International Foundation Science Olympiad (IFSO) 2026-27
IFSO is the science olympiad that the International Olympiad Foundation (IOF) runs for Classes 1 to 10.
When is IFSO 2026-27?
Classes 1 to 5: 5 Dec 2026
Classes 6 to 10: 6 Dec 2026
Registration closed 9 Oct 2026.
Online from home (phone, laptop or PC) under parent supervision, any time 5 to 8 PM IST on exam day.
How do I register my child, and what does it cost?
Parents register online directly, or through a school link (school collects fees). Fee: ₹150 per olympiad.
What is in the paper?
35 questions (Classes 1 to 5), 50 questions (Classes 6 to 12). It takes 60 minutes. Negative marking: not published. Language: English.
What is the syllabus?
CBSE, ICSE and major state boards.
The topics, class by class, as the organiser lists them:
Class 1
SECTION A: Reasoning: Classification · Pattern · Analogy · Series Completion · Coding – Decoding · Direction Sense Test · Calendar · Odd one Out · Possible combinations · Measuring Units · Figure Matrix · Ranking Test · Mirror images · Water Images
SECTION B: Science: Plants and Animals · Living and Non Living Things Around Us · Human Beings and their Needs · Our Environment · Food We Eat · Clothes We Wear · People Who Help Us · Safety Rules and Good Habits · Weather and The Sky · Air and Water · My Family and Relatives
SECTION C: Higher-Order-Thinking-Skills (HOTS): Syllabus is based on Section B
Class 2
SECTION A: Reasoning: Classification · Pattern · Analogy · Series Completion · Coding – Decoding · Direction Sense Test · Calendar · Odd one Out · Possible combinations · Measuring Units · Figure Matrix · Ranking Test · Mirror images · Water Images
SECTION B: Science: Plant Kingdom · Animal Kingdom · Living and Non Living Things · Human Body · Our Environment · Food We Eat · Transport and Communication · Clothes We Wear · types of Houses · Festivals and Occasions · People Who Help Us · Safety Rules and First Aid · Earth and Universe · Air · Water and Weather
SECTION C: Higher-Order-Thinking-Skills (HOTS): Syllabus is based on Section B
Class 3
SECTION A: Reasoning: Classification · Pattern · Analogy · Series Completion · Coding – Decoding · Direction Sense Test · Calendar · Odd one Out · Possible combinations · Measuring Units · Figure Matrix · Ranking Test · Mirror images · Water Images
SECTION B: Science: Living and Non Living things · Animal Kingdom · Plant Kingdom · Our Body · Our Environment · Our Universe · Air · Water and Weather · Soil · Matter and its Properties · Natural Resources · Transport and Communication · Safety Rules and First Aid · Knowing Birds
SECTION C: Higher-Order-Thinking-Skills (HOTS): Syllabus is based on Section B
Class 4
SECTION A: Reasoning: Classification · Pattern · Analogy · Series Completion · Coding – Decoding · Direction Sense Test · Calendar · Odd and Out · Possible combinations · Measuring Units · Figure Matrix · Ranking Test · Mirror images · Water Images
SECTION B: Science: Plant Kingdom · Animal Kingdom · Functioning of Human Body · Matter and its States · Force and Energy · Rocks and Soil · Our Universe · Solar System · Our Environment · Food · weather and Seasons · Transportation and Communication · Water
SECTION C: Higher-Order-Thinking-Skills (HOTS): Syllabus is based on Section B
Class 5
SECTION A: Reasoning: Classification · Pattern · Analogy · Series Completion · Coding – Decoding · Direction Sense Test · Calendar · Odd one Out · Possible combinations · Measuring Units · Figure Matrix · Ranking Test · Mirror images · Water Images
SECTION B: Science: Plant life · Animals · Food and Health · Matter · Rocks and Minerals · Force · Work and energy · human Body · Earth and Universe · Natural Resources and Calamities · Ecosystem · Water · Light and Shadow and General Science
SECTION C: Higher-Order-Thinking-Skills (HOTS): Syllabus is based on Section B
Class 6
SECTION A: Logical Reasoning: Classification · Pattern · Analogy · Series Completion · Coding – Decoding · Direction Sense Test · Calendar · Odd one Out · Possible Combinations · Measuring Units · Figure Matrix · Ranking Test · Mirror images · Water Images · Embedded figures
SECTION B: Science: Food, Health And Hygiene · Light, Shadows and Reflection · Fibre to Fabric · Electricity and Circuits · Matter Around Us · Fun With Magnets · Changes Around Us · Human Body · Plant and Animals · Air and Water · Living Organism And their Surrounding · Motion and Measurement of Distance
SECTION C: Higher-Order-Thinking-Skills (HOTS): Syllabus is based on Section B
Class 7
SECTION A: Logical Reasoning: Classification · Pattern · Analogy · Series Completion · Coding – Decoding · Direction Sense Test · Calendar · Odd one Out · Possible combinations · Measuring Units · Figure Matrix · Ranking Test · Mirror images · Water Images · Embedded figures
SECTION B: Science: Heat and Temperature · Electric Current and its effects · Light · Physical and Chemical Changes · Fibres to Fabrics · Respiation in Organisms · Natural Resources · Motion and Time · Wind Storms and Cyclones · Acid Bass and Salts · Weather, Climate and Adaptation of Animals · Nutrition in Plantsand Animals · Reproduction In Plants · Transportation in Plants and Animals
SECTION C: Higher-Order-Thinking-Skills (HOTS): Syllabus is based on Section B
Class 8
SECTION A: Logical Reasoning: Classification · Pattern · Analogy · Series Completion · Coding – Decoding · Direction Sense Test · Calendar · Odd one Out · Possible combinations · Measuring Units · Figure Matrix · Ranking Test · Mirror images · Water Images · Embedded figures
SECTION B: Science: Force and Pressure · Light · Chemical Effects of Electric Current · Metals and Non Metals · Coal and Petroleum · Cell Structure and Functions · Reproduction in Animals · Pollution · Friction · Sound · Stars and The Solar System · Combustion · Synthetic Fibres and Plastics · Micro Organisms · Crop Production and Management
SECTION C: Higher-Order-Thinking-Skills (HOTS): Syllabus is based on Section B
Syllabus topics and a sample question for your child's class:
Is there a Level 2?
Not published.
When do results come, and what can my child win?
Result date not published. See them on the IOF student portal after logging in, with the certificate and report to download. Awards are sent to schools.
- International rank 1: topper trophy, medal, badge and printed certificate
- Zonal toppers (6 zones): trophy, medal, badge and printed certificate
- 90% and above: gold medal
- 80 to 89%: silver medal
- 70 to 79%: bronze medal
- Below 70%: participation e-certificate
Where can I find IFSO sample papers and previous year papers?
Sample papers to download on IOF's own website. 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?
Not the same as a UAE olympiad organiser with a similar name.
How can my child prepare for IFSO?
A few questions a day in the real pattern, and one full timed paper a week, works better than a last-minute rush.
From IOF's own website, 26 Oct 2026.
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