The International Computer Science Olympiad (ICSO) is an annual school-level competitive exam organized by the Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF) for grades 1st through 10th. This exam assesses a student’s skills, conceptual understanding, and computer abilities outside of their regular school education. We have suggested how to prepare for it and other Olympiads by providing a step-by-step guide for Olympiads.
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SOF ICSO Syllabus (2025-26) – International Computer Science Olympiad
The syllabus for the ICSO (International Computer Science Olympiad) has already been published on the official SOF (Science Olympiad Foundation) website. This Olympiad will be held entirely in English. Moreover, approximately 1,00,000 students are expected to take the exam this year. Those interested in participating should review the ICSO syllabus 2025, provided below, and begin their preparation. Hence, the ICSO syllabus for classes 1st to 10th.
| ICSO Syllabus Class 1
Section – 1 : Patterns, Odd One Out, Measuring Units, Geometrical Shapes, Spatial Understanding, Grouping, Analogy, Ranking Test, Problems based on Figures. Section – 2 : Introduction to Computers, Parts of Computer, Uses of Computer, Keys and Keyboard, Computer Mouse, Starting and Shutting down the Computer, Introduction to MS-Paint. Section – 3 : IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions – Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. Questions are based on Windows 10. |
| ICSO Syllabus Class 2
Section – 1 : Patterns, Odd One Out, Measuring Units, Geometrical Shapes, Analogy, Ranking Test, Grouping of Figures, Embedded Figures, Coding-Decoding. Section – 2 : Computer-a Smart Machine, General Information about Computers, Parts of Computer, Uses of Computer, Learning to use Keyboard and Mouse, MS-Paint. Section – 3 : IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions – Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. Questions are based on Windows 10. |
| ICSO Syllabus Class 3
Section – 1 : Patterns, Analogy and Classification, Alphabet Test, Coding-Decoding, Ranking Test, Grouping of Figures and Figure Matrix, Mirror Images, Geometrical Shapes, Embedded Figures, Possible Combinations, Clock and Calendar. Section – 2 : Fundamentals of Computer, General Information about Computers, Storage Devices, Parts of Computer, Uses of Computer, Input and Output Devices, Introduction to Internet, MS-Paint, Introduction to MS-Word (Opening, Closing, Saving and Printing a Word document, Components of MS-Word window, Editing commands like Cut, Copy, Paste, Undo and Redo, Moving in a document using Home and End Keys). Section – 3 : IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions – Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. Questions are based on Windows 10 and MS-Office 2016. |
| ICSO Syllabus Class 4
Section – 1 : Patterns, Alphabet Test, Coding-Decoding, Ranking Test, Mirror Images, Geometrical Shapes and Solids, Embedded Figures, Direction Sense Test, Possible Combinations, Analogy and Classification, Clock and Calendar. Section – 2 : About Computers (General Information), Evolution of Computers, Parts of Computer, Input and Output Devices, Hardware, Software, MS-Word(Formatting a Word document, Font group, Format Painter, Search using Find and Replace option, Checking Spelling and Grammar using Thesaurus), Using Windows 10, Introduction to Internet and Its Uses, Computer Networks, MS-Paint. Section – 3 : IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions – Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. Questions are based on Windows 10 and MS-Office 2016. |
| ICSO Syllabus Class 5
Section – 1 : Patterns, Analogy and Classification, Geometrical Shapes, Mirror and Water Images, Direction Sense Test, Ranking Test, Alphabet Test, Logical Sequence of Words, Puzzle Test, Coding-Decoding, Clock and Calendar. Section – 2 : Input and Output Devices, Hardware, Software, Storage Devices, Memory –Primary & Secondary Memory, MS-Paint, Introduction to Multimedia, MS-Word (Paragraph formatting Using Paragraph group, Drop Cap, Document Views, Inserting Graphics-Pictures and Shapes, Screenshots, Symbols, SmartArt, Multimedia Objects, Text Box, Inserting Header and Footer in a document and exploring its features), Introduction to MS-PowerPoint(Component of MS-PowerPoint window and its features, Inserting Graphics-Pictures and Shapes, Screenshots, Symbols, SmartArt, Multimedia Objects, Text Box, Inserting Header & Footer and exploring its features, Running slide shows, Presentation Views), Internet, Computer Networks, Using Windows 10. Section – 3 : IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions – Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. Questions are based on Windows 10 and MS-Office 2016. |
| ICSO Syllabus Class 6
Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Section – 2 : History and Generation of Computers, Types of Computers, MS-Windows 10, MS-Word(Working with Charts and Tables, Using Layout tab, Arranging multiple windows of a document), MS-PowerPoint(Creating presentation using Animation, Working with Animations and Transitions, Creating new slides using Slides pane, Working with Handouts and Notes Master, Arranging multiple windows of a presentations, Working with Charts and Tables), Networking and Cyber Safety, Introduction to QBasic, Hardware, Software, Input & Output Devices, Memory & Storage Devices. Section – 3 : AI, Robotics, IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions – Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. Questions are based on Windows 10 and MS-Office 2016. |
