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About
NSO or the National Science Olympiad is a competitive exam conducted each year for school students by the Science Olympiad Foundation. The Olympiad helps them to judge their academic progress by giving them the chance of competing with students from all over the country.
Registration
Registration of Students: The SOF NSO is open to the students of classes 1 to 12. Prospectus containing the Registration forms are sent to all schools registered with SOF. Schools not registered may also request for prospectus by sending an e-mail at [email protected] / phone call. Schools must return the registration forms to SOF, duly filled in and complete in all respects by the due date.
Roll Numbers: The school's coordinating teacher should fill the School Registration Form (SRF) and Students' Registration Sheet (SRS) as per the guidelines given & should send to the SOF's office before the due date of submission of forms. SOF will register the applicant school and the students as per the Students' Registration Sheet (SRS) received from the School. SOF will generate roll numbers for all students.
Foundation will register the applicant school and the students and dispatch question papers and guidelines for conducting the examination. Principals/teachers may please note that any school can be registered as a center for SOF NSO. No fee is required from the institution to become a registered examination centre. A minimum of 10 students needs to be registered from each school for SOF NSO.
The SOF NSO is conducted on 3 dates for Level 1. Each school may select a date for conducting the SOF NSO as per its convenience. Each date of exam has a separate question paper. Change of date for conducting the SOF NSO is not permitted.
Students should register through their respective schools. Individual registrations by students are not accepted.
Syllabus
The syllabus for National Science Olympiad is divided into three sections for each class starting from class 1st to class 12th.
Section 1 is the Logical Reasoning section which mainly deals with the questions related to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Section 2 is the Science section which covers all the relevant topics and sub-topics.
Section 3 is the Achiever's section. This section contains Higher Order Thinking Questions and it is advisable to move to this section only after you have completed the previous two.
Class 1
Section – 1 : Spatial Understanding, Grouping, Measuring Units, Analogy, Geometrical Shapes, Patterns, Odd One Out, Ranking Test.
Section – 2 : Living and Non-living things, Plants, Animals, Human Beings and Their Needs, Good Habits and Safety Rules, Air and Water, Weather and The Sky.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 2
Section – 1 : Patterns, Measuring Units, Odd One Out, Series Completion, Geometrical Shapes, Analogy, Ranking Test, Grouping of Figures, Coding-Decoding, Embedded Figures.
Section – 2 : Plants, Animals, Human Body, Food, Housing and Clothing, Family and Festivals, Good Habits and Safety Rules, Transport and Communication, Air, Water and Rocks, Earth and Universe.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 3
Section – 1 : Patterns, Analogy and Classification, Coding-Decoding, Mirror Images, Embedded Figures, Alphabet Test, Ranking Test, Grouping of Figures, Figure Matrix, Geometrical Shapes, Days and Dates & Possible Combinations.
Section – 2 : Plants and Animals, Birds, Food, Housing, Clothing and Occupation, Transport, Communication and Safety Rules, Human Body, Earth and Universe, Matter and Materials, Light, Sound and Force, Our Environment.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 4
Section – 1 : Patterns, Alphabet Test, Coding-Decoding, Mirror Images, Embedded Figures, Geometrical Shapes and Solids, Ranking Test, Direction Sense Test, Days and Dates & Possible Combinations, Analogy and Classification.
Section – 2 : Plants, Animals, Food and Digestion, Human Needs, Matter and Materials, Force, Work and Energy, Our Environment, Earth and Universe.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 5
Section – 1 : Patterns, Analogy and Classification, Coding-Decoding, Geometrical Shapes, Mirror Images, Water Images, Embedded Figures, Direction Sense Test, Ranking Test, Alphabet Test and Logical Sequence of Words, Puzzle Test.
