National Science Olympiad (NSO) 2024: Complete Guide to Syllabus, Dates, and Preparation
Updated on Nov 26,2024 593 Views
The national science olympiad is a science competition for the students of classes 1st-12th. NSO is organized by the science olympiad foundation and is set up every year and provides ample opportunities to the students. The primary aim of the National science olympiad is to find capable students having sound minds towards science and its contents. Through the exam, we see many IT professionals, scientists, technologists, etc. many school students also get qualified for the internationals and can secure great opportunities and prizes in the first place.
Table of Content
- Eligibility of NSO Olympiad
- How To Register For NSO Olympiad
- NSO Exam Dates 2024
- Syllabus of NSO Olympiad
- Exam Pattern of NSO Olympiad
- NSO Olympiad Awards
- Useful Links Of National Science Olympiad (NSO)
Summary Table for NSO Olympiad
|
Aspect |
Details |
|
Organizer |
Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) |
|
Eligibility |
Students from Class 1 to 12 |
|
Exam Purpose |
To develop scientific reasoning and problem-solving skills |
|
Exam Levels |
Two levels: Level 1 (all classes) and Level 2 (Class 3 to 12, based on performance in Level 1) |
|
Exam Dates |
Typically conducted between October to December (Check official updates) |
|
Subjects Covered |
Science and reasoning topics |
|
Registration Process |
Schools register students; individual registrations are not allowed |
|
Fees |
₹125 per student (India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh); $9 for other countries (including GST) |
|
Awards |
Scholarships, medals, certificates, and prizes for top performers |
|
Resources |
Sample papers, syllabus, and preparation guides available on the official website |
|
Official Website |
Eligibility of NSO Olympiad
Students from classes 1 to 12 are eligible to participate in the first level of the Olympiads, with no specific eligibility requirements, such as a minimum score or age. Those who qualify for the second level include:
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Top 5% of students in each class based on their performance in the first-level exam.
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Top 25 rank holders in each class at the zonal level.
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Class toppers from each participating school, provided at least 10 students from that class appeared for the exam and the topper scored at least 50% qualifying marks.
For students in classes 1 and 2, there is no second-level exam. Their final ranks are determined solely by their performance in the first level
How To Register For NSO Olympiad
Registration for the international Science olympiad is open for the students of classes 1-12 grade of any associate school. Many schools in India provide free registration as they are registered in the Othe Olympia session. Participants can skip paying any fee for the designation of centers. Any participants can register in these Olympiad games as all are eligible. The information regarding exams and registration is given on the official website.
There are no such marked eligibility criteria, and the only requirement is that the student must be a student of classes 1st-12th. After this, participants can register for the form, which contains essential information. After completing the process of submission of fees and registration forms, the students are recognized with admit cards and center cards. After you receive all the documents, you are ready to give the exam.
NSO Exam Dates 2024
SOF NSO will be conducted on three dates, as under. A school may select one date to conduct the SOF NSO as per its convenience.
|
Event |
Date |
|
Exam Date 1 |
18 October 2024 |
|
Exam Date 2 |
12 November 2024 |
|
Exam Date 3 |
3 December 2024 |
|
Result Announcement |
January 2025 (Tentative) |
Note: Please confirm updates on the SOF official website.
NSO Olympiad Result
The science olympiad foundation announces the examination result after almost eight weeks of conduction. The result is declared both online and offline; students can visit the web result in development for school for easy access.
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To check the result of your examination, you should maintain the proper password and profile.
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The results will be visible on the student profile. The Olympiad in India is organized by the Indian talent Olympiad in the respective subjects such as science, maths, English, biology, physics, chemistry, etc.
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The passwords are made with mobile numbers for further result verification and registration. Exams are conducted during September, and later the result of level 1 is declared at the end of December, while level 2 declaration is made in the month of march or April.
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Students will be given their roll numbers, admit cards, and other essential documents.
