Exams · SOF NSO
SOF NSO
SOF NSO — Level 1 exam — Date 1: 30 Oct 2026 (official — sofworld.org). Official site: sofworld.org.
SOF National Science Olympiad
School-level science olympiad conducted by SOF. 35 questions for Class 1–4, 50 questions for Class 5–12 in Logical Reasoning, Science, and Achievers Section.
Free SOF NSO mock tests and previous year paper practice — start now.
Full-length mocks with instant scoring and solutions, PYQ-pattern papers, topic-wise tests and Ask Shishya when you're stuck. Your scores and a free day-by-day plan are saved to your account. All free, no credit card. Content is AI-drafted and checked against the official notification.
Updated 3 Oct 2026 ·Vacancy counts change every cycle — always confirm the exact number in the latest official notification before applying.
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Source: official exam authority notification · refreshed weekly. How this works →
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Verbal ReasoningIf the letters in the word 'CREATIVE' are rearranged in alphabetical order, which letter will be in the 5th position from the left?
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5 questions across the syllabus to see where you stand.
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SOF NSO — Frequently asked questions
Is Shishya free for SOF NSO preparation?
How many SOF NSO practice questions does Shishya have?
Are SOF NSO previous year question papers available?
What is the expected cutoff for SOF NSO?
Is there a full-length SOF NSO mock test in the real exam pattern?
Can I build a topic-wise SOF NSO mock test?
How can I prepare for SOF NSO for free?
Previous year papers
100 questions across all yearsOfficial sample papers
Free sample papers Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) publishes on its own site for the 2026-27 exam. They are the body's own practice papers, not previous years' papers. Each link opens the body's own file.
Previous year paper practice: each year is a set of PYQ-pattern questions — freshly worded in the pattern of that year's paper, not the paper itself. Every card shows how many it holds against the real paper's count.
2025
21 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2025 paper (which had 50)
Practise these →2024
20 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2024 paper (which had 50)
Practise these →2023
20 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2023 paper (which had 50)
Practise these →2022
20 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2022 paper (which had 50)
Practise these →2021
19 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2021 paper (which had 50)
Practise these →
Mock tests
Take any mock in your preferred language — use the language picker inside the mock to switch (Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, and 15 more).
SOF NSO — Science Drill
SUBJECT15 questions · 20 min
Start mock →SOF NSO — Logical Reasoning Drill
SUBJECT15 questions · 20 min
Start mock →SOF NSO — Achievers Section Drill
SUBJECT15 questions · 20 min
Start mock →SOF NSO — Full Length Practice
FULL50 questions · 60 min
Start mock →SOF NSO — Full Mock 1
FULL50 questions · 60 min
Start mock →SOF NSO — Full Mock 2
FULL50 questions · 60 min
Start mock →SOF NSO — Full Mock 3
FULL50 questions · 60 min
Start mock →SOF NSO — Full Mock 4
FULL50 questions · 60 min
Start mock →SOF NSO — Full Mock 5
FULL50 questions · 60 min
Start mock →SOF NSO — Full Mock 6
FULL50 questions · 60 min
Start mock →SOF NSO — Full Mock 7
FULL50 questions · 60 min
Start mock →SOF NSO — Full Mock 8
FULL50 questions · 60 min
Start mock →SOF NSO — Full Mock 9
FULL50 questions · 60 min
Start mock →SOF NSO — Full Mock 10
FULL50 questions · 60 min
Start mock →SOF NSO — Full-Length Mock (Real Pattern: 50Q · 60 min)
FULL50 questions · 60 min
Start mock →
Practice by subject & topic
Full-length subject tests below — 25 questions each, real exam format, instant scoring.Want to drill a single topic? Open it from the syllabus — a topic that has practice questions has a short quiz on its page.
Logical Reasoning
98 QsScience
153 QsAchievers Section
38 Qs
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Your rank
vs everyone who has taken this examTake a mock to see where you stand on the leaderboard.
Students
2
Mocks taken
5
Average score
56%
Top score
100%
What can I get from SOF NSO?
Mock-score → expected rank → likely outcome. Use the mocks below to find your current band, then plan how many marks you need to climb.
