The IISERs (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research) are premier institutes for scientific research in India, which have been declared as “Institutions of National Importance” by an Act of Parliament. Currently, there are IISERs at Berhampur, Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, and Tirupati to integrate and promote interdisciplinary science education and research. In this article, we will look at the application process, eligibility, syllabus, exam pattern, important dates, and preparation tips of the IISER Aptitude Test 2020.
BS-MS Dual Degree Programs at IISER
5-Year Dual Degree Programmes at IISER are offered in:
- Biological Sciences
- Chemical Sciences
- Data Science
- Earth & Climate Sciences / Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Economic Sciences
- Engineering Sciences (Chemical Engineering, Data Science & Engineering, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science)
- Geological Sciences
- Mathematical Sciences
- Physical Sciences
Note: Four-year BS program in Engineering Sciences and Economics only at IISER Bhopal
IISER Aptitude Test 2020 Eligibility
Candidates who have passed 10+2 or equivalent level exam with science stream in 2019 or 2020 are eligible to apply for admissions.
Candidates will be admitted solely by means of the below three ways –
Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana (KVPY)
Candidates having a valid KVPY fellowship commencing from the 2020-21 academic session are eligible to apply for admissions. Additional cut-off criteria for marks obtained in 10+2 board examinations are also applicable.
Joint Entrance Examination (JEE-Advanced) of the Indian Institutes of Technology
Candidates in the General category securing a rank within 10000 in the Common Rank List (CRL) of JEE Advanced 2020 are eligible to apply. For candidates belonging to the reserved category (OBC-NC, SC, ST, PD), their category rank should be within 10000. Additional cut-off criteria for marks obtained in 10+2 board examinations are also applicable.
State and Central Boards Channel (SCB)
Students who have passed 10+2 level with science stream in 2019 or 2020 are eligible to apply for admissions and appear for IAT 2020. However, they will be considered for admissions to the degree programs only if they obtain the cut-off marks specified for their board. Students applying through the SCB channel will have to appear in the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT) which will be conducted at various centers across the country.
Note: Indian nationals and students belonging to PIO or OCI category are eligible to apply provided they satisfy the eligibility criteria described below.
IISER Aptitude Test 2020 Syllabus
Syllabus for IISER aptitude test generally focuses the NCERT syllabi for classes XI and XII –
Mathematics
- Sets
- Relations and functions
- Trigonometric Functions
- Inverse Trigonometric Functions
- Principle of Mathematical Induction
- Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations
- Linear Inequalities
- Permutations and Combinations
- Binomial Theorem
- Sequences and Series
- Straight Lines
- Conic Sections
- Introduction to Three Dimensional Geometry
- Limits and Derivatives
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Statistics
- Probability
- Matrices
- Determinants
- Continuity and Differentiability
- Application of Derivatives
- Integrals
- Applications of integrals
- Differential equations
- Vectors
- Three-dimensional geometry
- Linear Programming
Physics
- Physical World and Measurement
- Kinematics
- Laws of Motion
- Work, Energy and Power
- Motion of Systems of Particles and Rigid body
- Gravitation
- Properties of bulk matter
- Thermodynamics
- Behavior of perfect gas and kinetic energy
- Oscillations
- Waves
- Electrostatics
- Current Electricity
- Magnetic effect of current and magnetism
- Electromagnetic Induction
- Alternating Current
- Electromagnetic Waves
- Optics
- Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
- Atoms
- Nuclei
- Electronic devices
- Communication Systems
Chemistry
- Some Basic Concept of Chemistry
- Structure of Atom
- Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties
- Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure
- States of Matter
- Thermodynamics
- Equilibrium
- Redox Reactions
- Hydrogen
- The s-block Elements
- The p-block Elements
- Organic Chemistry – Some Basic Principles and Techniques
- Hydrocarbons
- Environmental Chemistry
- The solid state
- Solutions
- Electrochemistry
- Chemical Kinetics
- Surface chemistry
- General principles and processes of isolation of elements
- The p-block elements
- The d- & f-block elements
- Coordination compounds
- Haloalkanes and haloarenes
- Alcohols, phenols and ethers
- Aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids
- Organic compounds containing nitrogens
- Biomolecules
- Polymers
- Chemistry in everyday life
Biology
- Diversity in the living world
- Structural organization in animals and plants
- Cell structure and function
- Plant physiology
- Human physiology
- Reproduction
- Genetics and evolution
- Biology and human welfare
- Biotechnology and its application
- Ecology and environment
IISER Aptitude Test 2020 – Exam Pattern
Candidates must go through the following IISER 2020 Exam Pattern before starting the exam preparation:
- Exam Mode: IISER Aptitude Test 2020 will get conducted through online (computer-based) mode.
- Number of Questions: There will be a total of 60 questions, i.e. 15 from each subject.
- Questions Type: The question paper will consist of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ).
- Duration: The exam duration will be of 3 hours.
- Marking Scheme: Each correct answer will be of 3 marks.
- Negative Marking: 1 mark will get deducted for every wrong answer
Distribution of questions and marks:
| Subjects | No. of Questions | Total Marks |
| Physics | 15 | 45 |
| Chemistry | 15 | 45 |
| Mathematics | 15 | 45 |
| Biology | 15 | 45 |
| Total | 60 | 180 |
IISER Aptitude Test 2020 – Important Dates
IISER Aptitude Test 2020 Date: May 31, 2020 (Sunday)
The following are important dates for various activities in the IISER admission 2020 (tentative):
Note: For regular updates, please check http://www.iiseradmission.in/index.php/pages/dates
Top Reference Books for IISER Aptitude Test
Maths
- Problems Plus in IIT Mathematics by A Das Gupta
- Tata McGraw Hill for Mathematics
- Problems in Calculus of One Variable by I. A. Maron
- Trigonometry by S L Loney part 1 & part 2
- Higher Algebra by Hall and Knight
Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry by Morrison and Boyd
- Inorganic Chemistry For IIT-JEE by O.P. Tandon
- D. Lee Concise Inorganic Chemistry for Jee, Third Edition 2016
- Numerical Chemistry by P Bahadur
- Chemical Calculations by R C Mukherjee
Physics
- Concepts of Physics Volume I by H.C. Verma
- Concepts of Physics Volume II by H.C. Verma
- Fundamentals of Physics, by Halliday, Resnik, and Walker
- Problems in General Physics by I.E. Irodov
- Understanding Physics Series by DC Pandey
IISER Aptitude Test 2020 Fees
- For General category, candidates will have to submit INR 2000/-
- For SC/ST & Kashmiri Migrants, candidates will have to submit INR 1000/
Mode of Payment: Application Fee can be paid through online mode. The fee will be non-refundable.
Preparation Tips for IISER Aptitude Test
- Follow the class XI and XII NCERT books
- Devote equal time to each subject
- Solve previous year question papers and sample papers
- Write as many mock tests as possible
- Revise throughout the last month
- Prepare a feasible time table
Sources: 1, 2.