IISER Aptitude Test 2026: Complete Guide for Admission and Eligibility

The IISER Aptitude Test 2026 is the sole entrance examination for admission to various undergraduate programs at the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research (IISERs). This exam enables candidates to enrol in 5-Year BS-MS Dual Degree, 4-Year BS, and B.Tech degree programs offered by IISERs across India. The examination and subsequent admission process are computer-based and conducted under the jurisdiction of IISER Berhampur. IISER Aptitude Test 2026 aims to select bright students passionate about interdisciplinary sciences and research.

Also read: Assam CEE 2026: Complete Guide to Eligibility, Exam Pattern, and Key Dates

Courses Offered

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Criteria

• Candidates applying for the IISER Admission Test 2026 must be Indian nationals, OCI/PIO, or Foreign Nationals.
• Must have passed Class XII (or equivalent) examination in 2024, 2025, or 2026 or be appearing in 2026.
• Diploma holders of at least 3 years duration from AICTE or recognised State boards are eligible.
• Candidates who passed the Qualifying Examination in 2023 or earlier are not eligible.
• For the 5-Year BS-MS (Dual Degree) in science, candidates must have studied at least three subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics.
• Candidates applying for programs in Computational and Data Sciences, B.Tech programs, Economic Sciences, and Economic and Statistical Sciences must have studied Mathematics in the qualifying examination.
• General category candidates require a minimum 60% aggregate marks; SC/ ST/ PwD candidates require 55% in aggregate.

IISER Aptitude Test 2026: Selection Process

• Admission is based entirely on the performance in the IISER Aptitude Test 2026 and subsequent online counselling rounds.
• Candidates receive admission offers depending on their IAT ranks, category, seat availability, and preferred academic programs. Candidates may accept or reject seat offers online.
• Payment of the Seat Acceptance Fee is mandatory to confirm admission.
• The IISER Aptitude Test 2026 process is fully online, and the final admission is confirmed after document verification at the allotted IISER.

Exam Pattern / Admission Test Details

• IISER Aptitude Test 2026 will be a computer-based test.
• Test duration: 180 minutes.
• Number of questions: 60 (15 each from Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics).
• Questions are multiple-choice with only one correct answer.
• Marking scheme: +4 marks for a correct answer, -1 mark for an incorrect answer, 0 for an unanswered question.
• Total marks: 240.
• Question paper languages: English and Hindi.
• Mock tests will be available soon on the official IISER admission website.
• IAT 2026 exam date: 7th June 2026, starting at 9:00 AM IST.
• Test centres are located across various cities in India; candidates must select their preferred cities during application, but may be allotted other centres based on availability.

Documents Required

• Class X Marksheet
• Class XII or Qualifying Examination Marksheet (or a signed declaration if the marksheet is not available)
• Category certificates, if applicable (SC/ ST/ OBC-NCL/ GEN-EWS)
• Persons with Disability (PwD) Certificate, if applicable
• Kashmiri Migrant/ Domicile certificate, if applicable
• OCI/ PIO/ Foreign National Citizenship supporting documents, if applicable
• Photograph and Signature (digital copy as per specifications)

Steps to Apply

• Apply online only through the official IISER admission portal from 5th March 2026 (Given Below)
• Fill in the application form with accurate details, including a valid email and mobile number.
• Upload scanned copies of the required documents and certificates.
• Pay the prescribed application fee online based on the category.
• Submit the completed application before the closing date, 13th April 2026.
• Make corrections if needed during the correction window from 16th to 18th April 2026.
• Download and print the Hall Ticket once available on 24th May 2026.
• Appear for the IISER Aptitude Test 2026 on 7th June 2026.

Fee Structure or Application Fees

Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) after admission offer:

• General/ EWS/ OBC/ OBC-NCL/ PwD/ KM/ Kashmiri Pandit/ Hindu Families: ₹35,000 (₹25,000 + ₹10,000 non-refundable administrative fee)
• SC/ ST categories: ₹17,500 (₹12,500 + ₹5,000 non-refundable administrative fee)

Note: The application fee for the IISER Aptitude Test 2026 is non-refundable. Timely payment of SAF is essential to confirm admission.

Key Dates

Important Links

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