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CAUTION : I donot update this site anymore. This site may contain guidelines for the
examination pattern up until 2010 - 11. I donot hereby take any responsibility in refrence
to any wrong information available for this site. Although a few tips may be helpful, so
just take everything with a grain of salt!
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©Yash Agrawal
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National Talent Search Exam or the NTSE is a national level scholarship program to identify
and nurture talented students.It is widely accepted as the toughest and most prestigious
examination at High school level in the country.
Selection procedure
Identification of talent comprises a three-stage selection process. While the individual state or
union territory conducts the first stage selection, the second stage selection at the national level
is carried out by the NCERT, usually on the second Sunday of May. This is followed by the
interview of the selected 1500-1600 students.
Eligibility
Before 2006, all students studying in Class X in any type of recognized school were eligible to
appear at the state level examination from the state in which the school is located. The state
could impose any other eligibility condition for appearing in the screening examination like any
qualifying percentage of marks in the previous annual examination, etc. But from 2006 onwards,
a separate examination for Class VIII has started. More than 1,50,000 students appear for the
screening examination of the NTSE every year.
From 2008-2009 National Talent Search examination will be held only for class VIII
State level examination
The state level examination has two parts for nominating the required number of candidates for
the second level test to be conducted by the NCERT.
Part-I:Mental Ability Test (MAT), and
Part-II: Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
National level examination
Candidates acquiring more than the required percentage in the state level examination and
within a specified number of top ranks (state quota) are eligible to appear for the national level
examination. NCERT conducts the National Level NTS each year in the 2nd week of May for
about 3000 candidates. The national level examination has two parts for nominating the required
number of candidates for the interviews to be conducted by the NCERT:
Part-I:Mental Ability Test (MAT), and
Part-II: Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)(with questions on history, civics, geography, rarely
economics, maths, physics, chemistry and biology.)
It is usually conducted on 1st or 2nd sunday in may.
Interview
Candidates acquiring more than the required percentage in the national level examination and
standing in about top 1500-1600 students across India and abroad are eligible to appear for the
interview. The interview pattern is based on the regular courses, that is the general subjects
taught in the schools like science, history, geography , civics etc. It must be noted that the
questions asked may be related to theoretical parts of the subjects and may not be just general
questions. It is advised to study the school curriculum carefully. Students should also have extra
information of higher classes to excel. Normally you must concentrate on SAT rather than MAT
because there they may test your understanding.
Syllabus
For the state level examinations the books of your respective states would be better. For the
national level examination books by NCERT should be read. For the interview no prescribed
syllabus is given. Later would be discussed in other sections.
Scholarship
The students who qualify all the stages of NTSE successfully are eligible for scholarship. The
amount of scholarship has been enhanced to Rs. 500/- per month for all the students studying in
Class VIII onwards except for Ph.D., wherein it is paid according to UGC norms. The older system
of book grant has been removed. The criterion of parental income for deciding payment of
scholarship has also been discontinued.
