ISTSE Syllabus & Exam Pattern
ISTSE is a single-paper scholarship olympiad covering Mental & Logical Ability, Mathematics, Science, English and Scholars Section. Use this page to check class-wise topics, section-wise marking and sample papers.
Subjects covered in ISTSE
A skill-based syllabus that tests understanding, not memorisation.
The ISTSE paper is designed to assess overall intellectual potential. The questions are based on school syllabus concepts, but they focus on application, reasoning, analytical thinking and conceptual clarity.
The syllabus is suitable for students studying in CBSE, ICSE and State Board schools. Class-wise details are listed below along with downloadable sample papers.
Mental Ability
Reasoning, patterns, coding-decoding, classification and logical thinking.
Mathematics
Class-wise mathematics concepts with application-based questions.
Science
Core science topics that test observation, understanding and application.
English
Vocabulary, grammar, comprehension and language usage.
One paper, class-wise difficulty and MCQ format
The pattern remains simple for students, while the topic difficulty changes according to the class.
Classes 1 to 4
- 35 questions in total
- 100 marks
- 60 minutes duration
- Multiple choice questions with negative marking
Classes 5 to 10
- 50 questions in total
- 100 marks
- 60 minutes duration
- Multiple choice questions with negative marking
The final exam has negative marking for each wrong answer. For online exams, fair participation and practice behaviour are also considered through the Fair Play / Practice component.
Syllabus supports both participation modes
Students can participate directly in the online exam or through a registered school for the school exam.
Online Exam
Conducted from home for students registering directly with ISTSE. Current online exam dates: 22, 28 & 29 November 2026.
School Exam
Paper-based exam conducted inside school premises through registered schools. Current school exam date: 3 February 2027.
Choose the right participation mode.
Parents can register individual students for the online exam. Schools can register to conduct the school exam for their students.
Class-wise syllabus for ISTSE
Select a class to view topics, section-wise question count and marking details.
Mental Ability & Logical Reasoning
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Grouping
- Problems Based on Figures
- Geometrical Shapes
- Patterns
- Odd One Out
- Ranking Test
- General Questions
Mathematics
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Numerals, Number names & Number Sense (2 digit numbers)
- Addition
- Subtraction
- Lengths, Weights and Comparisons
- Time
- Money
- Geometrical Shapes and Solids
- General Maths
Science
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Living and Non-living things
- Plants
- Animals
- Human Beings and Their Needs
- Family and Shelter
- Good Habits and Safety Rules
- Our Surroundings and Neighbour
- Air and Water
- Weather and the Sky
- General Science
English Language and Grammar
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Vocabulary - Word Power
- Animals - Their Babies, Sounds and Groups
- Nouns
- Pronoun
- Verbs
- Articles
- Prepositions
- Comprehension (Prose and Poetry)
- General English
Scholars Section
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Higher thinking questions from Mathematics and Science
Section 6: Fair Play / Practice (Only for Online Exam)
Only for online exam: fair participation and practice behaviour are assessed through AI-assisted tools and manual monitoring.
Mental Ability & Logical Reasoning
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Spatial Understanding
- Grouping
- Measuring Units
- Analogy
- Problems Based on Figures
- Geometrical Shapes
- Patterns
- Odd One Out
- Ranking Test
- General Questions
Mathematics
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Numerals, Number Names and Number Sense (3-Digit Numbers)
- Computation Operations - Addition and Subtraction
- Computation Operations - Multiplication
- Computation Operations - Division
- Length, Weight, and Capacity
- Time and Money
- Lines, Shapes and Solids
- General Maths
Science
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Plants
- Animals
- Human Body
- Food
- Housing and Clothing
- Family and Festivals
- Occupations
- Good Habits and Safety Rules
- Transport and Communication
- Air, Water and Rocks
- Earth and Universe
- General Science
English Language and Grammar
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Word Power & Vocabulary
- Nouns
- Pronouns
- Verbs
- Adverbs
- Adjectives
- Articles
- Prepositions
- Conjunctions
- Contractions, Word order and Punctuation
- Simple tenses
- Comprehension
- Spoken and Written Expression
- General English
Scholars Section
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Higher thinking questions from Mathematics and Science
Section 6: Fair Play / Practice (Only for Online Exam)
Only for online exam: fair participation and practice behaviour are assessed through AI-assisted tools and manual monitoring.