Syllabus of NSO Olympiad
Class wise NSO syllabus is given below:
For class 1st
|
Section 1: Logical Reasoning |
Spatial understanding, grouping, measuring units, odd one out, ranking test, analogy, geometrical shapes |
|
Section 2: Science |
living and nonliving things, plants, animals, human beings and their needs, good habits and safety rules, air and water, weather and sky |
|
Section 3: Achievers Section |
higher order thinking level questions syllabus as per section- 2 |
NSO syllabus for class 2nd
|
Section 1: Logical Reasoning |
Pattern, measuring units, odd one out, series completion, geometrical, groups of figures, ranking test, coding-decoding, embedded figures. |
|
Section 2: Science |
Plants, animals, the human body, food, housing and clothing, family and festivals, good habits and safety rules, air, water and rocks, earth and universe. |
|
Section 3: Achievers Section |
Higher order thinking questions- syllabus as per section -2. |
NSO Syllabus for class 3rd
|
Section 1: Logical Reasoning |
Pattern, analogy, mirror images, geometrical shapes, figure matrix, days and dates, possible combinations, coding-decoding, ranking test, embedded figures, alphabets test, mirror images. |
|
Section 2: Science |
Plants and animals, the human body, food, housing and clothing, matter and materials, sound and forces, transport communication, earth and universe, our environment, and birds. |
|
Section 3: Achievers Section |
Higher order thinking questions- syllabus as per section- 2. |
NSO syllabus for class 4th
|
Section 1: Logical Reasoning |
Pattern, alphabet, ranking test, coding-decoding, days and dates, possible combination, analogy, direction sense test, classification, geometrical shapes and solids, embedded figures, and mirror images. |
|
Section 2: Science |
Plants, animals, food and digestion, matters and materials, human needs, earth and universe, our environment, force, work, and energy. |
|
Section 3: Achievers Section |
Higher order thinking questions- syllabus as per section -2. |
NSO syllabus for class 5th
|
Section 1: Logical Reasoning |
verbal a nonverbal reasoning |
|
Section 2: Science |
motion and measurements of distance, light, shadow, and reflection, electricity and circuits, fun with magnets, our environment, sorting and separation of materials, change around us, the world of living beings, body movements in animals, food and its components, fiber to fabric |
|
Section 3: Achievers Section |
Higher order thinking questions- syllabus as per section -2. |
NSO syllabus for class 6th
|
Section 1: Logical Reasoning |
verbal a non-verbal reasoning |
|
Section 2: Science |
Heat, moon and time, electric current, winds, storms and cyclones, weak acids, bases and salts, physical and chemical changes, weather, climate, an adaptation of the animal to the environment, nutrition in plants, and animals, respiration in orgasm, fabric to fabric, nutrition in plants and animals, transportation in plants and animals, natural resources and their conservation, reproduction in plants, reproduction in plants. |
|
Section 3: Achievers Section |
Higher order thinking questions- syllabus as per section -2. |
NSO syllabus for class 7th
|
Section 1: Logical Reasoning |
verbal and non-verbal reasoning |
|
Section 2: Science |
Crop production and management, synthetic, fiber and plastics, metals and non-metals, coal and petroleum, combustion and flames, conversion of plants and animals, cell, reproduction, and endocrine system, force and pressure, friction, sound, chemical effect of electric current, some natural phenomenon, light, stars, and solar system, pollution, air, and water. |
|
Section 3: Achievers Section |
Higher order thinking questions- syllabus as per section -2. |
NSO syllabus for class 8th
|
Section 1: Logical Reasoning |
verbal and non-verbal reasoning |
|
Section 2: Science |
: motion, force, and laws of motion, gravitation, work and energy, sound, matter, and surrounding, is matter around us pure, the structure of atoms, atoms, and molecules, cell- the fundamental unit of life, tissues, diversity in living organisms, why do we fall ill, natural resources, improvement in food resources. |
|
Section 3: Achievers Section |
Higher order thinking questions- syllabus as per section -2 |
NSO syllabus for class 9th
|
Section 1: Logical Reasoning |
verbal and non-verbal reasoning |
|
Section 2: Science |
Chemical reaction and equation, acids, bases and salts, metals and non-metals, carbon and compounds, periodic classification of elements, life processes, control and coordination, reproduction in organisms, hereditary and evolution, light-reflection and refraction, human eye and colorful world, electricity, magnetic effect and electric current, sources of energy, our environment, and its management. |
|
Section 3: Achievers Section |
Higher order thinking questions- syllabus as per section -2. |
NSO syllabus for class 10th
|
Section 1: Logical Reasoning |
Logical reasoning physics: units and measurements, mechanics, properties of matter, heat and thermodynamics, oscillation, waves. |
|
Section 2: Science |
Higher order thinking questions- syllabus as per section -2. |
|
Section 3: Achievers Section |
sets, relations and functions, principles of mathematical induction, logarithms, complex number and quadratic equations, linear equations, sequence and series, trigonometry, straight lines, conic equation, statics, mathematical reasoning, limits and derivatives, probability, introduction to 3-D geometry |
