NIOS Tutor Marked Assignments (TMA)

TMAs are open-book assignments that form part of NIOS's continuous assessment. They are worth doing well, because their marks appear on your mark sheet alongside your exam.

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TMA in brief

Applies to: Stream-1 learners
How many: One per subject
Format: Handwritten only
Weightage (Secondary): 20% of the theory part, per NIOS 2023–24 guidelines

What a TMA is

A Tutor Marked Assignment is a practice assignment you answer with your books open and no time limit. NIOS treats assessment of TMAs as an important part of continuous and comprehensive evaluation.

Source: NIOS Regional Centre Dehradun, Frequently Asked Questions (checked 19 October 2026).

Who submits TMAs

TMAs apply only to learners admitted through Stream-1 (regular admission).
You submit one assignment per subject, following the schedule in the NIOS guidelines.
TMAs are submitted before you appear in the public examination for that subject.

Sources: NIOS Regional Centre Dehradun, Frequently Asked Questions (checked 19 October 2026); NIOS, Tutor Marked Assignments 2023–24, Secondary (guidelines) (checked 19 October 2026).

How TMA marks count

NIOS's TMA guidelines for 2023–24 state that the Tutor Marked Assignment at Secondary level carries 20% weightage of the theory part in the external examination, and that TMA marks are shown separately on the mark sheet alongside the external examination marks.

NIOS's FAQ adds that there are no separate passing marks for TMAs, and that TMA marks carry over if you re-appear in a subject, including through On-Demand exams.

The 20% figure comes from the 2023–24 Secondary guidelines, the most recent official TMA guidelines we could read. Check the current year's guidelines for your level — especially for Senior Secondary — before relying on it.

Sources: NIOS, Tutor Marked Assignments 2023–24, Secondary (guidelines) (checked 19 October 2026); NIOS Regional Centre Dehradun, Frequently Asked Questions (checked 19 October 2026).

Submitting your TMA

The 2023–24 guidelines ask learners to upload TMAs online through their dashboard on the NIOS student portal. Older NIOS FAQs describe submitting at the study centre, so follow the method stated in your current year's guidelines.

Only handwritten TMAs are accepted. Computer-printed TMAs are not accepted.
Follow the submission schedule — NIOS publishes it with each year's guidelines.

Sources: NIOS, Tutor Marked Assignments 2023–24, Secondary (guidelines) (checked 19 October 2026); NIOS Regional Centre Dehradun, Frequently Asked Questions (checked 19 October 2026).

If you miss a TMA

Not submitting a TMA does not stop you from sitting the exam, but you get zero marks for the TMA. NIOS does not allow resubmission within the same exam cycle, and TMA re-evaluation is not permitted.

Source: NIOS Regional Centre Dehradun, Frequently Asked Questions (checked 19 October 2026).

TMA questions

Do On-Demand (Stream-3 or Stream-4) learners submit TMAs?

NIOS says TMAs apply only to learners admitted through Stream-1.

Can someone write my TMA for me?

TMAs are your own work and NIOS accepts only handwritten submissions. Tuition can help you understand the topics so you can answer them yourself — see courses and tuition.

Where are the questions for this year?

NIOS publishes TMA question papers and guidelines for each year on its website. Search for the current year's TMA on nios.ac.in.

Check official NIOS information

Always confirm admission dates, fees and rules on the official NIOS website. nios.ac.in

Get help understanding your TMA topics

Tell us your level and subject. We'll explain the rules, and tuition is available if you want help with the subject itself.

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