INTRODUCTION
Placement Testing is about the placement
tests that colleges and universities use to assess college readiness and place
students into their initial classes. Since most two-year colleges have open,
non-competitive admissions policies, many students are admitted even though they
do not have college-level academic qualifications. Tests primarily assess
abilities in English, math and reading and in other disciplines such as foreign
languages, science, computer Internet and health. The goal is to offer
low-scoring students remedial coursework so that they can undertake regular
coursework.Less-prepared students are placed into various remedial situations,
from Adult Basic Education, through various levels of developmental college
courses.Historically, placement tests also served additional purposes such as
providing individual instructors a prediction of each student’s likely academic
success, sorting students into homogeneous skill groups within the same course
level and introducing students to course material. Placement testing can also
serve a gatekeeper function, keeping academically challenged students from
progressing into college programs, particularly in competitive admissions
programs such as nursing within otherwise open-entry colleges.
A competitive examination is an examination where candidates are ranked according to their
grades. If the examination is open for n positions, then the
first n candidates in ranks pass, the others are rejected. Examples of
this type are the Foreign Service Exam and UN Competitive Examination. In India, entrance examinations are chiefly
confined to medicine, engineering, management and the civil services. These
range from the BITS Pilani admission test and IIT-JEE where only one in a
hundreds can hope to get admission to state level entrances which are many and
varied.
National Talent Search Examination (NTSE)
National Talent Search Examination (NTSE) is a national-level scholarship program in India to identify and recognize students with high
intellect and academic talent. It is one of the most prestigious exams in India. Close to 150,000 students [1] appear in this scholarship exam every year, and
1,000 scholarships are awarded. The scheme is open to students of Indian nationality. Only students studying in Class X are eligible
to appear for the selection process. As it is organized by an official body (NCERT), it is widely regarded by the Government of India as the toughest and most prestigious examination at high school level in
the country.
History
In 1964, the scheme was extended to all the states and the union territories in the country with 350 scholarships for the
students of Class XI. Those scholarships were awarded on the basis of a written
examination, a project report and an interview. The written examination
comprised the Science Aptitude Test and an essay on a given scientific theme.
The candidates were to submit the project report at the time of the written
examination. A stipulated number of candidates selected on the basis of those
three components were then subjected to personal interviews. The performance of
the candidates on those four components was eventually employed for the purpose
of awarding scholarships. Those scholarships were awarded for pursuing
education only in basic sciences up to doctoral level.
With the introduction of 10+2+3 pattern of education, the NSTS scheme also
underwent a change in 1976. It was no longer confined to only basic sciences
but was extended to Social Sciences, engineering and medicine as well. It was
renamed as National Talent Search Scheme (NTSS). Since the education system in India was undergoing a change, the scheme was made open to the students
of Classes X, XI and XII and separate examinations were conducted for each
class. The number of scholarships was raised to 500. The selection procedure
was also changed. Now the candidates were subjected to two objective type
written tests, namely the Mental Ability Test (MAT) and the Scholastic Aptitude
Test (SAT). A stipulated number of candidates qualifying these two tests were
subjected to a face-to-face interview. The final awards were made on the basis
of composite scores obtained in the MAT, the SAT and the interview.
The number of scholarships was again enhanced from 500 to 550 in 1981. Those 50
scholarships were exclusively meant for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates. The number of scholarships was
once again escalated to 750 in 1983 with a provision of 70 scholarships
especially for SC and ST candidates. That arrangement continued until the
scheme was decentralized in 1985. Yet another change in the scheme was effected
from 2000 wherein the number of scholarships was raised from 750 to 1000 with
the provision of reservation for SC and ST candidates based on the national
norms of 15% and 7.5% respectively.
The scheme was partially decentralized in 1985 and was confined to only class
X. Under the new arrangement, the selection of candidates for the awards became
a two-tier process. The states and the union territories have been entrusted
with the responsibility of conducting the first tier screening examination
known as State Level Talent Search Examination. Each state and union territory
selects and recommended a stipulated number (state quota) of candidates for the
national level examination to be conducted for about 5000 candidates by the
NCERT.
The states got complete autonomy to design and conduct their written examinations.
However, they were advised to follow the national pattern which comprised MAT
and SAT. The MAT, which consisted of 100 multiple choice type questions, was to
be attempted by all the candidates. The SAT consisted of 25 multiple choice
type questions each on eight subject areas namely Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Civics and Economics. The candidates could choose any four out of
these eight subjects and had to answer a total of 100 questions in the SAT.
