Introduction to NTSE EXAMINATION

What is NTSE?

NTSE stands for “National Talent Search Examination” or sometimes regarded as “National Talent Search Scheme” which was started by the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) in the year 1963. 

Aim of NTSE

NTSE was started with the aim to identify talented students all over the country and to award them with scholarships for pursuing education in BASIC SCIENCE up to PhD level.

Benefits of NTSE

NTSE should not only be seen just as a means to get scholarship for studies. Its importance is much MORE than that. It is probably the most PRESTIGIOUS examination conducted for Secondary School Students. Clearing this exam is equivalent to getting honoured by the INDIAN GOVERNMENT and being declared as a “National Treasure”.

It is the best competitive exam to check your stand among all other students before you face career deciding exams like IIT-JEE, NEET etc. in higher classes. The vast syllabus teaches us to handle pressure and avoid distractions as preparation of this exam requires good deal of concentration. The exam pattern helps boost our problem solving skills and temperament.

One of my teachers used to say, “You may or may not get selected, but if you have seriously prepared for it, you already plucked fruits of success and developed so many new skills, you have achieved much more than all those who never prepared for the exam and now you know your potential best. So keep working hard as you can only control your efforts, result depends on your performance on that particular moment.”

If you clear NTSE, it will set up a good platform for you through which you will always feel motivated and inspired. Whenever you feel low, you can always view back the moments when you used to work tediously to achieve your goal. This really helps because if you take SCIENCE stream (MATHS/BIOLOGY), then you have got loads of exams to give ahead, and this will boost your morale.

“PREPARING FOR ANY EXAM WITH FULL ZEAL AND DETERMINATION IS WHAT MATTERS; THE RESULT WILL AUTOMATICALLY REFLECT YOUR EFFORT IN IT…”

How is NTSE Conducted?

Currently, NTSE is conducted at two levels-

  1.  State Level Examination : STAGE-1 (Conducted by State Government of your state)

   2.   National Level Examination : STAGE-2 (Conducted by NCERT)

 Who is eligible to appear for NTSE?

All students studying in CLASS X in any type of recognized school including Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sainik School etc. are eligible to appear in NTSE Examination.

For More Details, you may refer to Information Brochure Published by NCERT: 

Source :  www.ncert.nic.in

NTSE Exam Pattern

NTSE exam is purely objective (MCQ based) which is divided into TWO main sections:

   1.   MAT (Mental Ability Test): It consists of 100 Multiple Choice questions each of which carry one mark.

   2.   SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test): It includes subjects like SCIENCE, SOCIAL SCIENCE and MATHEMATICS. It also consists of 100 Multiple Choice Questions out of which 40 are from SCIENCE, 40 are from SOCIAL SCIENCE and 20 are from MATHEMATICS.

Above paper pattern is common for STAGE 1 and STAGE 2 Examinations.

STAGE-1 EXAM - STATE LEVEL

NTSE Stage 1 Examination is conducted at the State Level by the State Government.

·        SYLLABUS: Usually, the questions asked in Stage 1 examination are based on the STATE BOARD CURRICULUM. So, if you aim to score well in the exam, it is HIGHLY ADVISED to read State Board books for SOCIAL SCIENCE, SCIENCE and MATHEMATICS as it will help you all the essential topics for Stage 1 exam.

·        Difficulty Level: The NTSE Stage 1 paper for most states is between EASY to MODERATE leading to high cut off. But in some states, papers are made at MODERATE level due to lesser quota and large number of applicants. This ensures that only deserving students are selected.

·        Preparation: If you really aim to clear this exam, you should start your preparation in the summer vacations of class X, especially MAT and SOCIAL SCIENCE. Practice of previous years’ papers of your state is very essential.

·        Exam Date: It is usually held on the first SUNDAY of November every year.

