ESTC papers, exam by exam
Worked out from 30 ESTC papers of the IIT Madras BS degree, 2023–2026 — Qualifier, Quiz 1, Quiz 2 and End Term — and their 726 questions: how long each exam is, how many marks it carries, which kinds of question it asks and how often a wrong answer costs marks. Every paper is on ESTC PYQs, with its answer key and as a timed mock test.
| Feature | ESTC papers at a glance |
|---|---|
| Papers | 30 |
| Questions | 726 |
| Exams | 4 |
| Years | 2023–2026 |
| Negative marking | None in these papers |
A typical ESTC paper, by exam
| Exam | Papers | Questions | Marks | Time | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESTC Qualifier | 7 | 25 | 40 | 120 min | 51% MCQ, 49% numerical |
| ESTC Quiz 1 | 10 | 20 | 38 | 120 min | 59% MCQ, 41% numerical |
| ESTC Quiz 2 | 4 | 21 | 40 | 120 min | 61% MCQ, 39% numerical |
| ESTC End Term | 9 | 29 | 50 | 180 min | 56% numerical, 44% MCQ |
The middle value of each exam’s papers; a sitting can differ by a question or two.
Question types in ESTC
| Question type | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Single choice (MCQ) | 379 | 52% |
| Numerical answer | 347 | 48% |
Most ESTC questions carry 1, 2 or 2.5 marks. None carries negative marks in its paper.
What each ESTC exam covers
| Exam | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Qualifier | The Qualifier exam is the entrance to the IIT Madras BS degree: it covers the first four weeks of the four qualifier courses. |
| Quiz 1 | Quiz 1 is held at the end of week 4 of the term and covers the content of weeks 1–4. |
| Quiz 2 | Quiz 2 is held at the end of week 8 and covers the content of weeks 1–8, with the weight on weeks 5–8. |
| End Term | The End Term exam covers the whole course, all twelve weeks, in 1.5 hours per course. |
How to practise ESTC
- Start with the newest papers of the exam you are sitting: every ESTC paper, by exam and year.
- Open a paper in learning mode to see each answer and its explanation as you go.
- A few days before the exam, take one as a timed mock test: it is marked the moment you submit, with the paper’s own marks and negative marks.
- Check your answers against the answer keys, then review the questions you got wrong.
Latest ESTC papers
| Paper | Exam | Term | Questions | Marks | Time | Practise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESTC End Term 13 Sept 2026 | End Term | May 2026 term | 24 | 50 | 180 min | Mock test — ESTC End Term 13 Sept 2026 |
| ESTC Quiz 2 16 Aug 2026 | Quiz 2 | May 2026 term | 21 | 40 | 120 min | Mock test — ESTC Quiz 2 16 Aug 2026 |
| ESTC Qualifier 19 Jul 2026 (Set A) | Qualifier | May 2026 term | 21 | 40 | 120 min | Mock test — ESTC Qualifier 19 Jul 2026 set A |
| ESTC Qualifier 19 Jul 2026 (Set B) | Qualifier | May 2026 term | 22 | 40 | 120 min | Mock test — ESTC Qualifier 19 Jul 2026 set B |
| ESTC End Term 10 May 2026 (Set 1) | End Term | January 2026 term | 25 | 50 | 180 min | Mock test — ESTC End Term 10 May 2026 set 1 |
| ESTC End Term 10 May 2026 (Set 2) | End Term | January 2026 term | 25 | 50 | 180 min | Mock test — ESTC End Term 10 May 2026 set 2 |
| ESTC Quiz 2 12 Apr 2026 | Quiz 2 | January 2026 term | 21 | 40 | 120 min | Mock test — ESTC Quiz 2 12 Apr 2026 |
| ESTC Quiz 1 15 Mar 2026 | Quiz 1 | January 2026 term | 22 | 41 | 120 min | Mock test — ESTC Quiz 1 15 Mar 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in the IITM BS ESTC Qualifier?
A typical ESTC Qualifier has 25 questions for 40 marks in 120 minutes, going by its 7 papers here. See every ESTC Qualifier paper.
How many questions are in the IITM BS ESTC Quiz 1?
A typical ESTC Quiz 1 has 20 questions for 38 marks in 120 minutes, going by its 10 papers here. See every ESTC Quiz 1 paper.
How many questions are in the IITM BS ESTC Quiz 2?
A typical ESTC Quiz 2 has 21 questions for 40 marks in 120 minutes, going by its 4 papers here. See every ESTC Quiz 2 paper.
How many questions are in the IITM BS ESTC End Term?
A typical ESTC End Term has 29 questions for 50 marks in 180 minutes, going by its 9 papers here. See every ESTC End Term paper.
Is there negative marking in IITM BS ESTC?
None of the 726 ESTC questions here carries negative marks in its paper, so an unanswered question and a wrong one both score zero.
What types of questions come in IITM BS ESTC?
Across every ESTC paper here: 52% MCQ, 48% numerical. Most questions carry 1, 2 or 2.5 marks.