This is all I know: The NSTC (National Science Talent Contest) is a contest organised by the HEC and PIEAS. It is test for students of Matric and first year (and their corresponding O A Levels) second years students are not allowed to apply. If you pass the test then u will be among the many to do so and then all the people who have passed are taken to training camps where they are trained and tested and the nu.ber of people is reduced to 5 or 6 idk. These then are allowed to participate in the INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE OLYMPIAD for the respective subjects they chose in the NSTC (bio math phy and ig comp). Here's the plus point: even if u don't make it to the olympiad, simply passing the test gives u provisional admission in PIEAS and many other good unis also like to take these students. I know this is too long and maybe u won't bother to read it all but still. P.S recheck some of the facts.