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International Computer Science Olympiad (ICSO) 2026-27

Updated 10 Nov 2026
Reading time 2 minutes

ICSO is the computer olympiad that SOF (Science Olympiad Foundation) runs for Classes 1 to 10. It has one round.

24 Sep to 17 Dec 2026exam dates
School onlywho registers
₹170fee
In schoolwhere

When is ICSO 2026-27?

24 Sep 202617 Dec 2026

On paper, in their own school during school hours. The school picks one of the dates.

How do I register my child, and what does it cost?

Through the school only (no individual registration). If your school doesn't run it, it can sign up free. Last date: usually 30 days before the exam date. Fee: ₹170. School may add up to ₹30. Outside India: US$11. It is free for children with a major physical disability, and for a child of a soldier martyred in defence operations.

What is in the paper?

Classes 1 to 4: 35 questions, 40 marks. Class 5 up: 50 questions, 60 marks (questions in Achievers, the hardest section, carry 2 to 3 marks each). It takes 60 minutes. Sections: Classes 1 and 2: Logical Reasoning, Computer Science, Information Technology, Achievers. Classes 3 to 10: Logical Reasoning, Computer Science, AI Robotics & IT, Achievers. Negative marking: not published. Language: English.

What is the syllabus?

CBSE, ICSE/ISC and state boards. Split: 60% current, 40% previous (Achievers, the hardest section, is from the current class only).

The topics, class by class, as the organiser lists them:

Class 1

Section – 1 : Patterns, Odd One Out, Measuring Units, Geometrical Shapes, Spatial Understanding, Grouping of Figures, Analogy, Ranking Test, Problems based on Figures. · Section – 2 : Introduction to Computers, Parts of Computer, Uses of Computer, Keys and Keyboard, Computer Mouse, Starting and Shutting Down the Computer, Introduction to MS-Paint. · Section – 3 : IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. · Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. · Questions are based on Windows 11.

Class 2

Section – 1 : Patterns, Odd One Out, Measuring Units, Geometrical Shapes, Analogy, Ranking Test, Grouping of Figures, Embedded Figures, Coding-Decoding. · Section – 2 : Computer-a Smart Machine, General Information about Computers, Parts of Computer, Uses of Computer, Learning to use Keyboard and Mouse, MS-Paint. · Section – 3 : IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. · Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. · Questions are based on Windows 11.

Class 3

Section – 1 : Patterns, Analogy and Classification, Alphabet Test, Coding-Decoding, Ranking Test, Grouping of Figures and Figure Matrix, Mirror Images, Geometrical Shapes, Embedded Figures, Possible Combinations, Clock and Calendar. · Section – 2 : Fundamentals of Computer (Features and Characteristics of Computer, Memory and Storage Devices, Parts of Computer, Uses of Computer), Input and Output Devices, Introduction to Internet, MS-Paint, Introduction to MS-Word (Opening, Closing, Saving and Printing a Word document, Components of MS-Word window, Editing commands like Cut, Copy, Paste, Undo and Redo, Moving in a document using Home and End Keys). · Section – 3 : Introduction to AI, Robotics, IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. · Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. · Questions are based on Windows 11 and MS-Office 2016.

Class 4

Section – 1 : Patterns, Alphabet Test, Coding-Decoding, Ranking Test, Mirror Images, Geometrical Shapes and Solids, Embedded Figures, Direction Sense Test, Possible Combinations, Analogy and Classification, Clock and Calendar. · Section – 2 : Fundamentals of Computer (Parts of Computer, I/O Devices, Memory and Storage Devices and General Information about Computers), Evolution of Computers, Hardware, Software, MS-Word (Formatting a Word document, Font group, Format Painter, Search using Find and Replace option, Checking Spelling and Grammar using Thesaurus), Using Windows 11, Introduction to Internet and Its Uses, Computer Networks, MS-Paint. · Section – 3 : Introduction to AI, Robotics, IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. · Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. · Questions are based on Windows 11 and MS-Office 2016.

Class 5

Section – 1 : Patterns, Analogy and Classification, Geometrical Shapes, Mirror and Water Images, Direction Sense Test, Ranking Test, Alphabet Test, Logical Sequence of Words, Puzzle Test, Coding-Decoding, Clock and Calendar. · Section – 2 : Fundamentals of Computer (Input and Output Devices, Hardware, Software), Storage Devices, Memory –Primary & Secondary Memory, MS-Paint, Introduction to Multimedia, MS-Word (Paragraph formatting Using Paragraph group, Drop Cap, Document Views, Inserting Graphics-Pictures and Shapes, Screenshots, Symbols, SmartArt, Multimedia Objects, Text Box, Inserting Header and Footer in a document and exploring its features), Introduction to MS-PowerPoint (Component of MS-PowerPoint window and its features, Inserting Graphics-Pictures and Shapes, Screenshots, Symbols, SmartArt, Multimedia Objects, Text Box, Inserting Header & Footer and exploring its features, Running slide shows, Presentation Views), Internet, Computer Networks, Using Windows 11. · Section – 3 : Introduction to AI, Robotics, IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. · Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. · Questions are based on Windows 11 and MS-Office 2016.

