SocialScience4U: 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