Section – 2 : Animals, Human Body and Health, Plants, Natural Resources and Indian Heritage, Pollution and Calamities, Earth and Universe, Matter and Materials, Force and Energy.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 6
Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Section – 2 : Motion and Measurement of Distances, Light, Shadows and Reflections, Electricity and Circuits, Fun with Magnets, Our Environment (Water, Air Around us, Garbage in Garbage out), Sorting and Separation of Materials, Changes Around Us, The World of Living (Characteristics of Living Beings, Parts of Plants, Body Movements in Animals and Adaptation), Food and its Components, Fibre to Fabric.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2
Class 7
Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Section – 2 : Heat, Motion and Time, Electric Current and its Effects, Winds, Storms and Cyclones, Light, Acids, Bases and Salts, Physical and Chemical Changes, Weather, Climate and Adaptations of Animals to Climate, Fibre to Fabric, Nutrition in Plants and Animals, Respiration in Organisms, Transportation in Plants and Animals, Reproduction in Plants, Natural Resources and Their Conservation (Soil, Water: A Precious Resource, Forests our Lifeline, Wastewater Story).
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 8
Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Section – 2 : Crop Production and Management, Microorganisms, Synthetic Fibres and Plastics, Metals and Non-metals, Coal and Petroleum, Combustion and Flame, Conservation of Plants and Animals, Cell, Reproduction and Endocrine System, Force and Pressure, Friction, Sound, Chemical Effects of Electric Current, Some Natural Phenomena, Light, Stars and the Solar System, Pollution of Air and Water.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 9
Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Section – 2 : Motion, Force and Laws of Motion, Gravitation, Work and Energy, Sound, Matter in Our Surroundings, Is Matter Around Us Pure, Atoms and Molecules, Structure of Atom, Cell-The Fundamental Unit of Life, Tissues, Diversity in Living Organisms, Why Do We Fall III, Natural Resources, Improvement in Food Resources.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 10
Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Section – 2 : Chemical Reactions and Equations, Acids, Bases and Salts, Metals and Non-metals, Carbon and Its Compounds, Periodic Classification of Elements, Life Processes, Control and Coordination, Reproduction in Organisms, Heredity and Evolution, Light-Reflection and Refraction, Human Eye and Colourful World, Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Electric Current, Sources of Energy, Our Environment and Its Management.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2
Class 11
Section 1 (Logical Reasoning) : Physics : Units and Measurements, Mechanics, Properties of Matter, Heat and Thermodynamics, Oscillations, Waves.
Chemistry : Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry, Structure of Atom, Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties, Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure, States of Matter, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Redox Reactions, Hydrogen, The s-Block Elements, The p-Block Elements (Groups 13 and 14), Organic Chemistry - Some Basic Principles and Techniques, Hydrocarbons, Environmental Chemistry.
Section – 2 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 1.
Section – 3 : Sets, Relations and Functions, Principle of Mathematical Induction, Logarithms, Complex Numbers & Quadratic Equations, Linear Inequations, Sequences and Series, Trigonometry, Straight Lines, Conic Sections, Permutations and Combinations, Binomial Theorem, Statistics, Mathematical Reasoning, Limits and Derivatives, Probability, Introduction to 3-D Geometry.
OR
Section – 3 : Diversity in the Living World, Structural Organisation in Plants and Animals, Cell : Structure and Functions, Plant Physiology, Human Physiology.
Class 12
Section 1 (Logical Reasoning) : Physics : Electricity and Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction, Alternating current, Electromagnetic waves, Optics, Modern Physics, Semiconductor Electronics, Communication Systems.
Chemistry : Solid State, Solutions, Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics, Surface Chemistry, General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements, p-Block Elements (Group 15 to 18), d- & f-Block Elements, Coordination Compounds, Haloalkanes and Haloarenes, Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers, Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids, Amines, Biomolecules, Polymers, Chemistry in Everyday Life.
Section – 2 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 1.
Section – 3 : Relations and Functions, Inverse Trigonometric Functions, Matrices and Determinants, Continuity and Differentiability, Application of Derivatives, Integrals, Application of Integrals, Differential Equations, Vector Algebra, Three Dimensional Geometry, Probability, Linear Programming.
OR
Section – 3 : Reproduction, Genetics and Evolution, Biology in Human Welfare, Biotechnology, Ecology.
