SOF Olympiad Exam Dates 2026-27: IMO, NSO, IEO Full Schedule and Prep Plan

Quick answer for parents searching right now: the SOF Olympiad season for 2026-27 is underway, and the biggest exams land in the next few weeks. Per the official schedule on sofworld.org, the Maths Olympiad (IMO) dates are October 23, November 26, and December 10, 2026; the Science Olympiad (ISO, the exam parents still call NSO) is on October 30, November 19, and December 3; and the English Olympiad (IEO) has its remaining dates on October 27 and November 17. Your child's school picks one date per exam - so the first step is asking the school which date it has chosen, because registrations close 30 days before each date.

The remaining SOF exam dates for 2026-27 (verified 20 October 2026)

From the official SOF exam schedule page:

• SOF IMO (Mathematics, Classes 1-12): October 23, November 26, and December 10, 2026.
• SOF ISO (Science, Classes 1-12): October 30, November 19, and December 3, 2026. This is the exam earlier called NSO - SOF renamed it, which is why older guides may say NSO.
• SOF IEO (English, Classes 1-12): October 27 and November 17, 2026.
• SOF IGKO (General Knowledge, Classes 1-10): November 3, 2026 (remaining date).
• SOF ICSO (Computer Science, Classes 1-10): December 17, 2026.
• SOF ISSO (Social Studies, Classes 3-10): November 30, 2026 and January 19, 2027.
• SOF IHO (Hindi, Classes 3-10): November 23, 2026 and January 22, 2027.
• SOF ICO (Commerce, Classes 11-12): November 30, 2026 and January 19, 2027.

IEO, ISO, and IMO have a second level for Classes 3-12, tentatively planned for February 2027; SOF has said level 2 dates will be announced by December 2026.

The part most parents get wrong: registration is through school

You cannot register your child individually for SOF Olympiads. Schools register students, and SOF asks schools to send registrations 30 days before the chosen exam date. So if your child's school is participating, the practical deadline is the school's internal one, not SOF's calendar. If the school is not participating this year, ask the coordinator directly - many schools register when enough parents show interest. A quick conversation this week can still make the November dates.

How much preparation is enough?

Olympiad papers test application, not memory - the questions take school-level concepts and twist them. For most children, three to four weeks of focused practice makes a visible difference:

1. Start with one sample paper. SOF's pattern is consistent year to year. One untimed paper shows you exactly which question types your child handles well and which ones need work.
2. Twenty minutes a day beats Sunday marathons. Short daily practice builds the speed these papers reward - the same principle as in our guide to improving speed and accuracy in maths.
3. For younger children, read together. IEO and IGKO reward children who read widely. Ten minutes of shared reading daily, using the approach in building reading habits, quietly compounds into olympiad marks.
4. Keep it pressure-free. A medal is lovely, but the real value is that your child learns to enjoy problem-solving. Children who enjoy the process try again next year - and that is where the compounding happens.

Where a tutor fits in olympiad preparation

Most olympiad prep needs nothing more than a workbook and consistency. A tutor earns their fee in two situations: when your child is aiming for level 2 or international ranks and needs advanced problem training, and when a specific weakness - usually maths reasoning or English comprehension - keeps blocking the same question types. At EZ Tuitions, we match students with tutors for olympiad maths, science, and English preparation, one-to-one at home or online, starting with a demo class.

Frequently asked questions

What are the SOF IMO exam dates for 2026-27?

October 23, November 26, and December 10, 2026, per the official schedule on sofworld.org. Your child's school chooses one of these dates, so confirm with the school coordinator which one applies.

Is NSO the same as ISO now?

Yes. SOF renamed the National Science Olympiad (NSO) to International Science Olympiad (ISO). The 2026-27 ISO dates are October 30, November 19, and December 3, 2026, for Classes 1-12.

Can I register my child for SOF Olympiads individually?

No. Registration happens through schools, and SOF asks schools to register 30 days before the chosen exam date. If your school is not participating, ask the coordinator - many register when parents show interest.

Which SOF Olympiads have a second level in 2026-27?

IEO, ISO, and IMO have level 2 exams for Classes 3-12, tentatively in February 2027 with dates announced by December 2026. IGKO, ICSO, ISSO, IHO, and ICO are single-level exams.

The dates are out, the season has started, and the only question that matters this week is which date your child's school has chosen. Ask tomorrow morning - the November windows reward the parents who do.