The National Cyber Olympiad is a competitive exam for students in grades 1 to 10. The Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) organises the competition. SOF is an organisation that specialises in conducting academic competitions and promoting a healthy competitive spirit among students. The exam allows students to explore interest in a particular branch of technology, like computer science and internet security. It is one of the most well-known olympiad tests that emphasises computing and thinking skills, similar to other olympiad exams.
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NCO Exam Pattern
The NCO curriculum is structured in such a way that it emphasises critical thinking and technological abilities. The NCO exam is broken down into three stages.
- Section I contains questions about patterns, series, and classifications for students in grades 1 to 5. For students in grades 6 to 10, Section I covers verbal and nonverbal thinking exercises.
- Section II consists of questions on computers, information technology, and technical advancements-related questions.
- Section III focuses on high-order thinking questions. Every grade has the same topic, but the difficulty level varies and continues to increase.
The question paper includes 35 objective-type questions for Classes 1 to 4 and 50 objective-type questions for Classes 5 to 10. There is no negative marking in the examination, and the duration of the exam is 60 minutes.
Key Points Regarding the Examination
In order to perform well in the examination, one must be entirely familiar with the examination format and curriculum before taking it. A few points on SOF NCO are listed below.
- Mathematics and computer science are the two most important subjects in the exam.
- The focus of the test is mostly on mental ability, reasoning, and analytical thinking.
- The duration of the exam is one hour.
- NCO primarily focuses on students’ enrichment outside of textbook study and curriculum.
Marks Distribution for Grades I – IV
The marks distribution of the NCO exam for grades I-IV is tabulated below.
|
Class / Grade |
Section |
Number of questions |
Marks per question |
Total marks |
|
Grade 1 – Grade IV |
Section 1 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
|
Section 2 |
25 |
1 |
25 |
|
|
Section 3 |
5 |
2 |
10 |
|
|
Grand Total |
35 |
40 |
||
Marks Distribution for Grades V – X
The marks distribution of the NCO exam for grades V – X is tabulated below.
|
Class / Grade |
Section |
Number of questions |
Marks per question |
Total marks |
|
Grade 5 – Grade 10 |
Section 1 |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Section 2 |
35 |
1 |
35 |
|
|
Section 3 |
5 |
3 |
15 |
|
|
Grand Total |
50 |
60 |
||
Tricks to Crack the Exam
Every exam has some tactics and strategies to clear it. Listed below are a few tips to crack the NCO exam.
- Students must follow the NCO syllabus and structure during studying.
- The use of appropriate and relevant books related to computer science and technology aids in preparation for the exam.
- Sample papers and previous years’ papers can be used to learn about the exam pattern and structure.
- Additional computer reference books can be used to keep up with the newest trends and developments in the field of computer science.
- Concentrate more on the subject using logic and technology, and answer questions about it.
- To get a sound foundation in computer science, one can take more practical classes rather than theory classes. This aids in a better and more thorough comprehension of the topics.
Frequently Asked Questions on NCO Exam Pattern
Who is eligible for taking the NCO examination?
What are the goals of the NCO examination?
To inspire students to have an interest in cyber security.
To develop computer skills and knowledge starting at the elementary school level.
To train pupils for the technical abilities required in today’s digital environment.
