NSEB Syllabus 2025, Exam Pattern, and Books

Author at PW
September 17, 2025
image

NSEB Syllabus 2025

NSEB Syllabus 2025 covers key topics from class 11th and 12th Biology and is important for students preparing for the upcoming National Standard Examination in Biology. It is a competitive exam mainly for Classes 11 and 12 students. NSEB is the first step for students who want to participate in the International Biology Olympiad (IBO). It is organized by the Association of Teachers in Biological Sciences with support from the Indian Association of Physics Teachers and the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education.

NSEB exam is held once a year and tests students’ knowledge in Biology. For 2025-26, the exam will be conducted on 23rd November 2025. That’s why understanding the NSEB exam syllabus becomes very important because the time left is limited, and the majority of questions asked in exams are based on it only.

Covering the NSEB syllabus 2025 carefully not only helps students prepare well for NSEB but also helps in INBO and other national-level biology competitions. Keep reading to know more about the NSEB exam pattern, the detailed NSEB Biology syllabus, and useful Olympiad books.

NSEB Syllabus 2025-26

NSEB Syllabus 2025-26 covers important topics like Diversity of Living Organisms, Cell Structure and Function, Plant and Human Physiology, Reproduction, Genetics and Evolution, and Ecology and Environment from the class 11th and 12th Biology curriculum.

Every year, more than 30,000 students register for the NSEB exam. There are multiple-choice questions asked in the exam. Those who score well in NSEB can move forward to compete in the International Biology Olympiad (IBO). Let's now check the class-wise detailed NSEB Biology Syllabus.

NSEB Syllabus Class 11 

NSEB Syllabus Class 11 covers all important foundational Biology topics from Olympiad Class 11 books. Following this syllabus helps students prepare for the exam step by step and understand all basic concepts. It includes chapters from the diversity of living organisms to human physiology. To understand better, check the detailed NSEB Syllabus Class 11 here:

NSEB Syllabus Class 11 

Topic

Subtopics

Diversity of Living Organisms

The Living World, Biological Classification, Plant Kingdom, Animal Kingdom

Structural Organization in Animals and Plants

Morphology and anatomy of flowering plants, Animal tissues and systems

Cell Structure and Function

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, Cell organelles and biomolecules, Cell cycle and division

Plant Physiology

Transport in plants, Mineral nutrition, Photosynthesis and respiration, Plant growth and development

Human Physiology

Digestive, respiratory, circulatory, excretory, locomotion, nervous, and endocrine systems

NSEB Syllabus Class 12

NSEB Syllabus Class 12 focuses on advanced Biology topics that build on Class 11 concepts. It helps students understand Reproduction, Genetics and Evolution, Biology and Human Welfare, and other important areas in detail.

By studying the NSEB Biology syllabus carefully, students can prepare for the upcoming exam effectively. Find the key topics covered in the NSEB Syllabus Class 12 here:

NSEB Syllabus Class 12

Topic

Subtopics

Reproduction

Asexual and sexual reproduction, Reproduction in flowering plants, Human reproduction and health

Genetics and Evolution

Mendelian inheritance, Molecular basis of inheritance, Evolution, and population genetics

Biology and Human Welfare

Human health and diseases, Strategies for food production, Microbes in human welfare

Biotechnology

Principles of genetic engineering, Applications in health and agriculture

Ecology and Environment

Organisms and populations, Ecosystems, Biodiversity and conservation, Environmental issues

Therefore, the NSEB Syllabus 2025 for Class 11 covers basic foundational topics, while the Class 12 NSEB biology syllabus focuses on advanced and in-depth concepts. Let’s now understand the NSEB exam pattern, as it helps students know how the actual paper will be prepared.

Check out: Class 12th Olympiad

NSEB Exam Pattern 2025-26

After understanding the NSEB exam syllabus, it is also important to know the exam pattern. Knowing the NSEB Exam Pattern 2025-26 helps students plan their preparation and manage time during the exam.

NSEB exam is designed to test students' knowledge of Biology from classes 11 and 12 CBSE books through 60 multiple-choice questions. The exam is held for a total of 216 marks. Here is the detailed NSEB Exam Pattern 2025-26:

NSEB Exam Pattern 2025-26

Feature

Details

Duration of Exam

2 hours

Syllabus Level

Senior secondary level (up to Class 12, CBSE)

Medium

English or Hindi (option during registration)

Question Type

Objective-type, multiple-choice questions

Sections

Two parts

Total Questions

60 MCQs

Total Marks

216

Olympiad Books to Cover NSEB Syllabus 2025

Using the right reference books can help students cover the NSEB Syllabus 2025 effectively. These books help you understand concepts clearly, practice questions from each chapter, and get ready to answer multiple-choice questions asked in the exam correctly.

NSEB books by PW for classes 11 and 12 cover important topics and previous years’ questions with detailed solutions that make managing time and solving problems quick for students. Choosing the right study material makes sure that they do not miss any important topic from the NSEB Biology syllabus. Here are some Olympiad Books by PW that can help students cover the NSEB syllabus class 11 and 12 effectively:

Why Use PW Olympiad Books for NSEB Exam Preparation?

PW Olympiad Books are very helpful for students preparing for the NSEB exam. These books make it easy to understand all topics and practice questions effectively. Here are some key benefits of using PW Olympiad Books for NSEB Exam Preparation:

  • Plenty of Practice Questions: The books give many different questions that help students solve questions faster and build confidence.

  • Includes Concept-Based and Past Year Olympiad Questions: Students get both important concept questions and past year questions, which helps them understand the NSEB exam pattern.

  • Gives Step-by-Step Solutions: Each question has simple, easy-to-understand solutions, making even difficult topics easier to learn.

  • Gives Clear and Simple Explanations: Tough concepts from the NSEB exam syllabus are broken into easy parts so students can understand and remember them better.

  • Includes Challenging Questions for Practice: Gives advanced questions to help students improve their thinking and problem-solving skills to face tougher Olympiad competition.

Therefore, using PW Olympiad books makes sure that students cover the NSEB syllabus properly and practice in a way that builds confidence and speed for the exam.

Read More: NSEB Previous Year Question Papers with Solutions PDF

NSEB Syllabus 2025 FAQs

Q.1. What are the important topics from the NSEB Syllabus Class 11?

Ans. In Class 11, focus on Diversity of Living Organisms, Cell Structure and Function, Plant and Human Physiology, and Structural Organization in Plants and Animals. These are some foundational topics that also help in understanding advanced topics in Class 12th.

Q.2. Can I cover the NSEB Syllabus 2025-26 in just one month?

Ans. It may be challenging to cover the full NSEB syllabus in one month, but by focusing first on the high-weightage topics from Classes 11 and 12 and practicing previous years’ questions, you can cover the important parts of the syllabus.

Q.3. What topics should I cover first from the NSEB Syllabus Class 12?

Ans. Start with Cell Biology, Diversity of Living Organisms, and Structural Organization in Plants and Animals. These are the foundation topics. After that, move to Plant Physiology and Genetics, which are generally high-weightage ones.

Q.4. Which topics can I skip from the NSEB Biology syllabus?

Ans. You should not skip any topic from the NSEB syllabus because questions asked in exams can be from any topic. So, instead, focus on practicing questions from previous years to know the frequently asked topics.

Q.5. What is the NSEB exam pattern for 2025-26?

Ans. As per the NSEB exam pattern, there are a total of 60 multiple-choice questions from the Class 11 and 12 syllabus. The exam is held for 2 hours. It has two sections carrying a total of 216 marks.

Related Articles

NSEB Syllabus 2025, Exam Pattern, and Books