Onion cells under a microscope

OLYMPIADS / YOUR NEXT CHAPTER

NSEB — National Standard Examination in Biology

Look closer. Life has more to tell.

Explore cells, living systems and the biological world through the biology olympiad pathway.

Explore the pathway Official website ↗

StageScience olympiad pathway

Where it leadsBiology olympiad progression

Conducting bodyIndian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT)

A real micrograph illustrating cell biology, not an exam venue.

Photo: kaibara87 · CC BY 2.0 · Displayed with responsive cropping.

UNDERSTAND THE BIGGER PICTURE

Your pathway, at a glance.

First stage of the Biology Olympiad pathway leading to INBO and the International Biology Olympiad selection.

Know the requirements

Check the eligibility and exam-cycle information published by the conducting body.

Build your preparation

Use the official syllabus and paper pattern to guide your study plan.

Explore what follows

Biology olympiad progression. Selection depends on the applicable programme rules.

ELIGIBILITY

Who can take this exam?

Eligibility

Open to students enrolled in Class 11 or 12 (or equivalent) at a school affiliated for IAPT Olympiad registration; exact class/age windows are set by IAPT each cycle.

Academic requirements

A solid Class 11-12 biology foundation beyond routine board-exam depth.

APPLICATION

Make your application count.

Application process

Registration is done through schools affiliated with the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT), the exam's conducting body.

PATTERN

Know what you are preparing for.

Exam pattern

An objective paper covering biology concepts beyond the standard school curriculum — the first stage of the Biology Olympiad pathway toward INBO.

SYLLABUS

Build your subject foundation.

Syllabus

Class 11-12 biology treated with greater conceptual depth and problem-solving rigor than board-exam level.

PREPARATION

Prepare with a sense of direction.

Preparation strategy

Build depth beyond NCERT/board-level biology using standard Olympiad-prep texts, and solve past NSEB papers with a focus on conceptual understanding over rote recall.

Learning resources ↗Browse courses ↗Practice & assessments ↗

CHECK THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Dates, notices & documents.

NSEB 2026 Exam DateCycle: 2026-272026-11-22

Full official noticeboard ↗Visit NSEB — National Standard Examination in Biology portal ↗