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NTSE Mental Ability Test (MAT) 2025: NTSE, or the National Talent Search Exam, is conducted every year for school students by the Government of India. The test consists of two papers, which include Stage 1 (State Level) and Stage 2 (National Level). The NTSE paper is divided into two sections: Mental Ability Test (MAT) and Scholastic Ability Test (SAT).
This scholarship test is organised for Class 10 students with Indian nationality. Students who qualify for this exam are eligible for a scholarship of INR 1250 and INR 2000 per month in Class 11 and Class 12, respectively. So, if you want to ace this test, you have to start preparing for each section respectively. IN this blog, we have covered the NTSE Mental Ability Test with practice papers and their answers.
Contents
What is NTSE Mental Ability Test (MAT)?
The NTSE Mental Ability Test (MAT) is the reasoning section of the National Talent Search Examination. It checks how well students think, analyse, and solve problems, instead of memorisation.
MAT stands for Mental Ability Test. It focuses on intelligence-based questions that test logic, patterns, relationships, and problem-solving skills. Questions are usually based on reasoning, figures, series, coding, and analytical thinking. The goal of MAT is to measure a student’s mental sharpness and decision-making ability. It tests:
- Speed and accuracy
- Logical thinking
- Observation skills
- Analytical ability
- Pattern recognition
NTSE MAT 2025 Syllabus
The syllabus for the NTSE exam is based on Classes 9 and 10. When preparing for the NTSE exam, the student should note that their preparation should be based on the state and national levels. They must go through every topic.
The NTSE exam consists of multiple-choice questions which include subjects like Mathematics, Social Science, Science, General Knowledge, English and questions on Mental Ability.
Here you can look at the expected syllabus of the NTSE MAT, which will help you to prepare for this exam effectively.
Verbal Reasoning
- Analogy
- Classification
- Series
- Coding-Decoding
- Blood Relations
- Direction Sense
Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Figure Series
- Paper Folding & Cutting
- Mirror & Water Images
- Embedded Figures
- Cube & Dice
Logical Reasoning
- Statement & Conclusion
- Syllogism
- Cause & Effect
- Venn Diagrams
- Assertion & Reason
Also Read: Gurukripa Scholarship Cum Admission Test (GSAT)
NTSE MAT Exam Pattern
Below is the exam pattern for the NTSE MAT that will help you to improve your understanding of concepts and how to perform them in the exam.
| Component | Details |
| Mode | Offline (Pen & Paper) |
| Question Type | Objective |
| Sections | Verbal + Non-Verbal |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate to High |
| Qualifying Nature | Yes |
NTSE Mental Ability Test (MAT) Eligibility Criteria
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has laid out the Mental Ability Test (MAT) eligibility criteria for all the students who wish to take the exam. Check out the eligibility criteria here:
- NTSE MAT is open to all Class 10 students who have Indian nationality.
- The candidate can study in India or abroad when taking the test.
- Students studying in India will be selected based on their screening examination.
- Whereas, students studying abroad will be selected only if they have an Indian nationality.
Here is the detailed eligibility criteria for all the students who wish to be a part of this exam.
| Stage 1 (State Level) | – All candidates must have scored at least 60 per cent in their Class 9. – He/She should be studying in a recognised school in the respective State or Union Territory. – Students part of the Open Distance Learning (ODL) program will also be considered eligible, provided they are below 18 years of age as of July 1 (the same age the candidate is taking the exam). |
| Stage 2 (National Level) | This is for all the students who manage to clear NTSE Stage 1 will be eligible for the next stage. |
Also Read: List of Exams After 10th
Preparation Tips to Crack NTSE MAT
Cracking NTSE MAT is more about smart thinking than memorising and writing up. The exam checks how fast and accurately you can solve reasoning problems. Here are some of the preparation tips to crack the NTSE MAT exam:
- Practice puzzles daily
Reasoning improves with practice. Solve 15–20 questions daily from different topics like analogy, series, and coding-decoding to build strong logical thinking habits. - Focus on speed + accuracy
As time is limited, try to avoid overthinking. Learn to identify patterns quickly while maintaining accuracy, because negative marks can hurt your score. - Solve previous year papers
Past papers help you understand question types and exam level. They also show repeated concepts, which is a big advantage during preparation. - Learn shortcut tricks
Use Venn diagram tricks, elimination methods, and pattern recognition shortcuts. These save time in non-verbal and logical reasoning questions. - Take mock tests weekly
Mock tests improve time management and exam confidence. Analyse mistakes after each test to avoid repeating them.
Previous Year MAT Difficulty Level
Understanding past trends helps you prepare better. Look at some of the past trends to understand the NTSE MAT exam difficulty level.
- Question pattern trend: MAT usually has a mix of verbal, non-verbal, and logical reasoning. Figure-based and analytical questions have increased over the years.
- Topic weightage: Series, coding-decoding, analogy, figure series, and blood relations often carry more questions compared to other topics.
How has difficulty changed over the years?
Earlier papers were moderate, but recent MAT exams show more tricky logic-based questions. Pattern recognition and analytical thinking are now tested more deeply.
Here is a quick exercise that will help you give an idea of how the mental ability test (MAT) section will look:
FAQs
Ans: Yes, the NTSE exam is conducted every year. The exam is conducted in two stages – Stage 1 (state level) and Stage 2 (national level).
Ans: The student appearing for the NTSE exam must be at least 18 years of age to take the exam.
Ans: No, the student should be in at least Class 10 to take the NTSE exam.
Ans: NTSE is considered moderately difficult. Questions test deep reasoning, analytical thinking, and conceptual clarity. With regular practice and strong fundamentals, students can manage the difficulty level effectively.
Ans: Yes, NTSE builds strong problem-solving and analytical skills, which help in competitive exams like JEE. It also strengthens academic profiles and boosts confidence for national-level entrance exams.
Related Reads
This was all about the NTSE Mental Ability Test (MAT) 2025. Follow Leverage Edu for more information on school education in India.
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