Secondary Scholarship Examination | PATH 2026
PATH 2026 is a free, offline scholarship exam for students in Classes 9, 10, 11, and 12, conducted by Prerna Education as part of its wider Classes 7–12 talent hunt. The two announced phases are Sunday, 29 November 2026, and Sunday, 6 December 2026.
The paper has 45 multiple-choice questions, carries 180 marks, and uses +4 for a correct answer and −1 for a wrong answer. Class 9–10 students attempt Mathematics, science, and Mental Ability; Class 11–12 students attempt Physics, chemistry, and Mathematics or Biology. Registration is currently listed as free on the official PATH 2026 page.
PATH 2026 at a glance
| PATH 2026 detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Eligible classes | Classes 7–12 overall; this guide focuses on Classes 9–12 |
| Exam dates | 29 November 2026 and 6 December 2026, both Sundays |
| Mode | Offline only at a nearby Prerna Education centre |
| Registration fee | Free |
| Questions and marks | 45 MCQs; 180 marks |
| Marking | +4 correct; −1 wrong |
| Published duration | 2 hours |
What is the PATH scholarship exam?
PATH stands for Prerna Ambitious Talent Hunt Examination. It is an institute-run academic scholarship test, not a government scholarship scheme. Its purpose is to assess current academic readiness and award rank-linked tuition-fee scholarships and cash rewards under the organizer’s published criteria.
This distinction matters because the phrase Pre-Secondary Scholarship Examination commonly points to a different Maharashtra scholarship-exam search intent associated with school-level PSS examinations. Students searching for Prerna Education’s test should use terms such as PATH 2026 scholarship exam or scholarship exam for Class 9th to 12th to avoid confusing the two.
Eligibility and class-wise subject pattern
Students currently studying in Classes 9, 10, 11 or 12 can register. The test is class-sensitive: students should prepare from the syllabus published for their current class, not from a common paper assumed to be identical for everyone.
| Class group | Subjects | Question split | Academic focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classes 9–10 | Mathematics, Science, Mental Ability | 15 + 15 + 15 | School concepts, application-based MCQs and reasoning accuracy |
| Classes 11–12 | Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics/Biology | 15 + 15 + 15 | PCM/PCB concepts relevant to school, JEE or NEET pathways |
Class 11–12 students should confirm the Mathematics/Biology selection while registering so that their paper matches the intended stream.
PATH 2026 dates, mode and timing
The official PATH page currently lists two offline phases:
- Phase I: Sunday, 29 November 2026
- Phase II: Sunday, 6 December 2026
Students will take the test at a Prerna Education centre. The registration page should be treated as the current source for centre allocation and final instructions.
Timing clarification required: the live page shows morning and evening windows of 10:30–11:30 and 4:00–5:00, while the exam-pattern section states a duration of 2 hours. Because those two details do not align, students should follow the timing printed on their final confirmation or admit instructions and contact the centre if necessary.
Exam pattern and a safer scoring strategy
| Component | PATH 2026 pattern |
|---|---|
| Question type | Multiple-choice questions |
| Total questions | 45 |
| Marks per correct answer | +4 |
| Penalty per wrong answer | −1 |
| Total marks | 180 |
| Duration published on pattern table | 2 hours |
The scoring rule makes accuracy important. A student with 32 correct, 8 wrong and 5 unattempted answers would score 120 marks: (32 × 4) − 8. This is a hypothetical example, not a published cut-off.
Use a two-pass approach: answer secure questions first, then return to questions that need calculation or deeper reasoning. Do not guess blindly merely because every question carries four positive marks; each wrong answer reduces the total by one.
Scholarship and cash-reward criteria
The official page publishes separate tuition-fee scholarship and cash-reward criteria. These benefits are not interchangeable.
| Rank band | Tuition-fee scholarship | Administration fee |
|---|---|---|
| Top 1–10 | 100% | Chargeable |
| Top 11–20 | 80% | Chargeable |
| Top 21–30 | 50% | Chargeable |
| Cash-reward category | Published amount |
|---|---|
| National ranks 1, 2 and 3 | ₹10,000; ₹7,000; ₹5,000 |
| State ranks 1, 2 and 3 | ₹5,000; ₹4,000; ₹2,000 |
| Top 10 rankers in each class | ₹1,000 |
A 100% scholarship refers to the tuition fee under the published rank criteria; the PATH page explicitly marks administration fees as chargeable. Before admission, families should read the final award terms and confirm the exact course to which the benefit applies. Prerna Education also maintains a separate scholarship and fee-concession policy; where two policies could apply, ask the centre which current rule controls and whether benefits can be combined.
How to prepare for PATH 2026 by class
The most efficient plan is to prepare from the official class-wise syllabus and practise under the actual +4/−1 marking rule. Avoid mixing material from another class or an older PATH cycle.
Class 9 preparation
Revise the listed Mathematics and Science chapters concept by concept. Then solve short mixed MCQ sets so that calculation, recall and interpretation appear together. For Mental Ability, practise series, classification, coding-decoding, figure problems, matrices and logical reasoning with a timer. Students who want structured long-term preparation can review Prerna Education’s two-year foundation program for Class 9.
Class 10 preparation
Give priority to board-linked chapters such as real numbers, linear equations, arithmetic progressions, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, light, electricity, chemical reactions, acids and bases, metals, life processes and reproduction, according to the current PATH syllabus. Build speed only after accuracy is stable. The Class 10 foundation program is a relevant internal reference for students considering continued classroom support.
Class 11 and 12 preparation
Prepare the correct stream combination: Physics and Chemistry plus Mathematics for PCM or Biology for PCB. Use a three-step cycle—formula or concept recall, topic-wise MCQs, then a 45-question mixed mock. For course context, students can review the current two-year NEET program or two-year IIT-JEE program.
How to register for PATH 2026
- Open the official PATH 2026 registration page.
- Enter the student’s name, email address and 10-digit mobile number.
- Select the student’s current class carefully.
- Submit the form using Register Now.
- Save the confirmation and follow the centre, reporting-time and exam-day instructions sent after registration.
The live form does not currently display a registration charge. Do not rely on an unofficial payment link or forwarded message.
Final checklist before the exam
- Revise only the syllabus for the student’s current class.
- Practise at least one 45-question timed mock using +4/−1 marking.
- Confirm the allotted centre and phase.
- Recheck the reporting time because the current page contains a timing-duration inconsistency.
- Carry only the documents and stationery listed in the final confirmation.
- Read the scholarship terms, including chargeable administration fees.
Frequently asked questions
Students studying in Classes 7 to 12 are listed as eligible. This guide focuses specifically on Classes 9, 10, 11 and 12.
The current official page states that PATH 2026 will be conducted offline only at Prerna Education centres.
Phase I is scheduled for Sunday, 29 November 2026, and Phase II for Sunday, 6 December 2026.
Yes. The current PATH 2026 page lists free registration.
Not necessarily. The published table applies the scholarship to tuition fees and shows administration fees as chargeable. Confirm the final award terms before admission.
Yes. Each correct answer carries +4 marks and each wrong answer has a −1 penalty.
Choose your phase and prepare from the correct syllabus
PATH 2026 gives Class 9–12 students a defined paper pattern, class-relevant subjects and rank-linked scholarship opportunities. Register through the official page, prepare with timed MCQs and verify the final centre and reporting instructions before exam day.
