CREST Science Olympiad (CSO) 2026-27
CSO is the science olympiad that CREST Olympiads runs for Nursery to Class 10. Children who do well in Level 1 go on to Level 2.
When is CSO 2026-27?
Level 1: 3 Dec 202612 Dec 2026
Level 2: 4-6 Feb 2027.
Online from home on a computer or laptop. Student books a slot between 11 AM and 7 PM IST, at least 2 days ahead.
How do I register my child, and what does it cost?
Parents register directly online, or through a school. Fee: ₹275 per subject (includes 2 online practice tests). Outside India: US$15 per subject.
What is in the paper?
| Classes | Questions | Marks | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | 35 | 45 | 60 |
| 5–10 | 50 | 60 | 60 |
Negative marking: not published. Language: English.
What is the syllabus?
School syllabus as an outline. Some questions test advanced understanding.
The topics, class by class, as the organiser lists them:
Class 1
Living and Non-living Things · Plants · Animals · Human Beings and Their Needs · Good Habits and Safety Rules · Air and Water · Weather and the Sky
Achievers Section: Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section 1
Class 2
Plants · Animals · Human Body · Food, Housing and Clothing · Family and Festivals · Occupations · Good Habits and Safety Rules · Transport and Communication · Air, Water and Rocks · Earth and Universe
Achievers Section: Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section 1
Class 3
Plants and Animals · Birds · Food, Housing and Clothing · Transport and Communication · Human Body · Earth and Universe · Matter and Materials · Light, Sound and Force · Our Environment
Achievers Section: Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section 1
Class 4
Plants · Animals · Food and Digestion · Clothing · Matter and Materials · Force, Work and Energy · Our Environment · Earth and Universe
Achievers Section: Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section 1
Class 5
Animals · Human Body and Health · Plants · Natural Resources · Pollution and Calamities · Earth and Universe · Matter · Force, Work and Energy
Achievers Section: Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section 1
Class 6
Motion and Measurement of Distances · Light, Shadows and Reflections · Electricity and Circuits · Fun with Magnets · Our Environment · Sorting and Separation of Materials · Changes Around Us · Living Organisms and Their Surroundings · Food and its Components · Fibre to Fabric
Achievers Section: Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section 1
Class 7
Heat · Motion and Time · Electric Current and its Effects · Winds, Storms and Cyclones · Light · Acids, Bases and Salts · Physical and Chemical Changes · Weather, Climate and Adaptations of Animals to Climate · Fibre to Fabric · Nutrition in Plants and Animals · Respiration in Organisms · Transportation in Plants and Animals · Reproduction in Plants · Natural Resources and Their Conservation
Achievers Section: Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section 1
Class 8
Crop Production and Management · Microorganisms · Synthetic Fibres and Plastics · Metals and Non-metals · Coal and Petroleum · Combustion and Flame · Conservation of Plants and Animals · Cell, Reproduction and Endocrine System · Force and Pressure · Friction · Sound · Chemical Effects of Electric Current · Some Natural Phenomena · Light · Stars and the Solar System · Pollution of Air and Water
Achievers Section: Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Section 1
Syllabus topics and a sample question for your child's class:
Is there a Level 2, and who goes?
Two levels.
- Top 55.56% of each class in Level 1
- Nursery to Class 1: 60% or more
Cut-off: Published for each declared exam on CREST's Awards and 'Cut-off & Ranking Criteria' pages. Ranks are given in 5 zones: East, West, North, South and International.
How does my child get the admit card?
No admit card: the exam is online. Log in to the CREST dashboard and book a slot at least 2 days ahead. The 'Click To Take Exam' button opens 10 minutes before the slot. Changing a slot costs ₹40.
Is there an official CSO answer key?
Shown only on fixed dates: Level 1, 16-17 Dec 2026. Level 2, 9-10 Feb 2027. A question can be challenged on the answer-key page for ₹125, refunded if the challenge is right.
When do results come, and what can my child win?
Level 1 results within 10 days of the last Level 1 answer-key date (where there is a Level 2). Final results within one month of the last answer-key date.
- Nursery to Class 1: 60% or more in the final exam: Star Medal and Merit Certificate
- Classes 2 to 12: international top 3 per class and subject: Achiever's Trophy
- School top 3 (schools with 25 or more students in a class): Gold Medal
- 96 percentile and above or zonal ranks 1 to 10: Gold Medal
- 93 to 96 percentile: Silver Medal
- 90 to 93 percentile: Bronze Medal
- Top 25%: Merit Certificate
- Top 25 to 50%: Honourable Mention
- Every online participant: digital certificate
Where can I find CSO sample papers and previous year papers?
A free trial test (Practice Test 1), the same as the real exam, after logging in. Olympiad Owl does not share the papers themselves. Our class pages above have a free sample question each, and the app has full mock papers in the previous year paper pattern.
Anything else to know?
Nursery to Class 1: a parent or teacher may help the child understand the question. Answer keys come out on fixed dates and can be challenged.
How can my child prepare for CSO?
A few questions a day in the real pattern, and one full timed paper a week, works better than a last-minute rush.
From CREST's own website, 25 Oct 2026.
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