International Computer Science Olympiad (ICSO) 2026-27: Exam Date, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern & Registration - Complete Guide

The International Computer Science Olympiad (ICSO) is a test for students from Classes 1 to 10 that takes place every year under the umbrella of Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF). Students appear for ICSO at their respective schools only if their schools are registered with SOF.

This exam is a single-level test, therefore, there is no further level after this one. The students will be ranked on the basis of their performance at school, city, zonal and international levels. For the session 2026-27, SOF has fixed the date of examination on September 24, 2026 and December 17, 2026.

What is the International Computer Science Olympiad (ICSO) 2026-27?

ICSO is an annual knowledge contest in computers conducted by SOF among students of Classes 1 to 10. The test aims at examining the knowledge and logical skills of the students about computers and IT.

The question paper will be framed on the basis of the syllabus of CBSE, ICSE, and State Board. The exam will instill among the students interest in computers and technology.

The above details, including the exam dates, duration, question count and fee, are given in the source material.

ICSO Exam Date 2026-27

The SOF will conduct the ICSO exam of 2026-27 on two days, i.e., 24th September 2026 and 17th December 2026. The 24th September exam day has already been gone, hence students who have not appeared yet must contact their school about 17th December exam.

The school picks any one of the two exam days. There is a different question paper for each exam day, which can’t be altered later on.

ICSO Eligibility Criteria 2026-27

ICSO registration norms are very simple. Students studying in classes 1 to 10 can take the examination if they belong to a school registered with SOF.

• Students must be studying in classes 1 to 10.
• Schools in which the students study should be registered with SOF.
• Students cannot register themselves.
• A student can take part in the examination only for the class he belongs to.
• There are no such norms of minimum marks or age mentioned in the source.
• Students belonging to India and even other countries can take part.
• Previous year participants can also take part in this examination.

How to Register for ICSO 2026-27?

ICSO registration is completed through schools, not directly by individual students.

1. SOF sends the prospectus and registration forms to registered schools.
2. If a school isn't registered, its principal can contact SOF for registration.
3. The Olympiad teacher completes the School Registration Form and Students' Registration Sheet.
4. The school selects one of the available exam dates.
5. The school submits the registration forms and fees to SOF at least 30 days before the exam.
6. SOF provides roll numbers and sends the question papers to the school.

ICSO Registration Fee 2026-27

Students who study in India, Bhutan, and Nepal will be charged Rs 170 for registration per individual. Schools can also collect extra money locally up to Rs 30. Foreign students have to pay US$11 as registration fee, while the extra amount will be up to US$1.

It is also mentioned in the same source that SOF does not collect any fees from students with serious disabilities and Indian students whose parents lost their lives in military actions.

ICSO Exam Pattern 2026-27

The ICSO exam pattern consists of four sections and all questions are multiple-choice questions. The exam duration is 60 minutes. Classes 1 to 4 have 35 questions for 40 marks, while Classes 5 to 10 have 50 questions for 60 marks.

Achievers Section is very vital as its scores are also used in breaking the tie. In case two candidates score equally, then the one who has scored more in the Achievers Section will be ranked above the other.

According to the source, 60 percent of the questions asked in the examination test the current year's syllabus and 40 percent the previous year's syllabus. The Achievers Section only tests the current year's syllabus.

ICSO Syllabus 2026-27 for Classes 1 to 10

The ICSO syllabus follows the CBSE, ICSE and State Board books. The major topics vary according to the class.

Best Books and Resources for ICSO Preparation

Students can use a combination of textbooks, sample papers and practice resources for preparation.

• SOF sample papers: Useful for understanding the latest exam pattern.
• ICSO previous year papers: Help students practise questions from earlier exams.
• MTG ICSO Olympiad Workbook: Available for Classes 1 to 10 and aligned with the ICSO syllabus.
• School computer books: Students should revise both current and previous class books because of the 60:40 syllabus distribution.
• SOF Olympiad Trainer app and OSDS: Useful for online practice and mock tests.
• MTG Olympiad Reasoning book: Can help improve logical reasoning speed.
• Computer practice: Students can practise tools in MS Word, Excel and Paint.
• Scratch and Python: Students in Classes 6 to 8 can practise Scratch, while Classes 9 and 10 can work on basic Python programs.

How to Prepare for ICSO 2026-27?

The following strategies can be followed by the students considering the nature of the exam:

• Firstly, start solving the Achievers section because questions carry more marks, and it can be useful in breaking the tie.
• Revising the computer syllabus of the previous year should be done as 40% of the questions come from this syllabus.
• Preparing one-page sheet for important computer shortcut keys like Ctrl + C, Ctrl + Z, and Ctrl + S.
• Knowing the location of the options in MS Word, Excel, and Power Point.
• Practising with a timer as Classes 5 to 10 get 72 seconds per question, whereas Classes 1 to 4 get 100 seconds.
• Solving at least two complete sample papers in the last two weeks and analysing the mistakes.
• Parents of younger kids can read practice questions out loud in case of slow reading speed.
• Learning basic facts about new gadgets and AI.

When Will the ICSO Result 2026-27 Be Declared?

According to SOF, the results for Olympiad are usually announced within eight weeks from the date of the exam. From the previous session, we can infer that ICSO 2026-27 results will probably come out between February and March 2027.

Candidates need to keep their roll numbers safe after the exam. They can check their results via SOF result portal using roll number. Results are also provided to the schools.

The result consists of the name of the school of the candidate, city, zonal, and international ranking. Candidates also get a Student Progress Report.

ICSO 2026-27 Awards

Since ICSO is a single-level exam, SOF provides international and zonal awards based on the same examination.

• International Rank 1 to 5: Cash awards of ₹25,000, ₹10,000, ₹7,500, ₹5,000 and ₹2,500 respectively.
• Zonal Rank 1 to 3: ₹5,000, ₹2,500 and ₹1,000 respectively.
• Zonal Rank 4 to 10: Gift worth ₹500 and a Certificate of Zonal Excellence.
• Zonal Rank 11 to 25: Certificate of Zonal Excellence.
• School level: Gold Medal of Excellence for eligible top rankers and students scoring 100%.
• Every student: Certificate of Participation and Student Progress Report.
• Teachers and principals: Cash awards, trophies and citations for strong school results.

Is ICSO the Same as the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI)?

No. ICSO and IOI are different examinations. ICSO is an MCQ-based computer knowledge examination for students in Classes 1 to 10, while the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) is an international programming competition for high school students.

ICSO focuses on computer fundamentals, IT, logical reasoning, AI and related concepts, while IOI focuses on competitive programming.

FAQs: ICSO Exam 2026-27

Q1. What is the full form of ICSO?

ICSO stands for International Computer Science Olympiad. SOF conducts the exam for students from Classes 1 to 10.

Q2. Can I appear for ICSO without my school?

No. ICSO registration is completed through schools. Students should ask their school to register with SOF.

Q3. Is the ICSO exam online or offline?

ICSO is an offline exam. Students take the test at their school during school hours.

Q4. Is there a Level 2 in ICSO?

No. ICSO is a single-level exam, and rankings are based on performance in this examination.

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