Personal KVPY SA Preparation Tips-Syllabus, Marking and Eligibility

Clearing KVPY in your 11th only can be of great advantages because before passing class 12th you will already have admission secured in one of the best institutes of India like IISc and IISER. In this article we will discuss all details regarding KVPY SA eligibility, marking schemes, examination procedure and I will share some of  my personal tips and strategy to clear KVPY SA.

You can give KVPY SA in your class 11th science stream and want to pursue career in basic science. KVPY SA is scholarship program conducted by IISc and qualifying this exam will give you direct admission in many top institutes like IISc and IISER. Here we will share all the details regarding eligibility, marking scheme and exam procedure and how should you prepare for it.

Importance of KVPY SA:

KVPY is a national level exam and it has three different streams (SA,SX and SB) for students studying in different classes. If you are in class 11th then you need to prepare for KVPY SA.

Clearing KVPY SA has advantages of it’s own. So here are the advantages of KVPY SA:

Advantages of KVPY SA:

If you clear KVPY in class 11th then you will have an upper hand and a great boost in your career if you are willing to pursue your career in basic science like astronomer or astrophysicist or a scientist.

Advantages:

  • Scholarship worth 80,000Rs per year during bachelor degree. 
  • Direct access in any national library.
  • Admission in top institutes like IISc and IISER.
  • Your name on official site of KVPY in future as well. 

By clearing KVPY SA one bonus advantage which you will have is you will have college admission secured in your school life and believe me college admission is one of the biggest struggles for a student after 12th boards.

Eligibility criteria for KVPY SA:

So after knowing the advantages of KVPY SA if you also want to take these advantages you need to appear for KVPY SA but before that just like any other exams in India you need to be eligible for this exam.

Refer to below table for eligibility criteria for KVPY SA:


Category Marks required in Xth in maths and science subjects (PCB)
General 75%
SC/St 65%
Pwd (person with disability) 65%

What if you are not eligible for KVPY SA ?

If you are not eligible for KVPY SA, there is no need to be upset. As I had said earlier KVPY has three streams SA for 11th student , SX for 12th student and SB for first year student.

So you still have two tries left before loosing hope. If you are one who now want to prepare for SX and SB I have another dedicated individual article on preparation for them. Click here on SX or SB to read.

Marking scheme in KVPY SA:

KVPY SA paper consist of 100 marks with two different parts (Part 1 and Part 2) and unlike KVPY SX and KVPY SB where you need to appear for any three subject in part 1 and any two in part 2.
In KVPY SA you have to appear for all the four subjects (physics,chemistry,maths and biology) in part 1 and part 2 as well. 

No. of question in each subject for KVPY SA is as follow:

Subject Part 1(questions) Part 2(questions) Marks
Physics 15 5 25
Chemistry 15 5 25
Maths 15 5 25
Biology 15 5 25
Total 60 20 100

So Total no. of question in KVPY SA will be 80 and positive and negative marking on each questions will be as follow:

Subject Positive marks for each correct answer Negative marks for each wrong answer
Part 1: Physics 1 marks 0.25 marks
Chemistry 1 marks 0.25 marks
Maths 1 marks 0.25 marks
Biology 1 marks 0.25 marks
Part 2: Physics 2 marks 0.50 marks
Chemistry 2 marks 0.50 marks
Maths 2 marks 0.50 marks
Biology 2 marks 0.50 marks  

KVPY selection procedure:

So on what basis a candidate is been selected to qualify KVPY? Well KVPY tests your basic knowledge in science and therefore KVPY exam is conducted in two round.

Round 1 is aptitude test which is computer based examination and MCQ questions are asked in this round. Marking and number question will be as table given above.

Round 2 is interview round where selected candidate from aptitude test are called on the basis of there performance. This interviews are conducted on various KVPY interview centre all over India.

Here is the link of official site of KVPY selection procedure.

Syllabus for KVPY SA:

Now lets see which topics and chapter you need to be prepared with if you are going for KVPY SA.

KVPY does not have any prescribed syllabus for any stream (SA,SX and SB) but from previous year’s papers we can have an idea from which chapters questions are asked from.

