The National Science Olympiad, or NSO, is a competitive exam held each year by the Science Olympiad Foundation for school pupils. The Olympiad allows them to assess their academic development by providing them with the opportunity to compete against kids from throughout the country. The pupils who compete in the Olympiad are ranked based on their performance. Students can assess themselves at the school level, at the city level, at the zonal level, and at the international level using these grades. Students who take part in the study receive a Student Performance Report (SPR), which provides them with a full comparison of their performance. This is the place to go if you want to learn everything there is to know about NSO. We’ll go through its eligibility, key dates, application procedure, results, and awards in depth in this article.
The Indian Talent Olympiad is a popular site that conducts Olympiad tests such as Science Olympiad, Maths Olympiad, English Olympiad, General Knowledge Olympiad (GK), Drawing Olympiad, and Essay Olympiad if you’re interested in evaluating your knowledge in a range of disciplines. It also provides Rs 1 lakh scholarships and the chance for pupils to win a tablet every week! More information on the weekly at-home online exam series and the final Olympiads can be found here.
Overview of NSO 2024 Exam
The goal of NSO 2024 is to instil scientific reasoning and logical capacity in students. Before we get into the details of NSO, let’s have a look at some of its key features. The table below provides a high-level summary of the NSO, including its goals, rewards, major dates, and application process.
| Sr. No. | Particulars of NSO 2024 | Details OF NSO 2024 |
| 1 | Objective | To help students assess their academic growth |
| 2 | Provider | Science Olympiad Foundation |
| 3 | Eligibility | Class 1 to 12 students |
| 4 | Application process | Through respective schools |
| 5 | Exam dates | Level 1 exam: November Level 2 exam: February |
| 6 | Awards | Up to INR 50,000 + Gold medal + Performance certificate |
NSO 2024 Exam – About SOF
The Science Olympiad Foundation hosts the NSO on an annual basis (SOF). The Foundation’s mission is to instil a scientific mindset among students. It is a non-profit educational organisation that supports students’ intellectual growth through various competitions and Olympiads. For more than two decades, the organisation has worked to develop a scientific mindset among students across the country through innovative programs. National Cyber Olympiad, National Science Olympiad, International Mathematics Olympiad, International English Olympiad, International Company Secretaries Olympiad, and International Company Secretaries Olympiad are some of the key events organised by SOF.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel
Key dates of NSO 2024 Exam
Applicants interested in applying for the NSO should be informed of the various deadlines in order to avoid missing them. The table below lists all of the important dates related to the Olympiad.
| Sr. No. | Event of NSO 2024 Exam | Key dates Of NSO 2024 Exam |
| 1. | Application deadline | 30 days before the exam date |
| 2. | Set A exam | December 2023 |
| 3. | Set B exam | January 2024 |
| 4. | Set C exam | January 2024 |
| 5. | Set D exam | February 2024 |
The dates shown above are estimates and are subject to change at SOF’s discretion.
Eligibility for NSO 2024 Exam
The NSO is designed for high school students who desire to evaluate their scientific and academic abilities. There are two levels to the Olympiad: Level 1 and Level 2. The NSO will be held on three times in 2021-22 for Level 1.
Eligibility for Level 1 exam of NSO 2024
For the Level 1 exam, there are no specific requirements. Students in grades 1 through 12 are eligible for this program. Because there are no minimum score requirements, the Olympiad is open to all high school students.
Eligibility for Level 2 exam Of NSO 2024
Only students who do well in the Level 1 exam will be considered for the Level 2 exam. Students who meet the following criteria will be considered:
• The top 5% of students in each class who took the Level 1 exam • The top 25 zone-wise rank holders in each class
• Class toppers from each participating school, if at least ten students from a class take the exam and score 50% or higher.
However, students in classes 1 and 2 are not required to take the Level 2 exam. They will be ranked solely on the basis of their achievement on the Level 1 exam.
Application process of NSO Exam 2024
Students in grades 1 through 12 can apply for NSO through their schools. To apply, simply follow the instructions below:
1. A prospectus comprising registration forms will be mailed to all SOF-registered schools. The registration forms can be obtained from the students’ respective schools.
2. If the school is not yet registered with SOF, it can still request a prospectus by calling (0124-4951200) or sending an email to [email protected].
3. Students must complete and submit registration papers to their respective institutions with all required information.
4. Before the deadline, the schools must return the completed registration papers to SOF.
Applicants should be aware that there is a registration cost associated with applying for NSO. The fee is calculated as follows:
• For schools in India, there is a registration cost of INR 125 (with GST) per student.
• For overseas schools, there is a $9 registration charge per student.
• Schools may charge an extra INR 25 (USD 1 for international schools) each student for the honorarium of the charge, remuneration to teachers who teach, guide students utilizing SOF-supplied study materials, and other miscellaneous charges.
Exam structure of NSO Exam 2024
NSO has two levels of examination, as previously stated: Level 1 and Level 2.
1st level of NSO Exam 2024
The Level 1 test is scheduled to take place between December and February. The exam has no formal eligibility requirements and is offered to students in grades 1 through 12. The looser standards are intended to attract a larger number of students to participate. The following are the key features of the Level 1 exam:
During school hours, the first level test is held in the participants’ individual schools.
