NCST 2027

NCST Screening Mock Test
CoE Admission List
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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)

  • Last date to Register :19 September 2026

  • Phase 1 (NCST Screening Test): 4 October2026

  • Phase 2 (NCST Final Exam): December 2026 (exact date to be confirmed)

  • Result Declaration: April/May 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.

NCST Registration Process

  1. Login to the School Portal using your school email ID or registered phone number.

  2. Go to the NCST section from the dashboard.

  3. Open Upload Student Data and download the latest data upload template.

  4. Fill in the student details as per the prescribed guidelines and save the Excel file.

  5. Upload the completed template to the portal.

  6. Check and correct any highlighted errors in the uploaded data.

  7. Once the data is successfully uploaded, verify the entries in the Uploaded Data Panel. Duplicate or incorrect entries can be deleted if required.

⚠️ Important: Please use only the template downloaded from the portal for uploading student data.

For detailed instructions and data-filling guidelines, please refer to the NCST Registration Guide.

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

    Exam pattern details will be updated soon.

Syllabus

The NCST Phase 1 Screening Test covers the following topics from the Class 10 syllabus (up to mid-term portion), across five sections — Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Logical Reasoning.

  • Mathematics: Real Numbers, Polynomials, Quadratic Equations, Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables, Coordinate Geometry, Triangles, Introduction to Trigonometry, Trigonometric Identities, Areas Related to Circles, Statistics

  • Biology: Life Processes, Control and Coordination, How do Organisms Reproduce?

  • Chemistry: Chemical Reactions and Chemical Equations, Acids, Bases and Salts, Metals and Non-metals, Carbon and its Compounds

  • Physics: Light – Reflection and Refraction, The Human Eye and the Colourful World, Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Electric Current

  • 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

  • Click here to view and download the complete topic-wise detailed syllabus in pdf format.

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.