NTSE Syllabus: MAT and SAT Topics for Class 10 Students

The NTSE syllabus covers two kinds of skills: logical reasoning in the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and school-level knowledge in the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). Students of Class 10 usually search for it to know what to study and where to start. This page gives a clear, chapter-friendly checklist so that you can plan your preparation with confidence.

Please read one important point first. NCERT's official NTSE page does not publish a topic-wise syllabus, and no new NTSE cycle is announced at present. The topic lists below are a working checklist built from the structure of the exam and the Class 9 and Class 10 school curriculum. They are not an official list.

Table of Contents

Current status and honesty note

NCERT's NTSE page lists the 2021 cycle as the latest one with a Stage II exam, held on 24 October 2021, and shows no notice for a newer cycle. News reports in October 2022 quoted an NCERT order that the scheme in its present form was stalled until further orders. If the exam returns, the official brochure will confirm the syllabus.

NCERT has not given a separate, detailed topic list on its NTSE page. The topics here come from the paper structure and the school curriculum, and different states may set their Stage 1 papers on their own state syllabus. Use this page as a guide, and always check your state SCERT notice and any new NCERT brochure.

NTSE syllabus at a glance

In earlier cycles, each Stage 2 paper had 100 questions and 120 minutes. A commonly reported split of the SAT is 40 questions of Science, 40 of Social Science and 20 of Mathematics.

Key points to know

• Class 9 counts too: The SAT can ask from both Class 9 and Class 10 books, so do not leave Class 9 chapters unrevised.

• Application matters: Questions often test how you apply a concept, not just a definition.

• State differences: Stage 1 was set by each state, so your state's textbooks and pattern may matter more at that stage.

• Old pages can mislead: Some websites still show dates or syllabus for years that had no exam. Follow only official notices.

MAT syllabus

The MAT checks how well you think, not how much you have read. It is the paper where steady daily practice pays the most, and it needs no textbook.

Most students find non-verbal reasoning the hardest to master and the quickest to improve with practice. Spend a short, regular slot on it rather than one long weekly session.

SAT syllabus: Science

Science carries a large share of the SAT. Revise NCERT Class 9 and Class 10 science textbooks line by line, including diagrams, activities and in-text questions.

Physics

• Motion and force: Laws of motion, gravitation, work, energy and power.

• Light: Reflection, refraction, lenses, mirrors and the human eye.

• Electricity and magnetism: Current, resistance, circuits and magnetic effects.

• Sound and energy: Properties of sound and sources of energy.

Chemistry

• Matter and atoms: States of matter, atomic structure, the periodic table.

• Reactions: Chemical reactions, acids, bases and salts, metals and non-metals.

• Carbon compounds: Basics of carbon and its compounds.

Biology

• Life processes: Nutrition, respiration, transport and excretion.

• Control and reproduction: Nervous system, hormones, reproduction and heredity.

• Environment: Ecosystems, natural resources and conservation.

SAT syllabus: Social Science

Social Science questions often reward clear understanding of causes and effects, so make short notes of timelines, maps and definitions.

SAT syllabus: Mathematics

Mathematics is a small part of the SAT but scores well when basics are strong. Focus on NCERT examples and exercises.

• Number system: Real numbers, factors, HCF and LCM.

• Algebra: Polynomials, linear equations, quadratic equations, arithmetic progressions.

• Geometry: Triangles, circles, constructions, coordinate geometry.

• Mensuration: Areas and volumes of common shapes.

• Trigonometry: Ratios, identities and simple applications.

• Statistics and probability: Mean, median, mode and basic probability.

Stage 1 and Stage 2: what overlaps

The row on question level reflects general experience from earlier cycles, not an official statement. Study once, deeply, and use it for both stages.

How to cover the syllabus

1. Weeks 1 to 6, build basics: Finish NCERT chapters in Science, Social Science and Maths, and do 20 minutes of reasoning daily.

2. Weeks 7 to 10, add practice: Take topic-wise tests after each subject and note the errors.

3. Weeks 11 to 14, mix subjects: Solve sectional sets in a fixed time.

4. Final phase, full papers: Attempt complete 120-minute papers, analyse the same day and revise the error log.

Class 10 boards remain your first priority, so adjust the plan around your school calendar. The syllabus above overlaps strongly with board preparation, which makes the effort useful in either case.

For any new announcement, check the official NCERT NTSE page at ncert.nic.in.