How to prepare for NTSE Stage II 2020-21

NTSE Stage II 2020-21 was scheduled on 13th June 2021 but because of Corona pandemic it's been postponed and is expected most probably by October 2021. As results of NTSE Stage I has started pouring in, now students are worried/concerned about NTSE Stage II, and if is held as per expectations, students must start preparing for it

NTSE Stage II 2019-20 got much delayed due to Covid 19 and was finally held on 14th February 2021 and it's final results got declared in July 21

For NTSE 2019-20 about 8500 cleared NTSE Stage I and appeared for NTSE Stage II and out of these 8500 students 2060 became NTSE Scholar. 

818 students in the list of General Category list (cut off 132)

569 students in the OBC Category list (cut off 110)

318 students in the SC Category list (cut off 98)

154 students in the ST Category list (cut off 89)

201 students in the EWS Category list (cut off 81)
https://ncert.nic.in/pdf/ntse/NoticeforFinalResultsNTSE-2020.pdf

from the above analysis, we can say that out of every 4 students only 1 made it to the NTSE merit list. So overall its going to be a tough exam. Don't forget that every student appearing in NTSE Stage II has cleared NTSE Stage I and is one of the best Talent from his/her State or UT

Syllabus and Paper Pattern for NTSE Stage II - NTSE Stage I is conducted by the respective State Boards, hence some of the States cover the State Board Syllabus in NTSE Stage I. NTSE Stage II will be conducted at National Level by NCERT. Though there is no prescribed syllabus for NTS examination. However the standard of items shall be confirming to the level of class IX and X

http://www.ncert.nic.in/programmes/talent_exam/pdf_files/Information_Brochure_2019.pdf

Almost all of the students who clear NTSE Stage I are very good in Science, Maths and Mental Ability. But difficulty level of MAT Section of Stage II  will be totally different, needs thorough preparation and that also questions of much difficult level (students got flattened while solving the MAT section of NTSE Stage II 2019-20). The another section which will decide your fate in NTSE Stage II will be Social Science syllabus 

Going by the previous years papers, we can say that Social Science section of the SAT paper of  NTSE Stage II will mainly cover the NCERT Social Science syllabus of Class IX and X. Here we have to keep in mind that the State board syllabus which were covered in NTSE Stage I will not be covered in NTSE Stage II, will cover only the syllabus of NCERT Social Science syllabus of Class IX and X (one or two questions can be of higher level, but most of the questions will be from Class IX and X syllabus only)
Previous years papers of NTSE Stage II can be easily accessed on GOOGLE

Analysis of the Social Science section of previous years papers of NTSE Stage II

Going by the above analysis of Social Science section, we can say that the syllabus of Class IX and X carries equal importance. Generally equal number of questions have been asked from Class IX as well as Class X syllabus, hence students are advised to give equal importance to the syllabus of class IX and X. As far as Class X syllabus is concerned, students of CBSE Board are right now preparing for their Board exams, so its suggested that prepare your Board syllabus in such a manner that will not have to prepare it again for NTSE Stage II (CBSE Board exam syllabus has been reduced, but it’s suggest to prepare complete syllabus for NTSE).Once Board exams are over, we can concentrate on Syllabus of Class IX (when you were there in class IX, no syllabus reduction was there, so go for compete syllabus).

Difficulty level of questions will be higher in comparison to Stage I. More then one correct options, Assertion & Reasoning questions, Map & Table based questions will raise the difficulty level
Last few years paper analysis says, 12 questions has been asked from History, 12 from Geography section, 8 from Civics and 8 from Economics. So no risk can be taken as far as History and Geography are concerned. If I would be preparing for NTSE Stage II Social Science section, my first priority would be to cover the History/Geography syllabus, Second priority will be Economics part (total 8 questions from 9 chapters of class IX and X). Third priority will be Civics, as only 8 questions will be asked and for that I will have to prepare 14 chapters
History section,
Ist Unit of Class IX (French Revolution, Russian Revolution, Nazism and the Rise of Hitler) needs to be prepared thoroughly. From IInd Unit emphasis should be on Forest Society and Colonialism, then Peasant and Farmers chapter needs to be done and if still time is left with you then Pastoralism in the modern world is to be done. IIIrd unit i.e. Cricket & Clothing chapter is our last priority (You can object on  IIIrd Unit of History by saying that, it’s no more in the syllabus of CBSE. But we should not forget that one question each from Cricket and Clothing chapters were asked in the NTSE Stage II 2019-20 paper held recently on 14^th February 2021).
In the Ist Unit of class X History first priority should be 'Rise of Nationalism in Europe' and 'Nationalism in India'. In IInd Unit first priority is 'Globalisation in the Modern World', then 'The Age of Industrialisation' is to be done (both these chapters have been removed from CBSE Board exams, but are part of Internal Evaluation, so need to be prepared for NTSE exam). To avoid any risk, do prepare Print Culture of IIIrd Unit also is to be done. When we will finish the complete syllabus and still time is left with us then we will go for Rise of 'Nationalism in Indo-China', 'Work, Life and Leisure' and 'Novels'. (In NTSE Stage II 2019-20, questions form Class X History were asked only from 'Nationalism in Europe' and 'Nationalism in India')

