IAT
IISER Aptitude Test
Practice papers and tests for IATIAT is the single entrance route to the seven IISERs, and since 2024 the only one — the old JEE Advanced and KVPY channels are closed. It is a short paper by Indian entrance standards, 60 questions in three hours, spread evenly over Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. That even split is the point: it selects for breadth across the sciences rather than depth in one, which is what a five-year BS-MS asks for. Its reach now extends well beyond the IISERs.
- Duration
- 180 minutes.
- Papers
- One paper, four sections.
- Mode
- Computer-based test, in English and Hindi.
Question formats
- Biology — 15 four-option MCQs, single correct
- Chemistry — 15 four-option MCQs, single correct
- Mathematics — 15 four-option MCQs, single correct
- Physics — 15 four-option MCQs, single correctAll four sections count toward the rank — there is no best-of rule in IAT.
Marking
| Question type | Correct | Partial | Incorrect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every question | +4 | — | −1 |
Physics syllabus
General
- Units, Dimensions & Measurements
- Experimental Physics
Mechanics
- Kinematics
- Laws of Motion & Friction
- Circular Motion
- Work, Energy & Power
- Centre of Mass, Momentum & Collision
- Rotational Motion
- Gravitation
- Property of Solids
- Properties of Fluids
Thermal Physics
- Thermal Properties of Matter
- Thermodynamics
- Kinetic Theory of Gases
Oscillations & Waves
- Simple Harmonic Motion
- Waves
Electrodynamics
- Electrostatics
- Capacitors
- Current Electricity
- Magnetic Effects of Current
- Magnetism
- Electromagnetic Induction
- Alternating Current
- Electromagnetic Waves
Optics
- Ray Optics
- Wave Optics
Modern Physics
- Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation
- Atoms
- Nuclei
- Semiconductors / Electronic Devices
Eligibility and admissions
These change from year to year. Always confirm against the current information brochure before acting on anything here.
- Conducted by:
- The Joint Admissions Committee of the IISERs; a different IISER coordinates each year.
- Maximum:
- 240 marks, all of which count. A cut-off applies — a rank is not guaranteed.
- Eligibility:
- Class 12 passed in one of the last two years or appearing this year, about 60% aggregate (55% for SC, ST and PwD). Candidates who passed earlier than that are not eligible. BS-MS applicants need at least three of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics.
- Seats:
- Around 2,340 across thirteen programmes in the most recent cycle.
Where this exam leads
The seven IISERs
IISER Pune · IISER Kolkata · IISER Mohali · IISER Bhopal · IISER Thiruvananthapuram · IISER Tirupati · IISER Berhampur
Institutes outside the IISER system that use the IAT score
Each needs a SECOND, separate application — an IAT registration alone will not put you in the running, and the eligibility can differ.
IISc Bengaluru — four-year BS (Research) · IIT Madras — four-year BS · IIT Guwahati — four-year BS in Biomedical Science & Engineering · IACS Kolkata — integrated BS-MS · IIEST Shibpur — five-year BS-MS in Chemistry, Physics and Applied Geology
Grouped by band rather than ranked one by one, because the ordering changes yearly and a branch at one institute is often worth more than a seat at a higher-ranked one. Check NIRF and the official counselling data before setting your preferences.
We do not publish closing ranks for this exam. Its counselling data is not released in a form we can verify institute by institute, and a plausible-looking invented number is worse than none — take the cut-offs from the conducting body's own counselling reports.
Courses offered
- • Five-year BS-MS dual degree at every IISER — the main programme
- • BS-MS in Computational and Data Sciences at IISER Kolkata
- • Four-year BS in Economic Sciences at IISER Bhopal, and in Economic & Statistical Sciences at IISER Tirupati
- • Four-year B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, Data Science & Engineering, and EECS at IISER Bhopal