Science Olympiad Foundation
The Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) is an educational foundation and a [[ profit organisation]] based in New Delhi, [ which promotes science, mathematics, introductory computer education and English language skills amongst school children in India. It organises five Olympiads annually, namely the National Cyber Olympiad (NCO), the National Science Olympiad (NSO), the International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO), the International English Olympiad (IEO) and the International Sports & Knowledge Olympiad(ISKO). The SOF requires participants to register through their schools, rather than individually.
Although the exams are primarily conducted in India, centres are there in other countries such as Singapore, Oman, Qatar, Nepal, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, U.A.E. and Durban. Each exam is conducted on two dates, with schools having the choice to choose a date.
Each olympiad is conducted in two levels. Students from class I to XII can participate. There is a different exam paper for each class. The question paper consists of 50 multiple choice questions, to be answered in a time of one hour. Five questions that are part of the 'Achievers' section' carry 3 marks each whereas the remaining questions carry one mark each. Students are required to mark their answers on an OMR sheet. Results are announced for every student and it includes the student's overall rank, state rank, school rank, percentile score, etc. From among 200000 students that participate in each of these olympiads every year, the top 500 students, top 10 students in each state, as well as school toppers from schools having a participation of more than 10 students in the exam, are selected for the second level. SOF also generates a performance report for all participating schools, as well as awards teachers and principals whose pupils excelled in the exam.[1]