ISTSE – Direct Registration for Scholarship Olympiad 2023-24

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ISTSE Online - Winter 2023
Olympiad Exam Registration

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Is there any school level online olympiad exam?

ISTSE is a single level examination, open to all the students of class 1 to 10. Quetion paper will comprise of Mental & Logical Ability, Mathematics, Science and English questions. ISTSE exam is conducted separately online for direct/individual candidates and paper-based only through schools.

ISTSE – Online (For direct/individual candidates): Indian School Talent Search Exam (ISTSE) online is India’s
favourite and most popular online olympiad examination.
This exam is conducted for the students of class 1 to 10. Any student can participate in this exam as it is open to all.

ISTSE – Online / Paper-based (Only through Schools): Paper-based ISTSE exam is conducted through school. Students have to
fill the form in the school and exam will be conducted inside-school campus during school hours.

If you are a student and want to participate in the paper-based ISTSE exam, please contact your school teacher. They will be able to provide you examination form.

If you represent a school and want to conduct ISTSE exam at your school, please register your school by clicking HERE.

How to regsiter for online scholarship olympiad exam?

ISTSE Online Scholarship Olympiad is open for all the students studying in classes 1 to 10. Students can register online for the exam directly. To register for ISTSE Scholarship Olympiad, please click HERE.

How do I register for Olympiad exam?

Any student studying in classes 1 to 10 can appear in ISTSE Scholarship Olympiad Exam. You can directly register for ISTSE olympiad exam by visiting Olympiad Exam Registration Page.

What is the last date of Olympiad registration 2023-24?

The ISTSE Scholarship Olympiad – 2023-24 will be conducted on 19th, 25th and 26th November 2023. There are limited seats for each class. So, please hurry us before seats get over.

How do I give Olympiad without school?

You can participate in ISTSE Scholarship Olympiad conducted by Educational Excellentia by directly registering on the website. The eligibility criteria for appearing in ISTSE Scholarship Olympiad is that you must be studying in classes 1 to 10 and have access to a laptop/desktop/tablet/smartphone with a fast internet connection.

Which class should I register for the ISTSE online exam?

Winter Exam Registration (November):
      Register for the class you are currently attending, i.e., the one you began between January and July.
      Please avoid registering for the class you’ve already completed.
Summer Exam Registration (May):
      Register for the class you completed between December and June.
      Do NOT register for the class into which you were promoted between January and July.

Still unsure? Reach out to our support team for further clarification.

If Indian School Talent Search Exam (ISTSE) - Online is an online exam, can I give this exam from my home?

Yes, this is the best part of ISTSE – Online exam. You can directly register and give the exam from your home. To give ISTSE exam, you need a desktop or laptop or tablet with webcam and internet connection.

How can I check if I can use my computer/tablet to appear in the ISTSE Online exam or not?

To participate in the ISTSE-online exam, it is compulsory for you to have access to a computer(laptop or desktop) / tablet with a web camera and internet(speed > 512kbps) connection. Click HERE to check if your computer/tablet can be used to appear in ISTSE Online Exam. Please run this test on the computer/tablet you are planning to use for giving the ISTSE Online exam.

Is there any level - 2 exam for ISTSE?

It is not exactly level -2 exam but, 30 minutes video interview of 100 marks will be conducted for top 10 marks holders to decide the top 10 ranks.

I am among the top 10 marks holder. Does this mean I will be in the top 10 rank holders also?

No. There can be a situation when more than one student can get the same marks. It may result in more than ten students getting top 10 cut-off marks. There can be 10 / 11 / 15 / 18 / 25 students in the top ten marks holders We will be conducting an interview/viva for all the students who have scored greater than or equal to the top 10 cut-off marks.
The final rank will be decided based on their written + interview marks. For example, if 15 students are there as top 10 marks holder, then, in the most probable cases, these students will get their rank from anything between 1 to 15.

If students give ISTSE exam from the house, then kids can do cheating. How will they ensure the fair exam conduction?

