10 Tips to Prepare for NTSE in One Month

National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a national level scholarship exam conducted by National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT). NTSE is conducted in two stages where the Stage 1 exam is conducted at the state level by state authorities and the stage 2 exam is conducted at the national level by other states and union territories. The exam is conducted to identify and recognize the intellectual student and help them get a scholarship. NTSE stage 1 exam for secondary school level students will be conducted on November 02 and 03, 2019 for which registration process has already started.

Students who have already applied for NTSE stage 1 exam now need to start their preparation as well. Though most of the students continue their preparation along with the school, some students completely focus on preparation by starting it a month before the exam. Since there is only one month left for the exam, you should start preparation without wasting time. If you are also looking for NTSE preparation tips in one month, continue reading this blog.

1. Understand the Syllabus

From making an effective study plan to forming strategies to perform well in the examination hall, knowledge of NTSE syllabus and exam pattern helps at each stage. You should check the exam syllabus before making your timetable.

2. NTSE Syllabus

NTSE syllabus will be from 10th curriculum of NCERT. Students can cover most of the syllabus by going through the NCERT books and for topics, they find difficult to understand they can take help of online learning resources like live online classes, recorded video lectures etc.

NTSE question papers basically cover topics from Mathematics, Science, Social Science, English, General Knowledge, and Mental Ability syllabus.

3. Check NTSE Exam Pattern

NTSE is a state-level exam that is divided into two sections, the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Ability Test (SAT). Conducted in the offline mode, the paper has Objective type multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Every correct answer carries one mark. Students from general category need to score 40% marks to qualify the test while students from reserved categories need to secure only 32% marks.

4. Understand Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Having knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses helps you focus on the right things. If you are aware of your weaknesses, you can look for solutions. For instance, if you don’t understand a certain topic from books, you can watch recorded video lectures from Aakash iTutor on the same topics to boost your preparation. Experienced Aakash teachers explain difficult topics in an easy-to-understand way on digital boards through illustrations, graphs, and images to help you get the topic quickly and remember it for longer.

5. Study from Home

As you now have just a few days left for the NTSE exam, you cannot afford to waste your time on the daily commute. This is the time when you should look for self-study or online test preparation options. Live interactive classes or recorded video lectures by “Aakash Digital” allow you to get the same guidance and learning experience at the convenience of your home. Well-researched content and a creatively designed syllabus for NTSE along with ample practise tests help you prepare for the exam quickly and effectively.

6. Take Mock Tests

Taking as many mock tests, practice tests, and previous year’s papers as you can is one of the best ways to not just check your progress but also to check your level among other students. With online practice tests by Aakash Digital that include mock tests, AIATS, previous year papers, etc., you can get ready for the real-time examination environment that will help you stay confident and give your best shot on D-day.

It will also help you analyze your performance and look for improvement techniques to score high in the final exam.

7. Revise Regularly

Revision is the key to success. As you already have just one month for NTSE preparation, you cannot think of saving last week for revision. It is better, if you keep revising your syllabus regularly and keep solving sample papers to check how much you know.

8. Get Answers to Your Doubts

Entering into the examination hall with doubts in your mind will only spoil your performance. So, whether you are taking coaching for NTSE or not, make sure you clear your doubts. If you have opted for self-study, you can ask your doubts by downloading a mobile app. For instance, ‘Ask an Expert’ feature in Aakash iTutor’s mobile app is one of the options where you can get answers to your queries from experienced teachers.

9. Solve Previous Years’ Papers

This will help you understand the exam pattern and the type of questions asked. Based on this, you can develop your techniques and strategies to attempt maximum questions in the limited time provided to complete the test.

10. Take Care of Your Health

Having less time for NTSE preparation doesn’t mean you will start neglecting your health. Though you need to study for a few extra hours, you need to make sure you eat healthy food and take enough sleep. What you eat and for how much time you sleep has a direct impact on your performance in the final exam. So, pay equal attention to your health when preparing for NTSE

11. Recommended Books for NTSE Preparation

In addition to NCERT books of class IX, X, XI, and XII and recorded video lectures, you can also refer to below-given books. However, this is not important, if you think that you have already covered the syllabus and can perform well in the exam.

• Study Package for NTSE Class X (English) 1st and 2nd Edition by McGraw Hill
• Practice Papers NTSE X (English) by TMH Books
• The Pearson Guide to NTSE Class 10 (English) by Saurabh Priyadarshini and Navi C. Joshi
• NTSE Explorer: MAT + SAT + New English Language Test for class 10th (English) by Sonia Lal

Remember that you don’t need to perfect with knowledge of each and everything. You can attempt the question paper even by preparing for just one month but with complete dedication.

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