Here’s a streamlined, no-fluff breakdown of everything you asked about the NMMS exam—especially focusing on all-India details, and specifics for Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana (TS).
What is the NMMS Exam?
-
NMMS stands for National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship, a centrally sponsored scheme launched in May 2008 by India’s Ministry of Education to reduce dropout rates after Class VIII by financially supporting bright but economically weaker students (The exam is state-level and conducted by each state's SCERT or education department, based on NCERT guidelines
-
Students eligible are those studying in Class 8, in government, aided, or local body schools, with a parental income below ₹3.5 lakh per annum
-
Selected students receive a scholarship of ₹12,000 per annum
(₹1,000/month) for Classes IX to XII
Exam Structure & Pattern (All-India)
-
The exam has two papers, each with 90 MCQs, lasting 90 minutes—total exam time is 3 hours
-
Paper 1: Mental Ability Test (MAT) – includes analogy, classification, numerical series, pattern perception, hidden figures; sometimes verbal & non-verbal reasoning are added
-
Paper 2: Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) – covers Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics topics from Class 7 and 8 NCERT
-
| Paper | Sections | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAT | Reasoning (analogy, series, etc.) | 90 | 90 | 90 mins |
| SAT | Science, Social, Maths | 90 | 90 | 90 mins |
| Total | — | 180 | 180 | 3 hrs |
-
Passing criteria:
-
General category: minimum 40% in each paper.
-
Reserved category (SC/ST/PH): minimum 32% total or per paper (varies slightly by state)
-
Andhra Pradesh (AP) – NMMS Exam Details
-
In AP (2025):
-
Application opened on September 4, 2025; deadline September 30, 2025
-
Exam date: December 7, 2025
-
The exam uses the same two-paper structure:
-
MAT: 90 MCQs, 90 minutes, no negative marking
-
SAT: distribution of marks/topics:
-
Physics – 12 marks
-
Chemistry – 11 marks
-
Biology – 12 marks
-
Mathematics – 20 marks
-
History – 10 marks
-
Geography – 10 marks
-
Political Science – 10 marks
-
Economics – 5 marks Cutoffs:
-
-
-
-
General category: 40% in each paper.
-
Reserved categories (SC/ST/PH): 32% each
-
-
Syllabus:
-
MAT: analogy, classification, numerical series, pattern perception, hidden figures, verbal & non-verbal reasoning
-
SAT: as listed above, based on Class 7 & 8 subjects.
-
-
Hall ticket: to be released in December 2025 via BSE AP portal
-
Telangana (TS) – NMMS Exam Details
-
Specific TS details for 2025 weren’t located, but exam structure, eligibility, scholarship, and pattern generally follow the national/out-of-AP model—two papers, same structure and syllabus
-
To get exact dates, pattern, and weightage in TS, you should check the TS SCERT or BSE Telangana official announcements.
Summary Table – NMMS at a Glance
| Aspect | All-India General Pattern | AP (2025 Specifics) |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Class 8 govt/aided, ₹≤3.5 L income | Same |
| Papers | MAT + SAT, 90 Qs each, 90 mins each, total 180 marks | Same & confirmed |
| MAT Content | Analogy, classification, series, patterns, hidden figures, reasoning | Same plus verbal & non-verbal reasoning |
| SAT Content | Science, Social Studies, Maths (Class 7–8 level) | Detailed marks across subjects (Science, Maths, History, etc.) |
| Passing Marks | Gen: 40% each; Reserved: 32% each | Same for AP |
| Scholarship | ₹12,000/yr for Classes IX–XII | Same for AP |
| AP Dates 2025 | — | Apply: Sep 4–30; Exam: Dec 7; Admit Card: Dec 2025 |
| TS Details | Not specified, likely similar | Check TS SCERT or BSE TS for latest updates |
Final Takeaway:
-
NMMS is a scholarship exam for Class 8 students from economically weaker backgrounds, includes two papers (MAT and SAT), with about 180 MCQs in total, and rewards ₹12,000/year from Class IX to XII.
-
AP's 2025 exam specifics are out—apply now, get ready using the detailed syllabus, and take the exam on December 7, 2025.
-
For Telangana, follow official state education department channels for updates.
Here’s a no-nonsense collection of NMMS sample questions and past papers for Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana (TS)—plus links to access them and a quick breakdown of what to do next.
Andhra Pradesh (AP) – NMMS Sample & Past Papers
-
AglaSem provides downloadable AP NMMS previous-year question papers (both MAT and SAT) ranging from 2014 to 2023, available in multiple media (English, Telugu, Hindi, Urdu) along with answer keys for select years like 2022 and 2019.
-
For additional collections, the Andhra Pradesh Mathematics Forum (APMF) offers NMMS question papers from Nov 2014 to Feb 2023, including English medium versions.
-
For newer practice material, there’s a 2024–25 NMMS Practice Test Paper #4 (with answer key) from Andhra Pradesh Model School (Nandavaram, Kurnool) containing typical MAT-style analogies and reasoning questions plus OMR-style format.
What You Can Do:
-
Head to AglaSem’s AP NMMS question paper page and download relevant PDFs.
-
Explore APMF’s portal for additional year-wise papers.
-
Practice with the Andhra Pradesh Model School Test (2024–25) for fresh-style questions and answer key.
Telangana (TS) – NMMS Sample & Past Papers
-
SCERT Telangana offers NMMS previous question papers with keys for 2023, 2022, March 2022, and Feb 2021 in multiple media including English, Telugu, Urdu, and Hindi.
-
AglaSem also lists TS NMMS past papers for 2022 and 2023, though access likely redirects to SCERT-hosted PDFs.
-
Visit SCERT Telangana’s portal for downloadable PDFs of past papers with keys.(
-
Use AglaSem’s TS NMMS page to locate and download 2022–23 papers.
Quick Comparison Table
| State | What’s Available | Suggested Action |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | NMMS papers 2014–2023 (AglaSem), APMF archive, 2024–25 Practice Test (with key) | Download MAT & SAT papers and answer keys; practice with APMF and model test |
| Telangana | NMMS papers 2021–2023 with keys (SCERT); listings via AglaSem | Download available past-paper PDFs from SCERT; confirm with AglaSem links |
Sample Question Snapshot (from AP Model School, 2024-25 Practice Test)
Analogy (MAT-style):
-
Cattle : Herd :: Sheep : ? → Flock
-
Ocean : Water :: Glacier : ? → Snow
Numeric Series (SAT-style):
31) 4, 7, 12, 19, 28, ? → Choose the correct next number.
This model paper includes both reasoning puzzles and numeric pattern questions, complete with an answer key.
Next Steps
-
Download PDFs from AglaSem and SCERT as per your state.
-
Start practicing with older years to understand question types, difficulty, and time management.
-
Use answer keys to self-evaluate, track weak spots, and focus revision accordingly.
-
Time yourself—simulate 90-minute sessions per paper to build speed and accuracy.