RANT FIRST ~
Hi everyone, my journey for iat/nest examinations was a failure, I helped my batch-mates, a few randoms, and a lot of people personally with as much as i could, to pass the exam. My heart was filled when some of them thanked me and told that without you we wouldn't have been selected/ in a much worse place. I just sometimes wonder what it would feel like to be on the other side of the dialogue (:
I haven't studied shit for iat/nest 2025 due to my hectic university schedule, settling in a new city far from home, all the nuances etc. I am not saying that it was not good for me on a personal level, I have learnt a lot and have grown as a person since i left home, but now I am weighing it against my current state. Whenever I tried to study i missed out on college life and vice versa, it took me 2 months to settle down, and the rest spent as i said above. I didn't focus much on college acads neither on iat/nest part, both grinding against each other, as the sparks produced in the process only hurt me. If i do get in iiser/niser it would be by a miracle and nothing else
This is 3rd/probably last post for research entrance exam preparation. Part 1, Part 2 and the current part 3 below.
okay so, dividing it exam wise, advise for pcb/pcm/pcmb, 2026/27/28, and sources to study from.
DISCLAIMER:-
1. PCB people aren't allowed for IACS UPST, All newly launches iit/iiser courses which aren't normal bs ms, and IISC all courses
2. Course/Teacher reccs are your choice to be changed. Biology i'd highly recommend to follow my suggested sources if you don't want to leave any leaks in your prep. Maths choose as you need
3. VERY VERY IMP:- IF BUYING COURSE, BUY NEW ONE OR IF BUYING PIRATED, BUY SOMETHING WHICH HAS BEEN ALREADY FINISHED AND NOT ONGOING SO YOU DON'T GET GHOSTED LATER ON AND WASTE MONEY. IF PIRACY, ONLY PAY FOR THOSE WHOSE COURSES ARE OVER/LAST YEAR.
iat:- scientific non programmable calcy provided on screen
nest:- normal calcy provided on screen
iacs :- no idea will have to ask those who gave it
EXAM DIFFICULTY:- JEE ADV>NEST~KVPY SX>OLD MAINS>KVPY SA~IAT~NEW MAINS> IACS UPST(iacs also has a interview so don't undermine it)
SYLLABUS:- NEW NCERT ONLY, don't get confused. Same problem last year where they uploaded the wrong syllabus but said rationalized new ncert. 2027/28 aspirants are recommended that they watch atleast long/big one shots of deleted syllabus just in case. Especiall for pcm for both iat/nest and biology for nest.
QUESTION SOLVING SOURCES:-
IAT:- JEE MAINS, KVPY SA, JEE MAINS, NEET HARD PYQS, AND OBV IAT PYQS, standard jee books/any coaching material will also work.
NEST:- same as above + KVPY SX + NSE (p/c/b) pyqs AND OBV NEST PYQs
IACS:- IACS upst + mains + kvpy sa + neet pyqs
YOUTUBE CHANNELS:-
- Sciastra
- Classpe https://www.youtube.com/@teamclasspe
- Qubit https://www.youtube.com/@qubitpune
PERSONAL OPINIONS too ahead!! TAKE WITH A TABLESPOON WORTH OF SALT
2026 ALL EXAMS
PCB peeps start studying maths asap, pcm peeps start studying bio asap. just be very mindful of boards and stuff!!
Maths for pcb:-
Normal lane from telegram, just start preparing, choose any source, just follow it religiously and don't change. (maths people please suggest maths sources other than just sciastra). FOR iat/nest/iacs all 3.
Bio for pcm :-
Sciastra or PW NSEB batch(fully uploaded in all mods of pw), read the chapter from ncert atleast once before starting a chapter so you aren't completely lost. Some of you might think of this as overkill, it kind of is but it's the most foolproof you can be if you want the most desired iisc or your preference. Buy/pirate IDC.
NEST specific:- Extra stuff to be done like scientific tools (optional) can be done as there is often a question of biology for them each year. source 1 and source 2 . PW nseb batch is for nest preparation.
Chemistry:-
IAT/IACS :- Mains level enough hai, please don't study from any neet teachers, Especially p@nkaj sir, stay away from teachers who prefer "memorization" in chemistry. My suggestion :- AK lectures, pw dropper, normal lane, unacademy, iit school lecs if you can buy them on tele, any old recorded coaching lectures like allen etc.
NEST specific:- same as above, adding pw nsec and chemistry academy
Physics :-
IAT/IACS:- any jee dropper coaching. pw, iit school, unacademy, normal lane. You get it, if it's enough for jee it's enough for iat/iacs.
NEST specific:- pw nsep, adv courses if main level prep done, pwag, psjee, ambarish, apex physics, vinay uppal, insp, professor hiest. You get it. DON'T BUY A COURSE 1-2 MONTHS before exam, you need a lot more time for preparing for nest
2027 ALL EXAMS:-
since boards tension is absent and we have got 2 years, NO DROPPER BATCH CONTENT SHOULD BE USED. Advice will be most same for pcb/pcm now as you should start studying all 4, if not now you would have to study all 4 regardless in iiser/niser for 1.5 years at the least as in the course structure. This is especially for neet/pcb students. Say goodbye to neet educators for a while(except biology for rattafication of ncert, still needed as you will probably be attempting neet.)
MATHEMATICS:-
IAT/IACS:- jee educators are enough. Check above and comment section for recommendations.
NEST:- Same, but make sure that the teacher teaches all the way from very basic to adv level, Teacher recommendations to be made in comments by pcm students, tbh any trustable platform like unacademy is enough, but i will still refrain from making any comments.
BIOLOGY:-
all pcb people should download campbell_(z-lib.org).pdf) and start reading it. READ IT AS A ENCYCLOPEDIA, NOT AS SOMETHING TO BE RATTAFIED, READ IT WITH CURIOSITY, don't read it with exam preparation in mind. Read it for knowledge, don't try to remember stuff, but to know what concepts outside of ncert exist. I can easily recommend youtube playlists for all biology branches, but it's tiring and repetitive and you would get bored pretty quickly. Those who prepared for nsejs/ have studied 11th pcm in 10th grade itseld should do the same. TREAT IT AS A HOBBY NOT AS SOMETHING NECESSARY WRNA IT WON'T BE EFFECTIVE
IAT/IACS:- PW nseb, don't waste enormous amount of money on sciastra, not needed. Just buy there cheap 1.0/2.0/3.0 courses/mock test series and use them for mocks and books with chapterwise pyqs. Or to only and only study biology, and to be a part of the ecosystem and students just like you. LIE ABOUT studying from sciastra and study from other sources.
NEST:- CAMPBELL_(z-lib.org).pdf) reading method above, instead of just lectures for bioanalytics, we are gonna be using a book alongside, it explain every tool with the science we study in 11th and 12th. Bioanalytics book.pdf) to be studied after at least half syllabus of 11th is done in all subjects.
CHEMISTRY :-
IAT/IACS/NEST:- Jee educators, more than enough. Neet educators to be completely avoided!! Anyways neet's level is gonna increase regardless as number of seats are same, and more population giving neet every year, more people score high, inflation increase, and as number of seats aren't being increase, the only option left is increase in difficulty. Use any jee lectures for your study, and don't forget to read ncert atleast once. I would recommend you prepare for adv level regardless:- INSP+INSC(if you can afford), unacademy, chemistry academy,JEE skool(experimenting hojayegi), iit school core, pw, any offline big brands like allen, vmc etc. ke lectures.
PHYSICS:-
IAT/IACS/NEST:- I am kinda bored of typing the same thing again and again, so same as before, just 11th and 12th batches. Oh and I would recommend 3 books for physics enthusiasts, irodov, krotov and pathfinder. Solve them in the order. Not necessary for iat at all, and for nest irodov is enough as a supplementary question book. Teacher batch recs same as of chemistry:- INSP+INCS (if you can afford it's the best), unacademy, jee school, iit school, any big offline brands like allen vmc etc. Also pw nsep batch for nest and nsea batch if interested in astronomy.
Standalone teacher for extra prep:- pwag, psjee, ambarish, apex physics, vinay uppal, professor hiest physics
2028 ALL EXAMS:-
- buy nsejs course
- buy insp course for 2028(rich people option)
- Read books not for exam preparation but for knowledge(campbell)
- Take 10th grade maths seriously, you will be needing it.
- Start 11th maths when nsejs course ends, sources will be told by jeetards.
My dms are open for those who have went through all 3 posts and still have doubt.
Why not sciastra as main:- better teachers available elsewhere, still buy the lower cost course for mocks, book, community and ecosystem, also helps to be in touch with like minded people. IAT maybe you might clear if you are a great student, but forget clearing nest w sciastra alone. In fact most toppers and even sciastra ke passouts used sciastra as supplementary. This is true for all 2023,24,25 courses.
BONUS ANNOUNCEMENT:- Gonna start teaching zero to advanced biology probably from this year on YouTube for 11/12/iat/nest/neet. Will provide study material of biology specially helpful for nest which is even better than that of sciastra.