So here is the KVPY Syllabus based on previous year’s paper analysis:

Physics:

KVPY SA Physics Syllabus
Subject Chapters
Physics: Electromagnetic induction
Source of energy
Kinematics
Work,Energy and Power
Physical world and Measurement
Current Electricity
Electrostatics
Gravitation
Thermodynamics
Reflection of light
Magnetic Effects of Current
Refraction
Alternating current
Law’s of motion

Chemistry:

KVPY SA Chemistry Syllabus
Subject Chapters
Chemistry: carbon compounds
gases and liquids
Chemical reactions
Periodic classification of elements
Bases and salt
Basic concept of chemistry
States of matter
Acids
Metals and Non-metals
Environmental chemistry
Thermodynamics
Classification of elements and periodicity in properties

Maths:

KVPY SA Maths Syllabus
Subject Chapters
Maths: Relations and functions
Coordinate geometry
Calculus
Mathematical reasoning
Polynomials
Liner programming
Real numbers
Introduction to trigonometry
Vector and 3-D geometry
Trigonometric function
Statistics and probability
Quadratic equations
Geometry
Surface area and volume

Biology:

KVPY SA Biology Syllabus
Subject Chapters
Biology: Reproduction
Life processes
Cell:structure and function
Human Physiology
Heredity and Evolution
Plant Physiology
Diversity in living organisms
Our environment
Control and coordination on animal and plant

So you need to study these chapters if you want to prepare for KVPY SA. Basic concept clearance is necessary for KVPY so make sure that your basics are cleared.

All these chapters and topics are not prescribed by KVPY officially there is no defined syllabus for KVPY. These chapters and topic listed above are based on the previous year’s paper analysis. 

How to prepare for KVPY SA ?

So if you are preparing for KVPY SA one thing you need to clear that you have advantage over SX and SB and disadvantage as well.

You know about advantages but one disadvantage of KVPY SA is that you have to appear for all the four subjects whereas in KVPY SX/SB  you only had to appear for three subjects in part 1 and 2 subjects in part 2.

So before understanding how you should prepare we should know when exam is conducted and when to apply for it or when results are announced.

Important dates for KVPY SA:

Event Dates
Application form: Can be filled now
Last date of application 20th August (5:00 pm according to I.S.T)
Admit card availability 2nd week of October
Exam dates 3rd November
Answer key released 4th week of November
Objection on answer key Till end of November
Final Answer key First week of December
Aptitude test result for SA,SX and SB December
Interview round Jan/Fab
Final result declaration April

KVPY SA cutoff:

KVPY SA Cutoff in last 7 years
KVPY SA Cutoff in last 7 years

KVPY SA paper analysis:

This paper analysis is based on previous year’s KVPY SA question papers from 2012-2017. Each topic weightage was different for every year but we have found out through this analysis the weightage of each topic/chapter for different subjects.

Physics:

Paper analysis of KVPY SA physics
Paper analysis of KVPY SA physics

As you can see that according to this Ray Optics and Law’s of Motion has the highest weightage carrying 5 marks each of them. So prepare according to it and focus on chapters with high weightage more.

Chemistry:

Paper analysis of KVPY SA Chemistry
Paper analysis of KVPY SA Chemistry
Here in chemistry you will see that only Carbon Compounds carries high weightage of around 7 marks whereas other topics carry around only 4-5 marks. So make sure to have your grip and basic understanding of carbon compound and focus on each and every topic accordingly. 

Maths:

Paper analysis of KVPY SA Maths
Paper analysis of KVPY SA Maths

Well maths shows us a different pattern than others. Here you will see that geometry has the highest weightage of 8 marks and other chapters/topic carry far less weightage compared to geometry.

Biology:

Paper analysis of KVPY SA Biology
Paper analysis of KVPY SA Biology

In case of biology every topic is important and what you will notice is almost every topic carries equal weightage of around 4 marks so you need to study all the topic with equal importance.

Personal preparation tips:

Well, practise makes a man perfect and therefore it’s important that you are prepared enough to qualify for KVPY SA. You are in 11th so you have enough time + no boards pressure for preparation. So take your time and follow these tips to clear KVPY SA. 
It’s my personal tip and i feel like everyone should follow for any competitive exam. In this scenario we will apply this tip according to KVPY SA preparation. 
  1. Proper time management
  2. Prioritize your chapters according to weightage 
  3. Proper strategy to achieve your goals.