• The exam consists of 35 multiple choice questions for grades 1 to 4 and 50 multiple choice questions for grades 5 to 12.
• The question paper is divided into three sections: Logical Reasoning, Science, Achievers Section (for grades 1 to 10) and Physics/Chemistry, Achievers Section, Mathematics/Biology (for class 11 and 12).
• The test is given in English, and each class has its own set of questions.
• The test is based on the CBSE, ICSE/ISC, and State Board curricula.
Important Note: Due to the present pandemic situation, SOF exams will be performed online at the students’ homes for the academic year 2020-21.
2nd level Of NSO Exam 2024
Students who did well in Level 1 are invited to take the Level 2 test. However, it is only open to children in grades 3 to 12, as pupils in grades 1 and 2 are only evaluated on their achievement in Level 1. The students listed below are qualified to take the Level 2 exam:
- In the Level 1 test, the top 5% of students in each class
- Top 25 rank holders in Level 1 by class and zone
- A class topper is qualified if at least ten students take the exam and receive at least 50% qualifying marks.
Awards presented in NSO Exam 2024
At the worldwide and zonal levels, the top-performing students and schools will be recognised with awards. The tables below provide a full description of several NSO awards for students and schools.
Scholarships for students
Students that perform well will be recognized with various awards based on their grades. The tables below detail the numerous accolades given to Olympiad participants.
Awards for Level 2 and for class 1 and 2 in NSO EXAM 2024
| International level | ||
| Rank | Awards | Number of awards |
| 1st | INR 50,000 Each + Gold Medal + Certificate of Outstanding Performance | 12 |
| 2nd | INR 25,000 Each + Silver Medal + Certificate of Outstanding Performance | 12 |
| 3rd | INR 10,000 Each + Bronze Medal + Certificate of Outstanding Performance | 12 |
Awards for Level 2 and for class 1 and 2 Of NSO Exam 2024
| Zonal level | ||
| Rank | Awards | Number of awards |
| 1st | INR 5000 Each + Gold Medal + Certificate of Zonal Excellence | 240 |
| 2nd | INR 2500 Each + Silver Medal + Certificate of Zonal Excellence | 240 |
| 3rd | INR 1000 Each + Bronze Medal + Certificate of Zonal Excellence | 240 |
| 4th to 10th | Gifts worth INR 1000 Each + Medal of Distinction + Certificate of Distinction + Certificate of Zonal Excellence | 1680 |
| 11th to 20th | Certificate of Zonal Excellence + Medal of Distinction + Certificate of Distinction + | 3600 |
| 26th and above | Merit certificate | All |
Awards for Level 1 performance of NSO Exam 2024
| Zonal level | ||
| Rank | Awards | Number of awards |
| 1 to 25 | Medal of Distinction + Certificate of Distinction | 240 |
| 26 and above | Participation Certificate | All |
Awards for schools in NSO 2024 Exam
There are also awards for various high-achieving schools. The tables below detail the numerous accolades given to Olympiad participants.
Awards at international level in NSO 2024 Exam
| International level | ||
| Category | Awards | Number of awards |
| Best Principal | INR 25000 Each + Citation + Trophy | 10 |
| Best Teacher | INR 10000 Each + Citation + Trophy | 10 |
Awards at zonal level in NSO 2024 Exam
| Zonal level | ||
| Category | Awards | Number of awards |
| Best Principal | INR 10000 Each + Citation + Trophy | 100 |
| Best Teacher | INR 5000 Each + Citation + Trophy | 60 |
Awards at district level in NSO 2024 Exam
| District level | ||
| Category | Awards | Number of awards |
| Best Principal | INR 2500 Each + Citation + Trophy | 500 |
| Best Teacher | INR 1000 Each + Citation + Trophy | 500 |
Results of NSO 2024 Exam
The NSO findings are normally available within eight weeks of the evaluation. The findings are sent immediately to the schools that have registered with the SOF. Students can also look up their findings on the SOF website. Level 1 exam results are usually released in the last week of December. In the same way, the results of the Level 2 exam are normally released in March. It should also be remembered that these are only estimates; SOF will determine the precise dates each year.
Student performance report in NSO 2024 Exam
Every NSO participant receives a Student Performance Report (SPR), which is a detailed study of how the students performed on the Olympiad’s Level 1 exam. It provides children and their parents with information about their Olympiad performance. As a result, pupils gain a better understanding of their own strengths and flaws. SPR aids in identifying areas where a learner needs to improve. The SPR is divided into six sections:
Section A – contains the student’s grades and rank at the school, city, zone, and international levels.
Section B – gives the student’s performance score by section.
Section C – contains accurate answers to questions on the Olympiad exam, as well as the student’s answers and a performance comparison of the student’s answers to those of other students in the Zone and at the International level.
Section D – compares the student’s percentage score to that of his or her class, city, zone, and international peers.
Section E compares average marks analysis at the school, city, zone, and international levels.
Section F – compares the student’s performance in Olympiad tests over the previous eight years.
Priya Bansal is a seasoned education writer with a passion for creating insightful and engaging content. With a background in education and a knack for research, she excels at producing articles, blogs, and resources that inform and inspire. Priya’s work contributes to the enrichment of educational discourse and empowers learners of all ages.
