NSO Syllabus 2025-26: Class-wise Science Olympiad Topics & Sections

Section

Description

Section 1: Logical Reasoning

This section assesses students’ verbal and non-verbal reasoning abilities. Questions focus on logic, pattern recognition, sequencing, classification, and analytical thinking.

Section 2: Science

Based on the current class curriculum and selected topics from the previous class. Covers all major themes in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Environmental Science as per the student's grade level.

Section 3: Achievers Section

Designed to challenge students with Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions related to the topics covered in Section 2. Students are encouraged to attempt this section only after mastering the basics.

Particulars

NSO Level 1

NSO Level 2

Type of Questions

Multiple-choice Questions (MCQs)

Multiple-choice Questions (MCQs)

Time Duration

60 minutes

60 minutes

Total Number of Questions & Marks

- Class 1 – 4: 35 Questions (40 Marks)

- Class 5 – 12: 50 Questions (60 Marks)

- Class 3 – 4: 35 Questions (40 Marks)

- Class 5 – 12: 50 Questions (60 Marks)

Section-wise Distribution

- Class 1 – 10:

• Section-1: Logical Reasoning

• Section-2: Science

• Section-3: Achievers Section

- Class 11 – 12:

• Section-1: Physics/Chemistry

• Section-2: Achievers Section

• Section-3: Mathematics/Biology

- Class 1 – 10:

• Section-1: Science

• Section-2: Achievers Section

- Class 11 – 12:

• Section-1: Physics/Chemistry

• Section-2: Achievers Section

• Section-3: Mathematics/Biology

Medium of Paper

English

English

Syllabus

CBSE, ICSE/ISC and State Board syllabi

CBSE, ICSE/ISC and State Board syllabi

Sections

Topics

Section 1: Logical Reasoning

Patterns, Odd One Out, Measuring Units, Geometrical Shapes, Spatial Understanding, Grouping, Analogy, Ranking Test, Problems Based on Figures.

Section 2: Science

Living and Non-living Things, Plants, Animals, Human Beings and Their Needs, Good Habits and Safety Rules, Air and Water, Weather and The Sky.

Section 3: Achievers Section

Higher Order Thinking Questions – Based on Section 2 topics.

Sections

Topics

Section 1: Logical Reasoning

Patterns, Odd One Out, Measuring Units, Geometrical Shapes, Analogy, Ranking Test, Grouping of Figures, Embedded Figures, Coding-Decoding.

Section 2: Science

Plants, Animals, Human Body, Food, Housing and Clothing, Family and Festivals, Good Habits and Safety Rules, Transport and Communication, Air, Water and Rocks, Earth and the Universe.

Section 3: Achievers Section

Higher Order Thinking Questions – Based on Section 2 topics.

Sections

Topics

Section 1: Logical Reasoning

Patterns, Analogy and Classification, Alphabet Test, Coding-Decoding, Ranking Test, Grouping of Figures and Figure Matrix, Mirror Images, Geometrical Shapes, Embedded Figures, Possible Combinations, Clock and Calendar.

Section 2: Science

Plants and Animals, Birds, Food, Housing, Clothing and Occupation, Transport, Communication and Safety Rules, Human Body, Earth and Universe, Matter and Materials, Light, Sound and Force, Our Environment.

Section 3: Achievers Section

Higher Order Thinking Questions – Based on Section 2 topics.

Sections

Topics

Section 1: Logical Reasoning

Patterns, Alphabet Test, Coding-Decoding, Ranking Test, Mirror Images, Geometrical Shapes and Solids, Embedded Figures, Direction Sense Test, Possible Combinations, Analogy and Classification, Clock and Calendar.

Section 2: Science

Plants, Animals, Food and Digestion, Human Needs, Matter and Materials, Force, Work and Energy, Our Environment, Earth and Universe.

Section 3: Achievers Section

Higher Order Thinking Questions – Based on Section 2 topics.

Sections

Topics

Section 1: Logical Reasoning

Patterns, Analogy and Classification, Geometrical Shapes, Mirror and Water Images, Direction Sense Test, Ranking Test, Alphabet Test, Logical Sequence of Words, Puzzle Test, Coding-Decoding, Clock and Calendar.

Section 2: Science

Animals, Human Body and Health, Plants, Natural Resources and Indian Heritage, Pollution and Calamities, Earth and Universe, Matter and Materials, Force and Energy.

Section 3: Achievers Section

Higher Order Thinking Questions – Based on Section 2 topics.

