Young scientists, engineers, and IT talent will be found and promoted in secondary schools through the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF). The first level of the NSO is open to students in grades 1 to 12.
Class toppers from each participating school where at least 10 students from a class appear in the exam and receive 75% qualifying marks, the top 5% of students from each class who sit for the first level test, state top 10 rank holders class-wise, and class toppers from each participating school, qualify for the second level of NSO exam. We shall go into great detail about the NSO Exam Pattern 2024-25 in this article.
The sample papers of NSO are a great tool to aid students in their preparation for the exam. Vedantu provides the NSO sample papers for students in Classes 1 through 12. All the intricate details of the exam such as the types of questions, range of topics, question paper pattern can be assessed by the NSO Sample Papers. These sample papers of NSO by Vedantu have been put together by subject experts and are thus, completely reliable. Students can download the PDF of the NSO sample papers from Vedantu for free.
You can also get CBSE, ICSE, NEET, JEE, and other Sample papers .
The sample papers are provided to accompany the students while preparing for NSO Olympiad . It creates a familiarity with the exam pattern and the syllabus. The sample papers often come with a proper marking system which enables the student to make prior strategies and study plans accordingly. This is available for all standards. The students under parental supervision and teacher guidance can obtain good results. Every year, based on the student’s proficiency and level of standard, Olympiads are conducted.
There are three sections in the NSO olympiad exam for classes 11 and 12 – The first section is Chemistry/Physics, the Second is Maths/Biology and the third is the Achievers section. In one hour of the examination, the students are required to attempt 50 questions. The marking system of each question in the first and second sections is 1 mark/each, while the marking system in the achiever’s section is 3 marks for each question.
Number of questions/Marks per question
5 Question for 1 Marks
25 Question for 1 Marks
5 Question for 2 Marks
10 Question for 1 Marks
35 Question for 1 Marks
5 Question for 3 Marks
25 Question for 1 Marks
5 Question for 3 Marks
20 Question for 1 Marks
NSO 2024-25 Level 1
NSO 2024-25 Level 2
Type of Questions
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Number of Questions and Marks
Class 3 – 4: 35 (40 marks)
Class 5 – 12: 50 (60 marks)
Medium of Paper
CBSE, ICSE/ISC and State Board syllabus
CBSE, ICSE/ISC and State Board syllabus
Requirements Check for Students for NSO Exam
On a national level, around 10 lakh students register themselves for NSO every year. The basic criteria for application in NSO Olympiad exams are that the school should be a registered member. The schools have to register 30 days prior to the date and decide a particular date for the examination to take place on the premises, so that students can easily register for NSO exams from their schools only. The minimum requirement for the SOF NSO exam is 10 students from each school.
Students are required to fill the application forms for the SOF NSO 202 4-25 exam and submit them to the respective faculty with a registration fee of Rs 125. The basic information like the Roll numbers, Guidelines, Links for Exams are generally brought to notice with the help of students.
The NSO Olympiad's eligibility requirements allow any students in grades 1 through 12 to take the tests. These pupils are eligible to apply and compete in the Olympiad's Level 1 competition.
There are no minimum marks required for application.
The Criteria of the Level 2 of the Selected Students Include:
The class 1 and 2 students are not required to appear for the 2nd level of the NSO Olympiad and they are ranked based on their performance in Level 1 of the exam.
1. Understand the Pattern of NSO - The official of NSO has information regarding the preparation for your corresponding class. The exam generally consists of 3 sections which consist of questions according to the corresponding class of students and knowledge level. It is highly advised by the teachers to know the pattern of the Olympiad well to streamline the exam preparation.
2. Understand the Standard of the Question - NSO comprises questions of various difficulty levels. The questions are based mainly on conceptual knowledge and also test the logical and observational background of the student. A previously studied concept can be a major concern while preparing a question that will include the application of practical knowledge. This ensures questions are not direct.
3. Know the Relevant Books - The books suggested must be studied well (ICSE/CBSE/State Board). To get a good rank, you must refer to the books available for Olympiad preparation. The books are - MTG Class-wise books, SOF Olympiad Trainer' Mobile Apps, OSDS (Olympiad Skill Development System). NSO SAMPLE PAPERS, Previous year’s papers, E-Quiz, and other such preparation resources.
4. Practice Sample Papers - Solving sample papers adds to the best ingredient in the preparation. First-time applicants must procure previous years' papers beforehand. A fair knowledge of the pattern of the paper will be obtained by solving the sample papers. They also train you to complete your paper in the given time. These sample papers can be obtained from official Websites.