ISTC Exam Pattern — Marks, Sections, Negative Marking

Gaurang Misra
15 hours ago
2 min read

"How many questions? Is there negative marking?"

These are the two things every student asks before the ISTC entrance exam. Most preparation guides don't answer them clearly. Here's what the pattern actually looks like.

Format

Written, objective-type (MCQ). Pen and paper. Conducted at the ISTC campus in Chandigarh.

Sections and marks

Mathematics — approximately 30–35 questions
Physics — approximately 20–25 questions
Chemistry — approximately 15–20 questions
General Knowledge and Reasoning — approximately 15–20 questions

Total: roughly 80–100 questions. Total marks: 100. Each correct answer carries 1 mark in most years.

The exact pattern can vary slightly by year and by trade. Always confirm from the official notification.

Time limit

2 hours (120 minutes). That's about 1.2–1.5 minutes per question on average — comfortable until you hit the Math section. Practice with a timer.

Negative marking

Based on past years, there has generally been no negative marking. Confirm this from the official notification for your exam year before assuming it still applies.

Practical test

Some trades — particularly Tool and Die Making and Mechatronics — include a practical aptitude assessment after the written test. Not universal. Check your specific trade.

What this means for how you write the paper

No negative marking means you attempt every single question. Don't leave anything blank. Do the GK and Reasoning section first — it's faster — and save the extra time for Math. Students who mismanage their 120 minutes on the Math section are the ones who drop ranks.

When I ranked AIR 8 in the ISTC entrance exam, time management in the Math section was the single biggest differentiator I noticed between the students who cracked it and the ones who didn't.

If you want to practice on actual ISTC-pattern mock tests, ISFCM is running a coaching batch in Chandigarh — offline and online both available. Limited seats. Call or WhatsApp: +91 94641 51610 or visit isfcm.com/istc-2026