The third stage of the Homi Bhabha Center For Science Education (HBCSE) ISO, International Science Olympiad is Orientation-cum-Selection Camp (OCSC). Students who clear the preliminary levels are selected for OCSC. Every year from April to June, 35 students in each subject, i.e., groups including those who top the HBCSE preliminary exams, are selected for orientation camp.
The orientation camp provides the students with theoretical, experimental, and observational (for astronomy) tasks at Olympiad levels, which will qualify them to represent India at Global Science Olympiad, ISO.
Table of Contents
- OCSC 2024 Training Camp
- OCSC 2024 Training Camp Important Dates
- OCSC 2024 Cutoff Marks
- OCSC 2024 Training Camp Selection Process
- OCSC 2024 Training Camp Results 2024
- Steps to Check OCSC 2024 Results
- Other Stages in HBCSE ISO
OCSC 2024 Training Camp
The top-scoring students from Indian National Olympiad Examination are invited for the Orientation-Cum-Selection-Camp (OCSC). Students here are prepared for the International Olympiad in theoretical and experimental skills by top educators. Depending on the Indian National Olympiads' performance, students will be selected in each subject for the Orientation-Cum-Selection Camp in that subject.
The orientation camp focuses on developing students' conceptual foundations and problem-solving skills. Students are trained in basic notions in astrophysics, astronomical data analysis, and night sky observations in astronomy.
The number of students for each subject is fixed. The table below shows the number of students selected for each subject.
| Subject | Number of Students Selected for OCSC |
| Biology | 35 |
| Physics | 35 |
| Chemistry | 35 |
| Junior Science | 35 |
| Astronomy |
|
Note: In the event of a tie, all students with the same score at the last position are selected to appear for INO stage 2.
OCSC 2024 Training Camp Important Dates
In the HBCSE OCSC training camp, students are exposed to innovative experiments focusing on conceptual and procedural understanding in experimental science. Students are also put through several tests and assessments to test their skills.
The subject and dates released by the HBCSE are subject to change at short notice, so students should wait for confirmation of OCSC training dates before making any travel plans. The OCSC exam for each subject varies with dates, and the dates are released once HBCSE, Mumbai, has published the final list of students (after revaluation).
Given below is the tentative OCSC 2024 schedule for OCSC online training camp.
| Groups | OCSC Dates (Tentative) |
| Astronomy | May 1 to May 18, 2024 |
| Biology | Jun 2 to Jun 11, 2024 |
| Chemistry | May 9 to May 19, 2024 |
| Physics | Apr 15 to Apr 28, 2024 |
| Junior Science | May 20 to Jun 02, 2024 |
| Mathematics | Apr 15 to May 13, 2024 |
Given below are the tentative dates for OCSC onsite training camp.
| Groups | OCSC Dates (Tentative) |
| Astronomy | Jan 28, 2024 |
| Biology | Jan 29, 2024 |
| Chemistry | Jan 28, 2024 |
| Physics | Jan 29, 2024 |
| Junior Science | Jan 28, 2024 |
OCSC 2024 Cutoff Marks
Students with marks above the cutoff in any subject will be invited to attend the OCSC camp. If a student with marks above cutoff marks cannot find their roll number in the list, they have already been selected in the OCSC of another subject as per their preference. All students scoring more than (or equal to) respective cutoff marks receive a merit certificate.
Tabulated below are the cutoff marks for the OCSC camp.
| Groups | Cut off Marks |
| Astronomy Group A | 62 |
| Astronomy Group B | 56.5 |
| Biology | 166.5 |
| Junior Science | 91 |
| Chemistry | 54.5 |
| Physics | 43.5 |
Tabulated below are the total cut-off marks for the OCSC training camp.
| Groups | Total Marks |
| Astronomy Group A | 100 |
| Astronomy Group B | 100 |
| Biology | 300 |
| Junior Science | 180 |
| Chemistry | 119 |
| Physics | 80 |
OCSC 2024 Training Camp Selection Process
The number of students selected for OCSC is 35 in Biology, Chemistry, Junior Science, and Physics each and 50 in Astronomy (15 from Group A and 35 from Group B). In case of a tie, all students with the same marks at the last position will qualify to be selected for the OCSC.
The selection process followed for inviting students to OCSC training camp are listed below.
The following procedure will be applied for the selection of students for OCSC.
- Students who qualify in more than one subject in IOQ are asked to arrange the subjects to attend the OCSC, which will be indicated during the registration for IOQ.
- After IOQ, a target number of students will be invited by the HBCSE to each subject's OCSC camp. The students in each subject will be assigned a rank according to their subject performance.
- If students obtain qualifying marks in multiple subjects, they will be included only in the OCSC for the subject, which figures the highest in their preference list.
- The preference will be considered during the selection process as students can attend the OCSC camp for only one subject.
- Irrespective of selection or participation in OCSC, the student will receive a Certificate of Merit in every subject in which their score is equal to or higher than the score of the last selected student in that subject.
Note: Apart from the International Science Olympiad, HBCSE also conducts International Mathematical Olympiad.
OCSC 2024 Training Camp Results
Students participating in OCSC (both senior and junior batch) are provided with the results at the end of the camp. Gold medals are awarded to the students selected for OCSC in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, and Junior Science.
The total number of students selected for each subject in OCSC 2024 is as given below:
| Groups | No.of Students Selected |
| Astronomy Group A | 15 |
| Astronomy Group B | 35 |
| Biology | 35 |
| Junior Science | 39 |
| Chemistry | 36 |
| Physics | 36 |
Steps to Check OCSC 2024 Results
Based on their INO or Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO) performance, a student who qualifies in more than one subject will be invited to the OCSC ranked highest in their preference list. For 2024, students who clear the IOQ (International Olympiad Qualifier) 2024 are invited to the OCSC training camp.
Given below are the steps to view the OCSC Olympiad 2024 selection list.
- Visit the official website of HBCSE or view the enter the OCSC selection link, https://olympiads.hbcse.tifr.res.in/ocsc-2020-list/.
- On the Olympiad 2024-2024, select Science Olympiad 2024-2024.
- Select the selection procedure for Orientation-cum-Selection Camps (OCSCs) to view the OCSC 2024 list of selected students.
- The roll numbers of selected students will be displayed in numerical order.
Note: Selected students will be sent confirmation of their selection by email.
Other Stages in HBCSE ISO
Each student who wants to represent the country for any one of the groups of exams under ISO 2024 must go through all the following stages.
| Stages | Exams |
| Stage I | National Standard Examination (NSE) |
| Stage II | Indian National Olympiad (INO) |
| Stage III | Orientation cum Selection Camp (OCSC) |
| Stage IV | Pre Departure Training Camp (PDTC) |
| Stage V | International Science Olympiad (ISO) |
