The NSTSE Olympiad exam measures how well a student has understood mathematics and science concepts. The NSTSE exam covers around 85% of NCERT books and the NSTSE syllabus framed by the Unified Council. The source for the syllabus released by Unified is taken from the recognized education boards in India, i.e., CBSE, ICSE, and ISC.
Table of Contents
NSTSE Syllabus Highlights
National Level Science Talent Search Examination is a diagnostic test conducted by the Unified Council. The questions framed for the NSTSE exam assess the students' understanding of the concepts. Question papers are suitable for students following CBSE/ICSE/ISC and various other state board syllabus.
NSTSE syllabus and question papers are framed by Unified Council's academic experts to encourage students to think and answer the questions and not simply recall and write.
Here are the highlights of the NSTSE exam syllabus.
| Particulars | About |
| Syllabus Framed | NTSE Books |
| Subjects |
|
| Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ's) |
| Exam Duration | 90 Minutes |
| Mode of Examination | Online/Offline |
| No. of Questions |
|
| Marking Scheme | 1 mark for each correct answer |
| Negative Marking | No |
NSTSE Syllabus for Classes 1 to 12
NSTSE is conducted by the Unified Council for students of classes 1 to 10 and students of classes 11 and 12 (PCM and PCB group). For class 2, the NSTSE paper will have two sections; maths and general science. Whereas for classes 3 to 12, the NSTSE paper will have three sections, maths, general science, and critical thinking section.
The syllabus covered in the critical thinking section is the same for all the classes 3 to 12, but the papers' difficulty level will be hard for higher secondary classes. The topics covered to assess the combination of skills like real-life application, logical reasoning, decision making, and subjective/objective analysis.
The NSTSE Olympiad syllabus outline and exam pattern with the division of marks of each section for grades 1 to 12 are listed below.
- NSTSE Syllabus for Class 1
- NSTSE Syllabus for Class 2
- NSTSE Syllabus for Class 3
- NSTSE Syllabus for Class 4
- NSTSE Syllabus for Class 5
- NSTSE Syllabus for Class 6
- NSTSE Syllabus for Class 7
- NSTSE Syllabus for Class 8
- NSTSE Syllabus for Class 9
- NSTSE Syllabus for Class 10
- NSTSE Syllabus for Class 11
- NSTSE Syllabus for Class 12
NSTSE Syllabus for Class 1
NSTSE syllabus for class 1 covers topics from fundamental mathematics and everyday science.
The list of syllabus covered in maths and science sections are,
Mathematics
- Numbers up to 100
- Ordinal numbers
- Addition and subtraction
- Lengths, weight, and capacity
- Time and money
- Geometrical shapes
General Science
- Living and non-living things
- Plant-life
- Animal life
- Human body
- Air, water, and weather
NSTSE Syllabus for Class 2
NSTSE syllabus for class 2 covers topics from mathematics and general science that are in everyday use.
The list of syllabus covered in maths and science sections are,
Mathematics
- Numbers addition and subtraction
- Multiplication, division, fractions, and length
- Mass and capacity shapes (2D & 3D)
- Time money pictographs
General Science
- Living and nonliving things
- Plantlife
- Animal life
- Human body
- Air and water
- Rocks and minerals
- Our universe safety
- First aid housing and clothing
NSTSE Syllabus for Class 3
NSTSE Class 3 syllabus includes topics basic mathematics and daily life science concepts.
The list of topics covered in each section are,
Mathematics
- Numbers addition and subtraction
- Multiplication, division, and fractions
- Money and time
- Measurement shapes (2D/3D)
- Data handling
General Science
- Living and non-living things
- Plant & animal life: their foods and home
- Birds: beaks, claws, and nests of the birds
- Soil, air, water, and weather
- Our universe
- Human body
- Safety and first-aid
- Housing and their surroundings
- Measurements
NSTSE Syllabus for Class 4
Unified Council NSTSE Olympiad exam for class 4 covers maths, science, and critical thinking, covering mathematics and science subjects.
List of topics that need more preparation for NSTSE class 4 are,
Mathematics
- Numbers: roman numerals
- Addition and subtraction
- Multiplication and division
- Multiples and factors
- Fractions, measurement, and geometry
- Time, perimeter, and area
- Data handling
General Science
- Plant life-I (adaptation in plants)
- Plant life-II (adaptation in plants)
- Animal life-I (adaptation in animals)
- Animal life-II (reproduction in animals)
- Food and digestion
- Health & hygiene
- Teeth and microbes
- Safety and first-aid
- Our clothes
- Air, water, and weather
- Our universe
- Matter, force, work, and energy
NSTSE Syllabus for Class 5
National Level Science Talent Search Examination for class 5 covers two subjects reflecting the logical ability and everyday science topics.
