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SOF NSO · Previous year papers · 2021

SOF NSO 2021 previous year paper practice · PYQ-pattern set

16 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2021 paper (which had 50) · 60 min

Every question here is freshly worded in the pattern of the 2021 paper — same topics, style and difficulty — not the original questions, which Shishya does not reproduce.

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Shishya's own practice questions, set out subject by subject like the real paper — not the original paper.

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SOF NSO 2021 PYQ-pattern questions

Showing 10 of the 16 PYQ-pattern questions in this set — freshly worded in that year's pattern, not the original questions. Answers and solutions open under each question.

Q1 · Alphabet Test
Which letter is 7th to the right of the 13th letter from the left in the English alphabet?
- A. S
- B. T
- C. U
- D. V
Answer and solution
Answer: B
13th letter is M. 7 positions to the right: M+7 = T (20th letter).
Q2 · Verbal Reasoning
Find the odd one out: Triangle, Square, Circle, Rectangle, Pentagon.
- A. Triangle
- B. Square
- C. Circle
- D. Pentagon
Answer and solution
Answer: C
Circle is the odd one out because it has no straight edges, while all others are polygons.
Q3 · Mirror and Water Images
What is the mirror image of the word 'SCIENCE' when a vertical mirror is placed on its right side?
- A. ƎƆИƎIƆƧ
- B. SCIENCE
- C. ECNEICS
- D. ƎƆNƎIƆƧ
Answer and solution
Answer: A
In a vertical mirror on the right, each letter is horizontally flipped and the sequence is reversed, giving ƎƆИƎIƆƧ.
Q4 · Cubes and Dice
A cube is painted red on all faces and then cut into 64 smaller identical cubes. How many small cubes have exactly two faces painted?
- A. 12
- B. 24
- C. 32
- D. 48
Answer and solution
Answer: B
64 cubes means 4×4×4 division. Cubes with 2 painted faces lie on edges (not corners): 12 edges × 2 cubes per edge = 24 cubes.
Q5 · Motion
A car travels 120 km in 2 hours in the first half of the journey and 120 km in 3 hours in the second half. What is the average speed of the car for the entire journey?
- A. 48 km/h
- B. 50 km/h
- C. 55 km/h
- D. 60 km/h
Answer and solution
Answer: A
Average speed = Total distance / Total time = (120 + 120) / (2 + 3) = 240 / 5 = 48 km/h.
Q6 · Structure of the Atom
An atom has electronic configuration 2, 8, 8, 1. Which of the following statements is correct about this element?
- A. It has a valency of 1 and belongs to group 1
- B. It has a valency of 7 and belongs to group 17
- C. It has completely filled outermost shell
- D. It is a noble gas
Answer and solution
Answer: A
The element has 1 electron in its outermost shell, giving it a valency of 1 and placing it in group 1 of the periodic table (alkali metal).
Q7 · Diversity in Living Organisms
Which of the following criteria is NOT used for hierarchical classification of organisms?
- A. Presence or absence of nucleus
- B. Number of cells in the organism
- C. Mode of nutrition
- D. Color of the organism
Answer and solution
Answer: D
Classification is based on structural and functional features like presence of nucleus, cell number, and nutrition mode, not color.
Q8 · Sound
An echo is heard after 2 seconds when a person claps in front of a cliff. If the speed of sound in air is 340 m/s, how far is the cliff from the person?
- A. 170 m
- B. 340 m
- C. 680 m
- D. 1360 m
Answer and solution
Answer: B
Distance = (Speed × Time)/2 = (340 × 2)/2 = 340 m. The sound travels to the cliff and back.
Q9 · Chemical Reactions and Equations (Class 10)
In the balanced chemical equation: 2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO, what is the mass of magnesium oxide formed when 4.8 g of magnesium completely reacts with oxygen? (Atomic mass: Mg = 24, O = 16)
- A. 4.0 g
- B. 6.4 g
- C. 8.0 g
- D. 9.6 g
Answer and solution
Answer: C
Moles of Mg = 4.8/24 = 0.2 mol. From equation, 2 mol Mg produces 2 mol MgO, so 0.2 mol Mg produces 0.2 mol MgO. Mass = 0.2 × (24+16) = 0.2 × 40 = 8.0 g.
Q10 · Magnetic Effects of Current (Class 10)
The direction of magnetic field lines inside a bar magnet is:
- A. From North pole to South pole
- B. From South pole to North pole
- C. Perpendicular to the length of the magnet
- D. Along the length but direction varies
Answer and solution
Answer: B
Inside a bar magnet, magnetic field lines run from the South pole to the North pole.

Breakdown by subject

Logical Reasoning
6 questions
Science
7 questions
Achievers Section
3 questions

SOF NSO 2021 previous year paper — frequently asked questions

Where can I solve the SOF NSO 2021 previous year paper (PYQ) free online?

At https://shishya.in/exams/SOF_NSO/pyq/2021 you can solve SOF NSO 16 PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the 2021 paper free. Shishya does not reproduce the original paper: every question is freshly worded in that year's pattern — same topics, style and difficulty, new wording and numbers, and this set holds 16 questions, not the whole paper. They run as a timed mock with instant scoring, step-by-step solutions and topic-wise weak-area analysis. No fee and no coaching enrolment needed.

Are these the actual SOF NSO 2021 paper questions?

No. They are PYQ-pattern questions modelled on the SOF NSO 2021 paper — freshly worded practice questions in the same pattern, not the original questions, which Shishya does not reproduce. This set holds 16 questions. For a whole paper in one sitting, Shishya has a free full-length mock in the real pattern (50 questions, 60 minutes): the "Full-Length Mock (Real Pattern)" tile at https://shishya.in/exams/SOF_NSO

Do these SOF NSO 2021 pattern questions come with solutions and analysis?

Yes — every question carries a worked solution, and on submitting you get an instant score with a topic-wise breakdown showing exactly which areas to revise. Wrong answers are auto-collected into a free Mistake Notebook for one-tap re-practice until cleared.

Are previous year papers enough to crack SOF NSO?

Previous-year papers are the best signal of what the exam actually tests, but they work best with targeted practice and a plan. On Shishya (all free): solve PYQ-pattern sets year-wise, drill weak topics via the Mistake Notebook, follow a day-by-day plan from the Personal Coach at https://shishya.in/coach and sit the Sunday All-India Live Test at https://shishya.in/live-test to see where you stand nationally.