What is NTSE?
NTSE (National Talent Search Examination) is a national-level scholarship exam in India. This prestigious exam being taken by the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) helps in screening and nurturing the developing talent of the country. This exam not only aims at strengthening and enhancing the mental capabilities of the developing brains but also it motivates the students to think beyond their limits. Only the students studying in Class 10th are eligible for the selection process. Moreover, students of any Board (CBSE, ICSE, IB- International Baccalaureate, State Boards) studying at any recognized school can participate in this exam. Students registered under Distance Learning Programme or Open Board are also eligible under the conditions prescribed by NCERT on its website. Indian Students studying abroad are exempted for Stage-1 exam, they can directly fill the form of Stage-2 through their schools. The scholarship amounts to Rs. 1250/- per month for all the students studying in Class 11th to 12th (irrespective of class/course) and Rs 2000/- per month for undergraduates and post-graduates except for Ph.D., wherein it is paid as per UGC norms.
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NTSE is a two-stage selection process which is divided into Stage-1 and Stage-2.Stage-1 exam is being conducted by State/UT’s at state level whereas Stage-2 exam is being conducted by the NCERT at National level.
Stage-1: STSE-State Talent Search Examination
Each State/UT conducts its own examination. The state level screening examination in all States/UT's is on the second Sunday of November except in Nagaland, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Meghalaya and Mizoram where it will be conducted on second Saturday of November every year.
Stage-1 exam consists of following parts:
1. Mental Ability Test (MAT)
2. Language Test (LT) and
3. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) which includes questions on Science, Maths and Social Science
Test |
Question Details |
Max Marks |
Duration(In Minutes) |
MAT (Mental Ability Test) |
50 MCQ’s |
50 |
45 |
LT (Language Test) English/Hindi |
50 MCQ’s |
50 |
45 |
SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) |
100 MCQ’s |
100 |
90 |
Those who will get qualified will enter the second Stage of the Exam. The results of the same will be out in March month of the next year
Stage-2: NTSE-National Talent Search Examination
Candidates acquiring more than the required percentage in the state level examination and standing within a specified number of top ranks (state quota) are eligible to appear for the national level examination (about top 4000 students from the entire country). The national level examination has two parts for nominating the required number of candidates for the interviews to be conducted by the NCERT in May.
Stage-2 exam also consists of following parts:
1. Mental Ability Test (MAT)
2. Language Test (LT) and
3. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) which includes questions on Science, Maths and Social Science
Test |
Question Details |
Max Marks |
Duration(In Minutes) |
MAT (Mental Ability Test) |
50 MCQ’s |
50 |
45 |
LT (Language Test) English/Hindi |
50 MCQ’s |
50 |
45 |
SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) |
100 MCQ’s |
100 |
90 |
**There is negative marking in the stage-2 NTSE exam. 1/3 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer.
Language test is qualifying in nature. The final Selection is based on the performance in MAT and SAT only, there will be no interview for the selection.
NTSE (National Talent Search Examination) is a national-level scholarship exam in India. This great initiative being taken by the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) helps in screening and nurturing the developing talent of the country. This exam not only aims at strengthening and enhancing the mental capabilities of the developing brains but also it motivates the students to think beyond their limits. Only the students studying in Class Xth are eligible for the selection process. Moreover, students of any Board studying at any recognized school can participate in this exam. The scholarship amounts to Rs. 1250/- per month for all the students studying in Class XI to XII (irrespective of class/course) and Rs 2000/- per month for undergraduates and post-graduates except for Ph.D., wherein it is paid as per UGC norms.
Stage-1: STSE-State Talent Search Examination
Each State/UT conducts its own examination. The state level screening examination in all States/UT's is on the second Sunday of November except in Nagaland, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Meghalaya and Mizoram where it will be conducted on second Saturday of November every year.
Stage-1 exam consists of following parts:
1. Mental Ability Test (MAT)
2. Language Test (LT) and
3. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) which includes questions on Science, Maths and Social Science
Test |
Question Details |
Max Marks |
Duration(In Minutes) |
MAT (Mental Ability Test) |
50 MCQ’s |
50 |
45 |
LT (Language Test) English/Hindi |
50 MCQ’s |
50 |
45 |
SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) |
100 MCQ’s |
100 |
90 |
Those who will get qualified will enter the second Stage of the Exam. The results of the same will be out on March of the next year.
**There is no negative marking.
Stage-2: NTSE-National Talent Search Examination
Candidates acquiring more than the required percentage in the state level examination and standing within a specified number of top ranks (state quota) are eligible to appear for the national level examination (about top 4000 students from the entire country). The national level examination has two parts for nominating the required number of candidates for the interviews to be conducted by the NCERT in May.
Stage-2 exam also consists of following parts:
1. Mental Ability Test (MAT)
2. Language Test (LT) and
3. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) which includes questions on Science, Maths and Social Science
Test |
Question Details |
Max Marks |
Duration(In Minutes) |
MAT (Mental Ability Test) |
50 MCQ’s |
50 |
45 |
LT (Language Test) English/Hindi |
50 MCQ’s |
50 |
45 |
SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) |
100 MCQ’s |
100 |
90 |
**There is negative marking in the stage-2 NTSE exam. 1/3 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer.
Language test is qualifying in nature. The final Selection is based on the performance in MAT and SAT only, there will be no interview for the selection.
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