Can someone provide NEST exam approximate Marks vs rank data of 2024 or expected marks vs rank data of 2025?

Ans: In NEST 2024, candidates’ total scores (sum of best three sections out of four, maximum 180) corresponded to specific all-India ranks, with the general category’s opening marks around 145–150 fetching ranks 1–30 and closing ranks near 1800 requiring about 80–85 marks. For NISER Bhubaneswar, the Round 1 closing rank was 1852 with roughly 82 marks, while CEBS Mumbai’s closing general-category rank of ~460 corresponded to about 70 marks. Category-wise, general candidates scoring 120–150 could expect ranks under 500, OBC candidates with 100–130 marks around ranks 600–1200, and SC/ST candidates with 80–110 marks near ranks 1500–2500. Section-wise cut-offs (SMAS) in 2024 ranged between 5–9 marks per subject for general and 3–7 for OBC. With NEST 2025’s exam difficulty likely similar, total qualifying marks (MAP) remain at 95th percentile for general and 90th for OBC; thus, a safe target is 130–140 marks for a top-500 rank and 90–100 marks for a sub-2000 rank among general candidates. OBC aspirants should aim for 110–120 marks to secure ranks under 1500. SC/ST candidates need 75–90 marks for ranks within 2500, and Jammu & Kashmir residents may enter NISER with as low as 30–40 marks owing to supernumerary seats. Rising registrations might edge cut-offs upward if paper difficulty eases; conversely, increased difficulty could lower required marks by 5–10 points.

The recommendation is to plan for at least 140 marks (general), 120 marks (OBC), and 90 marks (SC/ST) in NEST 2025 to secure desirable ranks for NISER and CEBS admissions, adjusting target scores according to mock-test difficulty and section-wise strengths. All the BEST for Your Prosperous Future!

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