Indian School Talent Search Exam(ISTSE) – online is committed towards the fair conduction of the examination. We are the first and only online talent exams for school kids with AI-enabled anti-cheating tools to prevent any malpractice during the exam. ISTSE exam system is equipped with an advanced AI-based anti-cheating module, advanced software tools and manual monitoring to support fair conduction of the examination.

30 minutes video interview of 100 marks will be conducted for top 10 marks holders to decide the top 10 ranks.

What is the interview evaluation criteria ?

30 minutes video interview of 100 marks will be conducted for top 10 marks holders to decide the top 10 ranks. Apart from general questions, student will be asked 20 academic questions from maths, science, english and reasoning.

In Interview, marks will be awarded for :

  • number of questions answered correctly.
  • quality of the answer
  • ability to interpret the question.
  • faster response time for answering each question.
  • Note: Every question did not carry the same weightage.
In Interview, marks were deducted for:
  • number of prompts required to answer a question correctly.
  • incorrect or shortness or vagueness of answer.
  • malpractice or cheating or prompt by other person during the interview
  • Note: Marks were not affected by fluency in English or poor internet.
Note: Appearing in the interview/viva does not guarantee that you will get a top 10 rank. If 20 students are there as top 10 marks holder, then, in the most probable cases, these students will get any rank between 1 to 20.

I am a top 10 marks holder and selected for viva / interview. Is it compulsory for me to appear in the viva/interview?

To evaluate subjective questions, we look for keywords in the answer. The answer to each subjective question should contain these keywords.
For example, if the question is ‘What is photosynthesis?” then, keywords will be “sunlight”, “carbon dioxide”, “chlorophyll”, “oxygen”.
If the student uses only two keywords, he/she will get marks only for those keywords. Some keywords have more weightage than others based on their importance.

I am a top 10 marks holder and selected for viva / interview. Is it compulsory for me to appear in the viva/interview?

Yes, attendance is indeed compulsory for all selected candidates. Failure to attend the viva/interview will result in the cancellation of your participation in the exam. This cancellation means that you will not be eligible for any certificates, medals, or rewards. We strongly encourage you to attend the viva/interview as scheduled to avoid any unfavourable consequences.
Please Note:The fee paid by you will be forfeited if you do not attend the viva/interview. We regret to inform you that we will not issue any refunds in this scenario.

Why are some ranks in the toppers list marked as "disqualified"?

Top Ten Scorers Rule::
As per our rule, the top ten scorers undergo a mandatory interview or viva session, adding an additional 100 marks to their score. This interview aids in finalizing the rankings for the top ten positions. We also conduct a thorough document verification to maintain the examination’s fairness and integrity.
Disqualification Procedure::
If a student, even after the interview, is found not to meet our exam criteria, they will be disqualified. Typically, if a disqualification is identified, we invite the next highest scorer for the top 10 interview process. However, if the disqualification is discovered at the last minute and we can’t conduct additional interviews, that particular rank may remain vacant. This is because all top 10 students must undergo the mandatory interview/viva.
We are dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of examination fairness and integrity. Rest assured, the final rankings are always accurate and justified.

What is the interview evaluation criteria ?

No. The student is not eligible to receive the scholarship for the same class again. For example, if a student is getting a scholarship for class 4(through Winter Online Exam), she/he will not be eligible for the Class 4 Summer online exam scholarship.
Note:

Appearing in the next exam is a student’s choice.
They can appear in the exam to evaluate their preparation, but they are not eligible for the top 10 Interviews or Scholarships.
We will not be displaying the name of these students in top 10 list on the site.

How to register for Indian School Talent Search Exam(ISTSE)?

Indian School Talent Search Exam (ISTSE) is conducted separately online for direct/individual candidates and paper-based only through schools.

Register for ISTSE-Online (for direct/individual candidates): Click HERE to register for online olympiad exam.

Register for ISTSE-Paper-based (only through schools): If you are a student and want to participate in the paper-based ISTSE exam, please contact your school teacher. They will be able to provide you examination form. If you represent a school and want to conduct ISTSE exam at your school, please register your school by clicking HERE.

During my kid's participation in one of the ISTSE exams, it was observed that a few questions were difficult and looked beyond the prescribed syllabus. Why is it so?