Eligibility Criteria
There are no specific NSO exam eligibility criteria for Level 1. Students of classes 1 to 12 can appear for the level 1 Olympiad exam. There are no criteria for the minimum marks obtained by students in their academics. The NOS exam is open for school students studying in classes 1 to 12.
Application Fee
Schools in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan & Nepal pay to SOF a registration fee of Rs 125* (including GST) per student / Olympiad towards cost of examination. Schools may charge an additional Rs 25** per student towards honorarium of incharge, remuneration to teachers to teach and guide, and for other expenses. No fee is payable for students suffering from any major physical disability, or an Indian student whose parent was martyred during defence operations.
*US$9 for other countries.
**US$1 for other countries.
Exam Pattern
NSO exams are conducted at two levels.
-
Level 1
-
Level 2
Students who clear level one are selected for level 2. All the participants get an NSO certificate. The students who top the international level get cash prizes, awards and certificates. The level two examination is very hard and challenging. One needs to compete at an international level to clear the exam.
Details of NSO Level 1 Exam
The NSO first level of the test is organized at the respective school of the participants during the syllabus followed for designing the question papers. The students should be well prepared for the examination. The students who are selected for level two will give the second stage exam a few days after the first one. However, the students who do not qualify will get participation certificates.
The level one exam is based on the practice papers or workbook level of the olympiad. The students who follow a dedicated routine will be able to pass with flying colours.
NSO Level 2
The students should aim for level 2 along with the practice of level 1 as the gap between both exams is not much.
The level two exam is much more challenging and focuses on core science topics. The number of advanced-level questions and the level of difficulty also increase. This would need extensive knowledge and practice of the concepts. The details for the level two examination of the National Science Olympiad is shared. The question pattern and proportion too is given below. Read further to get a clear idea about the type of questions to expect in the exam.
NSO Level 2 Exam Pattern
The question paper comprises of three sections :
For Class 3 and Class 4
-
Section 1 - Science (30 Questions)
-
Section 2 - Achievers Section ( 5 Questions)
For Class 5 to Class 10th
-
Section 1 - Science (45 Questions)
-
Section 2 - Achievers Section (5 Questions)
For Class 11 and Class 12
-
Section 1 - Physics/Chemistry (25 Questions)
-
Section 2 - Achievers Section (5 Questions)
-
Section 3 - Mathematics/ Biology (20 Questions)
This was the detailed information about the NSO for each class. This segregation of information is very useful to help in preparation for the exam.
Though the advanced level question in senior classes is also less, the level of difficulty is high. The marks distribution for every question is also not the same. The higher-order thinking questions are likely to carry more marks. The olympiad provides enough time to brush up the basics and practise advanced level questions extensively. There is no negative marking in the exam so one must attempt all questions.
Create a plan for preparation as per the provided time and the syllabus needed to be covered. Try to practise many sample papers during this time. Make every day count and enhance your skills and base of concepts. The tentative dates will not see a lot of change, so, plan by the given dates.
Eligibilty Criteria
There are no specific NSO exam eligibility criteria for Level 1. Students of classes 1 to 12 can appear for the level 1 Olympiad exam. There are no criteria for the minimum marks obtained by students in their academics. The NOS exam is open for school students studying in classes 1 to 12.
Exam Pattern
NSO exams are conducted at two levels.
-
Level 1
-
Level 2
Students who clear level one are selected for level 2. All the participants get an NSO certificate. The students who top the international level get cash prizes, awards and certificates. The level two examination is very hard and challenging. One needs to compete at an international level to clear the exam.
Details of NSO Level 1 Exam
The NSO first level of the test is organized at the respective school of the participants during the syllabus followed for designing the question papers. The students should be well prepared for the examination. The students who are selected for level two will give the second stage exam a few days after the first one. However, the students who do not qualify will get participation certificates.
The level one exam is based on the practice papers or workbook level of the olympiad. The students who follow a dedicated routine will be able to pass with flying colours.
NSO Level 2
The students should aim for level 2 along with the practice of level 1 as the gap between both exams is not much.