Mental Ability & Logical Reasoning
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Patterns
- Measuring Units
- Odd One Out
- Series Completion
- Analogy
- Ranking Test
- Grouping of Figures
- Coding-Decoding
- Embedded Figures
- General Questions
Mathematics
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Numerals, Number Names and Number Sense (4-Digit Numbers)
- Computation Operations - Addition and Subtraction
- Computation Operations - Multiplication
- Computation Operations - Division
- Length, Weight, and Capacity
- Time and Money
- Geometry - Lines, Shapes and Solids
- General Maths
Science
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Plants and Animals
- Birds
- Food
- Housing and Clothing
- Transport and Communication
- Human Body
- Earth and Universe
- Matter and Materials
- Light, Sound and Force
- Our Environment
- General Science
English Language and Grammar
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Word Power
- Idioms, Phrases and Proverbs
- Nouns
- Pronouns
- Verbs
- Adverbs
- Adjectives
- Articles
- Prepositions
- Simple Tenses
- Conjunctions
- Comprehension
- Spoken and Written Expression
- General English
Scholars Section
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Higher thinking questions from Mathematics and Science
Section 6: Fair Play / Practice (Only for Online Exam)
Only for online exam: fair participation and practice behaviour are assessed through AI-assisted tools and manual monitoring.
Mental Ability & Logical Reasoning
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Patterns
- Analogy and Classification
- Coding-Decoding
- Mirror Images
- Embedded Figures
- Alphabet Test
- Ranking Test
- Grouping of Figures
- Figure Matrix
- Geometrical Shapes
- Days and Dates & Possible Combinations
- General Questions
Mathematics
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Number Sense
- Computation Operation
- Fractions
- Length, Weight, and Capacity
- Time and Money
- Geometry
- Data Handling
- General Maths
Science
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Plants
- Animals
- Food and Digestion
- Clothing
- Matter and Materials
- Force, Work and Energy
- Our Environment
- Earth and Universe
- General Science
English Language and Grammar
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Vocabulary - Word Power
- Nouns
- Pronouns
- Verbs
- Adverbs
- Adjectives
- Contractions
- Articles
- Prepositions
- Conjunctions
- Tenses
- Proverbs and Idioms
- Comprehension
- Spoken and Written Expression
- General English
Scholars Section
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Higher thinking questions from Mathematics and Science
Section 6: Fair Play / Practice (Only for Online Exam)
Only for online exam: fair participation and practice behaviour are assessed through AI-assisted tools and manual monitoring.
Mental Ability & Logical Reasoning
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Patterns
- Alphabet Test
- Coding-Decoding
- Mirror Images
- Embedded Figures
- Geometrical Shapes and Solids
- Ranking Test
- Direction Sense Test
- Days and Dates & Possible Combinations
- Analogy and Classification
- General Questions
Mathematics
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Number Sense
- Computation Operations
- Fractions and Decimals
- Measurements
- Basic Geometrical Ideas
- Angles
- Perimeter and Area
- Symmetry
- Data Handling
- General Maths
Science
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Animals
- Human Body and Health
- Plants
- Natural Resources
- Pollution and Calamities
- Earth and Universe
- Matter
- Force, Work and Energy
- General Science
English Language and Grammar
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Vocabulary - Word Power
- Nouns
- Pronouns
- Verbs and Phrasal Verbs
- Adverbs
- Adjectives
- Articles
- Prepositions
- Conjunctions
- Tenses
- Active-Passive Voice and Reported Speech
- Proverbs and Idioms
- Comprehension
- Spoken and Written Expression
- General English
Scholars Section
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Higher thinking questions from Mathematics and Science
Section 6: Fair Play / Practice (Only for Online Exam)
Only for online exam: fair participation and practice behaviour are assessed through AI-assisted tools and manual monitoring.
