The NSEJS Syllabus 2026 is broadly based on the Science and Mathematics syllabus prescribed up to Class 10 by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The National Standard Examination in Junior Science (NSEJS) tests students on concepts from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, and Mathematics.
The NSEJS Science syllabus covers important concepts from Classes 8 to 10, while questions may require students to apply concepts rather than simply recall facts. The NSEJS Olympiad syllabus is designed to test conceptual understanding, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
Students preparing for NSEJS should understand the complete NSEJS syllabus topics, identify the NSEJS important topics, and practice higher-level questions regularly.
The NSEJS syllabus is broadly equivalent to the secondary level, up to and including Class 10 CBSE Science and Mathematics. Topics studied in lower classes are also included.
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NSEJS Syllabus 2026 Overview |
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Particulars |
Details |
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Exam Name |
National Standard Examination in Junior Science (NSEJS) |
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Conducting Body |
Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) |
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Syllabus Level |
Up to Class 10 CBSE |
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Subjects |
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science and Mathematics |
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NSEJS Science Syllabus |
Class 8 to 10-level Science concepts |
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Mathematics |
Class 10-level concepts |
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Question Level |
Conceptual and application-based |
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Syllabus Type |
NSEJS Olympiad syllabus |
The official syllabus also notes that NSE and INO questions can be non-conventional and difficult. Therefore, students should not prepare only by memorising textbook definitions and formulas.
The NSEJS Science syllabus includes major topics from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. It also covers environmental and natural resource-related concepts.
The major areas are:
Matter and its properties
Chemical substances and reactions
Organisation in the living world
Life processes
Motion, force, and work
Effects of current
Light
Our environment
Natural resources
Food production
The Chemistry section focuses on matter, chemical reactions, acids and bases, metals and non-metals, carbon compounds, and the periodic classification of elements.
Important concepts include:
States of matter
Characteristics of solids, liquids, and gases
Density and volume
Change of state
Melting and freezing
Evaporation and condensation
Sublimation
Elements, compounds, and mixtures
Homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures
Colloids and suspensions
Solutions and concentration
Separation of components
Atoms and molecules
Mole concept
Atomic and molecular masses
Isotopes and isobars
This section includes:
Chemical equations
Balanced chemical equations
Types of chemical reactions
Combination reactions
Decomposition reactions
Displacement reactions
Double displacement reactions
Precipitation reactions
Neutralization
Oxidation and reduction
Acids, bases, and salts
pH scale
Sodium hydroxide
Bleaching powder
Baking soda
Washing soda
Plaster of Paris
Properties of metals and non-metals
Reactivity series
Ionic compounds
Metallurgical processes
Corrosion and its prevention
Students should prepare:
Covalent bonding
Properties of carbon
Homologous series
Nomenclature of carbon compounds
Functional groups
Saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons
Alkanes and alkynes
Alcohols
Aldehydes and ketones
Chemical properties of carbon compounds
Combustion
Oxidation
Addition and substitution reactions
Ethanol
Ethanoic acid
Soaps and detergents
Important topics include:
Need for classification
Dobereiner's Triads
Newlands' Law of Octaves
Mendeleev's Periodic Table
Modern Periodic Table
Atomic number
Valency
Metallic and non-metallic properties
Periodic trends
The Biology portion covers cells, tissues, biodiversity, health, life processes, reproduction, heredity, and evolution.
Topics include:
Cell as the basic unit of life
Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
Plant and animal cells
Cell membrane and cell wall
Cell organelles
Chloroplast
Mitochondria
Vacuoles
Endoplasmic reticulum
Golgi apparatus
Nucleus
Chromosomes
Plant and animal tissues
Classification of living organisms
Scientific naming
Major groups of plants
Major groups of animals
Students should study:
Health and diseases
Infectious and non-infectious diseases
Causes of diseases
Diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and protozoans
Prevention of diseases
Principles of treatment
Pulse Polio programme
This is one of the important areas of the NSEJS syllabus. It includes:
Nutrition
Respiration
Transportation
Excretion
Life processes in plants and animals
Control and coordination
Tropic movements
Plant hormones
Nervous system
Reflex action
Animal hormones
Important NSEJS syllabus topics include:
Reproduction in plants and animals
Asexual reproduction
Sexual reproduction
Reproductive health
Family planning
Safe sex
HIV/AIDS
Childbearing
Women's health
Students should cover:
Heredity
Mendel's contribution
Laws of inheritance
Inheritance of traits
Sex determination
Basic concepts of evolution
The Physics syllabus focuses on mechanics, electricity, magnetism, light, sound, and related concepts.
