NSEC -2016 Detailed Analysis

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Introduction

On 27th November 2016, NSEC (National Standard Examination in Chemistry) – 2016 was exam is conducted by the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) at many centers all over the country. NSEC is the stepping stage for selection of aspiring and talented students in the Chemistry Olympiad Program. The student can move forward to other stages only after clearing this stage.

Eligibility: Only Indian citizens with date of birth between 1 July 1997 and 30 June 2002, both days inclusive and studying in Class XII or lower as of November 30,2017, can apply and appear for NSEP 2016. The student has to himself re-assure his eligibility. At any stage if the student is found to be not eligible for the exam, he/she may be disqualified from the program.

Syllabus: The syllabus for National Standard Examination in Chemistry (NSEC) is almost similar as the curriculum of senior secondary level (Class XI and Class XII) of CBSE. However, only basic guideline for the course is mentioned. No detailed syllabus is given for NSEC.

Question Paper: The medium of test was English, only and It comprised of 80 objective type questions, each with only one of the four options correct with 3 marks each and -1 negative marking for incorrect answer.

Qualifying for the Second Stage: The basic objective of conducting this test is not focusing on merit but to involve as many students from the country to participate in the exam and try to show and expose their talent. Hence the selection to the stage II examinations i.e.. Indian National Olympiad Examinations (INOs) is based on the following scheme.

Cutoff: To be eligible to the next level, i.e.. the second stage, it is necessary that a student scores at-least a minimum Admissible Score (MAS) which is 40% of the maximum score.

Proportional Representation Clause: The maximum number of students that can get to Stage II (INO) in each subject is around 300. These many students are not selected only on the merit basis but also on proportionate basis. This proportion is decided on the base of the number of candidates who appeared for NSE in the previous year from that center in each State or Union Territory (UT) . In case there is a tie at the last position, than all the students competing for the last position will be eligible to move to stage II. However it՚s necessary that the selected students fulfill the eligibility clause laid out above. The total number to be selected from centers in each State for each subject will be displayed on the IAPT and HBCSE website.

Minimum Representation Clause: Notwithstanding the proportional representation clause, the number of students selected for INO from each State and UT must be at least one, provided that the eligibility clause is satisfied.

Merit Clause: As stated above, approximately 300 students are to be selected for second stage. If this does not happen according to MAS, then after selection as per merit, the shortfall from 300 students will be selected based purely on merit without further consideration to proportional representation and minimum representation clauses. In the event of a tie at the last position in the list all students with the same marks at this position will qualify to appear for the Stage II examination.

There will be no other criterion or provision for selection to the Indian National Olympiad Examination (INQs) . All students who qualify to appear for the INCO get a certificate of merit from IAPT.

Overall Marks Distribution

The paper pattern was same as last year. It comprised of single and Multiple-choice correct objective type questions. The paper had 80 questions each worth 3 marks (negative marking of 1 marks) . All questions were objective type with single correct option.

Overall Mark distributionOverall Mark Distribution
SubjectClass 11Class 12Total
Chemistry21635917780240
No of QuestionsTotal MarksNo of QuestionsTotal MarksNo of QuestionsTotal Marks

Overall Difficulty Level Analysis

In this analysis we have rated every question on a scale of 1 to 3. The individual ratings are averaged to calculate overall difficulty level.

Difficuly Level analysisBreaking down Difficulty
Difficulty LevelNumber of QuestionTotal Marks
Easy1133
Medium41123
Difficult2884
Grand Total80240
Aggregate Difficulty2.25

That paper was slightly difficult from last year. While 78 marks can be considered easy, 111 marks paper was moderate level and 51 marks were of difficult level.

Overall, that paper was on simpler side compared last year.

Question Wise Difficulty Breakup

Illustration: Question Wise Difficulty Breakup

Topic Wise Analysis

Chemistry Analysis

There are all Chemistry subject units as following: Chemistry 42 units. There is around total 100% weightage for all units While high 7.50% weightage can be considered for Atomic Structure and 6.25% to 1.25% weightage for Coordination Compounds, Biomolecule & Polymer and other Chemistry units.

Table of Chemistry Subject Wise AnalysisTable of Chemistry Subject Wise Analysis
Unit & Topic NameNo of QuestionsTotal Marks% Weightage
Chemistry80240100.00%
Alkane (Hydrocarbon)131.25%
Aromatic Compound4125.00%
Atomic Structure6187.50%
Biomolecule & Polymer131.25%
Biomolecules131.25%
Carbonyl262.50%
Chemical Bonding4125.00%
Chemical Kinetics4125.00%
Chemistry in Everyday life131.25%
Chlorine Family131.25%
Coordination Compounds5156.25%
D & f-Block Elements262.50%
D-Block Element262.50%
Electrochemistry6187.50%
Free Radical Reaction131.25%
GOC-I131.25%
Halogens131.25%
Hydrogen131.25%
Ionic Equilibrium262.50%
Mol Concept131.25%
Mol Concept-II131.25%
Mole Concept-II131.25%
Nitrogen Family4125.00%
Organic Nomenclature131.25%
ORM-I131.25%
ORM-II131.25%
ORM-III131.25%
Oxidation Reduction131.25%
p-Block Compounds262.50%
Phenol131.25%
POC262.50%
POC-II393.75%
Salt Analysis131.25%
Salt Analysis (Anion)131.25%
Salt Analysis (Cation)262.50%
Solid State131.25%
Solution & Colligative Properties131.25%
Stereochemistry131.25%
Stereoisomerism131.25%
Steroisomerisum131.25%
Surface Chemistry131.25%
Thermodynamics4125.00%
Grand Total70240100.00%

Expected Cutoff

To be eligible to get to the next level, i.e.. the second stage, it is necessary that a student scores at- least a Minimum Admissible Score (MAS) which is 40% of the maximum score.