The Indian Association of Physics Teachers and the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education jointly administer the National Standard Examination in Astronomy. It is one of the few notable competitive exams available to astronomy students. The National Science and Engineering Olympiad (NSEA) is the first stage of the International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA). NSEA registration is done through the students’ schools. The NSEA essential dates, eligibility requirements, examination pattern, application fee, and selection process are listed here.
Please Note: This page will be updated soon
The International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics Programme is divided into five parts. However, because of the current pandemic, the IAPT and HBCSE authorities have yet to announce the NSEA 2022 and IOAA exam process and format. This year’s National Standard Examinations will use a three-stage selection method.
NSEA Exam 2022
Some important dates for NSEA are mentioned below.
| Event | Date (Tentative) |
|---|---|
| NSEA-2022 Registration Date | September 15, 2021 |
| NSEA Exam Date | 26th November 2022 |
NSEA Eligibility Criteria
Students interested in taking the National Standard Examination in Astronomy should review the eligibility requirements before registering. The NSEA eligibility criteria are as follows.
- Age Requirements: Applicants must have been born between July 1, 2002, and June 30, 2007, both dates inclusive.
- Citizenship Requirements: Applicants must have an Indian passport or be eligible to obtain one. They must be Indian citizens as of November 30, 2019 or before. Since 30 November 2019, or earlier, they must have studied in India or an Indian institute.
Additionally, students who are Indian citizens living abroad would not be eligible to compete in the International Olympiad programmes. They are eligible to participate in the succeeding rounds of the selection process.
- Academic Requirements: Candidates must not have passed or be expected to pass the 12th board exams by November 30, 2021. They must not begin university-level courses before June 1, 2022.
Application for NSEA 2022
The National Standard Examination in the Astronomy application form is accessible during the month of September each year. The NSEA 2022 application form is only available in paper format and can be picked up at any NSE Centre. Thousands of NSE Centres have been established by IAPT across the country.
Fees for NSEA applications
The NSEA application fee can be paid at any of the country’s NSE centres. To fill out the application form for the National Standard Examination in Astronomy, students must pay a minimal cost of 150 rupees. The application fee is split between the IAPT and the school as part of their maintenance fees. For students who are not Indian citizens, the application fee is 5 USD. It should be remembered that the application cost for all phases of the selection process must be paid only once.
Exam Pattern for NSEA
The National Standard Examination in Astronomy is administered in English. When taking this exam, students must have a solid understanding of the fundamental ideas of physics, astronomy, and mathematics. The questions in the NSEA have numerous response options, and there is a negative marking system for erroneous answers. The NSEA exam pattern is listed here for students’ convenience.
| Mode of the Exam | Offline (this year, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, IAPT and HBCSE are yet to announce the mode of exam for NSEA.) |
|---|---|
| Medium of the Exam | English |
| Total Number of Questions Asked | 80
|
| Number of Subjects | 3
|
| Total Marks | 240
|
| Marking Scheme |
|
NSEA’s Selection Process
Students are chosen based on merit, proportionate representation, and minimum representation provisions. The Minimum Admissible Scores (MAS) are derived using the average marks earned by the top ten students. Students must meet the MAS to advance to the second level of the IOAA. If seats are available, students are chosen based on merit. Students who satisfy the NSEA cut-off marks are also taught data analysis, theory concepts, and observation in astronomy at the Orientation-cum-Selection camp.
Syllabus for NSEA
The Indian Association of Physics Teachers and the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education have not given a specific syllabus for NSEA. However, the topics to be revised in physics, mathematics, and astronomy for NSEA are the same as those covered in these courses’ 11th and 12th-grade syllabi. Students can learn the principles of physics and mathematics by reading NCERT textbooks. Students can also refer to Roy and Clarke’s book, Astronomy-Principles and Practice.
The Pattern of NSEA Question Papers
Before the exam, students should familiarise themselves with the NSEA question paper format and prepare accordingly. The National Standard Examination in Astronomy’s question paper contains a total of 80 questions. The exam is administered in English and contains objective/multiple-choice questions. There are both single-correct response choices and multiple-correct answer choices in multiple-choice questions.
NSEA Cutoff
The National Standard Examination in Astronomy cut-off marks are based on the top 10 candidates’ scores. To advance to the next stage of the Olympiad programme, students must get the minimum admissible scores, or MAS, on the NSEA. The MAS is calculated as 50% of the average NSEA scores earned by the top ten students.
NSEA Result
IAPT and HBCSE will determine and publish the NSEA results online. Students must go to the official website of the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education or the main Olympiad website to see the NSEA results. Along with the results, the state-by-state NSEA cut-off will be revealed. Students will be led to the results page after clicking on a link on the IAPT website. They’ll need to enter their roll number and date of birth to get their results.
NSEA Exam Preparation Tips
- Students must have a firm grasp of the fundamentals. Students can solve advanced-level questions easily if they have a solid foundation.
- Understand the syllabus and make a thorough study plan
- A student’s grade can change by as little as one mark. Try to practise the questions with great accuracy in a specific time range.
- Select study materials (online or offline) that have advanced problems to solve in order to familiarise oneself with the level of competition students will face.
- Take mock examinations to acquire a sense of the exam’s format, but don’t forget to go over them again. Students frequently make the mistake of failing to review their mock tests.
