NTSE Stage 1 is conducted at State level.

The state level examination has Three parts for nominating the required number of candidates for the second level test to be conducted by the NCERT.

1. Part I comprises of Mental Ability Test (MAT) consisting of 50 questions.

2. Part II comprises of language test consisting of 40 questions 20 Hindi & 20 English.

3. Part III comprises of Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) consisting 90 questions (From Social Science. Basic Science & Mathematics).

4. Time for Part I is 45 minutes, for Part II is 45 minutes and for Part III is 90 minutes.