Sections

Topics

Section 1: Logical Reasoning

Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

Section 2: Science

Motion and Measurement of Distances, Light, Shadows and Reflections, Electricity and Circuits, Fun with Magnets, Air Around Us, Sorting Materials into Groups, Separation of Substances, The World of Living (Characteristics of Living Beings, Parts of Plants, Body Movements in Animals and Adaptation), Components of Food.

Section 3: Achievers Section

Higher Order Thinking Questions – Based on Section 2 topics.

Sections

Topics

Section 1: Logical Reasoning

Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning

Section 2: Science

Heat, Motion and Time, Electric Current and its Effects, Light, Acids, Bases and Salts, Physical and Chemical Changes, Nutrition in Plants and Animals, Respiration in Organisms, Transportation in Plants and Animals, Reproduction in Plants, Natural Resources and Their Conservation (Forests: Our Lifeline, Wastewater Story).

Section 3: Achievers Section

Higher Order Thinking Questions – Based on Section 2 topics.

Sections

Topics

Section 1: Logical Reasoning

Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning

Section 2: Science

Crop Production and Management, Microorganisms, Coal and Petroleum, Combustion and Flame, Conservation of Plants and Animals, Reproduction and Endocrine System, Force and Pressure, Friction, Sound, Chemical Effects of Electric Current, Some Natural Phenomena, Light.

Section 3: Achievers Section

Higher Order Thinking Questions – Based on Section 2 topics.

Sections

Topics

Section 1: Logical Reasoning

Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning

Section 2: Science

Motion, Force and Laws of Motion, Gravitation, Work and Energy, Sound, Matter in Our Surroundings, Is Matter Around Us Pure, Atoms and Molecules, Structure of Atom, Cell - The Fundamental Unit of Life, Tissues, Natural Resources, Improvement in Food Resources.

Section 3: Achievers Section

Higher Order Thinking Questions – Based on Section 2 topics.

Sections

Topics

Section 1: Logical Reasoning

Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning

Section 2: Science

Chemical Reactions and Equations, Acids, Bases and Salts, Metals and Non-metals, Carbon and Its Compounds, Life Processes, Control and Coordination, Reproduction in Organisms, Heredity, Light - Reflection and Refraction, Human Eye and Colourful World, Electricity, Magnetic Effects of Electric Current, Our Environment and Its Management.

Section 3: Achievers Section

Higher Order Thinking Questions – Based on Section 2 topics.

Sections

Topics

Section 1: Logical Reasoning

Physics: Units and Measurements, Mechanics, Properties of Matter, Heat and Thermodynamics, Oscillations, Waves.

Chemistry: Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry, Structure of Atom, Classification of Elements and Periodicity, Chemical Bonding, Thermodynamics, Equilibrium, Redox Reactions, Organic Chemistry Basics, Hydrocarbons.

Section 2: Science

Higher Order Thinking Questions – Based on Section 1 topics.

Section 3: Achievers Section

Option 1 (Maths Stream): Sets, Relations and Functions, Logarithms, Complex Numbers & Quadratic Equations, Linear Inequalities, Sequences and Series, Trigonometry, Straight Lines, Conic Sections, Permutations and Combinations, Binomial Theorem, Statistics, Limits and Derivatives, Probability, 3-D Geometry.

OR

Option 2 (Biology Stream): Diversity in Living World, Structural Organisation in Plants & Animals, Cell: Structure and Function, Plant Physiology, Human Physiology.

Sections

Topics

Section 1: Logical Reasoning

Physics: Electricity and Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction, Alternating Current, Electromagnetic Waves, Optics, Modern Physics, Semiconductor Electronics.

Chemistry: Solutions, Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics, d- & f-Block Elements, Coordination Compounds, Haloalkanes & Haloarenes, Alcohols, Phenols & Ethers, Aldehydes, Ketones & Carboxylic Acids, Amines, Biomolecules.

Section 2: Science

Higher Order Thinking Questions – Based on Section 1 topics.

Section 3: Achievers Section

Option 1 (Maths Stream): Relations and Functions, Inverse Trigonometric Functions, Matrices and Determinants, Continuity and Differentiability, Application of Derivatives, Integrals, Application of Integrals, Differential Equations, Vector Algebra, 3D Geometry, Probability, Linear Programming.

OR

Option 2 (Biology Stream): Reproduction, Genetics and Evolution, Biology in Human Welfare, Biotechnology, Ecology.