The National Cyber Olympiad is a competitive exam for students studying in grades 1 to 10. The olympiad exam is held by the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF). SOF is an educational organisation that is specialised in conducting academic competitive exams and aids in the development of a competitive spirit among school children. This examination helps the students to know their interest in a branch of cyber, computer and also guides them in pursuing their career in a particular field.
Overview of Exam
The National Cyber Olympiad is also one of the prominent olympiad exams that emphasise computer and reasoning skills like other olympiad exams. The NCO Olympiad exam is open to students in Classes 1 to 10. The exam helps to enhance the student’s mental aptitude, logical reasoning and analytical reasoning skills. The NCO is a single-level exam. The SOF usually conducts the NCO Exam in December or January.
The Motto of NCO
As the name suggests, NCO is an internet security competitive exam for students of various classes. The main motto of the exam is to nurture cyber security awareness and computer skills. This exam acts like a platform that upgrades students’ skills by training them on computer and information technology. The exam is conducted for all age groups depending on the classes in which the students study. Listed below are the few purposes of the examination
To encourage the students to incline towards cyber security.
To develop computer skills and knowledge from the primary school level.
To make the students prepared for the technical skills in the modern computer world.
Syllabus of SOF NCO
Knowing and studying the appropriate syllabus plays a major role in qualifying for the examination. The NCO syllabusis designed in such a manner that it focuses on thinking and technology skills. The NCO exam is divided into three sections.
Section I comprises questions about patterns, series, and classifications for students in grades 1 to 5. Section I contains verbal and non-verbal thinking tasks for students in grades 6 to 10.
Section II comprises questions regarding computers, information technology, and technological advancements.
Section III comprises high-order thinking skill questions. Every grade has the same topics, but the difficulty level varies for each grade.
The question paper consists of 35 objective-type questions of 60 minutes duration for Classes 1 to 4 and 50 objective-type questions for Classes 5 to 10.
There is no negative marking in the examination.
Highlights of the Syllabus from Grade 1 to 10
The SOF NCO Olympiad syllabus is framed with references from the major educational boards such as CBSE, ICSE, State Board, etc. The syllabus is designed as per these boards and the average thinking capacity of the students of the specific age group. The logical thinking and mathematical skills that are used in computer technology are the main syllabi of the exam.
Let us have a look at the syllabus. Listed below are the subjects, topics and concepts that are to be covered by the students to attempt the examination.
The grade I to 10 syllabus goes hand in hand with the prescribed academic curriculum.
Grade I
Section I (Logical Reasoning)
Section II (Computer & IT)
HOTS
Patterns and Completion of Figure Pattern
Measuring Units (Length, Weight, and Time & Money)
Geometrical Shapes, Odd One Out, and Spatial Understanding
Grouping of Figures, Analogy, and Ranking Test
Introduction to Computers, Parts of Computer, and Uses of Computer
Keys and Keyboard
(Computer Mouse)
Starting and Shutting down the Computer
Introduction to MS-Paint and the current trends and developments taking place in the field of Information Technology and Computer Science
High-order thinking skills questions based on Section II
Grade II
Section I (Logical Reasoning)
Section II (Computer & IT)
HOTS
Patterns, Measuring Units, Odd One Out, and Series Completion
Geometrical Shapes, Analogy, and Ranking Test
Grouping of Figures, Coding-Decoding, and Embedded Figures
Computer-a Smart Machine, General Information about Computers, Parts of Computer, and Uses of Computer
Learning to use Keyboard and Mouse
MS-Paint
The current trends and developments taking place in the field of Information Technology and Computer Science
High-order thinking skills questions based on Section II
Grade III
Section I (Logical Reasoning)
Section II (Computer & IT)
HOTS
Patterns, Analogy, and Classification
Coding-Decoding, Mirror Images, and Embedded Figures
Alphabet Test, Ranking Test, and Grouping of Figures
