NSF Practice Test

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.

NSF Exam at a Glance

What changed for NSF in 2026

• Oct 24, 2026: Eligibility changed to Grades 1–12, residing in the US (previously Children in grades 1–12 residing in the US).^[5]
• Oct 24, 2026: Testing window (Regional Contests) changed to Each spring (March or April) at 75+ local chapters (previously Each spring, March or April, at 75+ local chapters).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Registration opens (Regional Contests) changed to Online, generally from early January (previously Generally opens in early January).^[1]
• Oct 24, 2026: Retake policy changed to One regional center per contest; one contest per category; fees non-refundable (previously One regional center and one level per contest category; fees non-refundable).^[4]
• Oct 24, 2026: Passing score (National Finals qualification) changed to Invitations based on scores (minimum score), not regional rank (previously Cut-off score combined across all chapters, not regional rank).^[2]

What the NSF is and how it works

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.

Worked examples: how to reason through NSF questions

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.

Example 1

Question: What fundraising method is commonly used by NSF chapters to support their charitable mission?

1. Government grants exclusively
2. Annual gala dinners, donation drives, and sponsorship from community businesses
3. Charging high registration fees as their sole revenue
4. Selling advertising space on NSF publications

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.

Example 2

Question: What kind of study resources does NSF provide to help students prepare for its competitions?

1. In-person tutoring at NSF headquarters only
2. Word lists, study guides, and practice materials distributed online and at chapters
3. Mandatory paid prep courses
4. No official study materials are provided

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.

Example 3

Question: Which NSF competition specifically tests students' knowledge of scientific terminology and concepts?

1. NSF Vocabulary Bee
2. NSF Science Bee
3. NSF History Bowl
4. NSF Geography Olympiad

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.

How to use these practice tests

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.

Sources & last verified

1. North South Foundation — number of questions, time limit, registration opens, testing window (official source). “For the contest, each contestant will be given a set of 30 questions to answer.” Verified Oct 24, 2026.
2. North South Foundation — passing score (official source). “Since ranks are not comparable across chapters, we use scores for determining the invitees as shown in the table below.” Verified Oct 24, 2026.
3. North South Foundation — exam fee (official source). “National Finals Registration Fee: $60 (Summer)” Verified Oct 24, 2026.
4. North South Foundation — retake policy, registration deadline (official source). “A contestant can participate in only one regional center for any given contest.” Verified Oct 24, 2026.
5. North South Foundation — eligibility (official source). “The contests are open to all children in grades 1 through 12, residing in the US.” Verified Oct 24, 2026.

How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.