IISER IAT 2026: Exam Conducted, Answer Key Expected, Cutoff and Marks vs Rank

IISER IAT 2026 (Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Aptitude Test) has been conducted today on June 7, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM IST in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode across exam centres in India. The test is jointly organised by all seven IISERs, with IISER Berhampur serving as the organising institute for 2026. More than 70,000 candidates appeared for the exam this year, competing for around 2,343 seats in BS-MS dual degree and other programmes across seven campuses.

• Answer Key: The IISER IAT 2026 provisional answer key is expected to be released on or shortly after June 7, 2026, at iiseradmission.in. Candidates can raise objections from June 9 to June 13, 2026. In 2025, the answer key was released just one day after the exam.
• Result: IISER IAT 2026 result is expected in the fourth week of June 2026. In 2025, the result was declared on June 24, 2025, approximately four weeks after the exam date.
• Counselling: IISER IAT 2026 counselling is expected to begin in the fourth week of June 2026, with 8–9 rounds of online seat allotment spread across the summer. In 2025, counselling registration opened on July 21, 2025.
• Cutoff: Based on 2025 data, General category candidates need around 130+ marks (out of 240) to qualify. The safe score for top IISERs like Pune and Kolkata is 150+ marks. Around 2,343 seats are available across the seven IISERs.

What is IISER IAT 2026?

IISER IAT stands for Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research Aptitude Test. It is a national-level entrance exam conducted jointly by the seven IISERs for admission to their science programmes. The exam is held once a year, and IISER Berhampur is the organising institute for the 2026 edition.

The seven IISERs are located at Berhampur (Odisha), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Kolkata (West Bengal), Mohali (Punjab), Pune (Maharashtra), Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), and Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh). Together, they offer around 2,343 seats in BS-MS dual degree and other programmes in the sciences.

The flagship programme at all IISERs is the 5-year BS-MS dual degree, which covers major disciplines like Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Earth Sciences, Data Science, and more. IISER Bhopal also offers 4-year BS and BTech programmes. Since 2024, IAT is the only channel for IISER admissions. The earlier JEE Advanced and KVPY pathways have been discontinued. All candidates — including those with strong JEE scores — must appear for IAT to secure an IISER seat.

More than 70,000 candidates appeared for IISER IAT 2026. The exam tests deep conceptual understanding of NCERT Class 11 and 12 content in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. Each subject carries equal weight, and candidates are not required to attempt all four sections.

IISER IAT 2026 Highlights

IISER IAT 2026 Important Dates

The IISER IAT 2026 exam was conducted today on June 7, 2026. The immediate upcoming events are the answer key release and the objection window. Candidates should track the result and counselling schedule in the coming weeks.

Source: iiseradmission.in

IISER IAT 2026: Exam Day

The IISER IAT 2026 was conducted on June 7, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM IST in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode across multiple cities in India. IISER Berhampur was the organising institute for this edition of the exam.

The exam tested candidates on four subjects — Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics — with 15 MCQs per subject. Each question carried 4 marks and a wrong answer deducted 1 mark. Candidates were not required to attempt all four sections, and could skip subjects where they were less confident.

What candidates who appeared today should do next:

• The provisional answer key is expected at iiseradmission.in on or shortly after June 7, 2026. Log in with your credentials to access and download it.
• The objection window opens on June 9, 2026, and closes on June 13, 2026. You can challenge specific answers during this period by uploading supporting evidence.
• The result will be declared in the fourth week of June 2026 after the final answer key is prepared and objections are reviewed.
• Keep your response sheet or any record of your attempted answers — this will help you cross-check your performance against the official key.
• PwD candidates with 40% or more disability were given 60 additional minutes, making their total exam duration 4 hours ending at 1:00 PM IST.

The admit card download window for IAT 2026 closed at 1:00 PM IST on June 7, 2026. Candidates who appeared for the exam should retain their admit card as it is required during counselling and physical reporting at the allotted IISER campus.

IISER IAT 2026 Answer Key

The IISER IAT 2026 provisional answer key is expected to be released at iiseradmission.in on or shortly after June 7, 2026. In 2025, the answer key came out the very next day after the exam — on May 26, 2025. A similarly quick turnaround is expected for 2026.