Class 6

Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. · Section – 2 : Fundamentals of Computer (Types of Computers, Hardware, Software and I/O Devices), History and Generation of Computers, Using Windows 11, MS-Word(Working with Charts and Tables, Using Layout tab, Arranging multiple windows of a document), MS-PowerPoint(Creating presentation using Animation, Working with Animations and Transitions, Creating new slides using Slides pane, Working with Handouts and Notes Master, Arranging multiple windows of a presentations, Working with Charts and Tables), Networking and Cyber Safety, Introduction to HTML & CSS (Html, Head, Title, Body, Comment tag (<!-- -->), <H1>--<H6>, <B>, <I>, <U>, <P> and Some More Basic Tags), Introduction to Scratch, Memory & Storage Devices. · Section – 3 : AI, Robotics, IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. · Section – ​4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. · Questions are based on Windows 11 and MS-Office 2016.

Class 7

Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. · Section – 2 : Fundamentals of Computer (Hardware, Software, I/O Devices, Introduction to Algorithm & Flow Chart and Its Uses and General Information About Computers), Evolution of Computers, Memory & Storage Devices, Using Windows 11, MS-Word (Links, Mail Merge, Macros, Exploring Styles group), MS-PowerPoint (Working with Slides Master and Themes, Advancing slides using Hyperlink and Actions, Customizing Slide Shows), MS-Excel (Components of MS-Excel window, Editing and formatting cells in a worksheet, Introduction to Formulas, Sorting and filtering data, Macros, Features of Insert and Page layout tabs), Networking and Cyber Safety, HTML & CSS (HTML, Head, Title, Body (Attributes: Background, Bgcolor, Text, Link, Alink, Vlink), Font (Attributes: Color, Size, Face), Center, BR, HR (Attributes: Size, Width, Align, Noshade, Color)), Basic Programming in Scratch. · Section – 3 : AI, Robotics, IT gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. · Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. · Questions are based on Windows 11 and MS-Office 2016.

Class 8

Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. · Section – 2 : Fundamentals of Computer (Hardware, Software, Algorithms & Flowcharts (Advanced symbols) and Introduction to Number System), Using Windows 11, HTML & CSS (Html Elements: A, Ul and Ol (Attributes: Type, Start), Li and Some More Advanced Tags and Attributes), Programming in Scratch, MS-Access, Networking, MS-Word (Exploring File tab, Language and Translate options, Tracking features -Comments, Reviewing Pane, Tracking Changes, Comparing, Combining and Protecting documents, Working with References), MS-PowerPoint (Exploring File tab and Slide Show tab, Comparing, Combining and Protecting presentations), MS-Excel (Exploring File tab, Useful Formulas and Functions - IF, Even, Odd, LCM, GCD, Power, Product, Round, Sqrt, Sum, Min, Max, Average, Count, Upper, Lower And Replace, Cell referencing, Using Defined Names group), Memory & Storage Devices, Cyber Safety, Operating System (Introduction, Features, Types-single user and multi-user). · Section – 3 : AI, Robotics, IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. · Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions - Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. · Questions are based on Windows 11 and MS-Office 2016.

Syllabus topics and a sample question for your child's class:

Is there a Level 2?

No, there is one level.

How does my child get the admit card?

Roll number and admit card come through the school. If missing, the school asks SOF for a duplicate.

Is there an official ICSO answer key?

Not published on SOF's own website.

When do results come, and what can my child win?

Within 8 weeks: sent to the school, and on SOF's results page.

  • Every child: a certificate and a progress report
  • Zonal top 25 per class: gold medal of distinction
  • School gold medals
  • Cash awards for international and zonal top ranks

Where can I find ICSO sample papers and previous year papers?

One free sample paper per class to download on SOF'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.

How can my child prepare for ICSO?

A few questions a day in the real pattern, and one full timed paper a week, works better than a last-minute rush.

From SOF's own website · SOF's results page, 25 Oct 2026.

Keep reading

Checked on each organiser's own website, 25 Oct 2026. Rules and dates can change; their site is always final. Olympiad Owl is not linked to any organiser.