Top 10 Tips to Become an NTSE Scholar.

National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a national-level scholarship program in India. It’s an attempt to recognize and tap into students’ potential. National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT), it’s considered to be one of the most prestigious exams. Every year, close to fifty lakh students appear for this scholarship exam, out of which 1000 scholarships are awarded. The scholarship is open only to the students of Indian nationality. Students studying in Class X are eligible to appear for this examination.

In this article, we will share with you the top tips to become an NTSE scholar.

  1. Know your Strengths & Weaknesses:

It’s necessary to know your strengths & weaknesses. E.g. If you’re strong in mathematics and science but average in languages and weak in social sciences, then you can turn your weaknesses into strengths for an overall good score.

  1. Follow NCERT Books:

Follow NCERT books of classes IX and X for NTSE preparation. For some concepts in biology, refer NCERT Class XI Biology . It’s imperative to thoroughly study the Social Studies NCERT book for NTSE.

  1. Self-Study is Important:

For clearing any exam, a decent amount of SELF STUDY is important. It is one of the most basic and important of all the tips to become an NTSE scholar. One should devote at least 3-4 hours to self-learning to crack this competitive exam.

  1. Practice, Practice & More Practice:

Finally, regular practice is what will get you through. Solve as many questions of mental ability as possible so that you’re not shocked on the exam day. Take the help of your school seniors and teachers. With practice, you’ll also get more confident about your speed, subject knowledge, and accuracy.

  1. Solving Sample Papers:

You must solve a lot of sample papers and mock tests at least thrice a week. You should aim to solve these papers within the stipulated time so that you can improve your speed and know the sections that consume more time.

  1. Reference Books:

R.S. Aggarwal’s handbook is extremely helpful for preparing for the MAT exams. For mocks, you can refer to Arihant & Tata McGraw-Hill books as they clearly point out the difficulty level of NTSE.

  1. Strengthen Your MAT Section:

The MAT section tests your mental ability. Hence, you must give sufficient time for preparing for this part.

  1. Work on Your SAT Section:

Follow NCERT for the scholastic aptitude section of NTSE. You must also read a good general knowledge book for ‘out of the course’ questions

  1. Analyze Your Performance:

Make sure you minutely assess what you could do and what you had a hard time with. Was it the subject understanding you lacked? Or did you miss out on the scores because of silly mistakes? Whatever it is, just analyze your performance very critically.

  1. Apply Findings:

Once you know your weak points, make a plan. Study and revise the subject matter if needed. Allocate time for different sections of the exam.

The mantra to crack NTSE as I have elaborated above is to have a good idea of the level of the exam and achieve mastery in all the topics required.

The mantra to crack NTSE as I have elaborated above is to have a good idea of the level of the exam and achieve mastery in all the topics required.

Just remember that you don’t have to be a Know-It-All to compete and excel. You can be just an ordinary candidate and follow these tips to become an NTSE scholar.

Exam Day Tips for NTSE :

  • Don’t panic a day before the test. Better, don’t do anything on that day. Relax. (I know saying this is easy, but doing this is tough – but let me just hope that at least a fraction of my readers follow this).
  • Start from the section in which you are the strongest. You’ll automatically have more time for your weak points.
  • Eat light before the exam, but please do have something nutritious and filling.
  • Don’t discuss anything with your friends in the break between the two tests (MAT and SAT). Take a walk within the exam center or have a light snack instead.