IB MTS: Question paper 2025-26
Many candidates said the paper read as easy to moderate, with a clear weight towards General Awareness after the session on 27th January 2026.
Overall level reported
Quick take: the exam balanced speed and accuracy. If you answered most easy items and avoided careless slips, you likely fell in the favourable range.
General Awareness
GA dominated with roughly 40–45 questions. Topics seen were current affairs, history, geography and basic science. Use this to match your recalls while checking the official pdf.
Numerical Ability
About 25–30 questions fell under simplification, percentages, ratios and basic arithmetic. These items were mostly easy to moderate and rewarded fast, accurate calculation.
Reasoning
Reasoning contributed roughly 25–30 questions. Expect puzzles, seating arrangements, coding‑decoding and logical reasoning that tested stepwise thinking rather than obscure tricks.
Section | Questions (approx) | Good attempts |
General Awareness | 40–45 | 30–35 |
Numerical Ability | 25–30 | 20–22 |
Reasoning | 25–30 | 20–23 |
Good attempts overall hovered at 70–80. If your attempt count sits in that range with reasonable accuracy, you should estimate your marks using the official answer key and your response sheet rather than memory.
"Match each question and your response against the provisional key before deciding to object—evidence matters."
IB MTS: Answer Key
A tidy download plan saves time and avoids confusion when the link goes live. Before you start, gather your registration number and password or date of birth so you can log in without delay.
What to have ready
Your registration number and password/date of birth for quick login.
A stable internet connection and a device with enough storage for the pdf.
Access to mha.gov.in or ncs.gov.in to confirm you are on the genuine portal.
Steps to download the answer key, response sheet and question paper PDF
Open the official website (mha.gov.in or ncs.gov.in).
Click the “mts answer key” or “answer key 2026” link when visible.
Log in using your registration number and password/date of birth.
Choose and download three files: the answer key PDF, your response sheet and the question paper.
Save copies locally and print or back them up; links may expire after the objection window.
Troubleshooting if the link isn’t active or the portal is slow
“Active soon” often means release is pending, not that your login is wrong. If the page times out, try again during off-peak hours or use a different browser.
Refresh after a few minutes; avoid repeated rapid clicks.
Switch to a wired connection or a faster network if pages load slowly.
Verify the URL to ensure you are on the correct website before entering credentials.
Item | Where to click | Why download |
Answer key | “mts answer key” / “answer key 2026” link | To match official solutions and estimate marks |
Response sheet | Candidate login > response sheet | To confirm your marked answers |
Question paper | Download PDF from same portal | To cross-check items precisely |
"Always download the answer key and response sheet from the official site and keep backups."
IB MTS: The marking scheme
Start by lining up the official answer key and your response sheet. Once you have both files, you can classify each question as correct, wrong or unattempted. This step removes guesswork and makes your estimate reliable.
Marking scheme explained
The simple rules are: +1 for each correct answer, -0.25 for each wrong answer and 0 for unattempted. Use this scheme to convert your tallies into marks.
Score calculation example
Apply this exact formula: Total marks = (Number of correct × 1) − (Number of wrong × 0.25).
Example: if you have 80 correct and 10 wrong, the maths is:
(80 × 1) = 80
(10 × 0.25) = 2.5
80 − 2.5 = 77.5 marks
Use the answer key to mark each question before you apply the scheme.
Track your counts in a small table or notebook so you can recheck without error.
Quick tip: if your attempts sit in the 70–80 band, a few wrong answers can cut your marks noticeably due to negative marking.
Keep your computed marks saved so you can compare with the final answer key and official result later.
"Classify every answer first — accuracy in counting beats trying to guess a final score."
Item | Action | Why |
Answer key | Match each question | To confirm correct answers and avoid memory errors |
Response sheet | Count correct/wrong/unattempted | Needed for the formula |
Final marks | Apply formula | Gives your estimated score for planning next steps |
Conclusion
Your next steps are simple: grab the official files when they appear on the website and check every answer carefully. The Tier 1 CBT held on 27th January means the provisional key is expected roughly 10–15 days later on mha.gov.in or ncs.gov.in.
Download the answer key, your response sheet and the question paper PDF. Use the marking scheme (+1 / −0.25 / 0) to compute marks and note any disputed items.
If you find a valid error, raise an objection within the official window with proof. The final answer key from the intelligence bureau and ministry home affairs will decide results, so keep copies of confirmations, your registration number and password secure.