We are a talent search examination aimed at promoting 360-degree holistic development among participants. Our primary objective is to cultivate critical thinking skills and facilitate the acquisition of knowledge that goes beyond the limitations of conventional textbooks. As an organisation, we recognise and reward exceptional efforts made by students. Kindly be informed that our talent search examinations differ from regular school unit tests. As a result, certain questions are intentionally crafted to go beyond what you would typically find in your standard syllabus or prescribed textbooks.
Most of the questions asked in the exam take into consideration the syllabus, age group and awareness. However, since it is an international examination, certain questions are intentionally designed to test higher-order thinking skills and test the participants’ knowledge as keen observers of the world. These questions serve the dual purpose of identifying high-potential and well-rounded students, as well as these questions play a significant role in determining the ranking of participants.
The ISTSE exam is designed to assess students’ knowledge and intellectual skills. It aims to identify exceptional talent and encourage participants to think critically and expand their horizons.
The ISTSE exam is designed to assess students’ knowledge and intellectual skills. It aims to identify exceptional talent and encourage participants to think critically and expand their horizons.
To ensure fairness, we offer an “Answer Key Challenge Window”. During this period, we publish the provisional answer key along with the results, and participants can challenge any answers they believe to be incorrect. Students are permitted to challenge multiple questions, as long as they provide a logical explanation supporting their answer. Our educational team diligently reviews each challenge and responds accordingly. In the past, we have revised our answer key when a student’s reasoning was found to be valid. Unlike many other examinations that either do not offer this option or charge a fee for it, we provide this service completely free of charge.

I am prepared for my class and the next class also. Can I appear for the next class exam?

No, you should be registering only for one class based on the session the exam is conducted.
Appearing in the wrong class will result in the cancellation of your exam participation. Cancellation of participation means you will not be getting any certificate, medal, or reward.
Please Note: The fee paid by you will be forfeited if you do not attend the viva/interview. We regret to inform you that we will not issue any refunds in this scenario.

I am prepared for my class and the next class also. Can I appear for the next class exam?

Your exam registration will be deemed invalid if you fall under any of the following cases:
Registering multiple times for the same exam: This is considered misleading information and may result in the rejection of your exam registration.
Registering for more than one class simultaneously: A student cannot register for more than one class simultaneously. If we find that you have done so, your exam registration will be nullified.
Your registration will stand cancelled if you cannot provide a valid ID and study proof. We require the student’s government-issued ID proof, like Aadhaar Card or Passport, to validate the registration. To prove the student is registering for the
appropriate class, we require school issued ID card, fee receipt or letter from the school with the student’s name,
session, and class mentioned.
Please ensure you adhere to the registration guidelines and provide accurate information to avoid any inconvenience.
Please Note: The fee paid by you will be forfeited if you do not attend the viva/interview. We regret to inform you that we will not issue any refunds in this scenario.

If there any school level scholarship exam in India?

You can win a scholarship of ₹1500/- per month by participating in ISTSE. Click Award Details.

How to preparare for Indian School Talent Search Exam (ISTSE)?

ISTSE exam is conducted on the defined syllabus, which is almost similar to your school syllabus. Please visit syllabus page to get the detailed syllabus.

OlympiadHelper.com is our official partner. You can visit OlympiadHelper.com for ISTSE preparatory material.

Is individual registration for olympiad is possible? How can I individually register for olympiad exams?

Yes, “Indian School Talent Search Exam – Online” (ISTSE-online) is an an online scholarship exam conducted for kids studying in class 1 to 10. This exam is open for all the students. You can directly / individually register yourself for visiting HERE.

I do not have a computer / tablet at home. How can I participate in the ISTSE-Online exam?

To participate in the ISTSE-online exam, it is compulsory for you to have access to a laptop or desktop or tablet with a web camera and internet(speed > 512kbps) connection. Click HERE for System Compatibility Check.

I have a computer and internet connection, but I do not have web-camera. Can I appear in the exam?

No. For taking the exam, you should have a computer/tablet, a web-camera and internet connection. If you do not have a web camera, you can rent it from your nearest cyber cafe for a day.

