SOF vs SilverZone: which olympiad suits your child?
Both are school olympiads with multiple-choice papers on the school syllabus, and a certificate for every child. They differ in who can register, where your child sits the paper, the fee, and how many rounds there are.
- your child's school already runs SOF olympiads: registration is only through the school
- you want a fee you can see in advance: ₹170 per olympiad
- you want a longer paper: 35 questions (Classes 1 to 4) or 50 (Class 5 up) in 60 minutes
- your school doesn't run SOF, or you want to register your child yourself
- you want the option to sit it online, from home
- your child is in pre-primary: SilverZone has Little Star olympiads; SOF starts at Class 1
Side by side
| SOF | SilverZone | |
|---|---|---|
| Olympiads | 8, Classes 1 to 12 | 17, including pre-primary |
| Who registers | The school only; if your school doesn't run it, it can sign up free | You or the school; a school centre usually needs 20 to 40 students |
| Where | On paper, in your child's school, during school hours | Online or offline |
| Fee (India) | ₹170 per olympiad; the school may add up to ₹30 | Shown only when you register |
| Paper | 35 questions (Classes 1 to 4), 50 (Class 5 up), 60 minutes | 25 to 40 questions by class, 40 to 50 minutes, 100 marks |
| Rounds (maths, science, English) | Two: Level 2 for Classes 3 to 12 | Three: Level 2 for Classes 3 to 12, Level 3 for Classes 6 to 12 |
| Who goes to Level 2 | The top 5% of each class worldwide, the top 25 of each class in each zone, and each school's class topper (when 10 or more took the exam and the topper scored 50% or more) | Children ranked 4th to 1003rd with 50% or more, and school toppers with 75% or more where 100 or more took the subject |
| Maths dates 2026-27 | 23 Oct (held), 26 Nov, 10 Dec 2026 | 8 Oct (held), 18 Nov, 7 Dec 2026 |
| Science dates 2026-27 | 30 Oct (held), 19 Nov, 3 Dec 2026 | 14 Oct (held), 19 Nov, 8 Dec 2026 |
| English dates 2026-27 | 30 Sep (held), 27 Oct (held), 17 Nov 2026 | 21 Oct (held), 26 Nov, 10 Dec 2026 |
| Results | Within 8 weeks, to the school and on SOF's own website | 2026-27 dates not published yet |
| Negative marking | Not published | Not published |
Full details: every SOF olympiad · every SilverZone olympiad · IMO · iOM
What is the same in both?
Both follow the school syllabus (CBSE, ICSE and state boards), use multiple-choice questions, give every child a certificate, and award medals and cash prizes to top ranks. In both, the school picks one of the Level 1 dates when it is the school that registers.
Which is better, SOF or SilverZone?
Neither is better for every child. The practical question is which one your child can take: SOF only through a school that runs it; SilverZone also lets you register yourself and sit it online. After that, it comes down to the subjects your child enjoys.
Is SilverZone easier than SOF?
Neither organiser publishes a difficulty comparison. What can be compared: SilverZone papers are shorter (25 to 40 questions in 40 to 50 minutes) than SOF papers (35 to 50 questions in 60 minutes), and both follow the school syllabus.
Can my child take both?
Yes. They are separate organisers with separate papers. On 12 days in 2026-27 both hold an exam, so check the two dates before you register; where the school picks one of several dates, or you pick an online slot, a clash can usually be avoided.
Is SOF or SilverZone online or offline?
SOF is on paper, in your child's own school. SilverZone can be taken online or offline.
Maths olympiads compared
Science olympiads compared
English olympiads compared