Important topics include:
Distance and displacement
Velocity
Uniform and non-uniform motion
Acceleration
Distance-time graphs
Velocity-time graphs
Equations of motion
Uniform circular motion
Force and motion
Newton's laws of motion
Inertia
Mass and momentum
Conservation of momentum
Gravitation
Universal law of gravitation
Acceleration due to gravity
Mass and weight
Free fall
Thrust and pressure
Archimedes' principle
Buoyancy
Work, energy, and power
Kinetic and potential energy
Conservation of energy
The important topics are:
Nature of sound
Propagation of sound
Speed of sound
Range of hearing
Ultrasound
Reflection of sound
Echo
SONAR
Human ear
This section includes:
Electric current
Potential difference
Ohm's law
Resistance
Resistivity
Factors affecting resistance
Series and parallel combination of resistors
Heating effect of current
Electric power
Relationship between P, V, I, and R
Magnetic effects of current
Magnetic field
Magnetic field lines
Current-carrying conductor
Solenoid
Electric motor
Electromagnetic induction
Electric generator
Direct current and alternating current
Domestic electric circuits
Students should prepare:
Reflection of light
Curved mirrors
Spherical mirrors
Centre of curvature
Principal axis
Principal focus
Focal length
Mirror formula
Magnification
Refraction
Laws of refraction
Refractive index
Spherical lenses
Lens formula
Magnification
Power of lens
Human eye
Defects of vision
Correction of vision
Prism
Dispersion
Scattering of light
Environmental topics are also included in the NSEJS syllabus. Students should cover the following areas:
Air
Water
Soil
Air pollution
Water pollution
Soil pollution
Ozone layer
Ozone depletion
Water cycle
Oxygen cycle
Carbon cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Ecosystems
Environmental problems
Waste management
Biodegradable and non-biodegradable substances
Renewable and non-renewable energy
Fossil fuels
Solar energy
Biogas
Wind energy
Hydroelectric energy
Tidal energy
Nuclear energy
Conservation of natural resources
Forest and wildlife conservation
Coal and petroleum conservation
Water harvesting
Sustainable use of resources
Mathematics is also important for NSEJS preparation. Students are expected to have basic proficiency in mathematical concepts studied up to Class 10.
The major NSEJS syllabus topics for Mathematics include:
Number systems
Polynomials
Linear equations
Quadratic equations
Triangles
Trigonometry
Circles
Surface areas and volumes
Statistics
Students should practice numerical problems based on these concepts because Mathematics is useful for solving Physics and other application-based questions as well.
Although the official syllabus does not provide a fixed chapter-wise weightage, some areas are particularly important because they involve strong conceptual understanding and numerical or application-based questions.
Motion and equations of motion
Newton's laws
Gravitation
Work, energy, and power
Electricity
Magnetic effects of current
Electromagnetic induction
Light
Sound
Atoms and molecules
Chemical reactions
Acids, bases, and salts
Metals and non-metals
Carbon compounds
Periodic classification
Mole concept
Cell structure
Tissues
Life processes
Reproduction
Heredity
Evolution
Health and diseases
Biodiversity
Environment
Number systems
Algebra
Linear equations
Quadratic equations
Geometry
Trigonometry
Statistics
Surface areas and volumes
A structured preparation strategy can help students cover the large syllabus effectively.
Begin with NCERT Science and Mathematics textbooks from Classes 8 to 10. Make sure the basic concepts are clear before moving to advanced problems.
Prepare chapter-wise notes containing:
Important definitions
Formulas
Diagrams
Chemical reactions
Important biological processes
Key concepts
Physics and Chemistry require regular numerical practice. Solve different types of problems instead of repeating only easy questions.
NSEJS questions can be different from standard school questions. Practice questions that ask you to apply a concept to a new situation.
Previous-year NSEJS papers help you understand the question style, difficulty level, and type of concepts tested.
Keep a separate revision schedule for formulas, reactions, diagrams, definitions, and important concepts.
Students looking for the NSEJS syllabus PDF should refer to the official syllabus released for the National Standard Examination and Indian National Olympiad. The official syllabus covers Junior Science along with the other NSE subjects.
The NSEJS syllabus PDF can be used as a checklist while preparing each chapter and tracking completed topics.
The NSEJS Syllabus 2026 covers a wide range of Science and Mathematics topics up to the Class 10 CBSE level. Students should give equal importance to Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Environment, and Mathematics while preparing.
Understanding the NSEJS syllabus topics is the first step, but regular practice is equally important. Since the NSEJS Olympiad syllabus can be tested through challenging and application-based questions, students should combine NCERT preparation with Olympiad-level practice and previous-year papers.
PW provides Olympiad exam content, including Olympiad Exam Updates, sample papers, mock tests, guidance sessions, and more. Also, enroll today in the Olympiad Online Batches for preparation.