After the objection window closes on June 13, 2026, the organising committee will review all challenges. The final answer key will be released in the fourth week of June 2026. Your IISER IAT 2026 marks will be calculated based on the final answer key only, not the provisional one.

Key dates for the IISER IAT 2026 answer key process:

• Provisional Answer Key: June 7–9, 2026 (expected)
• Objection Window Opens: June 9, 2026
• Objection Deadline: June 13, 2026
• Final Answer Key: Fourth week of June 2026

How to raise an objection against the IISER IAT 2026 answer key:

• Log in to iiseradmission.in with your application number and password
• Navigate to the answer key or objection section in your dashboard
• Select the specific question you want to challenge
• Upload supporting evidence — for example, the relevant NCERT textbook page or an official reference material
• Submit your objection before June 13, 2026

No objections will be accepted after the deadline. The decision of the organising committee on each objection will be final, and no further appeals will be entertained.

IISER IAT 2026 Seat Matrix

Around 2,343 seats are available across the seven IISERs for the 2026 session. IISER Tirupati has increased its intake this year to 350 seats. The BS-MS dual degree programme (5 years) is the flagship programme at all seven IISERs. IISER Bhopal additionally offers 4-year BS and BTech programmes in engineering and economic sciences.

Note: Seat numbers are approximate based on 2025–26 data. The final seat matrix for IAT 2026 counselling will be published on iiseradmission.in before the first round of seat allotment.

Reservation of seats across all IISERs:

• SC: 15% of total seats
• ST: 7.5% of total seats
• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 27% of total seats
• EWS: 10% of total seats
• PwD: 5% horizontal reservation across all categories
• Kashmiri Migrants / Pandit Families: 3 supernumerary seats per IISER

IISER IAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The IISER IAT 2026 eligibility criteria apply at both the registration stage and the counselling stage. Candidates who appeared for the exam on June 7, 2026, must ensure they continue to meet these requirements during document verification at admission.

Educational Qualification

• You must have passed Class XII (or equivalent board exam) in 2024, 2025, or 2026. Candidates who passed Class XII before 2024 are not eligible.
• Your Class XII must include at least three subjects from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Mathematics.
• Minimum aggregate in Class XII: 60% for General, OBC-NCL, and EWS candidates; 55% for SC, ST, and PwD candidates.

Nationality

• Indian nationals are eligible to apply.
• PIO (Persons of Indian Origin) and OCI (Overseas Citizens of India) card holders are also eligible.
• Foreign nationals can apply but must upload an equivalence certificate from AIU (Association of Indian Universities) if their school board is not recognised by COBSE (Council of Boards of School Education).

Age Limit

There is no upper age limit for IISER IAT 2026.

Other Conditions

Candidates who have already taken admission to any undergraduate or integrated degree programme (other than Class XII) are not eligible to appear for IISER IAT 2026.

Candidates appearing in Class XII in 2026 are provisionally eligible. Final admission will be subject to meeting the minimum percentage requirement once their Class XII board results are declared.

IISER IAT 2026 Syllabus

The IISER IAT 2026 syllabus is based on the NCERT curriculum for Class 11 and Class 12. It covers all four subjects — Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology. Questions are designed to test conceptual understanding and the ability to apply what you have learned, not just recall facts from memory.

Physics

• Physical World and Measurement; Kinematics
• Laws of Motion; Work, Energy, and Power
• Motion of System of Particles and Rigid Body; Gravitation
• Properties of Bulk Matter; Thermodynamics; Kinetic Theory of Gases
• Oscillations and Waves
• Electrostatics and Current Electricity
• Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
• Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents
• Electromagnetic Waves; Ray Optics; Wave Optics
• Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter; Atoms and Nuclei; Electronic Devices

Chemistry

• Basic Concepts of Chemistry; Structure of Atom
• Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties
• Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure; States of Matter
• Thermodynamics; Equilibrium; Redox Reactions
• s-Block, p-Block, d-Block, and f-Block Elements
• Coordination Compounds; Electrochemistry; Chemical Kinetics
• Surface Chemistry; Isolation of Elements
• Haloalkanes and Haloarenes; Alcohols, Phenols, and Ethers
• Aldehydes, Ketones, and Carboxylic Acids; Amines
• Biomolecules; Polymers; Chemistry in Everyday Life