Figure Matrix and Geometrical Shapes
Days and Dates
Possible Combinations
Fundamentals of Computer, General Information about Computers, Storage Devices, Parts of Computer, and Uses of Computer
Input and Output Devices, Introduction to Internet, and MS-Paint
Introduction to MS-Word
Opening, Closing, Saving and Printing a Word document
Components of MS-Word window
Editing commands like Cut, Copy, Paste, Undo, and Redo
Moving in a document using Home and End Keys
The current trends and developments taking place in the field of Information Technology and Computer Science
High-order thinking skills questions based on Section II
Grade IV
Section I (Logical Reasoning)
Section II (Computer & IT)
HOTS
Patterns, Alphabet Test, Coding-Decoding, Mirror Images, and Embedded Figures
Geometrical Shapes and Solids
Ranking Test and Direction Sense Test
Days and Dates
Possible Combinations,
Analogy and Classification
About Computers (General Information), Evolution of Computers, and Parts of Computer
Input and Output Devices, Hardware, and Software
MS-Word (Formatting a Word document, Font group, Format Painter, Search using Find & Replace option, Checking Spelling, and Grammar using Thesaurus)
Using Windows 7
Introduction to the Internet and Its Uses
Computer Networks
MS-Paint
The current trends and developments taking place in the field of Information Technology and Computer Science
High-order thinking skills questions based on Section II
Grade V
Section I (Logical Reasoning)
Section II (Computer & IT)
HOTS
Patterns, Analogy, and Classification
Coding-Decoding
Geometrical Shapes, Mirror Images, and Water Images
Embedded Figures, Direction Sense Test, Ranking Test, and Alphabet Test
Logical Sequence of Words and Puzzle Test
Input and Output Devices, Hardware, Software, Storage Devices, Memory (Primary and Secondary Memory), and MS-Paint
Introduction to Multimedia
MS-Word (Paragraph formatting Using Paragraph group, Drop Cap, Document Views, Inserting Graphics-Pictures & Shapes, Clip Arts, Symbols, SmartArt, Multimedia Objects, Text Box, Inserting Header & Footer in a document, and exploring its features)
Introduction to MS-PowerPoint (Component of MS-PowerPoint window and its features, Inserting Graphics-Pictures & Shapes, Clip Arts, Symbols, SmartArt, Multimedia Objects, Text Box, Inserting Header & Footer, exploring its features, Running slide shows, and Presentation Views)
Internet
Computer Networks Using Windows 7
The current trends and developments taking place in the field of Information Technology and Computer Science
High-order thinking skills questions based on Section II
Grade VI
Section I (Logical Reasoning)
Section II (Computer & IT)
HOTS
Reasoning: Verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
History and Generation of Computers and Types of Computers
MS-Windows 7
MS-Word (Working with Charts and Tables, Using the Page Layout tab, and Arranging multiple windows of a document)
MS-PowerPoint (Creating a presentation using Animation, Custom Animation, and Transitions, Creating new slides using Slides pane, Outline pane & Slides from Outline, Working with Handouts & Notes Master, Arranging multiple windows of presentations, and Working with Charts & Tables)
Internet & E-mail
Introduction to Basic
Hardware and Software
Input & Output Devices
Memory & Storage Devices
The current trends and developments taking place in the field of Information Technology and Computer Science
High-order thinking skills questions based on Section II
Grade VII
Section I (Logical Reasoning)
Section II (Computer & IT)
HOTS
Reasoning: Verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Fundamentals of Computer and Evolution of Computers
Memory & Storage Devices
MS-Word (Links, Mail Merge, Macros, and Exploring Styles group)
MS-PowerPoint (Working with Slides Master & Themes, Advancing slides using Hyperlink & Actions, Customizing, and Broadcasting Slide Shows)
MS-Excel (Components of MS-Excel window, Editing & formatting cells in a worksheet, Introduction to Formulas, Sorting & filtering data, Macros, Features of Insert, and Page layout tabs)
Programming in QBasic, Internet & Viruses, and Networking
The current trends and developments taking place in the field of Information Technology and Computer Science
High-order thinking skills questions based on Section II
Grade VIII
Section I (Logical Reasoning)
Section II (Computer & IT)
HOTS
Reasoning: Verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Fundamentals of Computers, the Internet, and Viruses
HTML