Proper time management:

If you are appearing for KVPY SA then you are giving this exam in your 11th standard and therefore these are some of the key things you need to have in your mind before beginning your preparation.
  • Your KVPY exam will be held in the month of November and there is no pressure of your boards so you have enough time for preparation. 
  • But don’t get carried away because you have to give all the 4 subject so prepare accordingly. 
  • Don’t get lazy and focus on preparation everyday else KVPY SA is hard to crack and don’t forget that it’s your first competitive exam after 10th boards. 
May these all things have worried you but to counter all these, You need a proper time management. 
Here’s what I would do to manage if I was in your place to manage time:

  • Study common topic/chapters which are in boards and KVPY as well. Will clear basic concept of these topics and try to solve conceptual questions by this at the same time I can prepare for KVPY as well as boards.
  • Study for KVPY specially for 2hrs in a day there is no prescribed time you can study whenever you want where ever you want only goal you need to accomplished is to study 2hrs daily.
  • There can be scenarios such as practical journals and everything what I would have done is instead of writing whole journals in 1 or 2 days , write small small portion of it every day from the beginning of September only by this there would not be much load of journals during KVPY exam in November. 
  • Try to solve previous year’s KVPY SA papers. Link to papers and solution are given below in the important link section.
Must follow these tips at least this is what I would have done to clear KVPY SA. There’s no need to worry. KVPY tests your concept only so try to focus on concept clearance as much as you can and by this you are also prepared for your boards. 

Prioritize your chapters according to weightage:

Well prioritize your chapters according to weightage they carry in exam. Clear concepts and basics of those chapters first which carry most numbers of questions in exam and have high weightage. 
Here is the weightage of each topic subject wise in pie chart for your better understanding: 
Physics:

KVPY SA physics topic weightage
KVPY SA physics topic weightage analysis



So as you can see more number of questions are asked from Laws of Motion so be prepared to have your basics cleared before of law’s of motion and mechanics before appearing for KVPY SA physics and plan and prioritize your chapters list accordingly.

Chemistry:

KVPY SA chemistry topic weightage analysis
KVPY SA chemistry topic weightage analysis

Maths:

KVPY SA maths topic weightage analysis
KVPY SA maths topic weightage analysis

Biology:

KVPY SA biology topic weightage analysis
KVPY SA biology topic weightage analysis


After viewing these charts you will now have a clear idea that which chapter you should complete first and how to prioritize your chapters list accordingly. 

Bonus tips:

Solve previous year’s papers of KVPY SA. Link of paper is given in important link section. Try to solve questions as if you are giving exam and solve accordingly, by this you will be able to identify your skills and have an idea of your capabilities about time you will take to cover each subject.

Important links:

So here are some of the study materials you can refer during your preparation for KVPY SA stream:

1. Last 5-year KVPY SA question papers

2. KVPY official Website

3. KVPY SX application form

If you are the one who is willing to prepare for KVPY SB or SX as well. Take a look on this article where i have discussed both the scenarios of KVPY SB preparation if you are in 12th year and first year. So do look if you willing to prepare for KVPY SB. Click here for KVPY SB and Click here for KVPY SX

Comment down if you have any query related to KVPY SA

Related Posts

2 thoughts on “Personal KVPY SA Preparation Tips-Syllabus, Marking and Eligibility

  1. Sir, this is Manogna I have a doubt. When is KVPY exam 2021? Some websites are showing november where as some are showing august. Please clarify it sir.

  2. Hello Manogna,

    How are you ? See regarding KVPY 2021, there is no certanity about when it will be held. Due to pandemic many exams are getting postponed or cancelled. There is no update from authorities about KVPY 2021. If pandemic situation gets under control, there are chances it can be held but again, there is no surety right now. If you need any information regarding KVPY, make sure to check the official website: http://www.kvpy.iisc.ernet.in/main/eligibility.htm they will update it here. Don't trust any other unauthorized sources.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *