JEST 2012 for Ph. D. Program in Physics and Theoretical Computer Science

The Joint Entrance Screening Test (JEST) is a common qualifying test for admissions to Ph.D. programmes in Physics at premier Indian research institutions and a Ph.D. programme in Theoretical Computer Science at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences.

The JEST screening test will be held typically on a Sunday in the middle of February every year.

Ph.D. Programme

Physics:

• M.Sc. in Physics or M.Sc. / M.E. / M.Tech. in related disciplines.
• Candidates with M.Sc. in Mathematics / Applied Physics / Applied Mathematics / Optics and Photonics / Instrumentation / Electronics will also be considered at IIA.
• Graduates with a B.E. or B.Tech. will also be considered at IISc, IMSc, IUCAA, JNCASR, NCRA-TIFR RRI, IISER Mohali, IISER Pune, IISER Thiruvananthapuram and SNBNCBS.
• Talented final year B.Sc. and first year M.Sc. (in Physics / Electronics / Astronomy / Applied Mathematics) students may also apply to be pre-selected for research scholarship at IUCAA.
• At IPR, candidates should have a Master’s degree in Physics, Engineering Physics or Applied Physics.

• M.Sc./ M.E. / M.Tech. / M.C.A. in Computer Science and related disciplines, and should be interested in the mathematical aspects of computer science. Visit website of IMSc for further details.

Integrated M.Sc. / M.Tech – Ph.D Programme 

• At HRI, IISER-Pune,  SNBNCBS, and NCRA-TIFR candidates with a Bachelor’s degree will also be considered for the integrated M.Sc., Ph.D. programme in Physics.
• At IMSc, graduates with Bachelor’s degree in science/ mathematics/ /statistics /computer science/information technology/Engineering will also be considered for admission in Physics and in Theoretical Computer Science, as part of an integrated Ph.D. programme. All candidates successful in the course work of this programme shall be awarded an M.Sc. degree.
• At SNBNCBS, graduates with B.Sc. (Physics) / B.E. / B.Tech. degree will be considered for the integrated Post-B.Sc.-Ph.D. programme in subject areas mentioned above.
• At IIA, graduates with B.Sc. (Physics / Mathematics) / B.E. / B.Tech. in Electrical / Instrumentation / Engineering Physics / Electronics and Communications / Computer Science and Engineering / Optics and Photonics will be considered.

Integrated M.Tech – Ph.D. Programme at IIA

• Graduates with M.Sc. (Physics / Applied Physics) / Post-B.Sc. (Hons) in Optics and Optoelectronics / Radio Physics and Electronics / B.E. / B.Tech. degree in subjects mentioned above will be considered. Visit IIA website for details

JEST 2012 – Physics Syllabus

There is no specified syllabus for the test, rather the objective is to check whether the student understands the basic principles ofphysics and is able to apply them in solving problems.

The JEST screening test for entrance to the PhD programme in Physics focusses on the following broad areas:

• Classical Mechanics
• Electromagnetic Theory and Optics
• Quantum Mechanics
• Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
• Mathematical Methods
• Electronics and Experimental Methods
• Advanced topics (like Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics and very elementary Solid State Physics)

Some textbooks which may help the candidate prepare for the test are listed below.

• Classical Mechanics by H. Goldstein
• An Introduction to Mechanics by Daniel Kleppner & Robert J. Kolenkow
• Introduction to Electrodynamics by David J. Griffiths
• Principles of Quantum Mechanics by R. Shankar
• Introduction to Quantum Mechanics by David J. Griffiths
• Fundamentals of Statistical and Thermal Physics by Frederick Reif
• Heat and Thermodynamics by M. W. Zemansky & Richard H. Dittman
• Mathematical Methods for Physicists by George B. Arfken & Hans J. Weber
• Concepts of Modern Physics by Arthur Beiser

Sample Questions:

[gview file=”http://www.jest.org.in/sites/default/files/jest-phys-sample.pdf”]

JEST 2012 -Theoretical Computer Science Syllabus

The test focusses on the following areas: Analytical Reasoning and Deduction, Combinatorics, Data Structures and Algorithms,
Discrete Mathematics, Graph Theory, Principles of Programming.
In each of these areas, familiarity with the basics (including the necessary simple mathematics) is assumed. There are questions of both types – some requiring short answers as well as some involving detailed problem solving.

Some textbooks which may help the candidate prepare for the test are listed below.

1. Elements of Discrete Mathematics, C.L. Liu
2. Discrete Mathematical Structures with Applications to Computer Science,
Jean-Paul Tremblay and Ram P. Manohar
3. Compilers: Principles, Techniques and Tools,
Alfred V. Aho, Ravi Sethi and Jeffrey D. Ullman
4. Fundamentals of Data Structures, Ellis Horowitz and Sartaj Sahni
5. An Introduction to Data Structures with Applications,
Jean-Paul Tremblay and P.G. Sorenson
6. Fundamentals of Computer Algorithms, Ellis Horowitz, Sartaj Sahni and S. Rajasekaran
7. The Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms,
Alfred V. Aho, John E. Hopcroft and Jeffrey D. Ullman

Sample Questions:

[gview file=”http://www.jest.org.in/sites/default/files/prepinfo.pdf”]

Important Dates: