NSEB 2023 - Exam dates, Eligibility criteria, Application form, Exam Pattern

The Association of Teachers in Biological Services (ATBS), in collaboration with the Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education (HBCSE) and the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT), conducts the National Standard Examination in Biology (NSEB). The National Standard Examination Board administers the NSEB examinations (NSE).

The NSEB test is part of the NSE (National Standard Examination), which organises national scientific olympiads to promote students, and provide a platform for them to compete in international competitions. Students who have not completed Class 12 are eligible to take this exam. The NSEB is conducted in a paper-based format. In this article, we’ve covered all you need to know about the NSEB 2023 test, including the curriculum, exam structure, eligibility requirements, and more.

NSEB Exam Highlights

Exam Conducting Body	Association of Teachers in Biological Services (ATBS) Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education (HBCSE) Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT)
Eligibility	Students below Class 12
Aim	To assist students in putting their Science knowledge to the test by competing against other students
Frequency	Annual
Mode of Application/ Mode of Exam	Offline
Exam Difficulty Level	Intermediate
Application Fee	₹200
Exam Duration	2 Hours

NSEB 2023: Examination Dates

Events	Dates(Tentative)
Centre registration	August 1^st, 2023 to August 20^th, 2023
Student enrolment	August 21^st, 2023 to September 14^th, 2023
Date for NSEB Exam	November 26^th, 2023
Expected date of results	December 25^th, 2023

NSEB 2023: National Standard Examination in Biology Stages

The NSEB is held to assess students’ biology skills and provide them with a platform to compete in international Olympiads. The NSEB Olympiad is divided into five phases. All the phases are mentioned here in detail:
The NSEB (National Standard Examination in Biology) is the first stage, and all students in grades 1 to 12 are entitled to participate after enrolling for the tests.
The Indian National Olympiad or Indian National Biology Olympiad is the second stage of the exam, and only 300 qualified students who scored higher than others are allowed to compete. INBO is held at 15 locations around the country.
In Biology, Stage 3 is the Orientation cum Selection Camp (OCSC), when the top 35 students from the merit list are chosen.
The top four students go to Stage 4, also known as Pre-Departure Training Camp (PDT). The training will last two weeks.
Students in Stage 5 compete in the International Biology Olympiad (IBO), and represent their school and country on a global scale.

NSEB 2023 Eligibility Criteria

Here are the details of the NSEB Eligibility criteria.

The learner must first and foremost be an Indian citizen.
The NSEP test is designed for students in grades 9 and 10.
Date of birth between 1 July 2004 and 30 June 2009, both days inclusive.
Must be residing and studying in India since 30 November 2021 or earlier. Must be studying in an Indian school system since 30 November 2021 or earlier. OR Must be studying in an Indian school system since 30 November 2021 or earlier
Must not have completed (or scheduled to complete) class 12 board examination earlier than 30 November 2023
Must not have commenced (or planning to commence) studies in a university or equivalent institution by 1 June, 2023.
Must not be appearing in NSEJS 2023

Registration for NSEB 2023

The Nationwide Science Education Board (NSEB) is a national test for students interested in studying or pursuing Biology. Check the details of the NSEB Application form and it is vital to remember that students who want to take NSEB examinations must first register by completing the procedures below:

Students must enrol via their individual schools or institutions.
Students must complete the registration forms issued by their respective schools or institutions.
They must submit a completed application form along with a registration fee of INR 200.
The registration costs will not be reimbursed after they have been paid.
If the registration forms are not completed correctly, students will be denied the opportunity to take the NSEB examinations, and would be automatically disqualified.
If their individual school/college is not registered with the NSE centre, students can register themselves at a neighbouring centre.

Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme for NSEB 2023

Before taking the exam, students should familiarise themselves with the NSEB exam format. The NSEB test pattern is crucial because it allows students to create a realistic picture of the exam day. Exam format and marking scheme for NSEB examinations 2023 are listed below:

Exam Timings	2:30 pm to 4:30 pm (tentative)
Duration of Exam	Two hours
Test Paper Level/ Syllabus	Is broadly equivalent to senior secondary level (up to and including Class XII) of CBSE India
Test Medium/ Language	Question paper will be in English & Hindi (Option during registration). Type of questions – Objective type with multiple choices
Sections	Two parts
Total Number of Questions	60 MCQs
Total Marks	216 Marks

NSEB Syllabus and Topics

Check the details of the NSEB Syllabus and topics here.

