NSTSE Previous Year Question Paper with Solutions PDFs

NSTSE Previous Year Question Paper: The National Level Science Talent Search Examination (NSTSE) is an exam that many school students take to test their real understanding of subjects like Maths, Science, and Logical Reasoning. It is not like the usual school exams, where you only learn and repeat what is in the textbook. 

Instead, NSTSE checks how well you can apply your knowledge and think in a smart way while solving problems. Because of this exam style, practising the NSTSE previous year question paper is one of the effective ways to prepare. When students go through these Olympiad Books, they become familiar with the type of questions asked, how marks are given, and how much time they will need to finish the paper. Check out the article below for NSTSE Previous Year Question Paper with Solutions PDFs.

NSTSE Previous Year Question Paper with Solutions PDFs

The National Level Science Talent Search Examination (NSTSE) is a 60-minute exam. The paper is in multiple-choice format, and there is no negative marking for wrong answers, which makes it less stressful for students. The schedule for NSTSE 2026 will be announced about 15 days before the exam.

This exam is not just about memorising but about testing how clear your concepts are. Strong fundamentals are important because they help later in big exams like IIT-JEE, AIIMS, or even international exams like GRE and GMAT. NSTSE helps students build these basics early.

By solving NSTSE previous year question papers with solutions PDFs, students can understand the type of questions, practise time management, and check how well they know their concepts. 

NSTSE Previous Year Question Paper

Preparing for the NSTSE becomes much easier when students practise with the actual papers from past years. The NSTSE previous year question paper helps students understand the exam pattern, the type of questions asked, and the time management needed during the test.

To support students in their preparation, PW has brought NSTSE previous year papers for Class 3, Class 4, Class 5, Class 6, and Class 7 in an easy-to-download format. With these papers, students can revise concepts, work on weak areas, and get familiar with the real exam style.

Olympiad Books

Along with NSTSE Previous Year Question Papers, students can also explore PW Olympiad books designed for different classes and subjects:

NSTSE Prizes: National Level

There are several amazing prizes for the participants of NSTSE mentioned below:-

• Every student who appears for the NSTSE exam receives a participation certificate.

• The student who gets the highest marks among all classes is declared the NSTSE Topper and is awarded a cash prize of Rs. 2,00,000.

• In each class, the 1st ranker receives a Laptop and the 2nd ranker receives a Tablet PC. Both also get a Memento.

• Students who secure ranks 4 to 10 in each class are given a cash prize of Rs. 2,000 each.

• Students who secure ranks 11 to 25 in each class are given a cash prize of Rs. 1,000 each.

• Students securing ranks 26 to 100 in Classes 1 to 9 receive BMA’s Talent & Olympiad Exams Resource Book. For Class 10, they receive BMA’s Handbook of Physics & Chemistry.

• Rankers of Classes 1 to 9 from 1–25, 26–50, and 51–100 also get Olympiad Coach Online Subscriptions worth Rs. 3996, Rs. 2997, and Rs. 1998, respectively, along with a medal and a certificate of appreciation.

NSTSE Prizes: State Level

Go through the State-level NSTSE Prices below:-

• The top three performers from Classes 1 to 9 in each state (where at least 10,000 students have taken part) receive a special award.

• Each of these students is given an Olympiad Coach Online Subscription worth Rs. 1198 and a Certificate of Appreciation.

• State ranks are announced only after excluding the top 100 ranks at the national level.

How to Use NSTSE Previous Year Question Paper?

Using the NSTSE previous year question paper in the right way can make preparation smooth and effective. Below are some simple ways to use these papers step by step:-

1. Know the NSTSE syllabus clearly

Before you start solving NSTSE previous year question papers, it’s very important to know what is included in the syllabus for your class. Since the exam is based on school-level topics, the subjects may look familiar, but the way questions are asked can be a little different. If you go through the syllabus properly, it becomes easier to connect each question to the chapter it belongs to.

• Mathematics: You will get questions from numbers, fractions, decimals, geometry, algebra basics, measurements, and data handling.

• Science: Topics include everyday physics concepts, simple chemistry, life science, and observations from small experiments.

• Reasoning: Questions check how you think, with puzzles like patterns, series, odd-one-out, and simple problem-solving.

2. Learn the exam style and OMR rules

NSTSE is a 60-minute multiple-choice test with no negative marking. Answers are marked on an OMR sheet, so how you fill the sheet matters as much as getting the right answer.

• Each question has four choices and only one correct answer.

• Use only a black or blue ballpoint pen on the OMR sheet, as the instructions say.

• Fill the answer circle fully and neatly; partial or double marks can make the answer unreadable.

• Read the OMR instructions at the start so you do not lose marks for marking errors.

3. Practice each section on its own first

Before doing full papers, work on one subject at a time. This helps you fix gaps in that subject without the pressure of time.

• Try a set of only maths questions to build calculation speed.

• Solve science questions to check if you know the ideas and can pick the right option.

• Do reasoning puzzles to get used to the question style and short tricks.

• After section practice, move to the full NSTSE previous year question paper practice.

4. Do full papers under real time limits

The full paper practice is where you see how your work fits in one hour. Simulate exam conditions to build the right habit.

• Set a timer for 60 minutes and do one full NSTSE previous year question paper.

• Start with questions you find easy to collect marks fast.

• Mark hard ones to come back to after the first pass.

• Keep a short minute or two at the end to check the OMR filling and erase stray marks if needed.

5. Use the solutions to learn the correct method

Solutions show the clear steps to reach the right answer. Check solutions right after the test to find where things went wrong.

• Compare your answer with the given solution and see the method used.

• If you missed a simple step, write that step down in your notes.

• For reasoning questions, note the trick or shortcut used.

• Do the same question again after reading the solution to be sure you can do it.

6. Keep a list of weak topics and track progress

Past papers help you spot repeating mistakes. Keep a small record so you know what to work on next.

• Make a list of topics where you lose marks often.

• Note whether mistakes are from careless errors or a missing concept.

• Work on one weak topic each week and test again with a paper.

• Track scores over time to see steady improvement.

7. Combine papers with short notes and practice sheets

Papers work well with short notes and small practice batches. Keep things short and handy for quick revision.

• Make a one-page note of formulas and facts for each subject.

• Keep a folder of hard questions and their solutions.

• Use short daily drills for calculations and quick reasoning.

• Before a full paper, spend 10 minutes going through your single-page notes.

Read More: Must-Have Olympiad Books for 2025 Exams

NSTSE Previous Year Question Papers FAQs

Q1. What is the NSTSE exam?

NSTSE is a national-level exam that checks a student’s understanding of Maths, Science, and reasoning based on their school syllabus.

Q2. Why should I solve NSTSE previous year question papers?

Solving past papers helps you know the exam style, practice time management, and understand which topics are important.

Q3. Are NSTSE papers the same for every class?

No, each class has its own paper based on its syllabus. For example, Class 4 paper is simpler than Class 7 paper.

Q4. How many questions are there in NSTSE?

The number of questions changes with the class, but each paper must be finished in 60 minutes.

Q5. Is there negative marking in NSTSE?

No, NSTSE does not have negative marking. You can attempt all questions without losing marks.