Preparation of questions from History section can be done keeping in mind the difficulty level of questions of previous years

Geography section,
All chapters are to be done thoroughly (some chapters of class X, i.e. 'Forest & Wildlife Resources' & 'Water Resource' were not part of CBSE Board evaluation, but has to be prepared for NTSE) but more emphasis should be on the chapters of class IX. Most of the questions in Geography section are asked from Class IX syllabus.

All Maps, diagrams, graphs given in the NCERT books must be thoroughly prepared

Preparation of questions from Geography section can be done keeping in mind the difficulty level of questions of previous years

 

Civics section
All chapters of class IX and X are to be done (chapters which were omitted for the CBSE Board evaluation i.e. 'Democracy & Diversity', Gender, Religion and Casteism’ and  'Challenges to Democracy' needs to be done for NTSE Exam). More emphasis on Constitutional Design, Working of the Institutions, Democratic Rights and Federalism.  Chapter of Class IX 'Democracy in the Contemporary World' and Class X 'Popular Struggle and Movement' should be our last priority

Preparation of questions from Civics section can be done keeping in mind the difficulty level of questions of previous years

 

Economics section

All chapters need to be done (Consumer Rights chapter which was omitted from CBSE Board evaluation is to be done for NTSE exam). Numerical type questions should be practiced

Preparation of questions from Economics section can be done keeping in mind the difficulty level of questions of previous year

For  practicing MCQ questions of Social Science, you can visit

MCQs of Class IX Chapters

Short Notes of Class IX Chaptes

MCQs of Class X Chapters

Short Notes of Class X Chapters 

Previous Years asked & Practice Questions for NTSE Stage II

If you face any problem in preparing for NTSE Stage II, feel free to drop a msg/whatsapp me on 9460079449

ALL THE BEST

  

Objections and Feedback of the Official Answer Key of NTSE Stage II 2019-20

Following are the objections and Feedback (Social Science section) of the Official Answer Key of NTSE Stage II 2019-20 held on 14th February 2021

Read the statements and select the correct answer from the options given below:

1. Statement–I is true, Statement–II is false

2. Statement–I is false, Statement–II is true

3. Both statements are true and Statement–II provides explanations to Statement–I

4. Both statements are true and Statement–II does not provides explanations to Statement–I

Q. 71. Statement-I: During the Civil Disobedience Movement, ‘no rent’ campaign were carried out

in most placed.

Statement-II: The relationship between the poor peasants and the Congress remained

uncertain.

Official Answer key of NCERT says that Option 3 (Both statements are true and Statement–II provides explanations to Statement–I) is the correct answer

Last paragraph on Page No. 41, under the heading – 3.1 How participants saw the movement, clearly says - Apprehensive of raising issues that might upset the rich peasants and landlords, the Congress was unwilling to support ‘no rent’ campaigns in most places. So the relationship between the poor peasants and the Congress remained uncertain.

 That’s why the correct answer should be Option 4 (Both statements are true and Statement–II does not provides explanations to Statement–I)

 

Q. 76. In India, there are landlocked states as well as states with long coastlines. Madhavan is

planning to travel from Srinagar to Kanyakumari. What is the minimum number of land

locked and coastal states that he would have to traverse excluding the origin and destination

UTs/States?

1. 3, 2              2. 3, 3              3. 2,2               4. 2, 3

Official answer key says that Option 3 should be correct

Objection and Feedback –

(a)   Let’s consider that one moves from Srinagar, enters Punjab then Rajsthan (both landlocked states). Then enters Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka (all Coastal States) and reaches Kanyakumari. So travels 2 landlocked and 3 coastal states, i.e. Option 4 should be correct.