A stipulated number of candidates who qualified at the national level
examination were called for face-to-face interviews. The award of scholarships
was finally determined on the basis of the candidates’ scores obtained in all
three components namely the MAT, the SAT and the Interview.
A crucial modification in the scheme was again made in the year 1995 when the
provision of choice in the SAT was abolished and all the subjects were made
compulsory. These subjects were Science, Social Science and Mathematics with
40, 40 and 20 questions respectively.
The scholarships under the present scheme are awarded to the candidates
for pursuing courses in sciences and social sciences up to doctoral level andin
professional courses like medicine and engineering up to second-degree level
subject to the fulfillment of the conditions provided. Also, an important
decision was taken in the year 2008, when NTSE is open only to the students of
class VIII as against class X earlier.
The most recent decisions are revising and stating that a third level,
Interview, would be discontinued and that the examination would be shifted to
Class X.
OLYMPIAD
A non-profit organization established by leading
academicians, scientists and media personalities with the aim of promoting
science, mathematics and computer education, the Science Olympiad Foundation
has been striving for over a decade to promote scientific attitude through
innovative activities and use of IT in learning process that involve school
students across the country. In the present times when the world is totally
pivoted on science and IT, it is pertinent to think and plan about the future -
a future in which the children of the present shall be the leaders of tomorrow.
Regular qualitative and quantitative assessment needs to be done at the
national level in order to build up the scientific and IT talent pool. It is in
this sphere that the role of SOF has been much appreciated over these last few
years, so much so that highly reputed organizations like WIPRO, LG, Reliance,
Aakash Institute, Vidyalankar Dnyanapeeth Trust, Resonance and MTG Learning
Media have volunteered to support SOF's various programmes. SOF's integrity and
commitment towards the fulfillment of its objectives have been lauded by
thousand of schooling institutions and millions of students who have directly
benefited from its educative, informative and evaluative programmes. For the
future SOF has several more innovative programmes lined up, which promise to
bring about a sea change in the approach to science, maths and computer
education.
SOF MISSION
v The key to having a
large, exclusive scientific and IT talent pool for the future is seeking out,
identifying young geniuses and providing them with a unique competitive
platform where they can prove themselves. To further this cause SOF endeavors
to:
v Identify and nurture
future scientists, technologists and IT talent at school level.
v Encourage students'
participation in national/international science and IT competitions /
programmes/events
v Instill a feeling of
belonging to national and global science and IT fraternity.
v Infuse a healthy
competitive spirit through reward based Contests/Olympiads.
v Bring about a
transformation in the classroom approach to science and IT to make it more
interactive, practical and innovative.
v Disseminate knowledge
and information on the latest developments in science and technology.
v Project SOF as a Centre
of Excellence that could cater to different schooling institutions in the areas
of methodical research, new educational tools, special publications and expert
advice.
SPHERE OF ACTIVITIES
All activities of the
Foundation invariably aim at making learning an interesting and interactive
process in which the learner is actually able to put his / her skills, memory,
talent and knowledge to test.
For this the Foundation conducts workshops,
seminars and science/IT competitions for students of different classes and age
groups. Science workshops have already become a great success in several
schools. The National Science Olympiad has proved to be a highly motivating and
rigorous aptitude testing platform with special and exclusive focus on
Mathematics, Physics
Intel Science Talent Search
The Intel Science Talent
Search (Intel STS), a program of Society for Science & the Public, is the
nation’s oldest and most prestigious pre-college science competition. It honors
exceptional high school seniors for their scientific research and their
potential as future leaders in the scientific community.Each year, more than
1,700 students attending American high schools enter the competition. Three
hundred are selected as semifinalists. From this select pool, 40 finalists are
invited to participate in a week-long event in Washington, D.C., in March where they compete for USD 630,000 in awards,
including a USD 100,000 prize for First Place.
Inspiring innovation
Since 1998, Intel has
sponsored this venerated competition. Now in its 73rd year, the Intel Science
Talent Search continues to inspire innovation in science, technology, engineering
and math, and to recognize notable achievements by the next generation of
scientific leaders. Intel STS alumni have achieved some of the world’s most
revered honors: eleven have won MacArthur Foundation “Genius” grants, seven
have won the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology,
and eight have won the Nobel Prize.
