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NTSE – National Talent Search Examination

National Talent Search Examination known as NTSE conducted by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for identifying talented students who want to pursue higher education in Science and Social Studies streams.

The examination is conducted at two levels i.e. first, state-level talent search examination and then, National Level Talent Search Examination. The State Level Talent Search Exam is conducted by 29 States/07 UTs for all students studying in Class 10th. The students qualifying in State Level Talent Search Examination are eligible to appear in NTSE stage II examination to be conducted by NCERT. The aim of NTSE scheme is to award talented students pursuing education in Science and Social Studies stream with scholarships to help continue their education.

National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a national-level scholarship program in India to identify and recognize students with high intellect and academic talent.

• 5,00,000 students appear for this scholarship exam every year.
• 1000 scholarships are awarded, out of which 775 are unreserved.
• The scholarships are awarded to candidates for pursuing courses in sciences and social  sciences up to doctoral level and professional courses up to second-degree level
• Scholarship of Rs. 1250 per month is awarded for class XI to XII.
• Scholarship of Rs. 2000 per month is awarded for Undergraduates and Post graduates,fixed as per the UGC norms for Ph.D.

NTSE 2020 Exam dates and other events:

Exam Pattern for NTSE

The exam is conducted in two stages and each stage consists of two tests namely the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

Language Test (LT)

Another component of the test is the language test.

This test contains 50 questions in English and 50 questions in Hindi.

The candidate has to attempt this test in only one language i.e. either in English or in Hindi.

Note: No negative marking in NTSE Stage – 1 and in Stage 2 (National Level), there will be negative marking in each paper. For each wrong answer, 1/3 mark will be deducted. No marks will be deducted for unattempted questions.

NTSE Eligibility

Candidates who want to obtain NTSE scholarship must fulfill the eligibility criteria for NTSE exam as required by National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).

NTSE Eligibility Criteria are the requirements such as academic qualification, age limit and minimum qualifying marks in previous class. NCERT prescribed NTSE Eligibility is followed by all States/UTs conducting Stage I exam for NTSE. Only candidates who will qualify NTSE Stage 1 competitive exam,eligible for NTSE stage II exams.

Find below the eligibility criteria for NTSE Examination -

NTSE 2020 Eligibility Criteria for NTSE Stage I exam (state level) –

Students appearing for NTSE-Stage I need to fulfill the below-mentioned eligibility criteria -

• Candidates currently studying in Class 10th from any recognized Private/Government schools including Kendriya Vidyalaya, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, and Sainik Schools.
• The candidates can appear in their respective state/UT’s NTSE tier I exam, although there is no limit on domicile.
• The SCERT(State level NTSE for Level 1) of respective state/UTs may mention any additional criteria for Tier I exam such as minimum qualifying marks in the previous class.
• Candidates who are completing their education from Open and Distance Learning (ODL) such as National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) or state Open boards are also eligible to apply and appear for NTSE.
• The candidates studying from Open and Distance Learning must not be 18 years old or less at the time of appearing in the scholarship exam. Moreover, they should not be employed (not even part-time jobs) and they should be appearing in Class 10th qualifying examination for the first time.  

NTSE 2020 Eligibility Criteria for NTSE Stage II Exam

NTSE Eligibility for candidates studying in India:

Students appearing for NTSE-Stage II need to fulfill the below-mentioned eligibility criteria -

• They must be an Indian National irrespective of where they are pursuing their Class 10th qualifying examination i.e. in India or Abroad
• They must have qualified Tier I exam at the state level.

NTSE Eligibility for candidates studying outside India:

• The Indian national candidates studying abroad can directly appear for Tier II exam of NTSE scholarship award.
• They should, although have scored at least 60% marks in their previous class qualifying examination i.e. in Class 9th.
• Such candidates should be planning to pursue their higher education in India only after obtaining the NTSE Scholarship.

NTSE Eligibiility : General Requirements for awarding NTSE Scholarships –

• The candidate should pursue only the approved courses in Science, Social Sciences, Engineering and Medical streams only. The candidate should be willing to pursue higher education in India only
• The candidates should be certified as maintaining good conduct at their school and should continue their higher education
• They should not be absent from school without proper leave or informing the school authorities
• The candidates should be a full-time student and should be working anywhere getting salary/stipend.
• If the candidate is getting scholarship under any other scheme as well then, he/she should decide which scholarship scheme he/she wants to continue with.
• If any candidate is getting any other scholarship then, his/her NTS Scholarship will be stopped for that year and can be continued only after he/she requests NCERT for resuming the scholarship; they have to discontinue benefits from other scholarship schemes
• Although, the candidates getting fee waivers/ one-time grant/fee subsidy and accommodation are eligible for NTSE Scholarship and they won’t be refused NTS scholarship
• If any candidate drops studies or discontinues his/her education within one of admission, then no scholarship will be awarded to him/her
• The candidates should pass in all subjects of their course in first attempt only and if they fail in any of the core subject his/her scholarship will be cancelled

NTSE Registration and Application at State level (NTSE Tier 1 exam)–

The students wishing to appear for National Talent Search Examination  could apply for their respective state/UTs exam conducting body in offline mode /online mode or as specified by the exam authorities.

The notification for application form availability of NTSE state level examination was available in the local/national newspapers or circulars circulated in the schools by the respective state/UT.  

The NTSE Application Form could be obtained from the listed Liaison Officers for the states/UTs only.