| ICSO Syllabus Class 7
Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Section – 2 : Fundamentals of Computer, Evolution of Computers, Memory & Storage Devices, Algorithms & Flowcharts (Introduction and Basic Symbols), Using Windows 10, MS-Word(Links, Mail Merge, Macros, Exploring Styles group), MS-PowerPoint (Working with Slides Master and Themes, Advancing slides using Hyperlink and Actions, Customizing Slide Shows), MS-Excel (Components of MS-Excel window, Editing and formatting cells in a worksheet, Introduction to Formulas, Sorting and filtering data, Macros, Features of Insert and Page layout tabs), Programming in QBasic, Networking and Cyber Safety. Section – 3 : AI, Robotics, IT gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions – Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. Questions are based on Windows 10 and MS-Office 2016. |
| ICSO Syllabus Class 8
Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Section – 2 : Fundamentals of Computers, Algorithms & Flowcharts (Advanced symbols), HTML & CSS [Html, Head, Title, Body (Attributes: Background, Bgcolor, Text, Link, Alink, Vlink), Font (Attributes: Color, Size, Face), Center, BR, HR (Attributes: Size, Width, Align, Noshade, Color), Comment tag(<!– –>), <H1>..<H6>, <P>, <B>, <I>, <U>, <IMG>, Html Elements: A, Ul and Ol (Attributes: Type, Start), Li], Flash CS6, MS-Access, Networking, MS-Word (Exploring File tab, Language and Translate options, Tracking features -Comments, Reviewing Pane, Tracking Changes, Comparing, Combining and Protecting documents, Working with References), MS-PowerPoint (Exploring File tab and Slide Show tab, Comparing, Combining and Protecting presentations), MS-Excel(Exploring File tab, Useful Formulas and Functions – IF,Even, Odd, LCM, GCD, Power, Product, Round, Sqrt, Sum, Min, Max, Average, Count, Upper, Lower And Replace, Cell referencing, Using Defined Names group ), Memory & Storage Devices, Number System (Introduction), Cyber Safety, Operating Systems(Introduction, Features, Types-single user and multi-user). Section – 3 : AI, Robotics, IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions – Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. Questions are based on Windows 10 and MS-Office 2016. |
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ICSO Syllabus Class 9 Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Section – 2 : Algorithms and Flowcharts in Programming, Number System (Binary to decimal and decimal to binary conversion), Visual Basic, Animations, HTML & CSS (Links, Anchors and Table tags), MS-Word, MS-Excel(Formula Auditing, Data Tools, Protecting and Sharing workbooks/worksheets, Working with cell range), MS-PowerPoint, Hardware, Software, Input & Output Devices, Memory & Storage Devices, Flash CS6, Multimedia, Networking, Cyber Safety, Operating Systems (Types-Interactive (GUI based), Real Time and Distributed, Commonly used OS), Using Windows 10, Introduction to Scratch, Introduction to Python 3.11 (as of December 2022). Section – 3 : AI, Robotics, IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization, and other Developments in the Field of IT. Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions – Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. Questions are based on Windows 10 and MS-Office 2016. |
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ICSO Syllabus Class 10 Section – 1 : Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Section – 2 : Fundamentals of Computer, Number System, Operating System, MS-Word, Networking, MS-PowerPoint, MS-Excel, HTML & CSS, Cyber Safety, Database Management System(Functions, Types, MS-Access), Using Windows 10, Programming in Scratch, Programming in Python 3.11 (as of December 2022). Section – 3 : AI, Robotics, IT Gadgets, Devices, Apps, Computerization and other Developments in the Field of IT. Section – 4 : Higher Order Thinking Questions – Syllabus as per Sections 2 and 3. Questions are based on Windows 10 and MS-Office 2016. |
Also Check – ICSO Eligibility Criteria – International Computer Science Olympiad
ICSO Exam Date 2025-26
SOF International Computer Science Olympiads (ICSO) will be held on three dates this year. Moreover, the school can choose a single date at its convenience.
| ICSO Exam Date | |
| Date 1 | 24th September 2025 |
| Date 2 | 9th October 2025 |
| Date 3 | 22nd January 2026 |
Most students do not bother to look at the syllabus, but it is necessary to determine which topics to prioritize over others. Examine the ICSO 2025-26 syllabus and the exam pattern mentioned above thoroughly and make a note of the mark distribution for each section. Pick the best and most comprehensive study material which could coherently strengthen and enhance students’ understanding of the computer facts required to ace SOF ICSO. MTG publishes ICSO workbooks, ICSO previous year’s papers, Olympiad Skill Development System (OSDS) and ICSO Online Test Package to provide you with the best ICSO study material.
Check out – Preparation Tips for International Computer Science Olympiad (ICSO) | Best Way to Prepare
To succeed in your International Computer Science Olympiad, you must make a concerted and consistent effort. Moreover, before you begin studying for the ICSO exams, make sure you have all of the necessary information, such as the syllabus, exam pattern, etc. This will aid you in organizing your study plan and mind and reduce the stress of preparation and exam day.
All the best!