Top 0.1% — Elite international ranks
92–100% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •International Rank AIR 1-500 (across all classes)
- •Gold Medal of Excellence + special recognition
- •Cash prize from SOF (₹5,000-₹25,000 range depending on rank)
- •Featured in SOF communications and media
- •Certificate of International Excellence
- •Strong candidate for NSEJS/INO/IJSO advanced rounds
- •May receive special invitations to SOF talent programs
- •Exceptional profile for NTSE and international olympiad pathways
Top 1-2% — National rankers
85–92% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •International Rank likely (top performers globally)
- •Gold Medal of Excellence at zonal level
- •Cash prize from SOF (₹1,000-₹5,000 typically)
- •Certificate of Outstanding Performance
- •Strong profile for NTSE scholarship qualification
- •Recognition in SOF annual magazine
- •Excellent foundation for INO/IJSO preparation
Top 5% — State-level achievers
75–85% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
- •Certificate of Zonal Excellence with high rank
- •Gold/Silver medal at zonal level (varies by zone)
- •International rank possibility in some classes
- •Strong contender for state-level Science competitions
- •Excellent foundation for NSEJS/INJSO/other advanced olympiads
- •May receive cash prizes or scholarships from SOF
Zonal rank achievers
60–75% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
School-level recognition
40–60% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
Below participation threshold
0–40% · Post-based exam (no numeric rank)
AI-curated from historic cut-off patterns. Always verify with the latest official notification before making decisions.
News & timeline
See older updates →Latest news
The Science Olympiad Foundation has opened school registrations for the 2026-27 session. Schools can register students through the official portal, with registration forms and guidelines now available for download.
SOF has released the Level 1 exam schedule with three date options: October 30, November 19, and December 3, 2026. Schools must choose one date and submit registrations 30 days before their selected exam date.
SOF released the Level 2 results for the 2025-26 NSO cycle on March 19, 2026. Students can check their results, ranks, and awards eligibility at results.sofworld.org using their roll number.
The Science Olympiad Foundation has rebranded the National Science Olympiad (NSO) as the International Science Olympiad (ISO) starting from the 2026-27 academic session. The exam structure and eligibility remain unchanged.
Important dates
Registration opens (2026-27 cycle)
passedThe expected application start date has passed — check the official website
ExpectedSchools can register students through their institution; individual registrations not accepted. Registrations must be submitted 30 days before chosen exam date.
School registration deadline
passedMon, 31 Aug, 2026
Officialsofworld.org ↗Schools must submit forms by this date or at least 30 days before chosen exam date
Registration deadline for Date 1 exam
passedWed, 30 Sept, 2026
Officialsofworld.org ↗Schools selecting October 30 exam date must submit registrations by this date (30 days before exam).
Registration deadline for Date 2 exam
9 days awayTue, 20 Oct, 2026
Officialsofworld.org ↗Schools selecting November 19 exam date must submit registrations by this date.
🏅Level 1 exam — Date 1
19 days awayFri, 30 Oct, 2026
Officialsofworld.org ↗First of three exam date options; schools choose one date; conducted in schools during school hours. Now called ISO (International Science Olympiad). · no key published for this stage
Registration deadline for Date 3 exam
23 days awayTue, 3 Nov, 2026
Officialsofworld.org ↗Schools selecting December 3 exam date must submit registrations by this date.
🏅Level 1 exam — Date 2
39 days awayThu, 19 Nov, 2026
Officialsofworld.org ↗Second of three exam date options; separate question paper for each date. · no key published for this stage
🏅Level 1 exam — Date 3
53 days awayThu, 3 Dec, 2026
Officialsofworld.org ↗Third and final exam date option for Level 1. · no key published for this stage
Level 1 result (expected)
96 days awayFri, 15 Jan, 2027
ExpectedResults typically declared 4-6 weeks after the last Level 1 exam date. Students can check at results.sofworld.org using roll number.