The level two exam is much more challenging and focuses on core science topics. The number of advanced-level questions and the level of difficulty also increase. This would need extensive knowledge and practice of the concepts. The details for the level two examination of the National Science Olympiad is shared. The question pattern and proportion too is given below. Read further to get a clear idea about the type of questions to expect in the exam.
NSO Level 2 Exam Pattern
The question paper comprises of three sections :
For Class 3 and Class 4
-
Section 1 - Science (30 Questions)
-
Section 2 - Achievers Section ( 5 Questions)
For Class 5 to Class 10th
-
Section 1 - Science (45 Questions)
-
Section 2 - Achievers Section (5 Questions)
For Class 11 and Class 12
-
Section 1 - Physics/Chemistry (25 Questions)
-
Section 2 - Achievers Section (5 Questions)
-
Section 3 - Mathematics/ Biology (20 Questions)
This was the detailed information about the NSO for each class. This segregation of information is very useful to help in preparation for the exam.
Though the advanced level question in senior classes is also less, the level of difficulty is high. The marks distribution for every question is also not the same. The higher-order thinking questions are likely to carry more marks. The olympiad provides enough time to brush up the basics and practise advanced level questions extensively. There is no negative marking in the exam so one must attempt all questions.
Create a plan for preparation as per the provided time and the syllabus needed to be covered. Try to practise many sample papers during this time. Make every day count and enhance your skills and base of concepts. The tentative dates will not see a lot of change, so, plan by the given dates.
Syllabus
The syllabus for National Science Olympiad is divided into three sections for each class starting from class 1st to class 12th.
Section 1 is the Logical Reasoning section which mainly deals with the questions related to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Section 2 is the Science section which covers all the relevant topics and sub-topics.
Section 3 is the Achiever's section. This section contains Higher Order Thinking Questions and it is advisable to move to this section only after you have completed the previous two.
Class 1
Section – 1 : Spatial Understanding, Grouping, Measuring Units, Analogy, Geometrical Shapes, Patterns, Odd One Out, Ranking Test.
Section – 2 : Living and Non-living things, Plants, Animals, Human Beings and Their Needs, Good Habits and Safety Rules, Air and Water, Weather and The Sky.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 2
Section – 1 : Patterns, Measuring Units, Odd One Out, Series Completion, Geometrical Shapes, Analogy, Ranking Test, Grouping of Figures, Coding-Decoding, Embedded Figures.
Section – 2 : Plants, Animals, Human Body, Food, Housing and Clothing, Family and Festivals, Good Habits and Safety Rules, Transport and Communication, Air, Water and Rocks, Earth and Universe.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 3
Section – 1 : Patterns, Analogy and Classification, Coding-Decoding, Mirror Images, Embedded Figures, Alphabet Test, Ranking Test, Grouping of Figures, Figure Matrix, Geometrical Shapes, Days and Dates & Possible Combinations.
Section – 2 : Plants and Animals, Birds, Food, Housing, Clothing and Occupation, Transport, Communication and Safety Rules, Human Body, Earth and Universe, Matter and Materials, Light, Sound and Force, Our Environment.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 4
Section – 1 : Patterns, Alphabet Test, Coding-Decoding, Mirror Images, Embedded Figures, Geometrical Shapes and Solids, Ranking Test, Direction Sense Test, Days and Dates & Possible Combinations, Analogy and Classification.
Section – 2 : Plants, Animals, Food and Digestion, Human Needs, Matter and Materials, Force, Work and Energy, Our Environment, Earth and Universe.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 5
Section – 1 : Patterns, Analogy and Classification, Coding-Decoding, Geometrical Shapes, Mirror Images, Water Images, Embedded Figures, Direction Sense Test, Ranking Test, Alphabet Test and Logical Sequence of Words, Puzzle Test.
