National Science Olympiad 2023-2024

Introduction

The Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) is an educational foundation and a non-profit organisation based in New Delhi, India which promotes science, mathematics, introductory computer education and English language skills amongst school children in India. It organises five Olympiads annually, namely the National Cyber Olympiad (NCO), the National Science Olympiad (NSO), the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) ,the International English Olympiad (IEO) and the International Sports & Knowledge Olympiad(ISKO). The SOF requires participants to register through their schools, rather than individually. We will focus on National Science Olympiad in this post.

This is organized to motivate student to strive for better scientific knowledge and deepen their understanding of the world.

The National Science Olympiad Level 1 will be conducted on 3 dates i.e.,. 17th Nov, 21st Nov & 5th Dec 2023.

How the Registration of Students worked

The 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 for NSO

The school’s coordinating teacher will generate the students’ Roll Numbers as per the guidelines given. A copy of these roll numbers along with the Students’ Registration Sheet (SRS) and School Registration Form (SRF) should be sent to the Foundation’s office before the due date of submission of forms.

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 NSO. No fee is required from the institution to become a registered examination centre. A minimum of 10 students need to be registered from each school for feasibility reasons.

The NSO is conducted on three dates for Level 1. Each school may select a date for conducting the NSO as per its convenience. Each date of exam has a separate question paper.

Students should register through their respective schools only. Individual registrations by students are not accepted.

Fees for NSO

A nominal participation fee is charged from each student. Part of it is retained by the school for its expenses as exam center. Details about the fee / mode of payment etc. are given in the School Registration Forms sent to schools.

National Science Olympiad exam Important Dates

National Science Olympiad exam syllabus

Class	Section	No. of Questions	Marks/Question	Total Marks
1 to 4	Logical Reasoning	5	1	5
	Science	25	1	25
	Achievers Section	5	2	10
	Grand Total	35		40
5 to 10	Logical Reasoning	10	1	10
	Science	35	1	35
	Achievers Section	5	3	15
	Grand Total	50		60
11 and 12	Physics & Chemistry	25	1	25
	Achievers Section	5	3	15
	Mathematics/Biology	20	1	20
	Grand Total	50		60

Class-1

Total Questions:35

Time : 1 hr.

Syllabus

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

Total Questions : 35

Time : 1 hr.

Syllabus

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, Occupations, 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

Total Questions : 35

Time : 1 hr.

Syllabus

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 and Clothing, Transport and Communication, 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

Total Questions : 35

Time : 1 hr.

Syllabus

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, Clothing, 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

Total Questions : 50

Time : 1 hr.

Syllabus

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, Pollution and Calamities, Earth and Universe, Matter, Force, Work and Energy.

Section – 3 :Higher Order Thinking Questions – Syllabus as per Section – 2.

Class-6

Total Questions : 50

Time : 1 hr.

Syllabus

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, Sorting and Separation of Materials, Changes Around Us, Living Organisms and Their Surroundings, Food and its Components, Fibre to Fabric.

Section – 3 :Higher Order Thinking Questions – Syllabus as per Section – 2.

Class-7

Total Questions : 50

Time : 1 hr.

Syllabus

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.

Section – 3 :Higher Order Thinking Questions – Syllabus as per Section – 2.

Class-8

Total Questions : 50

Time : 1 hr.

Syllabus

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

Total Questions : 50

Time : 1 hr.

Syllabus

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

Total Questions : 50

Time : 1 hr.

Syllabus

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, 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

Total Questions : 50

Time : 1 hr.

Syllabus

Section – 1 : Physics : Units & Measurements, Mechanics, Properties of Matter, Heat & 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.

Section – 3 : Diversity in the Living World, Structural Organisation in Plants and Animals, Cell : Structure and Functions, Plant Physiology, Human Physiology.

Class-12

Total Questions : 50

Time : 1 hr.

Syllabus

Section – 1 : Physics : Electricity and Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction, AC, 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.

Section – 3 : Reproduction, Genetics and Evolution, Biology in Human Welfare, Biotechnology, Ecology.Important NOTE: Questions of level-I Olympiad exams will be 60% from the current class syllabus and 40% from the previous class syllabus, e.g. Class-7 NSO exam will have 60% questions from class-7 syllabus and 40% questions from class 6 syllabus. Questions of level-II Olympiad exams will be from current class syllabus only. Questions in ACHIEVERS SECTION will be from current class syllabus only.

How the National Science Olympiad examination worked

The National Science Olympiad is conducted at two levels:

Level 1: The first level of the test is organized in the respective schools of the participants during school hours.

(i) The level 1 competition is an objective-type test of 60 minutes duration comprising 35 objective-type (Multiple Choice) questions for class 1 to class 4 and 50 objective-type (Multiple Choice) questions for class 5 to class 12.

