Exam Pattern
IISER IAT Exam Pattern
IISER Aptitude Test 2026
Four subjects at exactly 15 questions each, and one of them is Biology. That combination is unusual at this level, where most candidates arrive having prepared three subjects, and IAT gives Biology the same 60 marks it gives Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. There is no section to specialise in and no quarter of the paper to write off. The syllabus runs mainly on NCERT Classes XI and XII with some Class X foundation, and there is no current-affairs component at all, so nothing here depends on the news cycle. The official paper is bilingual English and Hindi; this practice is English only.
IAT
Official 2026 pattern| Questions | 60 |
| Total marks | 240 |
| Duration | 180 minutes |
| Negative marking | 1 per wrong answer |
| Sections | Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics |
| Test | Qs | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | 15 | 60 |
| Chemistry | 15 | 60 |
| Mathematics | 15 | 60 |
| Physics | 15 | 60 |
Timing: Single unrestricted 180-minute timer for the Full Mock, covering all four sections; no sectional lock.
The official IAT 2026 question paper is bilingual English & Hindi; this mock is English-only as a platform limitation, not a claim that the official exam itself is English-only. Syllabus is primarily CBSE 2025-26 / NCERT Classes XI-XII, with foundational Class X knowledge sometimes required. No current-affairs section; scientific facts are syllabus-appropriate and do not depend on post-exam news. NEST, JEST and IISER interview/counselling stages are separate products and not part of this mock.
Official source · checked 31 August 2026The IISER IAT exam pattern is 60 questions carrying 240 marks, to be answered in 180 minutes. That works out to about 180 seconds per question on average, before any time spent reading instructions or revisiting marked answers. The 4 sections are Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. All 4 sections carry 60 marks each, so none of them repays disproportionate preparation and a weakness anywhere costs the same. All sections share one composite timer, so you are free to move between them and spend your time where it earns most.
IISER IAT marking scheme
- Each correct answer is worth 4 marks.
- A wrong answer deducts 1 mark; an unattempted question scores zero.
- A guess therefore breaks even at 20% accuracy: above that it gains you marks on average, below it loses them. A blind guess between four options is right 25% of the time, which is already above that line, so an educated guess is worth making rather than leaving the question blank.
- Worked example: attempt 48 of the 60 questions and get 36 right and 12 wrong, and you score 132 out of 240.
Practising against the same clock is the point of a mock test: at 180 seconds a question, the difference between a good score and an average one is usually pacing rather than knowledge. Attempt a free IISER IAT mock test to see where your time actually goes.
IISER IAT exam pattern: frequently asked questions
Is there negative marking in IISER IAT?
IISER IAT deducts 1 mark for a wrong answer. An unattempted question always scores zero, so the choice is only ever between guessing and leaving it blank.
How many questions are there in IISER IAT?
IISER IAT has 60 questions. That leaves about 180 seconds per question in IISER IAT.
What are the total marks in IISER IAT?
IISER IAT is out of 240 marks, which works out at 4 marks a question.
How long is the IISER IAT exam?
IISER IAT runs for 180 minutes.
Does IISER IAT have a sectional time limit?
No. IISER IAT runs every section on one composite timer of 180 minutes, so you can move between sections freely and give the slower ones more of your time.