          Let’s consider that one moves from Srinagar, enters Punjab, Rajsthan and then Madhya Pradesh (all landlocked states). Then enters Maharashtra and Karnataka (both Coastal States) and reaches Kanyakumari. So travels 3 landlocked and 2 coastal states, i.e. Option 1 should be correct

Means either Option 1 or Option 4 should be correct

Q. 78. Colonialism has been so far defined in terms of political, economic and social changes brought in the colonies. The aspect related to changes bringing in the biodiversity of the colonies has received little attention. One such practice was the introduction of new species of trees by the colonizers in the colonies.

Identify two trees that were introduced by colonizers in India.

I. Birch         II. Teak        III. Chir Pine         IV. Rhododendron

1. I and II                     2. II and III                   3. II and IV                   4. III and IV

Answer given in the official answer key is Option 4

Objection and Feedback - 

In the old NCERT book, page No.16, Chapter No. 2 – Forest and Wildlife Resources, under the heading – Are colonial forest policies to be blamed, it’s clearly written - a single commercially valuable species was extensively planted and other species eliminated. For instance, teak monoculture has damaged the natural forest in South India and Chir Pine (Pinus roxburghii) plantations in the Himalayas have replaced the Himalayan oak (Quercius spp.) and Rhododendron forests.

According to the paragraph, it’s clear that Rhododendron forests were not introduced by colonizers in India. So option 3 and 4 cannot be the answer

 

Q. 83. The Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats are marked by many differences in terms of geographical aspects.

Which of the following statements are true about the Eastern and Western Ghats?

I. Western Ghats are more continuous than Eastern Ghats.

II. Cardamom Hills, Javadi Hills, Shevaroy Hills and Nallamalai Hills are part of Eastern Ghats.

III. Western Ghats have higher elevation than Eastern Ghats.

IV. Doda Betta and Mahendragiri are the highest peaks of Western and Eastern Ghats respectively.

1. I and II only              2. II and III only                        3. II and IV only                        4. III and IV only

 Official answer key says, Option 1 is the correct answer

 Objection and Feedback -

Cardamom Hills are part of Western Ghats (please Google Cardmom Hills and check the result). Then how IInd statement can be correct

The correct answer should be I and III statements, but it’s not been given as option

So this question should be BONUS

 

Q.100. Economic tools and their relevant objectives are as follows:

Tools

A. Issue Price

B. Minimum Support Price

Objectives:

I. To create more buffer stock.

II. To reduce malnutrition in India.

III. To encourage farmers to produce more food grains.

IV. To distribute food grains in deficit areas and among poor families

Which alternative gives correct combination of tools and their objectives:

1. A – I and II, B – III and IV                 2. A – II and IV, B – I and III

3. A – I and III, B – II and IV                 4. A – I and II, B – II and IV

 Official answer key says, Option 1 is correct

Objection and Feedback - 

If we go by the official answer, How the objective of Issue price can be to create buffer stock ? (Foodgrains from Buffer stock is distributed in the deficit areas and among the poorer strata of the society at a price lower than the market price also known as Issue Price)

Correct answer should be Option 2

Aim of Issue Price

(ii)           To reduce malnutrition in India, food is provided at a reduced prices to poor people

(iv)          To distribute food grains in deficit areas and among poor families

Aim of Minimum Support Price

(i)            To create more buffer stock.

(iii)          To encourage farmers to produce more food grains.

Use the official format to sent your feedback to NCERT - submit your comments/observations/queries/ feedback on scoring keys of Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) through the portal only from 24th March, 2021 to 7 th April, 2021 by 5.30 pm.

https://ncert.nic.in/pdf/programmes/NTSE/Socringkey_NTSE.pdf

 

 

Golden Chance to Improve your Board Performance

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will now be giving a second chance to the students who appeared in the examination of class 10 and 12. The board has taken this step in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This means that, if a student is not able to perform well in one subject in the board exams will get another chance to improve his/her performance along with the Compartment exam and most importantly this reappearance in the exam would not be mentioned in his/her marksheet. On the other hand a smart student of class X & XII will right now concentrate on only four subjects and will get much extra time to prepare the fifth paper which he/she is going to reappear later

The CBSE board, for the first time, is allowing this flexibility to the candidates. This decision helps the students of class 10 and 12 to improve their scores. Earlier, if candidates wished to improve their marks, they had to retake the examination in the next batch. 

Here are the highlights of the new rule: 

• Students of class 10 and 12 will be given an opportunity to improve their performance in only one subject in the Compartment Exams, which will be conducted immediately after the main examination.
• Better of the two marks obtained in the subject will be considered in the results.
• Candidates who will improve their performance will be issued a combined mark sheet.