The list of topics that should be given more importance for NSTSE class 4 are,
Mathematics
- Large numbers, factors, and multiples
- Fractions
- Decimals
- Arithmetic, geometry, mensuration, measurement, and data handling
General Science
- Plantlife
- Animal life
- The human body (nervous system, bones, and muscles)
- The human body (food and health)
- Soil, rocks, and minerals
- Air, water, and weather
- The Moon
- Matter, force, work, energy safety, and first-aid
- Critical thinking
NSTSE Syllabus for Class 6
The NSTSE class 5 question paper covers topics from food resources, motion & measurements, chemical substances, and basic mathematics.
A list of topics for NSTSE preparation is given below.
Mathematics
- Knowing our numbers
- Whole numbers
- Playing with numbers
- Basic geometrical ideas
- Understanding elementary shapes
- Integers, fractions, decimals, and data handling
- Mensuration, algebra ratio, proportion, symmetry, and practical geometry
Physics
- Motion and measurement of distances
- Light, shadows, and reflections
- Electricity and circuits
- Fun with magnets
Chemistry
- Sorting materials into groups
- Separation of substances
- Changes around us
- Water
- Air around us
Biology
- Food and its source
- Components of food
- Fibre to fabric
- Plants body movements
- The living organisms and their surroundings
- Garbage and their disposal
- Critical Thinking
NSTSE Syllabus for Class 7
Unified National Level Science Talent Search exam for class 7 covers topics from fundamental physics and chemistry subjects.
List of important topics for class 6 NSTSE preparation are,
Mathematics
- Integers, fractions, and decimals
- Data handling
- Simple equations, lines, and angles
- The triangle and its properties
- Congruence of triangles
- Comparing quantities
- Rational numbers
- Practical geometry, perimeter, and area
- Algebraic expressions
- Exponents and powers symmetry
- Visualizing solid shapes
Physics
- Motion and time
- Heat, light, electric current, and its effects
Chemistry
- Physical and chemical changes
- Acids, bases, and salts
- Winds, storms, and cyclones
- Water and its conservation
Biology
- Nutrition in plants
- Nutrition in animals
- Fibre to fabric
- Organization in living beings
- Changes and adaptation
- Soil respiration in organisms
- Transportation in living beings
- Reproduction in plants
- Resource on earth-forests
- Critical Thinking
NSTSE Syllabus for Class 8
NSTSE Class 8 exam also covers topics from environmental issues and physical, chemical, and biological resources.
List of important topics for class 7 NSTSE preparation are,
Mathematics
- Rational numbers
- Linear equations in one variable
- Understanding quadrilaterals and practical geometry
- Data handling, squares, and square roots
- Cubes and cube roots
- Comparing quantities, algebraic expressions, and identities
- Visualizing solid, shapes, measurement, exponents, and powers
- Direct and inverse proportion
- Factorization
- Introduction to graphs
- Playing with numbers
Physics
- Force and pressure
- Friction
- Sound chemical
- Effects of electric current
- Some natural phenomena
- Light stars and the solar system
Chemistry
- Synthetic fibres and plastics
- Metals and non-metals
- Coal and petroleum
- Combustion and flame
- Pollution of air and water
Biology
- Food production and management cell
- Structure and functions
- Microorganisms
- Animals reproduction
- Critical Thinking
NSTSE Syllabus for Class 9
The NSTSE exam for class 9 covers plant reproduction, chemical movements, various metals, number systems, and equations.
List of important topics for class 8 NSTSE preparation are,
Mathematics
- Number systems
- Polynomials
- Coordinate geometry
- Linear equations in two variables
- Introduction to Euclid's
- Geometry lines and angles
- Triangles, quadrilateral, areas of the parallelogram, and triangles
- Circles constructions
- Heron's formula
- Surface areas and volumes
- Statistics probability
Physics
- Motion, force, and laws of motion
- Gravitation and pressure
- Work, energy, and power sound
Chemistry
- Matter
- Our surroundings
- Is matter around us pure?
- Atoms and molecules
- Structure of the atom
Biology
- Cell- The fundamental unit of life
- Tissues
- Diversity in living organisms
- Health and diseases
- Improvement in food resources
- Natural resources
- Critical Thinking
NSTSE Syllabus for Class 10
The Unified Council NSTSE class 10 syllabus covers plant and animal organisms, sound effects, food resources, linear & quadratic equations, and geometry.
Topics that need more concentration are,
Mathematics
- Real numbers
- Polynomials
- Pair of linear equations in two variables
- Quadratic equations
- Arithmetic progressions
- Triangles
- Coordinate geometry
- Introduction to trigonometry
- Some applications of trigonometry
- Circles constructions
- Areas related to circles
- Surface areas and volumes
- Statistics probability
Physics
- Light
- The Human eyes and the colourful world
- Electricity, magnetic effects of electric current
- Sources of energy
Chemistry
- Chemical reactions and equations
- Acids, bases, and salts
- Metals and non-metals
- Carbon and its compounds
- Periodic classification of elements
Biology
- Life processes
- Control and coordination
- Reproduction
- Heredity and evolution
- Our environment
- Management of natural resources
- Critical Thinking
NSTSE Syllabus for Class 11
The Unified NSTSE exam for class 11 covers chemical equations and properties, periodic elements, and intermediate mathematics.
