The National Talent Search Examination, abbreviated as the NTSE, is a national-level exam administered by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) with the goal of awarding scholarships to deserving class ten students. The NTSE is only available to tenth-grade students and is divided into two stages: Stage I and Stage II.

The first stage exam is a state-level examination that is administered in all Indian states and union territories.

The second stage of the NTSE is administered to students who pass the first stage. Only those who have passed the NTSE Stage I exam will be permitted to take the Stage II exam.

The ideal thing to do is that the students should target NTSE from Class 9 only. 

Why students should prefer taking the NTSE Exam?

The goal of NTSE is to provide scholarships to deserving students who want to continue further education in the fields of science or social studies. Students will be able to continue their studies in their chosen field thanks to these scholarships. Students will be given NTSE scholarships based on their total achievement in both parts of the examination.

What should be the ideal plan for NTSE Exam?

1. Begin planning as soon as possible.

Starting early to prepare for the NTSE allows you to plan ahead of time for the 9th and 10th-grade curriculum. Also, instead of squandering your summers, attempt to acquire and comprehend the concepts of solving Mental Ability Problems (MAT). These are basic thinking exercises that can be undertaken in the summer without any prior understanding of the subject.

2. Make an educated and immaculate study plan.

It is critical to begin planning ahead of time for any exam. Plan your studies in 9th grade or throughout the summer and stick to it. You can enlist the assistance of teachers, friends, or family members in creating an NTSE study strategy. This plan should necessarily include the textbooks prescribed by the respective boards. For example- CBSE follows NCERT books like for Science the students have NCERT Class 9 Science Book in Hindi or English Medium. 

3. Systematic and consistent practice is essential 

The key to passing the NTSE is to practice on a regular basis. The more you practice, the more you’ll learn about the subject. Use NTSE Sample Papers to help you understand the topics. After studying each topic in Science, Mathematics, SST, and MAT make short notes on essential formulas and concepts. To keep the short points fresh in your mind, review them right before the exam.

4. Keep track of your progress for the NTSE Exam and analyze it.

Many teachers and coaching institutes avoid discussing performance analysis since it is impossible to do so humanly. However, today’s platforms that provide exam preparation and practice conduct extensive research on students’ learning.

The Eligibility criteria for Stage 1

• Candidates in Class 10th from any private or public school, as well as open and distance learning schools, are eligible to apply for the exam.
• There are no domicile restrictions, therefore applicants can take the NTSE stage I exam in their home state/UT.
• Additional stage I exam conditions, such as minimum qualifying marks in the prior class, may be specified by the SCERT of various states/UTs.
• Candidates who worked their way through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) institutions such as the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) or State Open Boards may also apply for NTSE 2021.
• Candidates studying through Open and Distance Learning must be at least 18 years old at the time of the scholarship exam. Furthermore, they should not be working (even part-time), and they should be taking the Class 10th qualifying examination for the first time.

NTSE Eligibility Criteria for Stage II exam (national level)

For candidates studying in India:

• They must be Indian citizens, regardless of whether they are taking their Class 10th qualifying examination in India or abroad.
• They should have passed stage I at the state level.

For candidates studying outside India:

The Indian national candidates studying abroad can directly sit for the Stage II exam of the NTSE scholarship award. 

They should have scored at least 60 percent marks in their last qualifying examination i.e. Class 9th.

Such candidates should be planning to pursue their higher education only in India after obtaining the NTSE Scholarship. 

IMPORTANCE OF CLASS 9 FOR NTSE EXAM

• The syllabus covered in class 9 is extremely crucial to crack the NTSE exam. 
• Students should deeply focus on each and every concept in the class 9 syllabus because not only it will help in the NTSE exam but also it will help in a better understanding of the class 10 syllabus and henceforth make it to the NTSE exam. 
• Furthermore, the NTSE requires a minimum qualifying score in class 9th, and each state has set the percentage of minimum qualifying marks for each category.

• The development of critical thinking is the most crucial ability for NTSE preparation. This is a process in which the thinking talent weaves together the knowledge gained, concepts learned, misconceptions understood, and fundamentals assimilated to come at a logical and strategic solution to a given situation. It will definitely happen if the students have a keen focus on Class 9.
• Because NTSE Stage I is administered by the State Board, the syllabus covered is drawn from both the State Board (particularly the questions in the Social Science section) and the CBSE board. Some states only use the CBSE Board’s curriculum.
• Only the CBSE Board syllabus, i.e. Chapters IX and X of the NCERT book, will be covered in NTSE Stage II. Another essential aspect of the NTSE Stage II exam is that the level of difficulty of the questions will be much higher than the NTSE Stage I paper. So be cautious when answering your questions, and it’s a good idea to look at prior years’ papers.
• Make sure whatever you read and turn you have to keep on revising that subsequently and keep on relating that to other concepts for better memory and a better understanding of concepts will develop this way.