JNVST: syllabus, mock tests and practice

How the exam works

Mode: Offline, pen and paper. Objective MCQs with 4 options, answered on an OMR sheet with a blue or black ball pen (no pencil). · Levels: Class 6 entry (sat in Class 5); Class 9 lateral entry (sat in Class 8); Class 11 lateral entry (sat in Class 10) · Duration: Class 6: 2 hours, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM (+40 min for Divyang). Class 9: 2.5 hours (+50 min for Divyang). Class 11: 2.5 hours, 11:00 AM-1:30 PM (+50 min for Divyang). · Questions: Class 6 (revised for 2027): 80 questions for 100 marks. Mental Ability 20 + Environmental Studies 20 (50 marks, about 60 min), Arithmetic 20 (25 marks, about 30 min), Language 20 (25 marks, about 30 min). Class 9: 100 questions for 100 marks. English 15, Hindi 15, Mathematics 35, General Science 35. Class 11: 100 questions for 100 marks. Mental Ability, English, Science, Social Science and Mathematics, 20 each. · Marking: No negative marking at any level. Class 6: 1.25 marks per correct answer. The minimum to qualify is 14 in Mental Ability + EVS, 7 in Arithmetic and 7 in Language. Class 9: 1 mark each, and a qualifying score is needed in all four subjects. Merit uses Maths + Science + the better-scored language. Class 11: 1 mark each, with at least 6/20 needed in every section. Merit is out of 60, using subjects chosen by stream. · Language: Class 6: the medium is picked from a State/UT-wise list (English, Hindi and regional languages) and cannot be changed later. Class 9: English or Hindi. Class 11: bilingual English + Hindi paper.

Who can apply

CLASS 6 (JNVST 2027, session 2027-28): the child must be a genuine resident of the district and study Class 5 for the whole 2026-27 session in a government, government-aided or recognised school (or hold an NIOS 'B' certificate). A school in a neighbouring district counts if it is within 10 km of home, but the application still goes to the home district. Date of birth must fall between 01-05-2015 and 31-07-2017 (both inclusive). The child must have studied and passed Classes 3, 4 and 5, one full session each, with no skipped classes. Only one attempt is allowed. At least 75% of seats in a district go to rural candidates, meaning Classes 3-5 were studied fully in rural-area schools. Even one day in an urban school makes the child an urban candidate. SC/ST seats follow the district population (at least 15%/7.5%, at most 50% combined). OBC gets 27% (central list only). At least one third of seats go to girls, and Divyang reservation follows GoI norms. Aadhaar is required, or a parent's residence certificate provisionally. There are no JNVs in Tamil Nadu. CLASS 9 LATERAL ENTRY (2027-28): the student must live in the district and study Class 8 in 2026-27 in a government or recognised school there. Date of birth must fall between 01-05-2012 and 31-07-2014. A student who appeared in an earlier lateral entry test cannot apply again. Admission is against vacant seats only. CLASS 11 LATERAL ENTRY (2027-28): the student must study Class 10 in 2026-27 in a government or recognised school of the district. Date of birth must fall between 01-06-2010 and 31-07-2012. A student may choose up to 2 streams and up to 3 JNVs per stream. Vacant seats only.

When it happens

Next Class 6 entry exam: 28 November 2026 for 2027–28 admission, per the NVS prospectus. The official portal now says Class 6 admit cards are available; registered candidates can download them using their credentials. Class 9 and Class 11 lateral entry exams are scheduled for 10 April 2027 in their 2027 prospectuses. Application windows are closed on the portals checked. Later extensions override the original prospectus deadline; confirm any individual application/correction issue with NVS rather than relying on the old 30 September deadline. Follow the admit card for reporting time and centre. Status checked 1 November 2026; times are IST.

• Class 6 official portal and admit card
• Class 9 official portal
• Class 11 official prospectus

How to register

Apply free of cost on the NVS online admission portal linked from navodaya.gov.in. You need the child's photo, the signatures of the child and a parent, and Aadhaar or a residence certificate (JPG, 10-100 KB). Every JNV runs a free help desk for parents.

Official website, syllabus and sample papers

Links to the organiser's own pages. Past and sample papers are published there by the organiser.

• Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti home
• NVS Class 6 admission portal (JNVST 2027-28)
• JNVST 2027 Class 6 prospectus (PDF)
• JNVST Class 6 previous year paper, English (PDF)
• NVS Class 9 lateral entry portal 2027-28
• Class 9 lateral entry prospectus 2027-28 (PDF)
• Class 9 lateral entry previous year paper (PDF)
• Class 11 lateral entry prospectus 2027-28 (PDF)

Official previous-year question booklets

Use the official NVS previous-year booklet for the admission class you are preparing for. The historical booklet's pattern may differ from the current prospectus. Try the questions under its printed time limit, mark answers only as instructed, and review your mistakes afterwards. Class VI and IX official previous-year papers are available in Downloads; the Class XI official paper already remains available there.

• NVS Class VI official admissions portal and previous-year booklet
• NVS Class IX official admissions portal and previous-year booklet