NSO syllabus for class 11th
|
Section 1: Physics / Chemistry |
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, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Redox Reactions, Organic Chemistry - Some Basic Principles and Techniques, Hydrocarbons. |
|
Section 2: Achievers Section |
Higher order thinking questions- syllabus as per section -2. |
|
Section 3: Mathematics / Biology |
Reproduction, genetics and evolution, biology in human welfare, biotechnology, ecology. |
NSO syllabus for class 12th
|
Section 1: Physics / Chemistry |
Physics - Electricity and Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction, Alternating current, Electromagnetic waves, Optics, Modern Physics, Semiconductor Electronics. Chemistry: Solutions, Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics, The d- and f-Block Elements, Coordination Compounds, Haloalkanes and Haloarenes, Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers, Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids, Amines, Biomolecules. |
|
Section 2: Achievers Section |
Higher order thinking questions- syllabus as per section -2. |
|
Section 3: Mathematics / Biology |
Reproduction, genetics and evolution, biology in human welfare, biotechnology, ecology. |
Exam Pattern of NSO Olympiad
Here's a structured table summarizing the exam pattern for the National Science Olympiad (NSO) based on the official details:
|
Class Group |
Section |
Number of Questions |
Marks per Question |
Total Marks |
Question Type |
|
Classes 1–4 |
Logical Reasoning |
5 |
1 |
5 |
Objective |
|
Science |
25 |
1 |
25 |
Objective |
|
|
Achievers Section |
5 |
2 |
10 |
High-order Thinking |
|
|
Total |
35 |
40 |
|||
|
Classes 5–10 |
Logical Reasoning |
10 |
1 |
10 |
Objective |
|
Science |
35 |
1 |
35 |
Objective |
|
|
Achievers Section |
5 |
3 |
15 |
High-order Thinking |
|
|
Total |
50 |
60 |
|||
|
Classes 11–12 |
Physics, Chemistry |
25 |
1 |
25 |
Objective |
|
Achievers Section |
5 |
3 |
15 |
High-order Thinking |
|
|
Mathematics, Biology |
20 |
1 |
20 |
Objective |
|
|
Total |
50 |
60 |
Key Points:
-
The NSO exam is divided into sections: Logical Reasoning, Science (or core subjects), and the Achievers Section.
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The Achievers Section emphasizes higher-order thinking questions and has a higher weightage per question.
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The exam pattern varies slightly by class group: Classes 1–4, Classes 5–10, and Classes 11–12.
For more details, refer to the official NSO syllabus page: SOF NSO Syllabus.
NSO Olympiad Awards
Awards for level two performance and classes one and two
At international level
|
Rank |
Awards |
Number of awards |
|
1st |
INR 50,000+ gold medal + certificate |
12 |
|
2nd |
INR 25,000+ silver medal |
12 |
|
3rd |
INR 10,000+ bronze medal + certificate |
12 |
At zonal level
|
Rank |
Awards |
Number of awards |
|
1st |
INR 5000 + gold medal + certificate |
312 |
|
2nd |
INR 2500+ silver medal + certificate |
312 |
|
3rd |
INR 1000 each + bronze + certificate |
312 |
|
4th to 10th |
A gift worth Rs 500 + certificate of zonal excellence |
2184 |
|
11th to 25th |
Certificate for zonal excellence |
4680 |
|
26+ rank |
Merit certificate |
All |
Awards for level one performance and classes one and two
At international level
|
Category |
Awards |
Number of awards |
|
Best principle |
INR 25000+citation Trophy |
10 |
|
Best teacher |
INR 10000+ Citatrion trophy |
10 |
At zonal level
|
Category |
awards |
Number of awards |
|
Best principle |
INR 10000+ citation trophy |
130 |
|
Best teacher |
INR 50000+ Citation trophy |
78 |
At district level
|
Category |
Awards |
Number of awards |
|
Best principle |
INR 2500+ citation trophy |
500 |
|
Best teacher |
INR 1000+ citation trophy |
400 |
NSO Olympiad Sample Paper
Download the class-wise NSO sample paper PDF from here.
|
Class |
Sample Paper Download PDF Link |
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Class 1 |
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Class 2 |
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Class 3 |
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Class 4 |
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Class 5 |
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Class 6 |
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Class 7 |
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Class 8 |
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Class 9 |
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Class 10 |
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Class 11 |
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Class 12 |
Useful Links Of National Science Olympiad (NSO)
|
Resource |
Link |
|
Official NSO Page |
|
|
NSO Sample Papers |
|
|
NSO Syllabus |
|
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How to Participate |
|
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Awards and Recognition |
FAQ on NSO Olympiad
Q1. How many stages are there in NSO?
Ans: There are two levels of examination.
Q2. How many questions are there in no?
Ans: There are 35 questions in the NSO exam for Clas 1 to 4 and 50 questions for Class 5 to 12.
Q3. Who are eligible for NSO?
Ans: Any student from 1-12 is eligible to give the exam.
Q4. How many students appear in NSO?
Ans: Approximately 56000 students appear in the NSO exam every year.