The North South Foundation (NSF) runs academic contests for children in grades 1–12 who live in the US. This page gives families free practice sets on NSF topics, worked answers to sample questions, and the registration, fee and format facts published by NSF, so you know what to expect before you register.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (Math Bee (MB1–MB3) Regional) | 30 questions (20 multiple choice + 10 free response)[1] | North South Foundation · Oct 24, 2026 |
| Time limit (Math Bee (MB1–MB3) Regional) | 40 minutes[1] | North South Foundation · Oct 24, 2026 |
| Passing score (National Finals qualification) | Invitations based on scores (minimum score), not regional rank[2] | North South Foundation · Oct 24, 2026 |
| Exam fee (National Finals) | $60 per National Finals contest (summer)[3] | North South Foundation · Oct 24, 2026 |
| Exam fee (Regional Contests) | $40 per regional contest (spring)[3] | North South Foundation · Oct 24, 2026 |
| Retake policy | One regional center per contest; one contest per category; fees non-refundable[4] | North South Foundation · Oct 24, 2026 |
| Eligibility | Grades 1–12, residing in the US[5] | North South Foundation · Oct 24, 2026 |
| Registration deadline (Regional Contests) | Online only; deadline set by each center; no on-site registration[4] | North South Foundation · Oct 24, 2026 |
| Registration opens (Regional Contests) | Online, generally from early January[1] | North South Foundation · Oct 24, 2026 |
| Testing window (Regional Contests) | Each spring (March or April) at 75+ local chapters[1] | North South Foundation · Oct 24, 2026 |
According to North South Foundation, “For the contest, each contestant will be given a set of 30 questions to answer.”[1]
NSF holds academic contests for children in grades 1 through 12 who reside in the US. These are competitions, not licensing exams, so there is no single pass mark. Regional contests are hosted each spring, in March or April, by 75+ local chapters. National Finals follow in the summer.
Registration is online only and generally opens in early January. Each center sets its own deadline, and there is no on-site registration. The regional fee is $40 and the National Finals fee is $60. A contestant can take part in only one regional center for any given contest, there is one contest per category, and fees are non-refundable.
Format depends on the contest. For the Math Bee (MB1–MB3) regional, each contestant gets 30 questions, made up of 20 multiple choice and 10 free response, with a maximum of 40 minutes. We have no verified format details for other contests here, so check the official contest pages for those.
Invitations to the National Finals are based on scores, not regional rank. NSF explains that ranks are not comparable across chapters, so it uses a minimum score table instead. The current table is on the NSF selection criteria page.
Dates, centers and deadlines vary by chapter. Treat northsouth.org as the final word and use our sets as extra practice.
Prepare for the NSF - North South Foundation exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What fundraising method is commonly used by NSF chapters to support their charitable mission?
Answer: B. Annual gala dinners, donation drives, and sponsorship from community businesses
Explanation:
The correct answer is the option describing gala dinners, donation drives and sponsorship from community businesses. NSF chapters are local and raise money in several ways, and that mix of events, campaigns and sponsors is what the question is pointing to. Government grants exclusively is wrong because the word exclusively rules out the other sources chapters rely on. Charging high registration fees as the sole revenue is wrong for the same reason: a single income stream does not describe how chapters fund a charitable mission. Selling advertising space on publications is not the commonly cited method. The rule to remember: when an option says exclusively, only or sole about an organisation's funding, it is usually too narrow, and the better answer names a variety of community-based sources.
Question: What kind of study resources does NSF provide to help students prepare for its competitions?
Answer: B. Word lists, study guides, and practice materials distributed online and at chapters
Explanation:
The correct answer is word lists, study guides and practice materials distributed online and at chapters. NSF publishes preparation material through its website and local chapters so families can study at home. In-person tutoring at headquarters only is wrong because it limits help to one place, which does not match a national network of chapters. Mandatory paid prep courses is wrong because the contests do not require buying a course. No official study materials are provided is wrong because materials do exist. The rule to remember: before paying for outside preparation, look at what the organisation itself offers, and be cautious of options that say mandatory, only or none.
Question: Which NSF competition specifically tests students' knowledge of scientific terminology and concepts?
Answer: B. NSF Science Bee
Explanation:
The correct answer is the NSF Science Bee. It tests scientific terminology and concepts, including vocabulary, discoveries and ideas from fields such as biology, chemistry and physics. The Vocabulary Bee is wrong because it is about words in general, not scientific content. The History Bowl is wrong because it covers historical knowledge. The Geography Olympiad is wrong because it covers places and maps. Some of those names may sound plausible, but the question asks which contest targets science specifically. The rule to remember: match the contest name to its subject, and when a name sounds right but belongs to a different subject, read the question again for the exact skill being tested.
Start on the official NSF site. Confirm which contest your child is entering, the grade category, the regional center and its deadline. Download the word lists, study guides and practice materials NSF provides, since those define what the contest can ask.
Then use our practice sets as a warm-up and a check. Pick a set that matches your child's contest topic, answer without looking anything up, and read the explanation for every question, including the ones answered correctly. Keep a short list of misses and go back to the official material to fix each one at the source. Our questions are written by us, so they are not real contest questions and should not be treated as predictions.
For the Math Bee, practise in a timed block that matches the published format of multiple choice and free response questions, and review how you spent the time. Repeat the weaker sets a few days later to see whether the mistakes have gone. In the last days before the contest, stop learning new topics and spend the time on the official materials and on rest.
The contests are open to all children in grades 1 through 12 who reside in the US. Within that range, contest categories are set by grade, so check the official NSF contest pages to see which category and contest suit your child.
The regional contest registration fee is $40 and is paid in the spring. The National Finals registration fee is $60 and is paid for the summer event. Fees are non-refundable, so confirm the contest and center before you pay.
For the Math Bee (MB1–MB3) regional, each contestant gets 30 questions: 20 multiple choice and 10 free response. The maximum time allowed is 40 minutes. Other NSF contests may be formatted differently, so check the official rules for those.
Registration is online only and is generally available starting in early January. Each regional center sets its own deadline, and there is no on-site registration. Regional contests take place in March or April at 75+ local chapters.
Invitations are based on scores, not regional rank. NSF says ranks are not comparable across chapters, so it uses a minimum score table to decide who is invited. The current table is on the NSF selection criteria page.
No. A contestant can participate in only one regional center for any given contest, and only one contest per category is allowed. Choose your center carefully, because fees are non-refundable.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.