Assignment

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.