Section – 2 : Animals, Human Body and Health, Plants, Natural Resources and Indian Heritage, Pollution and Calamities, Earth and Universe, Matter and Materials, Force and Energy.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 6
Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Section – 2 : Motion and Measurement of Distances, Light, Shadows and Reflections, Electricity and Circuits, Fun with Magnets, Our Environment (Water, Air Around us, Garbage in Garbage out), Sorting and Separation of Materials, Changes Around Us, The World of Living (Characteristics of Living Beings, Parts of Plants, Body Movements in Animals and Adaptation), Food and its Components, Fibre to Fabric.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2
Class 7
Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Section – 2 : Heat, Motion and Time, Electric Current and its Effects, Winds, Storms and Cyclones, Light, Acids, Bases and Salts, Physical and Chemical Changes, Weather, Climate and Adaptations of Animals to Climate, Fibre to Fabric, Nutrition in Plants and Animals, Respiration in Organisms, Transportation in Plants and Animals, Reproduction in Plants, Natural Resources and Their Conservation (Soil, Water: A Precious Resource, Forests our Lifeline, Wastewater Story).
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 8
Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Section – 2 : Crop Production and Management, Microorganisms, Synthetic Fibres and Plastics, Metals and Non-metals, Coal and Petroleum, Combustion and Flame, Conservation of Plants and Animals, Cell, Reproduction and Endocrine System, Force and Pressure, Friction, Sound, Chemical Effects of Electric Current, Some Natural Phenomena, Light, Stars and the Solar System, Pollution of Air and Water.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 9
Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Section – 2 : Motion, Force and Laws of Motion, Gravitation, Work and Energy, Sound, Matter in Our Surroundings, Is Matter Around Us Pure, Atoms and Molecules, Structure of Atom, Cell-The Fundamental Unit of Life, Tissues, Diversity in Living Organisms, Why Do We Fall III, Natural Resources, Improvement in Food Resources.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2.
Class 10
Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
Section – 2 : Chemical Reactions and Equations, Acids, Bases and Salts, Metals and Non-metals, Carbon and Its Compounds, Periodic Classification of Elements, Life Processes, Control and Coordination, Reproduction in Organisms, Heredity and Evolution, Light-Reflection and Refraction, Human Eye and Colourful World, Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Electric Current, Sources of Energy, Our Environment and Its Management.
Section – 3 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 2
Class 11
Section 1 (Logical Reasoning) : Physics : Units and Measurements, Mechanics, Properties of Matter, Heat and Thermodynamics, Oscillations, Waves.
Chemistry : Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry, Structure of Atom, Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties, Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure, States of Matter, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Redox Reactions, Hydrogen, The s-Block Elements, The p-Block Elements (Groups 13 and 14), Organic Chemistry - Some Basic Principles and Techniques, Hydrocarbons, Environmental Chemistry.
Section – 2 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 1.
Section – 3 : Sets, Relations and Functions, Principle of Mathematical Induction, Logarithms, Complex Numbers & Quadratic Equations, Linear Inequations, Sequences and Series, Trigonometry, Straight Lines, Conic Sections, Permutations and Combinations, Binomial Theorem, Statistics, Mathematical Reasoning, Limits and Derivatives, Probability, Introduction to 3-D Geometry.
OR
Section – 3 : Diversity in the Living World, Structural Organisation in Plants and Animals, Cell : Structure and Functions, Plant Physiology, Human Physiology.
Class 12
Section 1 (Logical Reasoning) : Physics : Electricity and Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction, Alternating current, Electromagnetic waves, Optics, Modern Physics, Semiconductor Electronics, Communication Systems.
Chemistry : Solid State, Solutions, Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics, Surface Chemistry, General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements, p-Block Elements (Group 15 to 18), d- & f-Block Elements, Coordination Compounds, Haloalkanes and Haloarenes, Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers, Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids, Amines, Biomolecules, Polymers, Chemistry in Everyday Life.
Section – 2 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section – 1.
Section – 3 : Relations and Functions, Inverse Trigonometric Functions, Matrices and Determinants, Continuity and Differentiability, Application of Derivatives, Integrals, Application of Integrals, Differential Equations, Vector Algebra, Three Dimensional Geometry, Probability, Linear Programming.
OR
Section – 3 : Reproduction, Genetics and Evolution, Biology in Human Welfare, Biotechnology, Ecology.
