NSO(National Science Olympiad) - Complete Guide

Introduction

The National Science Olympiad(NSO) is an annual academic competition organized by the Science Olympiad Foundation(SOF) in collaboration with the British Council for students in classes 1-12. This exam assesses their knowledge and skills in scientific reasoning and logical ability. It also provides a platform for the students to recognize their academic talent in the discipline of Science. Besides providing a healthy competitive environment, the exam also hones students’ creative thinking, problem-solving and cognitive skills.

Event Details

NSO is conducted in two levels: level 1 and level 2. Level 1 is conducted for classes 1 to 12, while Level 2 is conducted for classes 3 to 12. Level 1 is conducted at the school level and is open to all the students who register through their respective schools. Level 2 consists of all the top performers from Level 1. This level determines the final ranks and rewards. Students qualifying for any of the below-mentioned criteria are eligible for level 2 of NSO:

• The top 5% of students in each class who took the Level 1 test are qualified to take the Level 2 exam.
• The top 25 scorers in each zone who took the Level 1 test are qualified to take the Level 2 exam.
• Each participating school has a minimum of ten rank-holders who took tests and received 50 per cent qualifying marks.
• If students register section by section, students who obtain the highest marks in each subject will be qualified to take the NSO Level 2 test. Students who win gold medals in the section-wise registration may or may not be eligible for the second-level Olympiad test.

Only students who belong to the schools associated with SOF can take part in the National Science Olympiad exam. They should apply at least 30 days before the exam. As per IEO regulations, students from participating schools must be below 18 years of age. Students must have a valid email ID and a mobile number to register for the IEO exam. They must give these details before registration can proceed. 

For Indian students, a student must be from a participating school that is affiliated with either ICSE, CBSE, or the State Board. You should be in any class from 1 to 12 and need to have basic knowledge of English. The registration fee for the olympiad for students from India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh is INR 125(including GST), while those from overseas have to pay USD 11. Apart from these conditions, there are no other IEO Exam eligibility criteria like gender, minimum marks, etc.

For awards, a gold, silver, or bronze medal with an appreciation certificate and a cash prize up to INR 50,000 is given to the students. SOF NSO will be conducted on the following dates. A school may select one date out of the dates announced, at its convenience, to conduct the exam.

 DATE ONE – 13th November 2025
DATE TWO – 27th November 2025
DATE THREE – 11th December 2025

NSO Syllabus

The level 1 competition is an objective-type test of 60 minutes duration comprising 35 objective-type (multiple-choice) questions for classes 1 to 4 and 50 objective-type (multiple-choice) questions for classes 5 to 12. The duration for level 2 is also 1 hour. Here is the paper pattern of the National Science Olympiad:

Level 1:

1 mark is awarded for each correct answer in the Science and Logical Reasoning sections, whereas 3 marks are awarded for each correct answer in the Achievers section.

Level 2:

1 mark is awarded for each correct answer in the Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Math sections, while 3 marks are awarded for each correct answer in the Achievers section.

The paper consists of three sections;

For Classes 1 to 10

Section 1: Logical Reasoning
Section 2: Science
Section 3: Achievers Section

For Classes 11 and 12

Section 1: Physics/Chemistry
Section 2: Achievers Section
Section 3: Mathematics/Biology

Total marks for classes 1 – 4 are 40, and classes 5 – 12 are 60. 

Past NSO papers with solutions

Just like other competitive exams, the NSO is indeed a challenging exam. However, students can excel by familiarizing themselves with the exam pattern and syllabus to understand the topics that will be covered. Practicing sample papers and previous years’ question papers can help students get a feel for the exam format. For understanding the exam syllabus and accessing the sample and previous years’ papers, students can visit the official website of SOF.

Students should focus on improving their problem-solving skills and enhancing their understanding of key concepts through regular study. It’s also beneficial to regularly solve previous years’ question papers to grasp the exam pattern and the types of questions typically asked. Staying updated with the latest developments in the field of science is crucial, and students can do this by utilizing  NSO Olympiad books for both level 1 and level 2, as well as leveraging online resources and tutorials. This approach will broaden their knowledge base and help them stay ahead in the competition.

Participating Countries

The Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) is a prominent educational organization founded by esteemed academicians, scientists, and media figures to enhance learning in various disciplines, including Science, Mathematics, Computer Education, English, Social Studies, General Knowledge, Hindi, and professional courses. For over 25 years, SOF has dedicated itself to fostering a scientific mindset and approach among students through innovative activities and IT integration in learning processes, reaching students across the globe.

SOF collaborates with several esteemed institutions and organizations, including the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the Institute of Company Secretaries of India, the British Council, Star Sports, Techfest IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, the National University of Singapore, and TCS, to support its various initiatives and programs.

The National Science Olympiad (NSO), organized by SOF, sees participation from multiple countries, including India, the USA, New Zealand, and 69 others. Currently, over 96,499 schools worldwide are affiliated with SOF, and the organization has successfully conducted more than 7.2 crore assessments to date.

History of NSO

The National Science Olympiad was first conducted in 1998. Apart from NSO, SOF offers 7 other globally recognized competitive exams, including IEO, IMO, IGKO, etc.

Results

The results of the NSO are sent directly to registered schools, ensuring that candidates receive timely information. Results are typically announced within two months following the assessment. If a school does not receive the results, candidates can verify their outcomes on the SOF website. Every student who appears for the SOF NSO exam receives a Student Performance Report (SPR). This report provides a detailed analysis of the student’s performance in the Level 1 Olympiad exam. The primary objective of the SPR is to share insights with the student and their parents regarding how the student attempted the exam.

The SPR highlights the student’s strengths and identifies areas that need improvement, both in absolute terms and in comparison to a competitive scale involving hundreds of thousands of students from the same class who also took the Olympiad. This feedback is designed to help students understand their performance better and guide them on how to enhance their skills for future competitions.