The Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to science and education. It holds olympiads in maths, science, computer science, and general knowledge.
Please Note: This page will be updated soon
The Science Olympiad Foundation has been developing scientific attitudes and temperaments for over two decades through a variety of events and the use of information technology in the learning process that engages students from all across the country.
These competitions are open to students in grades 1 to 12. However, students in Classes 11 and 12 are not eligible to apply for all olympiad exams; some are only open to students in Class 10. This organisation strives to give an opportunity to Indian students to put their knowledge, abilities, and memory to the test.
Exams Conducted by SOF Every Year
- National Cyber Olympiad (NCO)
- National Science Olympiad (NSO)
- International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO)
- International English Olympiad (IEO)
- International Commerce Olympiad (ICO)
- International General Knowledge Olympiad (IGKO)
National Cyber Olympiad (NCO)
The National Cyber Olympiad, or NCO, is a global competition focused on increasing information security through cyber education. National Cyber Olympiad is a grassroots project founded by an independent non-profit organisation based on four TDA pillars: technology, defence, diplomacy, and acquisition. The Olympiad’s website will give you all of the required information about its goals and vision, as well as a list of membership criteria for both domestic and international schools. The National Cyber Olympiad (NCO) was established in 2004 in response to the growing need for such training and the international movement to focus on cybersecurity education. Many challenges to information security and the information society come from a lack of understanding of sensitive problems surrounding information technology and its illicit use, which motivated the project.
National Science Olympiad (NSO)
The National Science Olympiad (NSO) is held every year by the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF). The Foundation’s objective is to encourage students to adopt a scientific mentality. It is a non-profit educational organisation that promotes intellectual growth in students via competitions and olympiads. Through creative initiatives, the organisation has worked for more than two decades to develop a scientific attitude among students across the country. Every year, the National Science Olympiad is organised to encourage students to develop their scientific knowledge, as well as their reasoning, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO)
The Science Olympiad Foundation hosts the International Mathematics Olympiad, a mathematics competition. The SOF IMO is an exam that assesses students’ mathematical understanding and potential. Students who take part in the IMO can evaluate their grasp of the topic and their ability to solve various sorts of questions at school, local, zonal, and worldwide levels. The International Maths Olympiad provides students with self-assessment, as well as a variety of rewards and scholarships for high scorers.
International English Olympiad (IEO)
The International English Olympiad is a competition for students who have passed an international English language test from all around the world. This competition will challenge students with local, national, and worldwide challenges throughout the year. Participants will be required to generate things of interest or display concepts linked to linguistics themes, such as grammar and pronunciation, for this IEO Exam.
International Commerce Olympiad (ICO)
The SOF ICO is being held in collaboration with The Institute of Company Secretaries of India, a statutory entity established by an Act of Parliament and administered by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Students in grades 11 and 12 are eligible to participate in SOF ICO. The International Commerce Olympiad (ICO) is organised by the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF). Students in grades 11 and 12 from any discipline may apply for the SOF ICO test.
International General Knowledge Olympiad (IGKO)
The International General Knowledge Olympiad, or IGKO, is a knowledge-based competition that tests participants’ ability to answer questions of various complexity and breadth. Students can increase their ability to recognise patterns and identify facts by participating. It is only about winning, but students can also learn and grow as a person. Some issues may be more particular to certain nations, ethnicities, or locations than others, necessitating more investigation. The IGKO goal is to put participants’ knowledge and intelligence to the test, foster a spirit of collaboration, and motivate humankind to strive for ever-increasing knowledge and progress as a whole.
Registration of SOF Olympiad
Student Registration: The SOF Olympiad is available to students in grades 11 and 12. Students should make their registrations through their schools. Each school must register a minimum of 5 students for the SOF Olympiad
Principals and teachers should note that any school can register as a SOF ICO Level 1 centre. The institution does not have to pay a fee to become a recognised examination centre.
Eligibility Criteria of SOF Olympiad
Only school children are eligible to take the SOF Olympiad tests. The Olympiad is only open to students in grades 1 to 12. It’s also worth noting that there’s no requirement for a minimum grade or any other criterion.
| Serial number | Exam Name | Class |
| 1 | NSO | Classes 1 to 12 students |
| 2 | NCO | Classes 1 to 12 students |
| 3 | IMO | Classes 1 to 12 students |
| 4 | IEO | Classes 1 to 12 students |
| 5 | ICO | Classes 11 and 12 students |
| 6 | IGKO | Classes 1 to 10 students |
Syllabus of SOF Olympiad Exam
These examinations do not have a specific syllabus. The question papers for the SOF Olympiad are based on the curriculum of CBSE, ICSE, and several state boards. For example, if a student wishes to participate in NSO (National Science Olympiad), they can prepare for the test by following the course for their grade.
Exam Pattern of SOF
| Exam Name | Pattern | Time | Level |
| NCO | 35 MCQs for Classes 1-4, and 50 for Classes 5-10/12 | 60 | Single Level |
| NSO | Two levels | ||
| IMO | Two Levels | ||
| IEO | Two Levels | ||
| IGKO | Single Level | ||
| ICO | 50 MCQs for Classes 11-12 | Single Level |
Benefits of SOF Olympiad Exams
| Exam | Benefits |
| NSO | To promote students’ scientific reasoning and logical abilities. |
| NCO | To assist students in evaluating their understanding of cyber concepts. |
| IMO | To assist students in assessing their mathematical abilities and understanding. |
| IEO | To assist students in evaluating their English language skills and use. |
| ICO | To assess students’ understanding of economics, business studies, accounting, and quantitative analysis reasoning in order to prepare them for higher tests. |
| IGKO | To cultivate an interest in general knowledge and current events in order to aid a student’s overall growth. |
Awards for SOF Exams
| Sr. No. | Olympiad | Awards |
| 1 | NSO | Up to INR 50,000 + Gold medal + Certificate of Outstanding Performance |
| 2 | NCO | Up to INR 50,000 + Gold medal + Certificate of Outstanding Performance |
| 3 | IMO | Up to INR 50,000 + Gold medal + Certificate of Outstanding Performance |
| 4 | IEO | Up to INR 50,000 + Gold medal + Certificate of Outstanding Performance |
| 5 | ICO | Up to INR 1,00,000 + Gold medal + Certificate of Outstanding Performance |
| 6 | IGKO | Up to INR 50,000 + Gold medal + Certificate of Outstanding Performance |
