Examination pattern from the table below.
| Exam mode | Pen and paper-based test (offline mode) |
| Type of questions | Multiple Choice questions (MCQs) |
| Duration of Exam | 3 hours |
| Total number of questions | 50 questions |
| Medium of paper | English |
| Number of sections | Three sections namely Part A, Part B, Part C |
| Marking criteria for Part A | +3 marks for each correct answer -1 mark for each wrong response |
| Marking scheme for Part B | +3 for each correct answer No negative marking |
| Marking criteria for Part C | +1 mark for each right answer –1/3 mark for each wrong answer |
JEST Syllabus 2024
Understanding of syllabus is important for the better preparation of the exam. The authority will release the syllabus for JEST on its official website.The JEST syllabus will be based on the graduation and post-graduation levels.The Subject-wise syllabus is provided below.
| Subject | Syllabus |
| Classical Mechanics | Newton’s law, principle of least action, conservation of energy and momentum, collisions, small oscillations and normal modes, symmetry and conservation laws, kepler problem, etc. |
| Mathematical Methods | Tensors, Vector algebra, curvilinear coordinate systems, theory error analysis, linear differential equations, complex analysis, special functions, elementary properties of discrete groups, laplace transforms |
| Electronics | LCR circuits, Basics of semiconductor, diodes, rectifiers, p-n junctions, amplifiers, basics of digital electronics, active filters and oscillators, basics of OPAMPs, etc. |
| Quantum Mechanics | Hermitian operators, Uncertainty principle, orbital and spin angular momenta, central potentials, hydrogen atom, time dependent perturbation theory, variational principlesetc. |
JEST Participating Institutes
The list of JEST participating institutes includesthe name of the following institutes
Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai
Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Science, Nainital
International center for theoretical science (TIFR), Bangalore
Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam
Bose Institute, Kolkata
Harish Chandra Research Institute, Allahabad
India Institute of Science, Bangalore
Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Berhampur
Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar
National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, Pune
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore
Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore
JEST Admit Card 2024
The authority will release the JEST Admit Card most likely in March 2024. The admit card will be available in online mode only. Candidates who registered for the JEST exam can download the admit card from the official website by using their application number and date of birth.
The admit card will include the important details related JEST exam such as the date and time of the exam, the candidate’s name and roll number, exam guidelines, etc. Candidates must bring their admit card while appearing at the examination centre. Candidates without a JEST hall ticket will not be allowed to sit in the exam.
JEST Answer Key
The JEST 2024 Answer Key will be announced onlinemost likely in April 2024. The answer key will comprisethe right answer to every question asked in the JEST entrance examination. In case of issues with the answer key, the candidates will be allowed to challenge it by paying the processing fee.
After considering the objections raised by the candidates, the authority will declare the final answer key in a pdf format. With the help of the answer key, candidates can calculate their estimated scores in the exam.
JEST 2024 Result
The authority will announce the JEST result most likely in April 2024. Candidates who appeared in the exam will be allowed to check and download their JEST scorecard from the official website by entering their login details such as roll number and date of birth.
The result will include the details like the candidate’s total marks obtained in the exam, their qualifying status, merit rank etc. Candidates are advised to take the printout of the JEST result for the further counselling process.
JEST Counselling 2024
The Joint Entrance Screening Test counselling will be heldseparately by all the participating institutes. Each participating institute will release its list of qualified candidates for the interview round based on their JEST merit rank.
Shortlisted candidates will be informed of the interview date and time via email and SMS. After passing the interview round, selected candidates will have to appear for the counselling to confirm their seats in the allotted college.
JEST Contact Details
JEST, Department of Physics,
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal
Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri
Bhopal-462 066
Madhya Pradesh, India
Phone number:0755 269 2581
FAQs
What is the last date to fill out the JEST Application form 2024?
The exact dates have not been announced yet. However, it is expected that the application process will be closed in March 2024.
Is JEST difficult to crack?
As per the previous trends, the difficulty level of the exam is easy to moderate.
What is the JEST Cutoff?
The JEST cutoff for the year 2023 was 32-34.
Is JEST conducted for the Physics discipline only?
JEST is held for Physics or Theoretical Computer Science.
How many students appear for JEST?
The total number of test takers for PhD is around 7,263 and 6,226 for Integrated MSc-PhD.