Mental Ability & Logical Reasoning
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Patterns
- Analogy and Classification
- Coding-Decoding
- Geometrical Shapes
- Mirror Images
- Water Images
- Embedded Figures
- Direction Sense Test
- Ranking Test
- Alphabet Test and Logical Sequence of Words
- Puzzle Test
- General Questions
Mathematics
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Knowing our Numbers
- Whole Numbers
- Playing with Numbers
- Basic Geometrical Ideas
- Understanding Elementary Shapes
- Integers
- Fractions
- Decimals
- Mensuration
- Algebra
- Ratio And Proportion
- Symmetry
- Practical Geometry
- Data Handling
- General Maths
Science
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Food and Its Components
- Fibre to Fabric
- Sorting and Separation of Materials
- Changes Around Us
- The World of Living
- Motion and Measurement of Distances
- Light, Shadows and Reflections
- Electricity and Circuits
- Fun with Magnets
- Our Environment
- General Science
English Language and Grammar
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Vocabulary - Word Power
- Nouns
- Pronouns
- Verbs and Phrasal verbs
- Adverbs
- Adjectives
- Articles
- Prepositions
- Voices and Narration
- Tenses
- Active-Passive Voice and Reported Speech
- Proverbs and Idioms
- Comprehension
- Spoken and Written Expression
- General English
Scholars Section
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Higher thinking questions from Mathematics and Science
Section 6: Fair Play / Practice (Only for Online Exam)
Only for online exam: fair participation and practice behaviour are assessed through AI-assisted tools and manual monitoring.
Mental Ability & Logical Reasoning
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Patterns
- Analogy and Classification
- Coding-Decoding
- Geometrical Shapes
- Mirror Images
- Water Images
- Embedded Figures
- Direction Sense Test
- Mathematical reasoning
- Analytical reasoning
- Ranking Test
- Alphabet Test and Logical Sequence of Words
- Puzzle Test
- General Questions
Mathematics
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Integers
- Fractions and Decimals
- Data Handling
- Simple Equations
- Lines and Angles
- The Triangle and its Properties
- Congruence of Triangles
- Comparing Quantities
- Rational Numbers
- Practical Geometry
- Perimeter and Area
- Algebraic Expressions
- Exponents and Powers
- Symmetry
- Visualising Solid Shapes
- General Maths
Science
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Nutrition in Plants and Animals
- Fibre to Fabric
- Heat
- Acids, Bases and Salts
- Physical and Chemical Changes
- Weather, Climate and Adaptations of Animals to Climate
- Winds, Storms and Cyclones
- Natural Resources and Their Conservation
- Respiration in Organisms
- Transportation in Plants and Animals
- Reproduction in Plants
- Motion and Time
- Electric Current and its Effects
- Light
- General Science
English Language and Grammar
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Vocabulary - Word Power
- Nouns
- Pronouns
- Verbs, Phrasal Verbs and Modals
- Adverbs
- Adjectives
- Articles
- Prepositions
- Conjunctions
- Tenses
- Voices and Narration
- Proverbs and Idioms
- Comprehension
- Spoken and Written Expression
- General English
Scholars Section
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Higher thinking questions from Mathematics and Science
Section 6: Fair Play / Practice (Only for Online Exam)
Only for online exam: fair participation and practice behaviour are assessed through AI-assisted tools and manual monitoring.
Mental Ability & Logical Reasoning
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Patterns
- Analogy and Classification
- Coding-Decoding
- Geometrical Shapes
- Mirror Images
- Water Images
- Embedded Figures
- Direction Sense Test
- Mathematical reasoning
- Analytical reasoning
- Ranking Test
- Alphabet Test and Logical Sequence of Words
- Puzzle Test
- General Questions
Mathematics
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Playing with Number
- Rational Numbers
- Linear Equations in One Variable
- Understanding Quadrilaterals
- Practical Geometry
- Data Handling
- Squares and Square Roots
- Cubes and Cube Roots
- Comparing Quantities
- Algebraic Expressions and Identities
- Visualising Solid Shapes
- Mensuration
- Exponents and Powers
- Direct and Inverse Proportions
- Factorisation
- Introduction to Graphs
- General Maths
Science
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Crop Production and Management
- Microorganisms
- Synthetic Fibres and Plastics
- Metals and Non-metals
- Coal and Petroleum
- Combustion and Flame
- Conservation of Plants and Animals
- Cell
- Reproduction and Endocrine System
- Force and Pressure
- Friction
- Sound
- Chemical Effects of Electric Current
- Some Natural Phenomena
- Light
- Stars and the Solar System
- Pollution of Air and Water
- General Science
English Language and Grammar
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Vocabulary - Word Power
- Nouns
- Pronouns
- Verbs, Phrasal Verbs and Modals
- Adverbs
- Adjectives
- Articles
- Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases
- Participle Phrases
- Conjunctions
- Determiners
- Tenses
- Voices and Narrations
- Idioms and Proverbs
- Comprehension
- Spoken and Written Expression
- General English
Scholars Section
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Higher thinking questions from Mathematics and Science
Section 6: Fair Play / Practice (Only for Online Exam)
Only for online exam: fair participation and practice behaviour are assessed through AI-assisted tools and manual monitoring.
