SkillStar

NSO Class 5 syllabus

The NSO Class 5 syllabus for 2026-27, subject by subject: 20 topics to work through. On SkillStar, Class 5 children also get 7 mock tests marked instantly and sample papers to download.

Class
Class 5 (Grade 5)
Syllabus years
2026-27
Topics
20
Mock tests
7
Downloads
5

NSO Class 5 syllabus 2026-27

Logical Reasoning

  • Patterns: Spot the rule in a row of shapes or numbers and pick what comes next.
  • Analogy and Classification: Match related pairs and sort items into the right groups.
  • Geometrical Shapes: Recognise and count shapes like circles, triangles and squares inside pictures.
  • Mirror and Water Images: Pick how a figure looks reflected in a mirror or in water.
  • Direction Sense Test: Follow turns and directions like north or left to find where someone ends up.
  • Ranking Test: Work out positions in a line or order, such as third from the left.
  • Alphabet Test: Questions on the order and positions of letters in the English alphabet.
  • Logical Sequence of Words: Arrange words in a sensible order, such as smallest to biggest.
  • Puzzle Test: Solve seating or arrangement puzzles using a set of clues.
  • Coding-Decoding: Crack simple codes where letters, numbers or symbols stand for something else.
  • Clock and Calendar: Reasoning about clock hands, times, days of the week and dates.

Science

  • Animals: Animal adaptations, habitats and behaviour.
  • Human Body and Health: Body systems, diseases, nutrition and staying healthy.
  • Plants: Seeds, germination and how plants survive in different places.
  • Natural Resources and Indian Heritage: Resources like soil, water and forests, and India's natural heritage.
  • Pollution and Calamities: Types of pollution and natural disasters, and how to stay safe.
  • Earth and Universe: The solar system, Moon phases and Earth's movements.
  • Matter and Materials: Properties and changes of matter.
  • Force and Energy: Kinds of force, simple machines and sources of energy.

Achievers Section

  • Higher Order Thinking questions: Harder application questions on this class's Science topics; worth more marks each.

About the NSO exam

How the exam works

Mode: Offline, objective multiple-choice paper held in school during school hours; each exam date has its own paper. · Levels: Level 1: Classes 1-12, held in the student's own school. Level 2: Classes 3-12 only; qualifiers are the class-wise top 5% internationally, the top 25 per zone per class, and school class toppers (where at least 10 students of that class sat the exam and the topper scored at least 50%). Level 1 questions are about 60% from the current class syllabus and 40% from the previous class; the Achievers Section and all of Level 2 use the current class syllabus only. · Duration: 60 minutes · Questions: Level 1: Classes 1-4 have 35 questions (Logical Reasoning 5, Science 25, Achievers 5). Classes 5-10 have 50 (Logical Reasoning 10, Science 35, Achievers 5). Classes 11-12 have 50 (Physics & Chemistry 25, Mathematics or Biology 20, Achievers 5). Level 2: Classes 3-4 have 30 Science + 5 Achievers; Classes 5-10 have 45 Science + 5 Achievers; Classes 11-12 have 25 Physics & Chemistry + 20 Mathematics/Biology + 5 Achievers. · Marking: 1 mark per question except the Achievers Section: 2 marks each for Classes 1-4 (40 marks in total) and 3 marks each for Classes 5-12 (60 marks in total). SOF's published pattern does not mention negative marking. · Language: English only

How to register

Only through the child's school: the school registers with SOF and sends the student forms, usually at least 30 days before its chosen exam date. Individual registrations are not accepted. Fee: Rs 170 per student per Olympiad incl. GST (India, Bhutan, Nepal), and schools may collect up to Rs 30 extra; US$11 elsewhere.

When it happens

Next Level 1 school dates: 19 November and 3 December 2026. Earlier dates (30 October 2026) have passed. Each school chooses one date; a future exam date does not mean registration is still open. SOF asks schools to submit registrations at least 30 days before their selected date. Level 2 is for qualifying Classes 3–12 only; SOF plans to announce the exact date by December 2026 and provisionally indicates the second or third Sunday of February 2027. This is tentative, not a confirmed exam date. Results are normally available within about 8 weeks. SOF now lists this science exam as International Science Olympiad (ISO); SkillStar retains the NSO category name. Status checked 1 November 2026; times are IST.

NSO syllabus for other classes

NSO: guides for parents

Everything about NSO →

NSO Class 5: questions parents ask

What is in the NSO Class 5 syllabus for 2026-27?
20 topics in Logical Reasoning, Science and Achievers Section, laid out subject by subject on this page. On SkillStar your child can tick off each topic as they learn it.
Are there NSO Class 5 mock tests on SkillStar?
Yes, 7 mock tests. Each one is marked the moment your child finishes, with a question-by-question review, and can be taken again as often as they like.
Can I download NSO Class 5 papers?
Yes. The NSO Downloads tab on SkillStar has 5 files for this class.
How does my child start NSO Class 5 practice?
Sign up free as a parent, add your child with their class, and pick NSO from the exam list. Every new family gets welcome credits, lots of content costs nothing, and anything paid shows its price in credits before you decide.
Is SkillStar the official NSO website?
No. SkillStar is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the organisers of these exams. Exam names belong to their respective owners. Check dates, fees and registration with the NSO organisers.

SkillStar is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the organisers of these exams. Exam names belong to their respective owners.

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