This year, the central board is also providing the candidates with an option to choose their examination centre or city. The candidates can change their exam centres or city by March 25 through the official portal.

Official Answer Key of NTSE Stage II 2019-20

 

How to score 90 and above marks in Social Science Class X 2021 Board paper

CBSE Class 10 Social Science Board Exam 2021 will be conducted on 27th May 2021. This year the board exams have been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and the syllabus has been reduced due to COVID situations, students will find it easier to complete the syllabus in given time

First of all check the syllabus

History (20 Marks)

Rise of Nationalism in Europe, Nationalism in India

Geography (20 Marks)

Resource Development, Agriculture, Mineral and Energy Resource (only map items would be asked in the board exams), Manufacturing Industries, Lifelines of National Economy

Civics (20 Marks)

Power Sharing, Federalism, Political Parties, Outcomes of Democracy

Economics (20 Marks)

Development, Sectors of Indian Economy, Money and Credit, Globalisation and Its impact on Indian Economy

Paper Pattern

Question paper comprises five Sections – A, B, C, D and E. There will be 32 questions in the question paper. All questions are compulsory. Section A – Question no. 1 to 16 are Objective Type Questions of 1 mark each. Section B – Question no. 17 to 22 are short answer type questions, carrying 3 marks each. Answer to each question should not exceed 80 words. Section C – Question no. 23 to 26 are source based questions, carrying 4 marks each. Section D – Question no. 27 to 31 are long answer type questions, carrying 5 marks each. Answer to each question should not exceed 120 words. Section E – Question no. 32 is map based, carrying 5 marks with two parts, 32.1 from History (2 marks) and 32.2 from Geography (3 marks)

CBSE has not issued any blue print for the Board exams, the above blue print is of the CBSE Social Science Sample paper 2021. Will give you a broad outline of types of questions that can be asked from a particular chapter. LIST OF MAP ITEMS CLASS X (2020-21) A. HISTORY (Outline Political Map of India) Chapter - 3 Nationalism in India – (1918 – 1930) for Locating and Labelling / Identification 1. Indian National Congress Sessions: a. Calcutta (Sep. 1920)  b. Nagpur (Dec. 1920)  c. Madras (1927) 2. Important Centres of Indian National Movement a. Champaran (Bihar) - Movement of Indigo Planters b. Kheda (Gujarat) - Peasant Satyagrah c. Ahmedabad (Gujarat) - Cotton Mill Workers Satyagraha d. Amritsar (Punjab) - Jallianwala Bagh Incident e. Chauri Chaura (U.P.) - Calling off the Non-Cooperation Movement f. Dandi (Gujarat) - Civil Disobedience Movement B. GEOGRAPHY (Outline Political Map of India) Chapter 1: Resources and Development (Identification only) a. Major soil Types  Chapter 3: Water Resources (Locating and Labelling) Dams: a. Salal  b. Bhakra Nangal  c. Tehri  d. Rana Pratap Sagar  e. Sardar Sarovar f. Hirakud  g. Nagarjuna Sagar  h. Tungabhadra  Note: Only map items of this chapter as listed above will be evaluated in Board Examination.  Chapter 4: Agriculture (Identification only) a. Major areas of Rice and Wheat b. Largest / Major producer states of Sugarcane, Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Cotton and Jute  Chapter 5: Minerals and Energy Resources Power Plants  (Locating and Labelling only) a. Thermal – Namrup, Singrauli, Ramagundam  b. Nuclear - Narora , Kakrapara , Tarapur, Kalpakkam  Note: Only Map Items of this chapter as listed above will be evaluated in Board Examination.  Chapter 6: Manufacturing Industries (Locating and Labelling Only) Cotton Textile Industries: a.    Mumbai  b. Indore  c. Surat  d. Kanpur  e. Coimbatore Iron and Steel Plants: a. Durgapur b. Bokaro  c. Jamshedpur  d. Bhilai  e. Vijaynagar  f. Salem  Software Technology Parks: a. Noida  b. Gandhinagar  c. Mumbai  d. Pune  e. Hyderabad f. Bengaluru  g. Chennai  h. Thiruvananthapuram  Chapter 7: Lifelines of National Economy (Locating and Labelling) Major Ports: a. Kandla  b. Mumbai  c. Marmagao  d. New Mangalore  e. Kochi  f. Tuticorin g. Chennai  h. Vishakhapatnam  i. Paradip  j. Haldia  International Airports: a. Amritsar (Raja Sansi)  b. Delhi (Indira Gandhi International) c. Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji)  d. Chennai (Meenam Bakkam) e. Kolkata (Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose)  f. Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi)  Note: Items of Locating and Labelling may also be given for Identification.