S.No.	Chapters	Topics Included
1	Diversity Of Living	The Living World Biological Classification Plant Kingdom Animal Kingdom
2	Structural Organization in Animals and Plants	Morphology and Anatomy of Flowering Plants Structural Organisation in Animals
3	Cell: Structure and Function	Cell theory and cell as the basic unit of life Biomolecules Cell Cycle and Cell Division
4.	Plant Physiology	Transport In Plants Mineral Nutrition Photosynthesis and Respiration in Higher Plants Plant – Growth and Development
5	Human Physiology	Digestion & Absorption Breathing & Exchange Of Gas Body Fluids and Circulation Excretory Products and Their Elimination Locomotion and Movement Neural Control and Coordination Chemical Coordination and Integration
6	Reproduction In Organisms	Types, modes, and the process of reproduction Asexual reproduction Sexual reproduction Pre-fertilization events Fertilization and post-fertilization events
7	Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants	Flower Structure Morphology Of Flower The process of sexual reproduction in flowering plants. Development of male and female gametophytes Pollination Double fertilization Post fertilization Events-Development of endosperm and embryo Development and significance of seed and formation of fruit
8	Human Reproduction	Male and female reproductive systems Microscopic diagram elaborating anatomy of testis and ovary Gametogenesis − Spermatogenesis, Oogenesis Menstrual cycle Fertilization, implantation pregnancy, and placenta formation Parturition and Lactation
9	Reproductive Health	The need for reproductive health Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) Birth control − need and methods, contraception, Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Amniocentesis Infertility and assisted reproductive technologies
10	Principles Of Inheritance And Variation	Covers the topics of Genetics and Evolution Similarity and variation between the parents and offspring Mendel”s law of inheritance Sex determination Mutations genetic disorders
11	Molecular Basis of Inheritance	DNA as genetic material Structure of DNA and RNA DNA- packaging, replication, fingerprinting Central dogma, Transcription, genetic code, translation Gene expression and regulation − Lac Operon Genome and human genome project
12	Evolution	Darwin’s contribution Modern Synthetic Theory of Evolution Mechanism of evolution − Variation, Natural Selection and types of natural selection Gene flow and genetic drift Hardy – Weinberg’s Principle Adaptive Radiation
13	Human Health And Diseases	Maintenance of optimum health Diseases- types, treatment, and prevention Immunity and its types Adolescence, drug and alcohol abuse
14	Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production	Improvement in food production techniques Plant breeding, Tissue culture Single-cell protein Biofortification, Apiculture Animal husbandry
15	Microbes in Human Welfare	In household food processing and industrial production Sewage treatment Energy generation Biofertilizers Antibiotics- Production and judicious use
16	Biotechnology – Principles and Processes	Principles and processes involved in biotechnology like genetic engineering (Recombinant DNA technology).
17	Biotechnology and Its Applications	The application processes of Biotechnology in health and agriculture
18	Organisms and Populations	Organisms and environment- Habitat, Niche, Population and Ecological adaptations Population interactions- Mutualism, Competition, Predation, Parasitism Population attributes
19	Ecosystem	Ecological Patterns, components, productivity, decomposition Energy flow in the ecosystem Pyramids of number, biomass, energy Carbon and Phosphorous Nutrient cycles Ecological succession and services
20	Biodiversity and Its Conservation	Concept, Patterns, Importance, and loss of biodiversity Biodiversity conservation ways
21	Environmental Issues	Air and water pollution and its control methods Agrochemicals and their effects Solid waste management Radioactive waste management Greenhouse effect and climate change Ozone layer depletion Deforestation

NSEB Admit Card 2023

Students will be able to get their NSEB examination admission card through the IAPT’s official website, iapt.org.in. All students must go to the official website and download the admission card by inputting all of their necessary information. The NSEB 2023 admission card will include the student’s information as well as information about the exam, such as the name of the exam, the date and time of the exam, the exam centre, and so on. Students should have their admission cards attested by the school administration or the centre in charge. Additionally, students must bring their admission cards to the examination centres.

NSEB Result 2023

Around the 25th of December, tentative scores for all applicants taking the NSEB are posted on the IAPT website. On the 1st January of the following year, the final result for NSE, i.e., the merit list, is posted on the IAPT website. The NSEB result sheet includes the student’s name, ID, roll number, residence, and school name. All qualified applicants can download the results and print them out for future reference.

Frequently Asked Questions on NSEB 2023

What are the requirements for taking the National Standard Examination in Biology?

To take the NSEB exam, a student must be an Indian citizen and be in the 12th grade or lower, as the exam is primarily for higher secondary students. Another crucial criteria for NSEB 2023 qualification is that the candidate must not have taken their board test as of November 2023.

What is the procedure for taking the National Standard Examination in Biology?

Interested applicants must register through their schools or online or registered centres located all around the country. Only the Institutions and the registration centre in charge can fill out the National Standard Examination in the Biology registration form. The registration price for the NSEB 2023 is 200 rupees and must be paid.

What is the procedure for applying for the National Standard Examination in Biology?

Candidates for the National Standard Examination in Biology (NSEB) can apply through their school or their institution, or they can apply on their own. Students who have registered from a state other than their school’s due to convenience must send a copy of their National Standard Examination in the Biology admit card as well as their school ID to the IAPT (Indian Association Of Physics Teachers), via the IAPT email address listed on their official website before the deadline.

Where to check the results of the NSEB?

Students may look up their NSEB results on the IAPT’s official website, iapt.org.in.

Is the NSEB exam subject to negative marking?

Yes, students receive three points for each accurate answer and one point is subtracted from their overall score for each erroneous response.

NSEB (National Standard Examination in Biology)