List of important topics in NSTSE class 11 syllabus are,
Mathematics
- Sets, relations, and functions
- Principle of mathematical induction
- Logarithms, complex numbers, and quadratic equations
- Linear in-equations, sequences & series, trigonometry, and straight lines
- Conic sections
- Permutations and combinations
- Binomial theorem and statistics
- Mathematical reasoning
- Limits and derivatives
- Probability
- Introduction to 3D geometry
Biology
- Diversity in the living world
- Structural organization in plants & animals
- Cell structure and functions
- Plant physiology
- Animal physiology
Physics
- Physical-world, units, and measurements
- Motion in a straight line, motion in a plane, and laws of motion
- Work energy and power
- System of particles & rotational motion, and gravitation
- Mechanical properties of solids
- Mechanical properties of fluids
- Thermal properties of matter
- Thermodynamics
Chemistry
- Basic concepts of chemistry
- Structure of atoms
- Classification of elements & periodicity in properties
- Chemical bonding & molecular structure
- States of matter
- Gases & liquids
- Thermodynamics
- Equilibrium
- Redox reaction
- Hydrogen
- s-Block elements and some p-block elements
- Organic chemistry
- Basic principles & techniques
NSTSE Syllabus for Class 12
For class 12 NSTSE, students must focus on concepts from organic & Inorganic chemistry, electricity & magnetism, modern physics, and human & plant physiology.
List of important topics for class 12 NSTSE preparation are,
Mathematics
- Relations and functions
- Inverse trigonometric functions
- Matrices and determinants
- Continuity and differentiability
- Application of derivatives, integrals, application of integrals, and differential equations
- Vector algebra
- Three-dimensional geometry
- Probability
- Linear programming
Biology
- Reproduction
- Genetics and evolution
- Biology and human welfare
- Biotechnology
- Ecology
Physics
- Electric charges and fields
- Electrostatic potential and capacitance
- Current electricity
- Moving charges and magnetism
- Magnetism and matter
- Electromagnetic induction and alternating current
- Electromagnetic waves
- Ray optics and optical instruments
- Wave optics
Chemistry
- Solid-state and solutions
- Electrochemistry
- Chemical kinetics
- Surface chemistry
- Isolation of elements, p-block elements, and d & f-block elements
- Coordination compounds, haloalkanes & haloarenes, alcohols, phenols & ethers aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids
- Organic compounds containing nitrogen and biomolecules
NSTSE Exam Pattern
There will be a separate question paper for each class, and the medium of the question paper will be in English. Each correct answer will be awarded one mark, and no negative marking will be awarded for the wrong answer. The students can purchase the NSTSE previous year question paper from the Unified Council Organization.
Total questions under each section for all the classes are given below.
- NSTSE Exam Pattern for Classes 1 and 2
- NSTSE Exam Pattern for Class 3 to 5
- NSTSE Exam Pattern for Class 6 to 10
- NSTSE Exam Pattern for Classes 11 and 12 (PCM)
- NSTSE Exam Pattern for Classes 11 and 12 (PCB)
NSTSE Exam Pattern for Classes 1 and 2
Unified Council NSTSE exam patterns for classes 1 and 2 are given in the table below.
| Sections | Total Marks |
| Mathematics | 20 |
| General Science | 30 |
NSTSE Exam Pattern for Class 3 to 5
Unified Council NSTSE exam patterns for classes 3 to 5 are given in the table below.
| Sections | Total Marks |
| Mathematics | 25 |
| General Science | 30 |
| Critical Thinking | 5 |
NSTSE Exam Pattern for Class 6 to 10
Unified Council NSTSE exam patterns for classes 6 to 10 are given in the table below.
| Sections | Total Marks |
| Mathematics | 25 |
| Physics | 10 |
| Chemistry | 10 |
| Biology | 10 |
| Critical Thinking | 5 |
NSTSE Exam Pattern for Classes 11 and 12 (PCM)
Unified Council NSTSE exam patterns for classes 11 to 12 from Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) majors are given in the table below.
| Sections | Total Marks |
| Mathematics | 25 |
| Physics | 15 |
| Chemistry | 15 |
| Critical Thinking | 5 |
NSTSE Exam Pattern for Classes 11 and 12 (PCB)
Unified Council NSTSE exam patterns for classes 11 to 12 from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) majors are given in the table below.
| Sections | Total Marks |
| Mathematics | 25 |
| Physics | 15 |
| Chemistry | 15 |
| Critical Thinking | 5 |
Note: Get the complete list of Olympiads Exams conducted in India.