If you really want to score high marks in your Social Science exam then revise all that you have learnt throughout the year. Reread all important definitions, events, dates and theories. Create a chart with important dates (for History) and places (for Geography) for frequent revision. Revise subject-wise. We suggest you start with the hardest subject first and then end up with the easiest one. Do not miss to attempt the NCERT Exercise Questions at the time of revision. This will help you to memorise the stuff and strengthen your knowledge.

Solve previous years question papers, sample papers

Solve as many question papers of Class 10 Social Science as possible. Get here the PREVIOUS YEARS CBSE QUESTION PAPERS AND MARKING SCHEME and the CBSE SAMPLE PAPERS 2021 Use these question papers and sample papers to assess your preparedness for the exam. Practice writing concise and appropriate answers to questions of different formats. Make yourself familiarised with the important questions, topics, concepts and prepare them well to increase your chances of scoring high in the exam. Try to solve few question papers by actually writing down the answers on a sheet. This will help you work on your writing techniques including speed and accuracy.

CBSE Class 10 Social Science- Last-Minute Tips

1.      Try to include and highlight the important facts like dates, Acts while answering the question.

    Re-check the question paper for unattempted questions and make corrections, if required. Reserve the last 15 minutes for revision.

    Prepare the last 10 year’s map questions as they are easy and scoring.

    Write answers in pointers for better clarity and elaborate the points while attempting 5 mark questions.

    Make a flow chart of dates or diagrams to explain your answers if required.

 

 

Tips to write perfect answers in CBSE board exams 2021

With CBSE board examinations around the corner, students across the nation will start getting expert tips on how to ace their exams from almost everyone around them.

No matter how well the student is prepared for the exam, if they are not able to channel their knowledge in the right way on the answer sheet then all their hard work goes in vain. The pressure of exams is so overpowering that the students forget everything they had learned during classes and revision.

However, there are a few tips and tricks that students can use to make a good impression in their examinations:

1. Make the right use of additional 15 minutes:Almost all the school boards have recently introduced the concept of additional 15 minutes before students start writing the answers to the exam questions. This additional time is provided such that students will read the questions properly and draft a plan in their mind on solving it. Students must utilize this time very well.

2. Set the priority: Students should list out the questions which they are more confident about attempt those first. As there is no need to write answers in the same order as in the question paper, writing answers which they are most confident about will enhance their self-belief to write the entire paper with minimal mistakes.

3. Choose questions wisely: Sometimes, questions in the exam paper are provided with internal choices, which the student has to select. Without giving way to haste overcoming a bad decision, students need to carefully read and select the questions they want to attempt and then create a mental picture of what they have to write in each case.

4. Use passive voice for the fact-based answers:While writing long answers like historical events or experiment-based answers containing step-wise procedures, it is recommended to use passive voice as much as possible. Using passive voice makes the answers sound more educational and it helps the examiner to read through the answers with minimal trouble.

5. Attempt all the questions: As there is no negative marking for the wrong answer, students should always remember to attempt all the questions. If students are not sure about the answers to a particular question, they can reconsider by reading the question more thoroughly

6. Do not panic: Panic and haste are two of the most challenging emotions that each student needs to control during the attempt of the examination. Panic and haste can cause the students to forget the answers to the questions. Drinking water, staying calm, and relaxing should be the way forward.

7. Maintain the spaces and be specific: Writing a neat and clean answer paper with adequate spaces between each answer is very important. The examiner who checks the answer sheets after the exam normally checks hundreds of other answer sheets, and if they do not understand what students have written, they are more likely to mark the answers wrong. Maintaining good handwriting is essential.

8. Be presentable: An answer sheet with neat, readable handwriting, proper margins, and pencil sketched illustrations represents an excellently presented answer sheet. Good presentation is one of the key rules for writing board exams, as it also helps the examiner during his/her paper checking.

9. Revise and check the answer sheet at the end:Revising and checking the answer is one step that must be always followed. Students should devote at least 10 minutes of their total time towards revising and checking their answers, which will give them an overview of how they have attempted the questions.

CBSE Revises Board Exams Date Sheet

 Class X Board Exams

6th May - English

10 May - Hindi

21st May - Science

27th May - Social Science 

2nd June - Maths

Class XII Revised Dates