NCST 2027

NCST Final Mock Test
CoE Admission List

NCST 2027 Overview

  • The Navodaya Centre of Excellence Selection Test (NCST) is a scholarship entrance test conducted for admission to the NVS Centres of Excellence (COE), a 2-year free residential/classroom coaching program for JEE and NEET offered at select Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs).

  • NCST is conducted jointly for all NVS COEs, which are run in partnership with three knowledge partners — Dakshana Foundation, Avanti Fellows, and Ex-Navodaya Foundation (ENF).

  • Candidates who qualify NCST are offered free JEE/NEET coaching at a COE, along with residential and academic support, for two years (Class 11 and 12).

NCST 2027 Important Dates (for Grade 11 Entry, AY 2027–28)

  • Phase 1 (NCST Screening Test): 4 October2026

  • Phase 2 (NCST Final Exam): 13 December 2026

  • Result Declaration: Jan/Feb 2027 (Tentative)

Eligibility Criteria

  • Phase 1 (NCST Screening Test): Every registered student currently studying in Class 10 at a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) is eligible to appear for the Screening Test.

  • Phase 2 (NCST Final Exam): Only students shortlisted based on Phase 1 Screening Test performance are called to appear for the final NCST exam in December.

Selection Process

  • Phase 1 – Screening Test
    Every registered Class 10 JNV student appears for the Screening Test, conducted offline at their own school. This test decides who gets shortlisted for Phase 2.

  • Shortlisting
    Based on Phase 1 performance, a list of shortlisted students is prepared and shared with all JNVs, along with their allotted exam date for Phase 2.

  • Phase 2 – Final NCST Exam
    Shortlisted students appear for the final NCST exam, conducted online at assigned test centres in December.

  • Result & CoE Allotment
    CoE allotment is based on performance, preference, category, and eligibility criteria.

Exam Pattern

  • Phase 1 – Screening Test

    • Mode: Offline / Pen-and-Paper (OMR-based), conducted at the student's own school

    • Duration: 90 minutes (plus 10 minutes at the start for filling in details)

    • Total Questions: 60

    • Sections: 5 compulsory sections — Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Logical Reasoning

    • Marking Scheme: +5 for correct answer, −2 for incorrect answer, 0 for unattempted

    • Coverage: Based on Class 10 syllabus up to mid-term portion only

  • Phase 2 – Final NCST Exam

    •⁠ ⁠Total Questions: 100 for JEE, 125 for NEET

    •⁠ ⁠Sections: 5 — Physics, Chemistry, Logical Reasoning, and Biology, or Mathematics

    •⁠ ⁠Section Requirement: Physics, Chemistry, Logical Reasoning are compulsory for every applicant. Biology for NEET aspirant & Mathematics for JEE.

    •⁠ ⁠Marking Scheme: +5 marks for each correct answer and –2 marks for each incorrect answer. 0 marks for unattended questions.

    •⁠ ⁠Test Duration: 180 minutes

    •⁠ ⁠Basic details Bubbling Time: An additional 10 minutes at the beginning will be provided exclusively for bubbling the basic details OMR sheet.

    •⁠ ⁠Total Time: 190 minutes, including 10 minutes for OMR bubbling.

  • Difficulty level: 33.3%- Easy , 33.3%-Medium, 33.3%-Tough

Syllabus

The NCST Phase 2 - Final Test covers the following topics from the Class 10 syllabus Full Syllabus, across five sections — Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Logical Reasoning.

  • Mathematics: 10th Grade Full syllabus (for PCM students only)

  • Biology: 10th Grade Full syllabus (for PCB students only)

  • Chemistry: 10th Grade Full syllabus

  • Physics: 10th Grade Full syllabus

  • Logical Reasoning:

    1. Verbal: Number Series, Letter Series, Analogies, Cause & Effect, Verbal Classification, Blood Relations, Logical Sequence of Words, Direction Sense Test, Logical Venn Diagram, Data Sufficiency, Coding-Decoding, Assertion and Reason, Analysing Arguments, Logical Problems, Course of Action, Matching Definition, Syllogism, Statement and Assumptions

    2. Non-Verbal: Image Series, Construction of Shapes, Classification, Picture Analogies, Rule Detection

Book Recommendation :

  • Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics & Biology: Students can refer to their NCERT textbooks for these subjects.

  • Logical Reasoning: Students can refer to R.S. Aggarwal’s A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning (Link). The school can keep a copy of this book in the library for students to use for preparation

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • NCST (Navodaya Centre of Excellence Selection Test) is a scholarship entrance test for admission to NVS Centres of Excellence (COE) — a free, 2-year residential coaching program for JEE/NEET preparation, conducted alongside regular Grade 11–12 studies at select JNVs.

  • Every registered student currently studying in Class 10 at a Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) is eligible to appear for the Screening Test.

  • Log in using your school email ID or the school official’s phone number. If you do not have the password, click on “Forgot Password” and reset it.

  • Phase 1 is the Screening Test, conducted offline at your own school. Every registered Class 10 JNV student appears for it, and performance in this test decides who is shortlisted for Phase 2.

  • Phase 2 is the final NCST exam, conducted online at assigned test centres in December. Only students shortlisted from Phase 1 are eligible to appear.

  • Phase 1 covers the Class 10 syllabus up to the mid-term portion, across five sections: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Logical Reasoning.

  • Yes. In Phase 1, each correct answer gets +5 marks, each incorrect answer gets −2 marks, and unattempted questions get 0.

  • Phase 1 has 60 questions to be attempted in 90 minutes, with an additional 10 minutes for filling in details at the start.

  • In Phase 1, all five sections are compulsory. In Phase 2, candidates choose either Mathematics (for Engineering/JEE) or Biology (for Medical/NEET), based on their preferred stream.

  • Non-qualified students can continue at their own JNV and still access L.A.K.S.H.Y.A — NVS's academic support platform offering study material, videos, and assessments for JEE, NEET, CLAT, CUET, and other competitive exams.