National Science Olympiad or NSO is an annual school level competitive exam organized by Science Olympiad Foundation for students studying in class 1 and above. A separate exam is conducted for every class based on their respective syllabus. NSO is conducted in English only. If you are appearing for the exam then draw help from this article to know how to prepare for NSO.
How To Prepare For NSO:
-
Understand the pattern of NSO:
You can visit the official website to learn the exam pattern for you corresponding class. Broadly, the exam comprises of 50 questions that are divided into three sections – Verbal and Non-verbal Reasoning, Science, and High order thinking questions. It is advised that you know this pattern well to streamline the preparations.
-
Understand the standard of questions:
If you are appearing for NSO then expect questions of varying difficulty level. The questions test logical and observational skills of the students besides the conceptual knowledge. There will be no direct questions but rather an application of a previously studied concept is more likely to form the base of a question.
-
Know the relevant books:
You must thoroughly study course books suggested by your school board (ICSE/ CBSE/ State Board). In addition to this, you can refer to books available for Olympiad preparation to get a good rank in NSO. These include MTG class-wise books, SOF Olympiad Trainer’ Mobile Apps, OSDS (Olympiad Skill Development System), Previous Years’ Papers , Olympiads’ Books of Reasoning (for preparation for the reasoning section of Olympiads), E-Quiz and other such books for preparation of logical and reasoning section.
-
Practice sample papers:
If you are appearing for the first time or are regulars at NSO, procure previous years papers beforehand. Solving the sample papers will give you a fair idea of the pattern of questions asked. They are also good for improving pace for attempting paper in the given time. The sample papers can be obtained from the official website.
-
Enrol in an Olympiad Helper:
The Olympiad Helper provides enough material and practice so you are confident about getting a good rank in NSO. It is an excellent way to nurture a habit of self-study while you prepare for NSO.
All registered students are provided with a practice booklet that contains syllabus and few sample papers. You must solve questions in the booklet and identify the areas that demand extra attention. Lots of students get a good rank in NSO every year with their consistent effort and practice. Students are suitably awarded based on their international, State and School ranking. Prizes are announced annually and include cash awards, medals, gifts, certificates etc. The International toppers from each class are awarded at a grand prize distribution ceremony held in Delhi, presided over by an eminent personality.
Each student is provided a Student Performance Report (SPR). The SPR analyses the strong and weak areas of the student and also gives a detailed performance comparison of the student vis-à-vis other students at school, state and international level. Analysis of the student’s past five years’ performance is also provided. Overall, being one of the many competitive exams for school children, it’s a very good opportunity for students to learn and improve their skills as well as to compete with the best.
