Class 10 Olympiad Exams 2025-26: Exams List, Syllabus, Tips
Class 10 Olympiad exams help students enhance their problem-solving and analytical skills in subjects like Maths, Science, English, and Biology. Prepare with IMO and NSO class 10 sample papers, previous year papers and tips to score high.
Ananya Gupta25 Nov, 2025
Class 10 Olympiad exams are national and international-level competitions designed to test students’ conceptual understanding, logical reasoning and problem-solving skills. These exams cover subjects like Mathematics, Science, English and Biology.
Participating in Olympiads such as NSO, IMO and English SOF Olympiad helps students strengthen their fundamentals and prepare for future competitive exams.
Regular practice with class 10 IMO sample papers, NSO class 10 papers and previous year question papers boosts confidence and improves performance. Olympiads are an excellent way to go beyond textbooks and apply knowledge in real-world problem-solving situations.
Class 10 Olympiad Overview
Appearing for a Class 10 Olympiad is one of the best ways to challenge yourself academically and gain a competitive edge for future entrance exams. These exams test your conceptual clarity, logical reasoning, and ability to apply knowledge, going beyond the standard school curriculum.
If you are a student in Class 10, participating in an Olympiad competition can help you assess your strengths and weaknesses on various topics which is important as you prepare for board exams and competitive careers.
List of Class 10 Olympiad Exams
Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of national and international Olympiads in Class 10. These exams test different skill sets, from mathematics and science to general knowledge and social studies. The table below lists the major Class 10 Olympiad exams, their level and the organizing body.
|
List of Class 10 Olympiad Exams |
|||
|
Name of Class 10 Olympiad Exam |
Level of Olympiad |
Description |
Organizing Body |
|
International Level |
Challenges students' mathematical problem-solving skills at a global level. |
Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) |
|
|
International Level |
Examines students' grasp of scientific concepts and their ability to apply them to real-world situations. |
Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) / Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO) |
|
|
National Level |
Assesses students' knowledge in Science and is aimed at identifying future scientists and technologists. |
Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) |
|
|
National Cyber Olympiad (NCO) |
National Level |
Assesses students' knowledge and skills in computer science, programming, and cybersecurity. |
Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) |
|
International Level |
Focuses on critical thinking and understanding of social sciences. |
Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) |
|
|
English International Olympiad (EIO/IEO) |
International Level |
Assesses proficiency in the English language, including grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension. |
Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO) / SOF |
|
International Level |
Tests students' awareness of current affairs, general knowledge, and critical thinking skills on a global scale. |
Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO) |
|
|
International Computer Olympiad (ICO) |
International Level |
Evaluates students' knowledge and skills in computer science, including hardware, software, and applications. |
Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO) |
|
National Social Studies Olympiad (NSSO) |
National Level |
Evaluates students' understanding of social sciences, including history, geography, civics, and economics. |
Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO) |
|
National Essay Olympiad (NESO) |
National Level |
Provides students with a platform to express their thoughts and ideas on a given topic through essay writing. |
Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO) |
|
International Drawing Olympiad (IDO) |
International Level |
Showcases students' artistic talents and creativity through drawing and painting competitions. |
Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO) |
Class 10 Olympiad Exam Pattern
While the exact structure may vary slightly between different organizations, most Class 10 Olympiad exams follow a similar pattern that includes multiple-choice questions.
|
Class 10 Olympiad Exam Pattern |
|||
|
Section |
Number of Questions |
Marks per Question |
Total Marks |
|
Logical Reasoning |
15 |
1 |
15 |
|
Mathematical/Science Reasoning |
20 |
1 |
20 |
|
Everyday Mathematics/Subjective |
10 |
1 |
10 |
|
Achievers Section (HOTs) |
5 |
3 |
15 |
|
Grand Total |
50 |
60 |
|
Eligibility Criteria for Class 10 Olympiad
For most of these Olympiads, the primary eligibility is simply being a student in the specified class range. For Class 10 students this means you are eligible for every exam listed below.
|
Eligibility Criteria for Class 10 Olympiad |
|||
|
Olympiad Exam Name |
Organizing Body (Typical) |
Classes Eligible |
Key Criteria |
|
International Maths Olympiad (IMO) |
SOF / Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO) |
Class 1 to Class 12 |
Must be a student in the eligible class. |
|
National Science Olympiad (NSO) |
SOF |
Class 1 to Class 12 |
Must be a student in the eligible class. |
|
English International Olympiad (EIO) / IEO |
Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO) / SOF |
Class 1 to Class 10 (ITO) / Class 1 to 12 (SOF) |
Students must have good knowledge of the subject and English language skills. |
|
National Social Studies Olympiad (NSSO) |
Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO) |
Class 1 to Class 10 |
Students from any educational board can participate. |
|
International Social Science Olympiad (ISSO) |
SOF |
Class 3 to Class 10 |
Must be a student in the eligible class. |
|
General Knowledge International Olympiad (GKIO) |
SOF / ITO |
Class 1 to Class 12 (SOF) / Class 1 to 10 (ITO) |
Must be a student in the eligible class. |
|
National Cyber Olympiad (NCO) |
SOF |
Class 1 to Class 12 |
Students in Class 10 are eligible; applications are usually through schools only. |
|
International Computer Olympiad (ICO) / ICSO |
Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO) / SOF |
Class 1 to Class 12 |
Students across different boards are eligible. |
|
National Essay Olympiad (NESO) |
Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO) |
Class 1 to Class 10 |
Students should have good knowledge of the subject and English language skills. |
|
International Drawing Olympiad (IDO) |
Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO) |
Class 1 to Class 10 |
Open to students in the eligible class range. |
|
International Science Olympiad (ISO) |
Indian Talent Olympiad (ITO) |
Class 1 to Class 10 |
Must be a student in the eligible class. |
How to Prepare for Class 10 Olympiads
Preparation for these competitive exams should start early to ensure you have enough time for practice and revision.
1. Know the Syllabus and Pattern
-
Go through the official syllabus of Class 10 IMO and Class 10 NSO.
-
Understand the marking scheme and question pattern.
-
Focus on conceptual and application-based questions.
2. Strengthen Core Concepts
-
Study all NCERT chapters carefully.
-
For Class 10 IMO focus on topics like algebra, trigonometry, geometry and number systems.
-
For Class 10 NSO focus on physics, chemistry and biology fundamentals.
3. Practice with Sample Papers
-
Solve Class 10 Maths Olympiad sample papers regularly.
-
Practice IMO Class 10 sample paper questions to get familiar with exam style.
-
It improves accuracy and speed.
4. Solve Previous Year Papers
-
Use IMO Class 10 previous year papers and Maths Olympiad Class 10 previous year question paper to understand question trends.
-
Download IMO Class 10 previous year papers PDF for daily practice.
-
Analyze your mistakes and revise weak areas.
5. Take Mock Tests
-
Attempt weekly IMO Class 10th mock tests to check your preparation level.
-
Time yourself to build exam confidence and manage pressure.
6. Focus on Logical Reasoning
-
Dedicate time to logical reasoning and analytical questions.
-
This section is crucial in both Class 10 IMO and Class 10 NSO.
7. Use Reliable Study Material
-
Refer to Olympiad-specific books and online resources.
-
Choose materials that offer Class 10 Maths Olympiad sample papers with solutions.
8. Revise Regularly
-
Revise key formulas, concepts, and notes daily.
-
Focus more on topics that appear frequently in IMO Class 10 exams.