International Computer Science Olympiad 
“Great computer hardware is only a doorstop without great software”
- John McCarthy
Edition
23rd
Class 1 to 12
About iCSO
International Computer Science Olympiad (iCSO)
The International Computer Science Olympiad (iCSO) is an annual competition that aims to assess students' abilities and aptitude in the field of computer science. The iCSO exam syllabus aligns with CBSE, ICSE, and state board curricula.
Key Benefits for Students:
- Skill Enhancement: Test and sharpen computer science proficiency through real-world programming challenges and logical reasoning tasks.
- Global Exposure: Gain insight into international standards in computer science Olympiad events, preparing you for advanced competitions.
- Certifications and Recognition: Earn prestigious iCSO certificates, medals, and rankings that boost resumes and college applications.
- Career Preparation: Build a strong foundation for higher studies in computer science, IT, or software engineering careers.
- Confidence Boost: Overcome challenges in a competitive environment, fostering resilience and a growth mindset for future success.
The International Computer Science Olympiad (iCSO) is a premier platform for students to showcase talent in computer science Olympiad events. Compete at national and international levels, earn recognition, and enhance your expertise.
Test Paper Structure
The language medium is English only. The examination is being conducted for all classes from 1st to 12th with the following details.
Detailed guidelines for conducting the test will be shared with the school along with the question papers. For classes 1st onwards, OMR answer sheets will be provided.
Registration
Registration Of Students:
The International Computer Science Olympiad (iCSO) prospectus, along with registration forms, is sent to all schools currently registered with the SilverZone Foundation. Please note that the printed prospectus may not reflect the most recent updates. The latest information on syllabus, exam format, levels, and prizes is always available on our official website. We recommend referring to it for accuracy.
For New Schools:
Schools not yet registered with SilverZone may request a prospectus by writing to us at info@silverzone.org. Once received, schools must return the completed registration forms by the specified deadline.
Important Note For Schools:
- Any school can become a registered centre for Olympiads. There is no fee required to register the school itself.
- For smooth coordination and exam feasibility, a minimum of 40 students per school is required to register for the Computer Science Olympiad.
- For any clarification regarding exam rules, syllabus, paper pattern, or registration process, schools may write to us directly at info@silverzone.org
Quick Challenge
Five questions. Sixty seconds. No negative marking.
A warm-up in the Olympiad style: computer science questions with one correct answer each, answered against the clock.
- Just like the real paper, every question is multiple choice with no negative marking, so attempt them all.
- You get an explanation after each answer.
- Finished? Download the sample paper for your class and try the real format.
Ready for a warm-up?
Five short questions on number systems, operating systems, MS-Excel, computer viruses and Small Basic.
Original practice questions written for this page to show the objective format — not from an official iCSO paper. The 60-second timer and scoring apply to this warm-up only.
Complete Syllabus
iCSO syllabus for Class 1 to 12
Select a class to explore the official Computer Olympiad topics and chapters in one clear view.
Choose a classClass 1 sample paper
Topics and chapters
Class 1Computer Science
6 chapters- Introduction of computer
- Main Parts of Computers
- Uses of computer
- Introduction to Keyboard and Mouse
- Starting and Shutting down Computer
- Introduction to MS Paint
Reasoning and Aptitude
1 chapter- Reasoning and Aptitude
Scholar’s Zone
1 chapter- Scholar’s Zone
The syllabus is arranged class-wise so students can quickly find the Computer Science, Reasoning and Aptitude, Scholar's Zone, Computer Fundamental, and Programming Language topics applicable to their class.
How the iCSO score is calculated
The raw score is computed by multiplying each correct answer by its corresponding base marks and summing the results.
Raw score = Σ (correct answer × base marks)
Total marks are determined by adding the raw score to the sum of the weightage of correct answers. Each question carries an additional weightage, starting from .0001 and increasing incrementally (.0002, .0003, and so forth). Question 1 has a weightage of .0001, question 2 has .0002, and so on.
Total marks = Raw score + Σ weightage of correct answers
This weightage is utilised to resolve ties when calculating class, zonal and Olympiad ranks.
Try the tie-breaker
Tap questions to mark them correct and watch the weightage separate two equal raw scores.
Example Computer Science paper: 10 questions at 3 marks each.
18Raw score
.0026Weightage of correct answers
18.0026Total marks
6 of 10 correct. Two students with 18 raw marks are separated by which Computer Science questions they answered correctly.
Class rank
This encompasses all students from various sections and divisions of the same class within the same school.
Olympiad rank
This encompasses all students from India and abroad belonging to the same class.
One award per exam
Each winner is entitled to one award per exam, receiving the higher-level award only. For example, international top three rank holders will receive awards based on their international ranks, and any awards based on their zonal ranks will be passed to the next rank holder. Similarly, if a zonal award winner also qualifies for a class award, the class award will be given to the next rank holder.
Sample Papers
Sample Question Papers
The detailed Syllabus and Sample Test Paper are provided in this website, click the following links to download the Syllabus and Sample Test Paper class wise. For Books please contact, School Coordinator or book your order online now.
Prizes, dates and venue
What you can win
Drag along the ranks and watch the award change.
Cash prizes of ₹10,000, ₹7,500 and ₹5,000 for the top three International Olympiad rank holders in every class; gift certificates of varying values for ranks 4 to 25; Topper Achievement Certificates up to rank 500; Medals of Excellence for Zonal, State and Class toppers; and a participation certificate for every student who sits the paper.
Where did you rank?
Drag the medal, tap a rank, or use the arrow keys. Every award shown here is the one published for that rank.