(ii) The question paper consists of three sections:

For Class 1 to Class 10

Section-1: Logical Reasoning

Section-2: Science

Section-3: Achievers Section

For Class 11 and Class 12

Section-1: Physics/Chemistry

Section-2: Achievers Section

Section-3 : Mathematics/Biology

(iii) There are separate question papers for each class.

(iv) The medium of the test is English.

(v) CBSE, ICSE/ISC and State Board syllabus is followed for setting the test papers.

(vi) The exam is conducted during school hours.

Level 2: The level 2 is conducted for students of class 3 to class 12. The qualifiers to second round would include the following:
(a)Top 5% of candidates class wise who appear for the 1st level exam. Due weightage to marks scored in different sections will be given. Each section is accorded separate weightage.
(b)Zone wise top 25 rank holders class wise.
(c) Class topper where at least 10 students from a class appear in the exam & scores 50% qualifying marks.

Clarifications: Any clarification regarding rules, format/pattern of the paper, etc., may be sought from SOF through phone-call/fax – 0124-4951200 or email at [email protected].

NSO FAQ

How does a student benefit by taking Olympiad exams?

Answer

Participants of Olympiads are ranked on the basis of marks obtained. Hence, after taking the first level of the test, students can judge themselves academically at four different levels – within the school, at city level, at state level and above all at International level.

Each student is provided a Student Performance Report (SPR). The SPR analyses the strong and weak areas of the student and also gives a detailed performance comparison of the student vis-à-vis other students at school, state and international level. Analysis of the student’s past 7 years’ performance is also provided.

Students are suitably awarded based on their international, State and School ranking. Prizes are announced annually and include cash awards, medals, gifts, certificates etc. The International toppers from each class are awarded at a grand prize distribution ceremony held in Delhi, presided over by an eminent personality. Prizes for state winners and school winners are sent to their respective schools. For the year 2015-16, a sum of Rs. Ten Crores will be incurred towards awards, felicitations, scholarships etc.

Who all are eligible to sit for the Olympiads?

Answer

Students of classes 1 to 12th are eligible to appear for the 1st level Olympiads. For National Cyber Olympiad, students from class 2 onwards are eligible to appear for the 1st level. There is no other eligibility criterion like minimum marks. Students who qualify for the 2nd level exam include.

(a) Top 5% of students’ class wise, who appear for the 1st level exam,

(b) State wise top 25 rank holders class wise, and

(c) Class toppers from each participating school where at least 10 students from a class appear in the exam & scores 50% qualifying marks. Students from classes 1 and 2 are not required to appear for the 2nd level exam and are ranked based on their performance in the first level exam. IEO is a single level exam.

I am interested to take part in the Olympiads. Tell me how will I come to know about the details of the exam?

Answer

All the relevant information is sent to the schools registered with us across countries, along with prospectus, registration forms, posters and other details before the first round of exams and then as the date and venue of the second level is decided, the information is sent to the relevant schools again. The students come to know about the necessary details from their school teachers or through the Foundation’s official website www.sofworld.org or through the foundations face book page facebook.com/sofworld.

Myself and few of my friends are interested to take part in the Olympiads but our school has not yet received any information regarding the Olympiad. What can we do?

Answer

Please let us know the name, e-mail ID, complete address of your school along with name and contact details of the principal. We will send detailed information and registration forms to your School so that your Principal / Olympiad Teacher-in-charge can register your names for the exam.

Are there any special books which the participants should refer to for the NSO preparation?

Answer

In general, NCERT books/course books prescribed by the CBSE/ICSE/STATE BOARDS may be referred to for the preparation. We also have following books/materials for Olympiad preparation:

1)MTG Class wise Workbooks (For Class 1 to 10)

2)‘SOF Olympiad Trainer’ Mobile Apps

3)OSDS (Olympiad Skill Development System)

4)Previous Years’ Papers

5)Olympiads’ Books of Reasoning (for preparation for the reasoning section of Olympiads)

6)E-Quiz

Additionally, class XI and XII students can refer to the various publications like Chemistry Today, Biology Today, Mathematics Today and Physics For You and MTG books which contain useful matter including solved and model test papers of various National and International Olympiads.

My school does not want to register for the Olympiads, but I am very eager to write the exam. Can I do it on my own?

Answer

SOF does not encourage individual participation. Students have to register through their schools only.

7. I have cleared second level of the Olympiad and I have come to know that I am eligible for an award. I am studying in a different school / passed out from school and pursuing further studies. Will I come to know about the date?

Answer

As soon as we finalize the date and venue of the presentation ceremony, we send out the information to the schools concerned and also share the dates on our website and on our Facebook page. So please be in touch with your previous school or/and access of website regularly.

I have still not received my Roll No. / Admit Card / Participation Certificate. I have checked from my school authorities and they are also not in receipt of the same. Kindly advise what to do?

Answer

Please request your Principal / Science Teacher to inform us about the non-receipt of the above. We will send duplicate copies to your school as soon as we hear from them.