NTSE - National Talent Search Exam

What is NTSE?

The National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a national level scholarship program in India started in the year 1963. The purpose of the scheme was to identify talented students and nurture their talents. Talent refers to the potentiality that manifests itself in a high level of performance in one or more specialised areas. Therefore, it covers areas like Science, Social Science, Engineering, Medicine, Management and Law. It is organized by an NCERT and it honors and helps talented students by providing financial assistance in the form of a monthly scholarship. For the courses in Basic Sciences, Social Sciences and Commerce, this assistance is provided up to Ph.D. level whereas for professional courses like Engineering, Medicine, Management and Law this assistance is given only up to Post Graduation. 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.

Important Dates of NTSE 2012-13:

Dates for Submission of Application Form and conduct of examination are given below:

Stage	Area	Tentative Dates
Stage I (State Level)	Last Date for Submission of Application Form	31st August, 2012
	Examination in Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Andaman & Nicobar Islands	17th November, 2012 (Saturday)
	Examination in all other States and Union Territories	18th November, 2012 (Sunday)
Stage II (National Level)	Examination in all States and Union Territories	12th May, 2013 (Sunday)

About NTSE :

1. NCERT will conduct the NTS Examination for students studying in Class X.
2. The examination will consist of Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Ability Test (SAT).
3. Quota for State/UT will be computed proportionally on the basis of student’s enrolment in Class IX and X.
4. The amount of scholarship will be Rs. 500/- per month for all the students studying in Class XI onwards(irrespective of class/course) except for Ph.D., wherein it is paid as per UGC norms.
5. The scholarships under the present scheme are awarded to the candidates for pursuing courses in sciences and social sciences up to doctoral level and in professional courses like medicine and engineering up to second-degree level subject to the fulfillment of the conditions.

Scholarship:

On the basis of the NTSE, 1000 scholarships are awarded all over India to each student appearing for Class X examinations. Awardees of National Talent Search Examination will receive a sum of Rs. 500/- per month as per rules.

Eligibility Criteria:

Students of Class X studying in recognized schools including Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sainik School etc. of Indian nationality whether they study in India or abroad are eligible to appear NTS examination. There will be no domicile restriction.

Reservation:

i. 15% scholarships are reserved for students belonging to the SC category.

ii. 7.5% scholarships for students belonging to the ST category.

iii. 3% scholarships for Physically Challenged Group of Students.

Selection Procedure:

The selection process of NTSE is comprises of two-stages. The first stage selection conducts individual State/UT through a written exam while, the second stage selection at the national level is carried out by the NCERT for those who qualified in Stage-I.

Pattern of Exam:

The pattern of written examination for Class X is as given below:

Stage-I or State level examination:

The state/UT 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) - In MAT, questions on analogies, classification, series, pattern perception, hidden figures, coding-encoding, block assembly, problem solving etc. are asked.
Part-II: Scholastic Ability Test (SAT) - In SAT, questions are asked on Mathematics, Sciences and Social Sciences.

Scheme of Exam for Stage-I:

Each test (MAT & SAT) will be of 90 minutes duration and will comprise of 100 objective questions with 100 marks. All questions in the booklets are objective type. For each question FOUR possible answers are given, but only one is correct. Your task is to find out the correct answer and mark your choice in the Answer Sheet.

Stage-II or National level 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). NCERT conducts the National Level NTS examination.

Part-I: Mental Ability Test (MAT) - Questions are asked on analogies, classification, series, pattern perception, hidden figures, coding-encoding, block assembly, problem solving etc.
Part-II: Scholastic Ability Test (SAT) - In this test, questions are asked on English Language, Mathematics, Sciences and Social Sciences.

(i)             Mental Ability Test (MAT):
In MAT, there are 50 questions, each question carries one mark. Students are required to answer all questions in separate Answer sheet. 45 minutes duration.

8:30 AM to 9:15 AM – All candidates except visually impaired candidates.
8:30 AM to 9:30 AM – Visually impaired candidates.

(ii)            Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT):

(a) Language Test:
In the Language Test, there are 50 questions, each carries one mark. Students are required to answer all questions in separate Answer sheet. 45 minutes duration.

9:45 AM to 10:30 AM – All candidates except visually impaired candidates.
9:45 AM to 10:45 AM – Visually impaired candidates.

(b) Aptitude Test:
The Scholastic Aptitude Test consists of 100 questions. Out of these, 40 questions are from Science, 20 from Mathematics and 40 from social Sciences. Each question carries one mark. Students are required to answer all questions in separate Answer sheet. 90 minutes duration.

11:15 AM to 12:45 PM – All candidates except visually impaired candidates.
11:15 AM to 1:15 PM – Visually impaired candidates.

Syllabus:

There is no prescribed syllabus for the NTSE. However, the standard of questions shall be conforming to the level of Classes IX and X. A separate booklet called 'Learn about the Test' containing sample questions for both the Tests — MAT and SAT is available on the NCERT website: www.ncert.nic.in/html/talent.

State Quota:

Each State/Union Territory has been allotted a quota to recommend a specific number of candidates for the Stage II examination, the details of which will be made available on NCERT website. However, there will be no State/Union Territory Quota for the final award of scholarship after the Stage II examination.

How to obtain Application Form:

Option-I:
Application forms can be downloaded from NCERT website http://www.ncert.nic.in.

Option-II:
It can be collected from School coordinator also.

Where to submit Application Form:

The completed application forms duly signed by the Principal of the school should be submitted to the State Liaison Officers before the last date. The candidate as well as the Principal of the school must adhere to the last date for submission of the Application Form. Different states may have different last dates for submission. Please confirm from the liaison officer of your state, the address at which the completed forms are to be submitted. The State wise contacts of the liaison officers are available in the NCERT website. All queries related to application form should be directed to the State Liaison Officers (LOs). No application should be sent to NCERT.

Examination Fees:

States and Union Territories may notify the fee required to be paid for the Stage-I examination. However, NCERT does not charge any fee for the Stage-II examination.

Declaration of Result:

Result of the Stage-I examination (State Level) will be announced by the respective State Governments / Union Territories in last week of January or 2nd week of February.

Result of the Stage-II examination (National Level) will be announced by NCERT in the month of July every year.

Indian students studying abroad:

Candidates may fill up the relevant items of the Application Forms and send it to NCERT along with mark-sheet of previous exam latest by 31st March for consideration.

Contact Address:

Head
Educational Survey Division
National Council of Educational Research & Training
Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi -110016

Website: www.ncert.nic.in

For NTS National Level Examination Inquiry:

Phone No: 011-26560464
E-mail: ntse.ncert@yahoo.in

For NTS State Level Examination Inquiry:

Contact the Liaison Officer of your State

For NTS Scholarship Inquiry:

Phone No: 011-26562704 (Timings 2.30 PM to 4.30 PM only)
E-mail: ntse2@yahoo.co.in