NTSE EXAMINATION

The National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a national level scholarship program in India
started in the year 1963. The purpose of the scheme is to identify talented students and nurture
their talent. It covers areas like Science, Social Science, Engineering, Medicine, Management
and Law. The scheme is open to students of Indian nationality. It helps students to proliferate
their mental level and also helps them to sharpen their minds. It is organized by NCERT and
honours talented students by providing financial assistance in the form of a monthly
scholarship.

NTSE is conducted by NCERT for the students of Class X. The exam is conducted at two
levels: Stage-I (State Level) and Stage-II (National Level). The NTSE paper consisting of
Paper-I: Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Paper-II: Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

NTSE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Students of Class X studying in recognized schools are eligible to appear for the Stage-I
examination, conducted by the States/UTs, in which the schools are located.
• Students registered under the Open Distance Learning(ODL), will also be eligible for the
scholarship, provided the student is below the age of 18 years ( as on 1st July of the
particular year), the student is not employed and he/she is appearing in Class X
examination for the first time.

NTSE EXAM STRUCTURE

The written examination for NTSE consists of two stages as Stage-I & Stage-II. Stage - I
examination will be at the States/UTs level and Stage - II examination at the National level.

Stage-I examination at States/UTs level will comprise two papers namely Paper-I: Mental Ability
Test (MAT) and Paper-II: Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) for nominating the required number of
candidates for the second level test to be conducted by the NCERT.

Stage one is conducted by the state and it is the state’s decision to either add or subtract any
terms and conditions at its discretion. Stage two of the examination is a national level examination
held by the NCERT. Both state level and national level examination are divided into two parts:
MAT and SAT.
Mental Ability Test (MAT)- This section tests the problem-solving skills of the student. The
questions are based to check the mental ability of the applicant through different topics. The
examination comprises 100 questions and it is divided into 3 parts namely, verbal reasoning, non-
verbal reasoning, and the grammar section.
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)- This section tests the academic skills of the student
constituting questions from the NCERT books of class 10. The questions in this paper usually
circumscribe chapters from the subjects the students are already acquainted with in school, for
example, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, history, geography, civics, economics, and
general knowledge.

NTSE CHEMISTRY SYLLABUS

S. no Syllabus for SAT

1 Structure of an atom

2 Acid, bases and salts

3 Carbon and it’s compounds

4 Metals and Non metals

5 Periodic classification of elements

6 Physical and chemical changes

7 The Universe

NTSE BIOLOGY SYLLABUS

2
 S. no Syllabus for SAT

1 Cellular level of organisations

2 Air, water and soil

3 Heredity and evolution

4 Fibres and plastic

5 Food production and management

6 Diversity in living organisms

7 Our environment

8 Human body

9 Micro organisms

10 Reproduction

11 Plant and animal nutrition

12 Life process

13 Some common diseases

Students must note that the NTSE Syllabus 2021 is not restricted to the topics mentioned
above. In order to score well, students must be well-versed with all the topics and concepts that
are included in the NCERT books (of the respective subjects) of Classes 9 and 10.
For better practice, students must solve, practice and analyse as many NTSE question papers
as possible. They make one familiar with the NTSE exam pattern, marking scheme, exam
duration and more. It is suggested that students must try and complete the sample papers or
previous years' question papers within the stipulated time.