Mathematics

• Sets, Relations, and Functions; Trigonometric Functions
• Complex Numbers and Quadratic Equations; Linear Inequalities
• Permutations and Combinations; Binomial Theorem; Sequences and Series
• Straight Lines; Conic Sections; Three-Dimensional Geometry
• Limits, Continuity, and Differentiability
• Applications of Derivatives; Integrals; Applications of Integrals
• Differential Equations; Vectors; Matrices and Determinants
• Linear Programming; Probability; Inverse Trigonometric Functions

Biology

• Diversity in the Living World; Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants
• Cell Structure and Function; Cell Division
• Plant Physiology: Photosynthesis, Respiration, Plant Growth and Development
• Human Physiology: Digestion, Respiration, Circulation, Excretion, Locomotion, Neural Control, Chemical Coordination
• Reproduction in Flowering Plants and in Humans
• Genetics: Principles of Inheritance and Variation; Molecular Basis of Inheritance
• Evolution; Human Health and Disease
• Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production; Microbes in Human Welfare
• Biotechnology and Its Applications
• Ecology: Organisms and Populations, Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Environmental Issues

IISER IAT 2026 Application Process

The IISER IAT 2026 application process was conducted entirely online at iiseradmission.in. Registration opened on March 5, 2026, and closed on April 13, 2026. The application window is now closed. Candidates who registered and appeared for the exam on June 7, 2026, should now focus on the upcoming result and counselling process.

The IISER IAT 2026 application window has closed. No new registrations are being accepted. The next IAT cycle is expected to open in early 2027 for candidates planning for next year.

For reference, here is how the IISER IAT application process works each year:

• Step 1 – Create Account: Register at iiseradmission.in using a valid email ID and mobile number to create your login credentials.
• Step 2 – Fill the Application Form: Enter your personal details, Class XII information, and preferred exam city.
• Step 3 – Upload Photo and Signature: Upload a recent passport-size photograph and your signature in the required format and file size as specified in the official guidelines.
• Step 4 – Pay Application Fee: Pay online via net banking, debit/credit card, or UPI. The fee for General and OBC candidates is Rs. 2,000; for SC, ST, and PwD candidates it is Rs. 1,000.
• Step 5 – Submit and Download Confirmation: Review all details before submitting. Download the confirmation page and save it for future reference.

A correction window was available from April 13 to April 15, 2026, allowing candidates to fix specific errors in their submitted forms. After this window closed, no further corrections were accepted. The IAT 2027 registration cycle is expected to follow a similar timeline, likely opening in March 2027.

Preparation Tips for IISER IAT

While the IISER IAT 2026 exam is now over, these preparation tips are useful for candidates planning for the next session. They also help current candidates understand what factors typically make the difference between a good rank and a borderline one.

• Build your NCERT foundation first: The IAT tests you exclusively on NCERT Class 11 and 12 content. Every in-text example, exercise question, and diagram in NCERT is fair game. Do not skip chapters or topics as even minor topics have appeared in past papers.
• Focus on subjects tied to your preferred major: Since you are not required to attempt all four sections, you can skip subjects where you are less confident. A strong score in three subjects is often better than a diluted effort across all four.
• Solve previous year IAT papers: Past papers from 2024 and 2025 give you the best sense of question style and difficulty. IAT questions emphasise reasoning and application — not definitions or rote recall. Time yourself while solving papers.
• Use negative marking strategically: Do not guess randomly. A blank answer costs 0 marks; a wrong one costs 1. In a 60-question exam, this difference compounds quickly. Attempt a question only when you are reasonably confident.
• Practise in CBT format: IAT is a computer-based test. Taking mock tests in a CBT interface reduces exam-day unfamiliarity and helps you get comfortable with navigation, flagging questions, and time management on screen.
• Aim to attempt all four subjects for a higher ceiling: Even if you plan to major in Physics, attempting Biology or Chemistry questions where you are confident can add meaningful marks and push your rank higher. Versatility pays off in IAT.
• Prioritise high-yield topics: In Biology, Genetics, Ecology, and Human Physiology appear frequently. In Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Coordination Compounds carry significant weight. In Physics, Electrostatics, Optics, and Modern Physics are important areas.
• Start early for the next cycle: IAT applications for 2027 will open around March 2027. Candidates who appeared this year and did not get a seat should start preparing well in advance — at least 6–8 months before the next exam.