The National Talent Search Exam (NTSE) is a scholarship exam conducted for students of Class 10. It is organized by NCERT every year to identify and nurture talented students in the science stream. Candidates who qualify for the NTSE exam at both state and national levels will be eligible for NTSE scholarships throughout their academic period. Students can get the NTSE 2021 application form from their schools and the Liaison’s office. They can also download a printable format of the application form from the official website of NCERT .
NTSE 2021 – Application Form, Admit Card, Exam Dates
The NTSE exam dates 2021, for stage 1 and stage 2 were expected to be announced in October 2020. However, due to the onslaught of COVID 19, all the dates have been postponed.
NTSE 2021 Application Form
Candidates can download a printable format of the NTSE 2021 application form from the official website of NCERT, one month before the NTSE Exam. They can also get the application form from their schools and the Liaison’s office.
NTSE Admit Card
The release date of the NTSE hall ticket is varied from state to state. SCERT and UTs have released admit cards for Stage 1 individually. Some states, including Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Haryana, Punjab, Puducherry, have released the admit card of NTSE Stage 1 in online mode. On the other hand, other states have issued the NTSE Stage 1 admit card in offline mode. Admit cards for NTSE Stage 2 will be released by NCERT in May-June 2021 as the exam has been scheduled to be held on June 13, 2021.
NTSE 2021 Examination
State-level exam: NTSE 2021 Stage 1 was conducted on December 12, 2020, in Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Andaman, and the Nicobar Islands. On December 19, Punjab and some of the remaining states and UTs conducted the exam. On December 27, Jammu & Kashmir, and on January 3, 17, 24, and February 21, 2021, the NTSE exam was held in Odisha; West Bengal; Bihar, Kerala and Karnataka; and Telangana and HP, respectively.
National level exam: The NTSE 2021 Stage 2 exam is scheduled to be conducted on June 13, 2021.
NTSE 2021 Result: States and UTs have begun releasing the NTSE 2021 result for Stage 1 on the official websites. SCERT Karnataka has published the NTSE Karnataka Result 2021 on the official website. States are announcing the NTSE 2021 result in the form of a merit list. It includes the names of all shortlisted candidates. Many other states will also declare the NTSE 2021 result soon.
NSTE 2021 – Important Dates
| Events | Dates |
| Start of Application Forms | October 2020 onwards |
| Last date for Applications | Varies from state to state |
| NTSE admit card for stage 1 | November 2020 |
| NTSE 2021 exam for Stage 1 | December 12, 13, 19, 27, 2020 and January 3, 17, 24, February 21, 2021 |
| NTSE 2021 Results for Stage 1 | March 2021 |
| NTSE admit card for stage 2 | May – June 2021 |
| NTSE 2021 Stage 2 exam | June 13, 2021 |
| NTSE 2021 Stage 2 result | October 2021 |
How to Check NTSE 2021 Result – Stage 1
As some states and UTs have started declaring the NTSE 2021 result of Stage 1, candidates can check their Stage 1 result through the following steps.
- Visit the official website of SCERT.
- Click on NTSE Result 2021. The merit list will appear on the screen.
- Check the name in the list. Save and download the result once appeared in the merit list.
How to Download NTSE Admit Card?
Students will be able to download the NTSE 2021 admit card via offline and online mode. They can also collect their admit cards from school or can download them from the official NCERT website.
NTSE Admit Card download for Stage 1:
- Visit the official website of the SCERT/Education Department of the respective state.
- Go through the direct link of the NTSE section, available on the home page.
- Click on the admit card or hall ticket link.
- Enter the important details like school code, application number, and password/date of birth to download the hall ticket.
- Take the printout of the NTSE hall ticket.
NTSE Admit Card download for stage 2:
- Visit the NCERT website ncert.nic.in.
- Click on the “Download E-admit card for NTS-stage 2 examination.”
- Enter all the details like Stage 1 roll number, date of birth, and captcha code.
- Click on the “Submit” tab.
- Take the printout of the admit card.
NTSE 2021 Admit Card: Important Information
- The NTSE 2021 admit card will carry a student’s details, including the Students’ name, Category, State/UT, Roll Number, Exam Date, Time & Centre, and Instructions.
- Candidates are advised to thoroughly cross-verify the details printed on the NTSE 2021 admit card for spelling or printing errors.
- In case of any discrepancy on admit card, candidates must immediately contact the State’s Liaison Officer or the respective school to rectify them.
- Candidates can also send an e-mail to ntsexam.ncert@gov.in.
NTSE 2021 Hall Ticket
Candidates who applied for NTSE 2021 exam must follow a few instructions before appearing in the exam.
- Candidates must carry a hard copy of the admit card in the exam.
- Candidates are not allowed to write anything on the admit card.
- Along with the NTSE hall ticket, candidates must carry their School Identity card and Aadhar card.
NTSE Eligibility Criteria
There are eligibility criteria by NCERT that must be complied with by students.
- Candidates must be Indian citizens.
- Students studying in Class 10 are eligible for the NTSE exam.
- Candidates below the age of 18, studying in class 10 from open or distance learning, and not employed are eligible for the NTSE exam.
- There is no domicile restriction. This means a candidate can be from any State/Union Territory of India apply for NTSE.
- Only the students who qualified in NTSE Stage 1 are eligible to appear for NTSE Stage 2 examination.
NSTE 2021 Syllabus
The NTSE syllabus is broadly equivalent to the syllabus of the 9th and 10th standards. The exam consists of two papers – Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
The MAT paper tests a student’s ability to problem-solving and reasoning skills. It covers topics based on verbal and non-verbal abilities such as reasoning and critical thinking.
NTSE Syllabus for MAT
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Analogy
- Verbal and Non-Verbal Series
- Coding-Decoding
- Alphabet and Number Test
- Classification
- Blood Relations
- Paper Cutting and Folding
- Distance and Direction
- Venn Diagrams, Calendar
- Time and Clock
- Mathematical Operations
- Missing Characters
- Ranking and Arrangements
- Embedded Figures
- Word Problems
- Cube and Dice
- Water and Mirror Images
NTSE Syllabus for SAT
The SAT tests a student’s academic knowledge, reading skills, application skills, etc. It covers topics from Social Science, Science, and Mathematics. In the social science section, the paper revolves around history, geography, and civics. Science covers topics from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
The mathematics syllabus includes topics from Arithmetic Progressions, Polynomials, and Number Systems. It also covers Polynomials, Real Numbers, Quadratic Equations, Percentage, Square Roots and Cube Roots, Direct and Inverse Variation, Mensuration, Rational Numbers, Circles, and Trigonometry.
Final Thoughts
To score well in NTSE 2021, students must practice last year’s NTSE question papers. They also must be familiar with the NTSE exam pattern, syllabus, marking scheme, exam duration, and more.
Appearing for such exams is beneficial for students. These competitions are a good chance for students. They explore subjects and information beyond their course books. Such examinations also help them in identifying their skill sets and boost their confidence. So, buckle up, prepare well and get ready for NTSE 2021.