Moreover, the candidates before submitting the application form of NTSE to the Liaison Officers needed to get it duly signed by the Principal of their School after filling it up. Moreover, the admit card for NTSE Stage 1 exam was also attached along with the offline application form of NTSE Tier I exam only. The candidates needed to fill the admit card details except for the fields/blanks for the official purpose (should be left blank to be filled by the Liaison Officer only).

The NTSE application form needed to be submitted on or before the last date of application as mentioned by the concerned state/UT. The states/UTs may have levied some charges for application form of NTSE.

NTSE e-Admit Cards - The admit card of NTSE stage 1 exam was available by exam conducting authorities at least 15 days before the exam date. The candidates who applied for NTSE were issued admit card by their respective state/UT for state level examination. The candidates who will qualify state level examination and qualify to appear in NTSE stage 2 examination will be issued admit card by NCERT in online mode only.

NTSE Tier 1 at State/UT level- The states/UTs conducted the examination for NTSE Tier 1 exam in offline mode at appointed exam centres only. There were two papers for NTSE Stage 1 exam conducted in different shifts.

NTSE Result announcement for Tier 1 exam- The NTSE Tier I exam results will mention the qualifying status of candidates for both papers i.e. MAT and SAT. The candidates can check the result of NTSE stage 1 exam in online mode only as it will be available on official website of the exam conducting authority of respective state/UT.

The NTSE stage I exam result  will be available in form of merit list, which will mentions names, marks, ranks of all qualified candidates for the respective state/UT.

NTSE Tier 2 exam at National Level: All those candidates who will qualify the Tier 1 exam of NTSE at the state level will be eligible to appear for national level NTSE which is conducted by NCERT. The exam pattern, exam details and subjects are the same as the state level NTSE.

NTSE Stage 2 Results: The result of NTSE Tier II examination will be announced by July-August  for all qualified candidates only. The candidates will be able to check their NTSE stage 2 result through the link provided by NCERT and they need to enter their roll numbers and date of birth to login. The result will mention separate scores as well as the combined score for MAT and SAT paper. The disbursement of NTSE scholarship will be based on Merit list after the announcement of NTSE Tier 2 results only. 

NTSE Registration and Application Process

NTSE Registration and Application at State level (NTSE Tier 1 exam)

The students appearing for NTSE could apply for their respective state/UTs exam conducting body in offline mode /online mode or as specified by the exam authorities.

The notification for application form availability of NTSE state level examination was available in the local/national newspapers or circulars circulated in the schools by the respective state/UT.  

The NTSE Application Form could be obtained from the listed Liaison Officers for the states/UTs only.

Moreover, the candidates before submitting the application form of NTSE to the Liaison Officers needed to get it duly signed by the Principal of their School after filling it up. Moreover, the admit card for NTSE Stage 1 exam was also attached along with the offline application form of NTSE Tier I exam only. The candidates needed to fill the admit card details except for the fields/blanks for the official purpose (should be left blank to be filled by the Liaison Officer only).

The NTSE application form needed to be submitted on or before the last date of application as mentioned by the concerned state/UT. The states/UTs may have levied some charges for application form of NTSE.

NTSE e-Admit Cards - The admit card of NTSE stage 1 exam was available by exam conducting authorities at least 15 days before the exam date. The candidates who applied for NTSE were issued admit card by their respective state/UT for state level examination. The candidates who will qualify state level examination and qualify to appear in NTSE stage 2 examination will be issued admit card by NCERT in online mode only.

NTSE Tier 1 at State/UT level- The states/UTs conducted the examination for NTSE Tier 1 exam in offline mode at appointed exam centres only. There were two papers for NTSE Stage 1 exam conducted in different shifts.

NTSE Result announcement for Tier 1 exam- The NTSE Tier I exam results will mention the qualifying status of candidates for both papers i.e. MAT and SAT. The candidates can check the result of NTSE stage 1 exam in online mode only as it will be available on official website of the exam conducting authority of respective state/UT. The NTSE stage I exam result will be available in form of merit list, which will mentions names, marks, ranks of all qualified candidates for the respective state/UT.

NTSE Tier 2 exam at National Level: All those candidates who will qualify the Tier 1 exam of NTSE at the state level will be eligible to appear for national level NTSE which is conducted by NCERT. The exam pattern, exam details and subjects are the same as the state level NTSE.

NTSE Stage 2 Results: The result of NTSE Tier II examination will be announced by July-August for all qualified candidates only. The candidates will be able to check their NTSE stage 2 results through the link provided by NCERT and they need to enter their roll numbers and date of birth to login. The result will mention separate scores as well as the combined score for MAT and SAT paper. The disbursement of NTSE scholarship will be based on Merit list after the announcement of NTSE Tier 2 results only. 

How to prepare for NTSE Examination

Preparation Tips for NTSE

• Solve previous year Papers with your preparation: Important to know the pattern of questions,and understand the type of questions asked with respect to level of your current level of preparation. This will help you gain knowledge of NTSE and also give you a fair idea of your knowledge and understating.
• Assess and Analyse your performance: Identify strong points and weakness. And brainstorm to plug your weakness and enhance your solving skill.
• Systematic plan to achieve goal NTSE: Go through the subjects,chapter and topic thoroughly. Then allocate time to each and work to make yourself strong in a particular aspect.
• Practice as much as possible: Solve as many questions as possible,mental ability requires practice more to become well verse with questions of any type to more questions of mental ability. Practice and get confident of your speed,accuracy,subject knowledge and effective time management.

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