SOF ICSO 2026-27 (International Computer Science Olympiad) is conducted by Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) for students of Class 1 to 10. The exam is held on 2 dates: Exam date – 24 September 2026 (held); Exam date – 17 December 2026. The next one is on 17 December 2026. Registration is open. It is also called SOF NCO (National Cyber Olympiad, the old name or sofworld.org still links /nco/ pages).
SOF ICSO 2026-27
This page covers SOF ICSO 2026-27 dates, how to apply, eligibility, the exam pattern, awards and official links.
| Full name | International Computer Science Olympiad |
| Conducted by | Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) |
| Classes | 1 to 10 |
| Mode | Offline (pen-paper, objective MCQ) at the student’s own school during school hours |
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Fee | Rs 170 (incl. GST) per student per Olympiad, paid by the school to SOF (India, Bhutan, Nepal); the school may collect Rs 30 more, so students pay Rs 200 at school. No fee for students with a major physical disability or children of defence martyrs. |
| Official website | sofworld.org |
SOF ICSO 2026-27 Quick Links
SOF ICSO 2026-27 Important Dates
SOF has confirmed the SOF ICSO 2026-27 exam dates. The result and answer key dates are to be announced. Dates were checked on 30 October 2026 against sofworld.org.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Exam date | 24 September 2026 (held) |
| Exam date | 17 December 2026 |
| Registration (through school) | Open now |
| Result | To be announced |
| Answer key | To be announced |
How to Apply for SOF ICSO 2026-27
Registration through schools only; schools send registrations up to 30 days before their chosen exam date. The fee is rs 170 (incl. GST) per student per Olympiad, paid by the school to SOF (India, Bhutan, Nepal); the school may collect Rs 30 more, so students pay Rs 200 at school. No fee for students with a major physical disability or children of defence martyrs.
Is the SOF ICSO 2026-27 application form out?
Yes. Registration through schools only; schools send registrations up to 30 days before their chosen exam date.
- Exam date
- 24 September 2026 (held)
- Exam date
- 17 December 2026
Steps to Apply for SOF ICSO 2026-27
- Registration is only through the student’s school; individual registrations are not accepted.
- The school registers as an exam centre (no fee) and fills the School Registration Form (SRF) and Students’ Registration Sheet (SRS).
- Student pays the Olympiad fee at school; the school sends forms and fees to SOF before the last date (usually about 30 days before the exam).
- SOF generates roll numbers for all registered students from the SRS.
Who can apply for SOF ICSO 2026-27?
Classes 1-10 in a school registered with SOF; single-level exam (no Level 2).
Qualifying and selection: Single-level exam (no Level 2): winners are decided on the one exam’s international, zonal (26 zones) and school ranks; the top 25 zonal rank holders per class get a Medal of Distinction.
What is the SOF ICSO exam pattern?
SOF ICSO has multiple-choice questions and lasts 60 minutes. Mode: offline (pen-paper, objective MCQ) at the student’s own school during school hours. The number of questions and marks depend on the class:
| Class | Questions | Marks | Sections |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classes 1 and 2 | 35 | 40 | Logical Reasoning 5 Q (5 marks), Computer Science 20 Q (20), Information Technology 5 Q (5), Achievers Section 5 Q x 2 = 10 |
| Classes 3 and 4 | 35 | 40 | Logical Reasoning 5 Q (5 marks), Computer Science 20 Q (20), AI, Robotics and Information Technology 5 Q (5), Achievers Section 5 Q x 2 = 10 |
| Classes 5 to 10 | 50 | 60 | Logical Reasoning 10 Q (10 marks), Computer Science 30 Q (30), AI, Robotics and Information Technology 5 Q (5), Achievers Section 5 Q x 3 = 15 |
Based on CBSE, ICSE/ISC and State Board syllabi; 60% of questions from the current class and 40% from the previous class, Achievers Section from the current class only; questions are based on Windows 11 and MS-Office 2016
What do SOF ICSO toppers get?
Single-level exam: the top 5 international rankers of each class get Rs 25,000 / 10,000 / 7,500 / 5,000 / 2,500 with gold, silver and bronze medals for the top 3; zonal ranks 1-3 get Rs 5,000 / 2,500 / 1,000 with zonal medals, ranks 4-10 a gift worth Rs 500 and ranks 11-25 a Certificate of Zonal Excellence; school toppers get Gold Medals of Excellence and every student gets a participation certificate and Student Progress Report.
SOF ICSO 2026-27 Official Notices and Links
Every date on this page comes from these official pages (30 October 2026):
- sofworld.org/icso/about-icso-exam/sof-icso-exam-dates – Exam date
- sofworld.org/exam-schedule – Registration (through school)
- sofworld.org/registeryourschool – Registration (through school)
- results.sofworld.org/results – Result
- sofworld.org/ – Answer key
- sofworld.org/icso – Answer key
SOF ICSO 2026-27 FAQs
When is the SOF ICSO 2026-27 exam?
Level 1 Date 1: 24 Sep 2026 (held). Level 1 Date 2: 17 Dec 2026.
Is SOF ICSO 2026-27 registration open?
Registration through schools only; schools send registrations up to 30 days before their chosen exam date.
Who is eligible for SOF ICSO?
Classes 1-10 in a school registered with SOF; single-level exam (no Level 2).
How many questions are there in SOF ICSO?
Class Classes 1 and 2: 35 questions, 40 marks; Class Classes 3 and 4: 35 questions, 40 marks; Class Classes 5 to 10: 50 questions, 60 marks – 60 minutes.
What is the SOF ICSO fee?
Rs 170 (incl. GST) per student per Olympiad, paid by the school to SOF (India, Bhutan, Nepal); the school may collect Rs 30 more, so students pay Rs 200 at school. No fee for students with a major physical disability or children of defence martyrs.
What is the official website of SOF ICSO?
sofworld.org