The National Science Olympiad (NSO) is a competitive exam open to students from grades one to twelve. The examination is held at both the international and zonal levels. The examination’s principal goal is to promote the application of Science and technology in everyday life. The Science Olympiad Foundation administers the National Science Olympiad exam. This exam encourages students to identify their interest or preference in any of the science subjects, such as Physics, Chemistry, or Biology, as well as assists them in pursuing a career in that field.
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Key Points on the Examination
The National Science Olympiad serves as a platform for school students to evaluate their scientific and academic potential. NSO is primarily carried out on Level 1 and Level 2. Olympiad examinations test students’ knowledge and help them better comprehend scientific concepts. This exam helps pupils improve their analytical thinking and abilities.
- The test is an objective-type test with 35 multiple-choice questions for grades 1 to 4 and 50 multiple-choice questions for grades 5 to 12.
- To take the second level of the NSO examination, a student must rank in the top 5% of students in their class who took the first level exam.
NSO Examination Pattern Class 11
The exam is an objective-type test consisting of 50 multiple-choice questions for Class 11. The examination is divided into three sections.
- Section 1 consists of questions based on Physics and Chemistry subjects
- In Section 2, the questions are based on Higher-Order Thinking Skills and are called the Achievers section
- Section 3 consists of questions based on Mathematics or Biology subjects.
The marks distribution for the three sections is shown below
| Class / Grade | Section | Number of questions | Marks per question | Total marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 11 | Section 1 | 25 | 1 | 25 |
| Section 2 | 5 | 3 | 15 | |
| Section 3 | 20 | 1 | 20 | |
| Grand Total | 50 | 60 | ||
NSO Syllabus for Class 11
The NSO syllabus is based on the subjects that a grade 11 student would study. Candidates studying in any academic board, such as CBSE, ICSE, or any other state board, can attempt the examination. The curriculum includes theories and concepts from the Class 11 science textbook’s syllabus. The NSO syllabus for Class 11 is listed below.
| Section of the exam | Name of the section | Topics included in the section |
| Section 1 | Physics and Chemistry | The topics in Physics are
The topics in Chemistry are
|
| Section 3 | Mathematics / Biology | The topics in the Mathematics section are
The topics in the Biology section are
|
Any eleventh-grade curriculum textbook that includes the above-mentioned subjects can be used for preparation. For further information on examination patterns and test difficulty levels, the student can use the NSO sample papers that are available on the official website for a deeper understanding. The questions of the Level I Olympiad test cover 60% of the existing class subject and 40% of the previous course content. The NSO Class 11 Syllabus aids students in learning more and digging deeper into ideas. The scientific solutions presented are easy to understand and ensure students grasp crucial concepts.
Class-wise Syllabus list
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