Mental Ability & Logical Reasoning
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Patterns
- Analogy and Classification
- Coding-Decoding
- Geometrical Shapes
- Mirror Images
- Water Images
- Embedded Figures
- Direction Sense Test
- Mathematical reasoning
- Analytical reasoning
- Ranking Test
- Alphabet Test and Logical Sequence of Words
- Puzzle Test
- General Questions
Mathematics
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Number Systems
- Polynomials
- Coordinate Geometry
- Linear Equations in Two Variables
- Introduction to Euclid's Geometry
- Lines and Angles
- Triangles
- Quadrilaterals
- Areas of Parallelograms and Triangles
- Circles
- Constructions
- Heron's Formula
- Surface Areas and Volumes
- Statistics
- Probability
- General Maths
Science
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Matter in Our Surroundings
- Is Matter Around Us Pure
- Atoms and Molecules
- Structure of Atom
- Cell - The Fundamental Unit of Life
- Tissues
- Diversity in Living Organisms
- Motion
- Force and Laws of Motion
- Gravitation
- Work and Energy
- Sound
- Why Do We Fall Ill
- Natural Resources
- Improvement in Food Resources
- General Science
English Language and Grammar
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Vocabulary - Word Power
- Nouns
- Pronouns
- Verbs, Phrasal Verbs and Modals
- Adverbs
- Adjectives
- Articles
- Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases
- Participle Phrases
- Conjunctions
- Voices and Narrations
- Concord
- Tenses
- Conditionals
- Reported speech
- Idioms and Proverbs
- Comprehension
- Spoken and Written Expression
- General English
Scholars Section
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Higher thinking questions from Mathematics and Science
Section 6: Fair Play / Practice (Only for Online Exam)
Only for online exam: fair participation and practice behaviour are assessed through AI-assisted tools and manual monitoring.
Mental Ability & Logical Reasoning
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Patterns
- Analogy and Classification
- Coding-Decoding
- Geometrical Shapes
- Mirror Images
- Water Images
- Embedded Figures
- Direction Sense Test
- Mathematical reasoning
- Analytical reasoning
- Ranking Test
- Alphabet Test and Logical Sequence of Words
- Puzzle Test
- General Questions
Mathematics
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Real Numbers
- Polynomials
- Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables
- Quadratic Equations
- Arithmetic Progressions
- Triangles
- Coordinate Geometry
- Introduction to Trigonometry
- Some Applications of Trigonometry
- Circles
- Constructions
- Areas Related to Circles
- Surface Areas and Volumes
- Statistics
- Probability
- General Maths
Science
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Chemical Reactions and Equations
- Acids, Bases and Salts
- Metals and Non-metals
- Carbon and its Compounds
- Periodic Classification of Elements
- Chemical Bonding
- Life Processes
- Control and Coordination
- Reproduction in Organisms
- Heredity and Evolution
- Light - Reflection and Refraction
- Force, Work, Power, Energy and Machine
- Sound
- Heat
- Electricity
- Magnetic Effects of Electric Current
- Sources of Energy
- Our Environment
- Management of Natural Resources
- General Science
English Language and Grammar
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Words related to social cause
- Words related to Travel
- Words related to Workplace
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Homonyms and homophones
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Analogies and Spellings
- One word
- Word order
- Nouns
- Pronouns
- Verbs
- Adverbs
- Adjectives
- Articles
- Prepositions
- Conjunctions
- Punctuations
- Jumbled words
- Voices
- Concord
- Question forms
- Tenses
- Conditionals
- Modals
- Reported speech
- Collocations
- Phrasal verbs
- Idioms
- Comprehension (Search for retrieve and understand information)
- General English
Scholars Section
Section details and class-wise topic coverage.
- Higher thinking questions from Mathematics and Science
Section 6: Fair Play / Practice (Only for Online Exam)
Only for online exam: fair participation and practice behaviour are assessed through AI-assisted tools and manual monitoring.
Download class-wise sample papers
Use sample papers to understand the type of questions asked in ISTSE and to practise before registration or final exam.
Common syllabus questions
Quick answers for parents, students and school representatives.
Choose the right participation mode.
Parents can register individual students for the online exam. Schools can register to conduct the school exam for their students.