

NSEC 2025 Question Paper: The NSEC (National Standard Examination in Chemistry) is a national-level chemistry Olympiad for students in Class 12 or below in India, featuring a mix of objective-type questions from the Class 11 and 12 CBSE curriculum. The 2025 exam is scheduled for November 23, 2025, and will include questions covering Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, and Organic Chemistry.
You can get the NSEC 2025 question paper PDF below, and is also available at the official IAPT site. These papers are valuable for practice and understanding the exam format. The 2025 question paper will be released online after the exam is conducted.
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The National Standard Examination in Chemistry (NSEC) is conducted by IAPT and acts as Stage 1 of the Chemistry Olympiad pathway in India. Students who clear NSEC qualify for INChO, leading further to OCSC and international stages.
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | National Standard Examination in Chemistry (NSEC) 2025 |
| Conducting Body | Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) |
| Exam Level | First Stage of Chemistry Olympiad |
| Exam Mode | Offline (Pen-paper) |
| Total Questions | 60 MCQs |
| Total Marks | 216 |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Medium | English + regional languages (if minimum candidates opt) |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate–High |
| Next Stage | INChO (Indian National Chemistry Olympiad) |
Students aiming for INChO can download the NSEC 2025 question paper here.
| NSEC 2025 Question Paper PDF Links | |
| Resource | PDF Link |
| NSEC 2025 Question Paper PDF | Download Link |
| NSEC 2025 Question Paper with Solutions PDF | Download Link |
1. Helps Understand Olympiad-Level Chemistry Syllabus
The NSEC exam focuses on conceptual chemistry, including numericals, multi-step reasoning, and applied problem-solving.
2. Improved Speed & Accuracy
Timed practice of NSEC papers strengthens calculation methods and logical reasoning.
3. Better Conceptual Retention
Topics like thermodynamics, organic mechanism sequencing, equilibrium, and physical chemistry require repeated exposure.
4. Helps Identify Weak Areas
Solving full-length papers highlights gaps in chapters like electrochemistry, stoichiometry, atomic structure, and kinetics.
5. Boosts Confidence for INChO
Solving model and previous-year NSEC question papers simulates the actual exam environment.
The exam usually includes a balanced mix of:
Organic Chemistry (reaction mechanism, stereochemistry, GOC)
Physical Chemistry (thermo, equilibrium, kinetics, electrochemistry)
Inorganic Chemistry (coordination, chemical bonding, periodicity)
Atomic structure & quantum concepts
Redox processes
Solution chemistry
Analytical & application-based problems
These topics form the backbone of the NSEC + INChO syllabus.
The structure closely follows the Olympiad model:
Part 1 – 48 MCQs (Single Correct Answer)
+3 for correct
−1 for incorrect
Part 2 – 12 MCQs (Multiple Correct Answer)
+3 for fully correct response
−1 for any incorrect attempt
Total Marks: 216
The paper demands conceptual clarity rather than formula memorisation.
The NSEC 2025-26 Syllabus and Exam Pattern follows the NCERT curriculum for Classes 11 and 12, but it also includes higher-level questions and detailed overview is provided in the blog.
NSEC registration for centre registration has started from 1st August 2025 and continued till 20th August 2025. Student enrolment opened on 21st August 2025 and remain available until 14th September 2025.
Students to be eligible for NSEC 2025-26 must be born between 1st July 2006 and 30th June 2011, all dates inclusive and the detailed overview is provided above.