IPhO Pathway

N
NSEPNovember
I
INPhOJanuary-February
O
OCSCApril-May
I
IPhOJuly

NSEP → INPhO → OCSC → IPhO: India's 4-stage selection process

The first step in the Indian Physics Olympiad pathway. A national-level exam organized by IAPT open to all high school students across India.

When
November
Advance
Top ~300 students advance to INPhO
Format
MCQ-based, 216 marks, 2 hours. Tests CBSE Class 11-12 physics with analytical twists.
Eligibility
Any student studying in Class 10, 11, or 12 at an Indian school.
Tips
  • Master NCERT Class 11-12 Physics thoroughly
  • Practice speed — you need to solve MCQs quickly
  • Focus on conceptual clarity over rote formulas
  • Solve past 10 years of NSEP papers
  • Pay attention to unit analysis and dimensional reasoning