ISI Admission Test 2026 – Exam Date, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern, Courses, Cut-Off & Preparation Guide

The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) is one of India’s most prestigious institutions for Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science, and Quantitative Research.

ISI conducts the ISI Admission Test every year for entry into its highly competitive undergraduate, postgraduate, and research programs across its campuses:

• ISI Kolkata

• ISI Delhi

• ISI Bangalore

• ISI Chennai

• ISI Tezpur

Known worldwide for academic excellence, ISI graduates often secure top positions in research, data science, AI & ML, finance, government, and academia.

The ISI Admission Test 2026 is expected to be held in May 2026 in offline mode (pen and paper).

Key Highlights – ISI Admission Test 2026

Courses Offered Through ISI Admission Test

Undergraduate Programs (UG)

• B.Stat (Bachelor of Statistics) – Kolkata

• B.Math (Bachelor of Mathematics) – Bangalore

Postgraduate Programs (PG)

• M.Stat (Master of Statistics)

• M.Math (Master of Mathematics)

• MSQE (Master of Science in Quantitative Economics)

• MTech in Computer Science

• MTech in Cryptology & Security

• MTech in Quality, Reliability & Operations Research (QROR)

Research / PhD Programs

• Statistics, Math, Computer Science, Economics, Physics & more

ISI Admission Test 2026 – Important Dates (Tentative)

ISI Admission Test 2026 Eligibility Criteria

1. B.Stat & B.Math

• Must have passed Class 12 with Mathematics as a core subject.

• No minimum percentage requirement.

• Students appearing in Class 12 in 2026 may also apply.

2. M.Stat

• Bachelor’s degree in Statistics/Mathematics/Economics or related fields.

• BE/BTech graduates are also eligible.

3. M.Math

• Bachelor’s degree with strong foundation in Mathematics.

4. MSQE

• Bachelor’s degree with Economics/Math/Statistics.

• Must know calculus, algebra, probability.

5. M.Tech (CS / Cryptology / QROR)

• BE/BTech/MSc/MS in relevant fields + GATE may be required.

6. Ph.D Programs

• Master’s degree in relevant field + entrance test + interview.

ISI Admission Test 2026 – Exam Pattern

The exam varies according to the course, but generally includes:

For B.Stat & B.Math

Paper I – MCQ (Objective)

• Duration: 2 hours

• Questions: Mathematics-based

• Marking: Negative marking (-1/4 or course-specific)

Paper II – Descriptive (Subjective)

• Duration: 2 hours

• Long-answer mathematical problems

• No negative marking

For M.Stat & M.Math

• Paper I: MCQ

• Paper II: Descriptive

• Topics from advanced Mathematics & Statistics

For MSQE

• Microeconomics

• Macroeconomics

• Mathematics

• Statistics & Probability

For MTech Programs

• Subject-specific technical questions

• B.Tech/engineering level mathematics

• Coding/algorithm-based problems

ISI Admission Test 2026 Syllabus

B.Stat / B.Math Syllabus

• Algebra

• Calculus

• Coordinate Geometry

• Trigonometry

• Probability

• Number Theory

• Combinatorics

• Basic Inequalities

• Sequences & Series

M.Stat Syllabus

• Linear Algebra

• Real Analysis

• Probability

• Statistical Inference

• Regression & ANOVA

• Stochastic Processes

M.Math Syllabus

• Advanced Algebra

• Real & Complex Analysis

• Differential Equations

• Topology & Geometry

MSQE Syllabus (Economics)

• Microeconomics

• Macroeconomics

• Calculus

• Linear Algebra

• Probability

• Statistics

MTech Syllabus (CS/Crypto/QROR)

• Algorithms

• Data Structures

• Linear Algebra

• Probability

• Cryptography basics

• Combinatorics

• Programming fundamentals

ISI Admission Test 2026 Cut-Off (Expected)

Cut-offs vary by program:

ISI Seats (Expected)

Total seats (all campuses): ~300–350

ISI Selection Process

1. ISI Admission Test (Written Exam)

2. Interview Round (Mandatory)

3. Final Merit List based on:

   • Written score

   • Interview performance

   • Category reservation

Why ISI is Different & Prestigious?

• Research-focused learning

• International faculty & collaborations

• Top placements in industry & academia

• One of the toughest entrance exams in India

• ISI offers free education (almost zero tuition fees)

• Monthly stipend for all selected students

• B.Stat/B.Math students receive:  INR 5,000–8,000/month

• MSc/M.Tech/PhD: Higher stipends

Career Opportunities After ISI

ISI graduates are highly sought after by:

• Google

• Microsoft

• Amazon

• IBM

• DRDO

• ISRO

• World Bank

• RBI & Government organizations

• Hedge funds, Quant firms, Data Science companies

• Universities worldwide (MIT, Stanford, Harvard, etc.)

Typical job roles include:

• Data Scientist

• Quant Analyst

• Statistician

• Researcher

• Economist

• Machine Learning Scientist

• Financial Analyst

ISI Admission Test 2026 – Preparation Tips

1. Strengthen Class 11 & 12 Mathematics: Especially calculus, algebra, probability.

2. Practice Previous Year Papers: ISI repeats concepts but with new patterns.

3. Focus on Conceptual Clarity: ISI does NOT ask standard questions — it tests logic.

4. Solve Olympiad-Level Problems: (Basic to moderate level useful)

5. Improve Descriptive Problem-Solving: Paper II requires step-by-step reasoning.

6. Manage Time Wisely: MCQ tends to have traps & negative marking.

Final Thoughts

The ISI Admission Test 2026 is one of India’s toughest and most prestigious exams for students who aim to build careers in Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Economics, and Computer Science.

With world-class education, excellent placements, minimal fees, and strong research exposure — ISI is a dream destination for top-performing students.

Consistent practice, strong fundamentals, and analytical thinking are the keys to cracking ISI.