The National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) was one of India’s most prestigious scholarship exams for Class 10 students. It was conducted in two stages and assessed students’ Mental Ability and Scholastic knowledge.
NTSE Exam Structure Overview
NTSE was conducted in two stages:
- Stage I – State Level Examination
- Stage II – National Level Examination
Both stages followed a similar structure.
Stage I – State Level Exam
Conducted by respective State/UT authorities.
📘 Paper Pattern
| Section | Name | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | Mental Ability Test (MAT) | 100 | 100 | 120 minutes |
| Part 2 | Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) | 100 | 100 | 120 minutes |
Total Questions: 200
Total Marks: 200
Total Duration: 4 Hours
Mental Ability Test (MAT)
The MAT section tested logical reasoning, analytical ability, and problem-solving skills.
Important Topics Covered:
- Number & Letter Series
- Coding–Decoding
- Analogy
- Classification (Odd One Out)
- Blood Relations
- Direction Sense Test
- Ranking & Arrangements
- Venn Diagrams
- Figure-based Reasoning
- Mirror & Water Images
- Paper Folding & Cutting
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
The SAT section was based on the Class 9 and 10 syllabus (CBSE level).
Subject-wise Distribution (Approximate)
| Subject | Number of Questions |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 20–30 |
| Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) | 40–50 |
| Social Science | 40–50 |
| English (included in some states) | 10–20 |
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Stage II – National Level Exam
Stage II was conducted at the national level by National Council of Educational Research and Training.
The structure remained the same:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAT | 100 | 100 | 120 minutes |
| SAT | 100 | 100 | 120 minutes |
However, the difficulty level was slightly higher than Stage I.
Section-wise Difficulty Trend (Based on Previous Years)
| Section | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|
| MAT | Moderate to Difficult |
| Mathematics | Moderate |
| Science | Moderate |
| Social Science | Moderate (Concept + Memory Based) |
| English | Easy to Moderate |
Disclaimer
“This website is not affiliated with NCERT. The information provided is for educational purposes only.”
NTSE was conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). This page is created for informational and practice purposes only.