Can I take the examination from a mobile phone?

Yes, you can take the ISTSE exam through a smartphone with a Google Chrome browser. However, although you can take the exam on a smartphone, we prefer it should be taken through a desktop or laptop or tablet with a web camera and good internet connection.

Can I give this exam from a cybercafe?

Our first preference will be that you should appear for the exam from your home. If however, you plan on taking the exam from a cyber cafe, you must first make sure that the computer is eligible for taking up the exam. To check if you can appear in the exam through the machine, please click on the Check Your System link from the cybercafe computer. Register yourself only after getting the confirmation.

Can I appear in the mock tests on the date of exam?

Regrettably, mock tests cannot be provided on the exam day due to technical limitations.
Previously, we offered them the option of taking mock tests on the exam day, but many students got confused and took the mock test instead of the main exam.
So we have re-written the code to remove the mock tests on the exam day. Now the mock tests are not available on the day of the exam.

I am getting some error while running the system test. To whom I should contact?

In case you are facing issue while running the system test, please contact support at +91-95132-37104.

I want to participate in the paper-based exam. How can I participate, if my school is not participating?

Paper-based ISTSE exam is conducted through school. Students have to fill the form in the school and exam will be conducted inside-school campus during school hours.

If you are a student and want to participate in the paper-based ISTSE exam, please contact your school teacher. They will be able to provide you examination form.

If you represent a school and want to conduct ISTSE exam at your school, please register your
school by clicking HERE.

I am living outside India. Can I participate?

Yes. If you are studying or following the Indian syllabus and want to appear in ISTSE Online exam, you can do that. If your school is not registered with us, please register as an individual/direct student by visiting https://istse.org/olympiad-exam-registration

NOTE: We currently only ship certificates, medals, shields, and books to addresses within India. For smooth shipping process, we require a complete Indian address, including a valid Indian mobile number.

I want to participate in the paper-based exam. How can I participate, if my school is not participating?

Paper-based ISTSE exam is conducted through school. Students have to fill the form in the school and exam will be conducted inside-school campus during school hours.

If you are a student and want to participate in the paper-based ISTSE exam, please contact your school teacher. They will be able to provide you examination form.

If you represent a school and want to conduct ISTSE exam at your school, please register your
school by clicking HERE.

I want to participate in the paper-based exam. How can I participate, if my school is not participating?

Below is the last date of registration for Olympiad exams:

 Indian School Talent Search Exam – Online (For direct/individual candidates): Limited seats available

Indian School Talent Search Exam – Online (For direct/individual candidates): Limited seats available

Indian School Talent Search Exam – Paper-based/Online (Only through Schools): Last a few seats available

What is the exam date for Indian School Talent Search Exam (ISTSE)?

Indian School Talent Search Exam (ISTSE) Exam Dates:

ISTSE – Online (For direct/individual candidates):

Class 1 to 3: Nov 26th 2023
Class 4 to 6: Nov 25th 2023
Class 7 to 10: Nov 19th 2023

 ISTSE – Paper-based/ (Only through Schools): 3rd Feb 2024.

Can I pay registration fee through bank transfer or using UPI?

You can make payment through cash deposit/bank transfer/NEFT/IMPS.
Our bank details:
  • Account Name: Educational Excellentia
  • Account No: 055105007001
  • Bank Name: ICICI Bank
  • Brach: ITPL, Bangalore
  • IFSC: ICIC0000551
You can also make the payment using wallet / UPI application.
Note: Please mention your mobile number in the transaction details. After transfer please send transaction details as an email to info@istse.org with your name, mobile number, student’s name and student’s class.
Register NOW for
Online Olympiad Exam

Interested in knowing your potential?

Online Olympiad Exam Date:

Class 1 to 3: Nov 26th 2023
Class 4 to 6: Nov 25th 2023
Class 7 to 10: Nov 19th 2023
Online Olympiad Exam Fees: INR 399/-, With late fees 449/-
(Includes 3 Online Mock Tests. Mock tests will not be available on and after the exam date.)

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