Dashboard · Exams · NSEB
National Standard Examination in Biology
HBCSE/IAPT Stage-1 biology olympiad. 80 MCQs in 3 hours covering cell biology, genetics, plant & animal physiology, ecology, and evolution.
Sourced
Source: official exam authority notification · refreshed weekly. How this works →
Free NSEB preparation on Shishya
Take expert-curated mocks, practise previous year papers, and Ask Shishya when you're stuck — verified by students who cleared the same path. All free, no credit card. Sign in with Google to begin.
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10 questions across the syllabus to see where you stand.
Verified against the official notification. Source ↗ · last reconciled 2026-05.
Topic-by-topic weightage averaged across 2022-2024 papers. Use this to decide where to invest study hours, not where to skim. Source ↗ · verified 2026-05.
50/240 marks avg
Cell structure + biomolecules + genetics + biotech
50/240 marks avg
Anatomy + physiology + ecology + evolution
We are sourcing PYQs from the official notification PDFs. Coming soon.
Take any mock in your preferred language — use the language picker inside the mock to switch (Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, and 15 more).
NSEB — Quick Practice
FULL20 questions · 180 min
Start mock →Take a mock to see where you stand on the leaderboard.
What can I get from NSEB?
Mock-score → expected rank → likely outcome. Use the mocks below to find your current band, then plan how many marks you need to climb.
Elite tier — IBO team contenders
92–100% · Rank 1 – 15
60/240 marks avg
Anatomy + physiology + human systems + reproduction
40/240 marks avg
Population + community + behaviour + Darwinian evolution
40/240 marks avg
Taxonomy + classification + applied biology
OCSC probable — National camp level
82–92% · Rank 15 – 80
INPhO top performers — OCSC contenders
70–82% · Rank 80 – 300
INPhO qualification zone
55–70% · Rank 300 – 800
State-level qualifier range
35–55% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
Below qualifying threshold
0–35% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
AI-curated from historic cut-off patterns. Always verify with the latest official notification before making decisions.
IAPT (Indian Association of Physics Teachers) is expected to announce the registration timeline for NSEB 2026-27 cycle soon. Students preparing for the biology olympiad should monitor the official IAPT website for updates on registration dates and eligibility criteria.
Source →The examination pattern for this cycle continues to emphasize conceptual understanding across all biology domains. Students are advised to strengthen fundamentals in cell biology, genetics, ecology, and plant/animal physiology as per the detailed syllabus available on the IAPT portal.
Source →Students who qualified through NSEB 2025-26 are currently in various stages of Indian National Biology Olympiad (INBiO) selection process. The orientation camp for national team selection typically occurs in the first quarter of the calendar year.
Source →Schools intending to register students for NSEB must ensure their coordinator details are updated with IAPT. The examination is conducted at registered school centers, and institutions need to complete enrollment procedures well before the examination date.
Source →NSEB registration opens
29 days awayThu, 25 Jun, 2026
Students register through their school coordinators
Registration deadline
89 days awayMon, 24 Aug, 2026
Final date for schools to submit student registrations
Admit card availability
164 days awaySat, 7 Nov, 2026
Schools can download admit cards for registered students
📌NSEB examination day
184 days awayFri, 27 Nov, 2026
Typically held on last Sunday of November
Answer key release
191 days awayFri, 4 Dec, 2026
Provisional answer key published for student reference
NSEB results announcement
224 days awayWed, 6 Jan, 2027
Qualified students eligible for INBiO selection process
INBiO orientation camp
Click any topic to read study notes
Diversity of Living Organisms
Classification systems, taxonomic hierarchy, three domains and five kingdoms.
Structural Organization in Plants and Animals
Morphology of flowering plants, plant anatomy and animal tissues with frog/cockroach as examples.
Cell — Structure and Function
Cell theory, prokaryote vs eukaryote, organelles, cell cycle, mitosis and meiosis.
Plant Physiology
Transport, mineral nutrition, photosynthesis, respiration, growth and development in plants.
Human Physiology
Digestion, breathing, body fluids, excretion, locomotion, neural and chemical coordination.
Reproduction
Reproduction in organisms, sexual reproduction in flowering plants, human reproduction, reproductive health.
Genetics and Evolution
Mendelian and post-Mendelian genetics, molecular basis of inheritance, evolution.
Biology and Human Welfare
Health and disease, immunology, microbes, plant and animal husbandry.
Biotechnology
Principles, processes and applications of biotechnology including rDNA technology.
Ecology and Environment
Organisms and populations, ecosystems, biodiversity and environmental issues.
Olympiad-style Reasoning
Data interpretation, experimental design and concept-application questions typical of NSEB.
Sun, 7 Mar, 2027
Top performers attend national camp for international team selection