Html, Head, Title, and Body (Attributes: Background, Bg-color, Text, Link, A link, and Vlink)
Font (Attributes: Color, Size, and Face)
Center, BR, and HR (Attributes: Size, Width, Align, No shade, and Color)
Html Elements: A, Ul and Ol (Attributes: Type, Start), Li]
Flash CS6
MS-Access and Networking
MS-Word (Exploring File tab, Language & Translate options, Tracking features -Comments, Reviewing Pane, Tracking Changes, Comparing, Combining & Protecting documents, and Working with References)
MS-PowerPoint (Exploring File tab, Slide Show tab, Comparing, Combining, and Protecting presentations)
MS-Excel (Exploring File tab, Useful Formulas & Functions – IF, Even, Odd, LCM, GCD, Power, Product, Round, Sqrt, Sum, Min, Max, Average, Count, Upper, Lower And Replace, Cell referencing, and Using Defined Names group)
Memory & Storage Devices
Basics of Cyber Crimes and Cyber Laws
Operating Systems (Introduction, Features, Types-single user, and multi-user)
The current trends and developments taking place in the field of Information Technology and Computer Science
High-order thinking skills questions based on Section II
Grade IX
Section I (Logical Reasoning)
Section II (Computer & IT)
HOTS
Reasoning: Verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
Algorithms and Flowcharts in Programming, Visual Basic, and Animations
HTML (Links, Anchors and Table tags)
MS-Word, MS-Excel (Formula Auditing, Data Tools, Protecting, Sharing workbooks/worksheets, and Working with cell range)
MS-PowerPoint, Hardware, and Software
Input & Output Devices
Memory & Storage Devices
Flash CS6
Communication Technology (Networking, Internet, and Multimedia)
Operating Systems (Types-Interactive (GUI based), Real-Time & Distributed, and Commonly used OS)
The current trends and developments taking place in the field of Information Technology and Computer Science
High-order thinking skills questions based on Section II
Grade X
Section I (Logical Reasoning)
Section II (Computer & IT)
HOTS
Reasoning: Verbal and non-verbal reasoning
Fundamentals of Computer, Operating System, MS-Word, and Networking
MS-PowerPoint, MS-Excel, HTML, and Internet
Database Management System (Functions, Types, and MS-Access)
The current trends and developments taking place in the field of Information Technology and Computer Science
High-order thinking skills questions based on Section II
Preparation Tips for NCO
Listed below are a few tips that will help the students to qualify for the examination.
Students must study according to the prescribed NCO syllabus and pattern.
Usage of appropriate and relevant books related to computer science and technology helps the preparation to carry out in the right direction.
Sample papers and previous years’ question papers can be referred to and solved to know about the type of questions that are asked.
Extra reference books related to computers can be used to know the latest trends and advancements in the field of computer science.
Focus more on the subject with reasoning and technology and solve questions related to it.
One can opt for more practical classes than theory classes to have the good fundamentals of computer science.
Importance of Exam
The NCO exam is different from another olympiad exam. It focuses on logical thinking and computer skills, whereas other exams focus on fundamental subjects like physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology. It is a platform for students to showcase their skills in computer subjects and contribute ideas in developing technology and programming. The NCO exam can easily connect to the world and today’s day to day applications as everyone relies on technology.
Frequently Asked Questions on NCO Syllabus
Mention the main subjects of the examination.
There are two main subjects in the exam. They are mathematics and computer science.
How is the NCO exam different from other olympiad exams?
The NCO exam focuses on logical thinking, and computer skills whereas many other exams focus on fundamental subjects like physics, chemistry, maths and biology. It is a platform for students to showcase the skills in computer subjects and contribute ideas in developing technology and programming.
How is the syllabus of the NCO Olympiad framed?
The NCO syllabus is framed based on the specified syllabuses of the major boards such as CBSE, ICSE, and several state boards. It includes subjects of mathematics and computer science.
What skills are developed by writing the NCO examination?
The mental ability skills, logical reasoning skills and computer skills are the skills developed by writing this exam.
