Q 1. How does a student benefit by taking NSO ?
Ans) Participants of NSO are ranked on the basis of marks obtained. Hence, after taking the first level of the test, students can judge themselves academically at four different levels - within the school, at city and state level, and above all at All-India level. Finally students are suitably awarded based on their national ranking. Prizes include medals, books and magazines, cash prizes, computers, CDs, etc. The prizes for the first 3 toppers of each class are awarded at a grand prize distribution ceremony presided over by an eminent personality. Rest of the prizes are either sent to the schools or can be collected from the Foundation office after announcement.


Q 2. Who all are eligible to sit for the NSO?
Ans) Students of classes 2nd to 12th are eligible to appear for the NSO. There is no other eligibility criteria like minimum marks. The top 500 All-India ranked students and the school toppers from each class are eligible to appear in the 2nd level exam.



Q 3. I am interested to take part in the NSO. Tell me how will I come to know about the details of the exam?
Ans) All the relevant information is sent to the schools all over the country along with prospectus and registration forms and posters before the first round and then as the date and venue of the second level is decided, the information is sent to the relevant schools. The students come to know about the necessary details from their school teachers or through the Foundation's official website i.e. www.sofworld.org


Q 4. Myself and few of my friends are interested to take part in the NSO but our school has not yet received any information regarding the Olympiad. What do we do?
Ans) Let us know the complete address of your school. We will send detailed information and registration forms to your School so that your Principal / Science Teacher can register your names for the exam.


Q 5. What is the syllabus for the NSO?
Ans) The syllabus of the NSO is the Science and Mathematics syllabus as is prescribed by the CBSE, ICSE or various state boards. If you sit for the second level and have moved onto the next class, the syllabus will remain the same (i.e. of the previous class).


Q 6. Are there any special books which the participants should refer to for the NSO preparation?
Ans) There are no special books as such. In general, NCERT books prescribed by the CBSE are sufficient for the preparation. Additionally, class XI and XIIth students can refer to the various publications like Chemistry Today, Biology Today, Mathematics Today and Physics For You, MTG Read ‘n’ Tick Classwise NSO Workbooks, etc. which contain useful matter including solved and model test papers of various national and International Olympiads. The above magazines and books related to Olympiad are published by MTG ( website : www.mtg.in of Olympiad books).


Q 7. My school does not want to register for the NSO, but I am very eager to write the exam. Can I do it on my own?
Ans) SOF does not encourage individual participation. Students have to register through their schools only.


Q 8. I have already appeared for the NSO while I was in a lower class? Can I appear again?
Ans) Definitely yes. This will give you an opportunity to improve your previous rankings, and if you are successful in doing so, you will again be eligible for certificates and prizes.


Q 9. My school has already despatched the registration form. I am left out and I want to register myself for the NSO. What should I do?
Ans) You can request your school authority to send your exam relevant details and fee immediately to us. We accept it if it reaches us before the last date of registration (usually 4 weeks before the exam).


Q 10. I am going to write the NSO for the first time. Can I get sample papers?
Ans) Sample Papers are sent to all the registered schools. SOF website also contains these papers. Sample papers sent to the schools prior to the first level test are helpful and can be used for both levels of NSO.


Q 11. What is the structure and pattern of the examination?
Ans) The level 1 competition is a written objective-type test of 60 minutes duration comprising 50 objective-type (Multiple Choice) questions for class 2 to class 12. Each correct answer carries one mark. Students of 11th and 12th answer any three parts of the Question Paper: (i) Physics, (ii) Chemistry, (iii) Mathematics or Biology.


Q 12. When are the results of NSO declared?
Ans) Results of both the levels of NSO are declared within 7-8 weeks of the examination. The results are sent to the schools concerned. The results are also made available on our website.


Q 13. I have taken part in the NSO. Can I also take part in the National Cyber Olympiad (NCO) and International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) ?
Ans) Although conducted by the same Foundation, NSO, NCO and IMO are three completely different competitions. The first is to find and recognise budding scientists from schools all over India. On the other hand, The National Cyber Olympiad (NCO) is a testing platform for all those young, computer-savvy minds who may be interested to judge themselves again on a national level. So, even if one has participated in the NSO, he/she can always take part in the NCO or IMO.


Q 14. Do I have to regularly visit your website for the latest update of SOF activities?
Ans) All the important information regarding Olympiads, Seminars, etc., like date, time and venue is available on our website. So it is beneficial for you to surf our site.


Q 15. I have cleared the second level of the NSO. Will I be appearing for an interview to be eligible for the award?
Ans) The interview is conducted only in case of a tie in the second round.


Q 16. I have cleared second level of the NSO and I have come to know from my school/from your website that I am eligible for an award. I am studying in a different school / passed out from school and pursuing further studies. Will I come to know about the date and venue of the presentation ceremony?
Ans) As soon as we finalise the date and venue of the presentation ceremony, we send out the information to the schools concerned and also to the winner's residence addresses as available with us. So preferably please be in touch with your previous school. The information will also be put on the website.


Q 17. I have still not received my Roll No. / Admit Card / Participation Certificate. I have checked from my school authorities and they are also not in receipt of the same. Kindly advise what to do?
Ans) Please request your Principal / Science Teacher to inform us about the non-receipt of the above. We will send duplicate copies to your school as soon as we hear from them.


Q 18. We have come to know about your Foundation and we are interested. How do we enroll our school with you?
Ans) Send us the complete address of your school in the following format and we will send relevant information and registration forms to you at the appropriate time.
School Name: Address: City: State: Pincode Phone No. with STD Code: E-mail: Principal



Q 19. Is the NSO conducted in English only?
Ans) Yes.


Q 20. We have less than 50 students in our school who are interested to take part in the NSO. Can we still enroll for the test?
Ans) Less than 50 students a school is not viable for the Foundation to hold the exam. Hence at least 50 students should be enrolled from a school so that a school becomes a center.


Q 21. Why do students of the same class with similar total marks have different National rankings?
Ans) When the ranks are generated; score in Science Section is given priority. Hence, a student scoring higher marks in Science gets a higher National ranking than his / her counterpart. Plus the students' overall performance, at the school as well as at the state, city and school level, is also taken under consideration while ranking them at the National level.