🏅Level 2 exam (expected)
126 days awaySun, 14 Feb, 2027
ExpectedFor Classes 3-12 qualifiers only; tentatively 2nd or 3rd Sunday of February 2027; exact date to be announced by December 2026. Classes 1-2 have single-level exam only. · no key published for this stage
Level 2 result (expected)
160 days awaySat, 20 Mar, 2027
ExpectedLevel 2 results typically released in March, about 4-6 weeks after the Level 2 exam.
Syllabus
Tap any topic for its study notes + a 10-question topic test
Logical Reasoning
Verbal Reasoning
Word-based analogy, classification and word formation problems.
Non-Verbal Reasoning
Figure-based pattern, analogy, classification and series problems.
Series Completion
Number, alphabet and figural series — find the missing or next term.
Analogy
Word, number and figural analogy with a common relation.
Coding-Decoding
Letter-letter, letter-number and substitution coding patterns.
Mathematical Operations
Substitute symbols/operators and apply BODMAS to evaluate expressions.
Alphabet Test
Position of letters, alphabet rearrangement and letter-distance problems.
Ranking and Order
Linear arrangement and rank from top/bottom problems.
Blood Relations
Family-tree and pointing-style relationship problems.
Direction Sense
Compass-based movement, shortest distance and final direction.
Missing Characters
Find the missing number/letter inside a matrix or pattern.
Embedded Figures
Identify a smaller figure hidden in a complex figure.
Mirror and Water Images
Mirror and water reflection of letters, numbers and figures.
Paper Folding and Cutting
Predict the appearance of paper after folding, cutting and unfolding.
Cubes and Dice
Cube colouring, opposite faces, dice and counting cubes problems.
Figure Matrix and Patterns
3×3 figure matrices and odd-figure-out problems.
Science
Matter in Our Surroundings
States of matter, change of state, evaporation, latent heat and diffusion.
Is Matter Around Us Pure
Mixtures, solutions, suspensions, colloids and methods of separation.
Atoms and Molecules
Laws of chemical combination, atomic and molecular masses, mole concept.
Structure of the Atom
Sub-atomic particles, Thomson, Rutherford, Bohr models, isotopes and isobars.
Motion
Distance, displacement, velocity, acceleration and equations of motion.
Force and Laws of Motion
Newton's three laws, inertia, momentum and conservation of momentum.
Gravitation
Universal law of gravitation, free fall, mass vs weight, thrust and pressure.
Work and Energy
Work, kinetic and potential energy, conservation of energy and power.
Sound
Production, propagation, characteristics, reflection of sound and echo.
The Fundamental Unit of Life
Cell structure, organelles, prokaryotic vs eukaryotic cells.
Tissues
Plant tissues (meristematic, permanent) and animal tissues (epithelial, connective, muscular, nervous).
Diversity in Living Organisms
Five-kingdom classification and hierarchy of categories.
Why Do We Fall Ill
Health, disease, infectious vs non-infectious diseases and immunization.
Natural Resources
Air, water, soil, biogeochemical cycles and ozone layer.
Improvement in Food Resources
Crop production, animal husbandry and sustainable agriculture.
Chemical Reactions and Equations (Class 10)
Types of reactions, balancing equations, oxidation and reduction.
Acids, Bases and Salts (Class 10)
pH scale, indicators, properties and important salts.
Metals and Non-metals (Class 10)
Physical and chemical properties, reactivity series, corrosion.
Life Processes (Class 10)
Nutrition, respiration, transportation and excretion in plants and animals.
Electricity (Class 10)
Ohm's law, resistance, series/parallel circuits and electric power.
Magnetic Effects of Current (Class 10)
Magnetic field, solenoid, electromagnetic induction and AC/DC generator.
Light — Reflection and Refraction (Class 10)
Mirrors, lenses, refractive index and lens formula.
Our Environment (Class 10)
Ecosystem, food chains, ozone depletion and waste management.
Achievers Section
Higher Order Science Application
HOTS questions applying concepts from the Science section to novel scenarios.
Experimental and Lab Skills
Predicting outcomes of experiments and interpreting lab observations.
Data and Graph Analysis
Reading and inferring from tables, charts and scientific graphs.
Problem Solving
Multi-step numerical and conceptual problems blending two or more topics.
Real-World Applications
Contextual questions linking science concepts to everyday phenomena.