The Official NSEP Syllabus: Download Direct PDF & Complete Chapter-Wise Guide
Author at N SMART | September 7, 2026
Since 1987, the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT) has been conducting the NSEP Exam. If you’re preparing for it or planning to do so, thoroughly understanding the exam syllabus should be your first logical step. The NSEP syllabus is broadly aligned with the CBSE Class 11 & Class 12 Physics syllabus. Even though the Physics Olympiad syllabus covers Class 11 and 12 topics like Current Electricity, Electromagnetic Field, Geometrical Optics, & more, the exam tests much deeper, unfamiliar & challenging situations rather than rote memorisation of formulas.
If you’re looking for an NSEP syllabus PDF or a chapter-wise breakdown of topics, this article covers everything for you, from direct PDF links to important Physics topics for NSEP.
NSEP Syllabus: Complete Chapter-Wise Breakdown
The NSEP 2026 syllabus closely resembles the CBSE curriculum syllabus for Classes 11 & 12. Here are the detailed breakdown tables of the syllabus for both classes:
Class 11 Syllabus Topics for NSEP
| Chapters | Important Topics |
| Units and Measurements | SI units; Fundamental and derived units; Measurement; Accuracy and precision; Errors; Significant figures; Dimensions; Dimensional analysis |
| Motion in a Straight Line | Position and displacement; Speed and velocity; Position-time graphs; Velocity-time graphs; Acceleration; Uniform and non-uniform motion; Average and instantaneous velocity; Equations of uniformly accelerated motion |
| Motion in a Plane | Scalars and vectors; Vector addition and subtraction; Components; Unit vectors; Relative velocity; Projectile motion; Uniform circular motion; Scalar product; Vector product |
| Laws of Motion | Newton's laws; Momentum; Impulse; Conservation of linear momentum; Friction; Equilibrium; Circular motion; Centripetal force; Banked roads |
| Work, Energy, & Power | Work by constant and variable forces; Kinetic energy; Work-energy theorem; Power; Potential energy; Conservative forces; Conservation of mechanical energy; Collisions |
| System of Particles and Rotational Motion | Centre of mass; Momentum conservation; Torque; Angular momentum; Conservation of angular momentum; Rotational equilibrium; Rotational motion; Moment of inertia; Radius of gyration; Parallel and perpendicular axis theorems |
| Gravitation | Universal law of gravitation; Kepler's laws; Gravitational field; Gravitational potential; Gravitational potential energy; Escape velocity; Orbital velocity; Satellites; Geostationary satellites |
| Properties of Bulk Matter | Elasticity; Stress and strain; Young's modulus; Fluid pressure; Viscosity; Surface tension; Bernoulli's principle; Fluid flow |
| Thermal Properties of Matter | Temperature and heat; Measurement of temperature; Ideal-gas equation and absolute temperature; Thermal expansion of expansion for solids/liquids/gases; Specific heat capacity; Calorimetry; Change of state; Latent heat; Triple point; Heat transfer; Newton's law of cooling |
| Thermodynamics | Heat; Temperature; Internal energy; First law of thermodynamics; Thermodynamic processes; Heat engines; Efficiency |
| Kinetic Theory | Molecular interpretation of gases; Pressure; Temperature; Kinetic energy; Degrees of freedom; Ideal gases |
| Oscillations & Waves | Simple harmonic motion; Time period; Energy in SHM; Springs; Pendulums; Phase; Wave motion; Superposition; Progressive waves; Standing waves; Sound; Resonance |
Class 12 Syllabus Topics for NSEP
| Chapters | Important Topics |
| Electrostatics | Electric charge; Coulomb's law; Electric field; Electric flux; Gauss's law; Electric potential; Potential energy; Capacitors; Dielectrics |
| Magnetism & Matter | Bar magnet; Magnetic field lines; Magnetic dipole moment and torque on a dipole; Dipole in a uniform magnetic field; Potential energy of a dipole; Earth's magnetism; Magnetisation and magnetic intensity; Magnetic materials; Curie's law; Magnetic moment of a current loop/solenoid |
| Current Electricity | Electric current; Resistance; Resistivity; Kirchhoff's laws; Electrical circuits; Cells; Electrical power |
| Moving Charges and Magnetism | Magnetic fields; Lorentz force; Motion of charged particles; Biot-Savart law; Ampere's law; Force on current-carrying conductors |
| Electromagnetic Induction and AC | Faraday's law; Lenz's law; Motional emf; Inductance; Alternating current; Reactance; Impedance; Resonance; Transformers |
| Optics & Ray Optics | Reflection; Refraction; Mirrors; Lenses; Optical instruments |
| Wave Optics | Interference; Diffraction; Polarisation; Young's double-slit experiment |
| Modern Physics | Photoelectric effect; Dual nature of matter and radiation; Broglie wavelength; Atomic models; Bohr model; Nuclear Physics; Radioactivity; Nuclear energy; Fission and fusion |
| Electronic Devices | Semiconductors; Energy bands; Semiconductor diodes; Rectifiers; LED; Photodiode; Solar cell; Zener diode; Voltage regulation |
Download NSEP Syllabus PDF
Without wasting any time, you can download the NSEP Syllabus PDF directly by clicking on the “Download Now” button below, which contains complete coverage of the syllabus along with a chapter-wise breakdown of important topics.
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➔ For a detailed guide on how to prepare & crack the NSEP exam, check out our complete guide on "NSEP Preparation Plan".
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I download the NSEP Syllabus 2026?
You can download the complete & accurate NSEP Syllabus PDF directly from our N Smart page.
Is the NSEP syllabus based on CBSE Class 11 and Class 12 Physics NCERT?
Yes, the NSEP Olympiad syllabus is broadly aligned with Class 11 & Class 12 Physics NCERT. However, the exam difficulty, concept understanding, problem solving skills are much harder than in any standard school exams.
What is the official NSEP syllabus?
According to HBCSE guidelines, the NSEP syllabus contains all the Physics topics up to the senior secondary level in the CBSE board.
Is there a separate NSEP syllabus for Class 10?
No, Class 10 students who are eligible for NSEP need to prepare for the broader senior-secondary Physics syllabus.
Does NSEP include Class 11 Physics?
Yes. The NSEP syllabus includes the CBSE senior secondary level, including the major Class 11 Physics topics.
Does NSEP include Class 12 Physics?
Yes. The official syllabus extends through Class 12-level Physics.
Is Mathematics required for NSEP?
Even though the subject of Mathematics is not directly required in the NSEP exam, knowledge of Mathematics up to senior secondary is expected to even participate in the examination.