·        State Wise Quota:

S.No.	STATE/UT	Quota
1.	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	20
2.	Andhra Pradesh	263
3.	Arunachal Pradesh	50
4.	Assam	202
5.	Bihar	691
6.	Chandigarh	20
7.	Chhattisgarh	195
8.	Dadra & Nagar Haveli	20
9.	Daman & Diu	20
10.	Delhi	153
11.	Goa	50
12.	Gujarat	360
13.	Haryana	186
14.	Himachal Pradesh	51
15.	Jammu & Kashmir	64
16.	Jharkhand	142
17.	Karnataka	371
18.	Kerala	220
19.	Lakshadweep	20
20.	Madhya Pradesh	530
21.	Maharashtra	774
22.	Manipur	50
23.	Meghalaya	50
24.	Mizoram	50
25.	Nagaland	50
26.	Odisha	259
27.	Puducherry	20
28.	Punjab	183
29.	Rajasthan	485
30.	Sikkim	50
31.	Tamil Nadu	466
32.	Telangana	216
33.	Tripura	50
34.	Uttar Pradesh	1408
35.	Uttarakhand	79
36.	West Bengal	569

·        Cut Off: Every year, according to the quota of a state, a CUT OFF is decided. All students getting marks greater than or equal to the cut off qualify for second stage.

·   PRO TIP: In MAT, your speed and accuracy matters the most. So, practice wide range of questions so that you develop new ways of approaching any MAT question.

In SAT, most students are able to solve SCIENCE and MATHEMATICS section quite easily. The section which matters the most is SOCIAL SCIENCE, not only because it has weightage of 40 questions, but also due to the VAST syllabus it covers. So, make the SOCIAL SCIENCE book of State Board Curriculum your COMIC during NTSE preparation, and read it whenever you get some free time.

STAGE-2 EXAM - NATIONAL LEVEL

NTSE Stage 2 examination is conducted by NCERT.

·      SYLLABUS: NTSE Stage 2 paper pattern is same as that of Stage 1, but the questions are based on NCERT Class X syllabus. So, reading NCERT books for Science, Social Science and Mathematics is must for Stage 2.

·   Difficulty Level: The NTSE Stage 2 exam can be rated between MODERATE to DIFFICULT because it rarely contains direct questions. Many questions are to be answered not only through your KNOWLEDGE, but also through your SMARTNESS. Accuracy matters a lot during this exam because pressure can make even an easy question difficult for you.

·     Preparation: As NTSE Stage 2 is held in May, you only get April for good preparation of NTSE as you have your BOARD Exams in the month of March. NTSE Stage 1 result is generally declared for most states in FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY. But, after giving the stage 1 exam and checking your score by answer key provided by any institute, if you feel that you are getting good marks, then you can start NTSE stage 2 preparation in parallel with your Board exam preparation.

    

   Keep in mind that in Social Science, you have to cover even all those chapters which are omitted in your school (In History). So, starting your preparation in December or January itself will ensure your success. This does not mean at all that you should shift your focus from Boards. They are equally important. Instead, whenever you have free time or for a change, you can read Social Science or practice MAT questions. If you are not able to prepare much before April, you must ensure that you don’t waste a single day in April and May.

·       Exam Date: It is usually conducted every year on second SUNDAY of May.

·        Cut Off: The cut off for NTSE Stage 2 exam is relatively low due to increased difficulty level of questions and large selection quota. Earlier, only 1000 scholarships were offered, but according to the present scheme, scholarships have been increased to 2000, which also leads to a relatively low cut off.

Two years back, the paper used to be of 150 marks and negative marking was applicable. At that time, the cut off used to be nearly 50%. When I gave the exam, pattern changed and 200 marks paper was held and cutoff was 150 marks.

·   PRO TIP: Do good practice for MAT. Learn new approaches for solving different types of questions. If you manage to get good score in MAT paper, then it boosts your morale for SAT plus those 100 marks matter a lot for your selection because SAT is many a times relatively tough and you may not score too good in it. So, your MAT score is really important.

    When I appeared for Stage 2 exam, my MAT score was about 91 but the SAT score was 79. Though my overall score was good enough but you can see the difference between my MAT and SAT scores.

For SAT, those 40 questions of SOCIAL SCIENCE are too valuable and time saving. If you solve them with speed and accuracy, you get more time for science and mathematics, which is really great. In Social Science, direct questions are very less and many other varieties of questions like Assertion-Reason, Map Based, Match the Column, Calculation based etc. are also asked, which require in-depth preparation of all chapters. In mathematics as well, you may find many challenging questions.

CONCLUSION

At the end, I would highly recommend you to appear in the NTSE examination, as it is once in a lifetime opportunity.

ALWAYS REMEMBER-

“NTSE preparation is more important than NTSE selection.”

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I will also try to make a post on “NTSE PREPARATION GUIDE”.

So, stay tuned for more of such informative posts.