₹10,000
in each class · 1st Olympiad rankAlso receives
- Participation certificate with all your ranks
- Medal of Excellence if you also top your class, zone or state
The 1st International Olympiad rank holder in each class receives a prize of ₹10,000/-.
Three more ways to win a medal
Hover or tap a card to read the rule.
One award per exam — each winner receives the higher-level award.
Certificate of ParticipationSilverZone Foundation
Every participant takes something home
All participants are awarded Participation Certificates reflecting their Class, Zonal, State and Olympiad ranks and their marks — so every student sees exactly where they stand.
Certificates reach students through their school along with the results.
What if students tie on the same rank?
Drag the slider to see how a shared rank is settled at the rank you picked above.
₹10,000to the single rank holder — 1st olympiad rank
- Awarded in full, with the participation certificate.
The rules behind the awards
How ties and overlapping awards are settled.
Up to 10 students on the same rank
The award amount is divided equally among the winners, and each recipient is honoured with a Symbolic Golden Medal of Excellence in the relevant category along with a certificate.
11 or more students on the same rank
Instead of a shared award, each winner receives a gift certificate coupon, along with a Medal of Excellence in the relevant category and a Special Achievement Certificate.
One award per exam
Each winner receives the higher-level award only. Any award based on a Zonal rank passes to the next rank holder, and if a Zonal award winner also qualifies for a class award, the class award goes to the next rank holder.
Class topper medals
At school level the top three rank holders in each class receive Medals of Excellence, provided the topper obtains at least 50% marks.
Dates: announced with the prospectusVenue: conducted at your own school
Zones
Zone and state categorisation
To streamline operations, all states and Union Territories in India, along with participating international countries, are organised into five zones.
North Zone
States and Union Territories in this zone.
- Delhi NCR
- Haryana
- Punjab
- Himachal Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
- J&K
- Ladakh
- Chandigarh
- Rajasthan
- Uttar Pradesh
This categorisation serves the following purpose: determining zone toppers for performance-based awards.
All zones at a glance (text version)
| Zone | States, Union Territories and countries |
|---|---|
| North Zone | Delhi NCR, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, J&K, Ladakh, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh |
| East Zone | West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, Chhattisgarh |
| South Zone | Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar |
| West Zone | Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Madhya Pradesh |
| International Zone | Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Ghana, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom, United States of America (USA) |
OMR answer sheet
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Tap a bubble to try it — darken one bubble per question
Answer Sheet
Sample OMR answer sheet
Unlock the perfect answer sheet: click below for your free PDF download.
See exactly how the OMR sheet looks before exam day, so filling it in feels familiar. Try the bubbles on the sample sheet — then download the real one.
Sample answer sheet (PDF)- Positive reviews
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Study Material
Recommendation & Books
OLYMPIAD EXCELLENCE GUIDE
PREVIOUS YEAR PAPERS
COMPREHENSIVE BOOK
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PAPERS
FAQ
Computer Olympiad FAQs
Quick answers about eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, scoring, prizes and registration.
What is the International Computer Science Olympiad (iCSO)?
iCSO is SilverZone Foundation’s annual Computer Science Olympiad for students of Classes 1 to 12. Aligned with CBSE, ICSE and state board curricula, it assesses students’ knowledge of computer science together with their logical reasoning and aptitude.
Who can take part, and how many levels are there?
iCSO is conducted at a single level (Level 1), open to all students of Classes 1 to 12 through their school. Any school can become a registered centre free of charge; a minimum of 40 students per school must register for the Computer Science Olympiad.
What is the iCSO exam pattern?
Each class sits its own objective (multiple-choice) paper in English, answered on an OMR sheet. Classes 1–2 answer 25 questions in 40 minutes, Classes 3–5 answer 30 questions in 40 minutes, Classes 6–8 answer 35 questions in 40 minutes and Classes 9–12 answer 40 questions in 50 minutes. There is no negative marking. The Olympiad is held once a year during school hours, and each school chooses one of three proposed dates, each with its own set of papers.
What does the iCSO syllabus cover?
Each class has its own syllabus with a Computer Science section, a Reasoning and Aptitude section and a Scholar’s Zone. The computer topics build year by year: Class 3, for example, covers hardware and software, Windows 10, MS-Paint, WordPad, Notepad and the internet, while Class 7 covers operating system basics, Small Basic, number systems, MS Office applications, computer viruses and the internet. Senior classes add computer fundamentals and programming.
How are iCSO scores and ranks worked out?
The raw score is the total of the base marks for every correct answer. A tiny weightage (.0001 for question 1, .0002 for question 2 and so on) is added for each correct answer and is used only to break ties in class, zonal and Olympiad ranks. Every participant receives a certificate showing their class, zonal, state and Olympiad ranks along with their marks.
What prizes does the Computer Olympiad offer?
In every class, the top three International Olympiad rank holders receive ₹10,000, ₹7,500 and ₹5,000. Ranks 4 to 25 receive gift certificates, ranks up to 500 receive Topper Achievement Certificates, and zonal, state and class toppers receive Medals of Excellence (class toppers must score at least 50%). Each winner receives one award per exam — the higher-level one.
How does a school register for iCSO?
Registration is through schools. SilverZone sends the iCSO prospectus and registration forms to every school registered with the Foundation. Schools not yet registered can request a prospectus by writing to info@silverzone.org and must return the completed forms by the stated deadline.
Where can I find iCSO sample papers and books?
Class-wise syllabuses, sample question papers and a sample OMR answer sheet are available on the Computer Olympiad page. Preparation books, including the Olympiad Excellence Guide, Previous Year Papers and the Comprehensive Book, can be ordered online or through your school coordinator.