SOF vs Unified Council: which olympiad suits your child?
Both run school olympiads on the school syllabus, with a certificate for every child. They differ in who can register, where your child sits the paper, the fee and the rounds.
- your child's school already runs SOF olympiads: registration is only through the school
- you want a second round for top scorers
- you want to register your child yourself
- you want the option of sitting it from home
- you want the lower fee: from ₹150 against ₹170
- you want a paper that says plainly there is no negative marking
Side by side
| SOF | Unified Council | |
|---|---|---|
| Olympiads | 8, Classes 1 to 12 | 6, Classes 1 to 10 (NSTSE up to 12 in school) |
| Who registers | Through the school only; if your school doesn't run it, it can sign up free | School exam through the school; online exam, you register yourself |
| Where | On paper, in your child's school | On paper in school, or online from home with a computer and webcam |
| Fee (India) | ₹170 per olympiad; the school may add up to ₹30 | ₹150 (school exam) or ₹350 (online) |
| Paper | 35 questions (Classes 1 to 4) or 50 (Class 5 up), 60 minutes | Multiple choice questions, 60 minutes |
| Rounds | Level 2 for maths, science and English (Classes 3 to 12) | One round |
| Maths dates 2026-27 | IMO: 23 Oct (held), 26 Nov, 10 Dec 2026 | UIMO: 10 Jan 2027 |
| Last date to register | Through the school, usually 30 days before the exam date | Not published |
| Results | Within 8 weeks, to the school and on SOF's results page | About 40 days after the exam |
| Negative marking | Not published | None |
Full details: every SOF olympiad · every Unified Council olympiad · IMO · UIMO
Which is better, SOF or Unified Council?
Neither is better for every child. Start with which one your child can take (one is through the school and the other you can register for yourself), then pick the subjects your child enjoys.
Is Unified Council easier than SOF?
Neither organiser publishes a difficulty comparison. What can be compared is the paper. SOF: 35 questions (Classes 1 to 4) or 50 (Class 5 up), 60 minutes. Unified Council: multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes.
Can my child take both?
Yes. They are separate organisers with separate papers, and their 2026-27 exam dates never fall on the same day.
Is SOF or Unified Council online or offline?
SOF: on paper, in your child's school. Unified Council: on paper in school, or online from home with a computer and webcam.
Which olympiads can be taken from home?
Every olympiad date for 2026-27