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Chemistry Olympiad Team wins 4 medals at the International Chemistry Olympiad. (Image Credit: American Chemical Society) High school olympiads constitute the most prestigious high school competitions that students can participate in.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of students participate in these competitions that vary widely across subjects, from math to biology.

College admissions are well-versed with top olympiads, and having an olympiad award can add a substantial boost to your application.

In this post, we provide the ultimate guide to the top high school olympiads in the world, including how they operate, key dates, and awards.

1. International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) China wins the 2023 IMO in July of 202

3. (Image Credit: People's Daily) The oldest of the International Science Olympiads and widely regarded as the most prestigious, the International Mathematical Olympiad was first held in 1959 and now accommodates over 100 countries from 5 continents.

The IMO occurs over the span of 10 days, with the actual competition being held over the course of 2 days.

It goes without saying that the IMO examination is extremely difficult.

It tests over subject areas such as algebra, precalculus, geometry, combinatorics, and number theory.

Participants need a certain breadth of creative thinking, ingenuity, and be well-versed in the foundational basics of mathematics to perform well.

The test consists of 6 problems, with 3 given to contestants the first day the 3 the next.

Participants are given 4 hours and 30 minutes to solve the problems each day.

With each problem being worth 7 points, the maximum score is 4

2. Being an individual-based examination, awards are given to participants with the highest individual scores.

The selection process for determining a given country's representing team varies.

For example, in the United States, a series of tests that increase in difficulty level are meant to advance only the highest-performing students to the next level.

This includes the American Invitational Mathematics Examination all the way to the U.

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Mathematical Olympiad that feeds into the IMO. https://www. youtube. com/watch?v=SHWGvC3SvK8 The IMO no doubt seems daunting to most high schoolers.

However, don't worry—we've got you covered with an exclusive one-on-one with an IMO winner.

Watch the above video to learn his background, tips and advice, and secrets for how to win.

Students who score highly on these tests, especially the IMO, go on to study in the world's leading institutions.

High performance in this contest is recognized by college admission officers as an indicator of genius-level intellect and thus these students are highly sought after.

2. International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) 2019 IPhO Gold medal. (Image Credit: Wikimedia) The world's premier pre-college physics competition, the International Physics Olympiad was first held in Poland in 1967, and now has grown to have more than 80 participating countries today.

The exam is held over the course of 2 days, and occurs in the summer each year.

The test includes a theoretical portion, consisting of 3 questions and lasting 5 hours, and an experimental portion, consisting of 1-2 questions and lasting 5 hours.

The exam encompasses all areas of physics, such as electromagnetism, relativity, thermodynamics, and quantum physics.

Each national team may consist of up to 5 secondary-school students.

For the medal distribution process, the top 8% of participants are awarded a gold medal, then silver for the top 25%, bronze for top 50%, and honorable mention for the top 67%.

The selection process also varies highly among countries.

In the U.

S, a two-tier exam format is used, wherein the F = ma exam is open to all high schoolers, from which 400 advance to the United States Physics Olympiad.

The top 20 performers are then invited to an intensive training camp, and 5 students are ultimately selected for the national team.

3. International Research Olympiad (IRO) IRO Logo. (Image Credit: IRO Official Website) The International Research Olympiad is the world's premier olympiad for student researchers.

Distinct from the other olympiads in this post in the way that it focuses on testing over a skill rather than academic subject.

This makes participating in it (and doing well) far more feasible for most high school students, as it doesn't require years' worth of pouring over textbooks and practice problems (specific to practically every international science olympiad).

Of course, the IRO is still designed to be very challenging, since research is a highly practical-based skill that won't come easy to many students without practice.

The International Research Olympiad (IRO) is dedicated to honing analytical and critical thinking skills for student researchers—essential in scientific exploration.

The IRO fosters a culture of rigorous research and skill-building, not just memorizing formulae.

IRO Official Website The 2024 IMO will be held at Harvard University in late April.

To qualify, high school or secondary-school students around the globe are welcome to participate in the Opens round.

The top 10% will advance to the semifinals, from which 20 of the highest scorers will compete for medals at the IRO.

Participants will be tested over a variety of research-related skills, including analyzing research papers, interpreting scientific data, and question formation and inquiry.

If you're a student already involved in research, this is a great opportunity to get involved and earn prestigious accolades.

On the other hand, if you're a student looking to engage in research, practicing for the IRO and receiving a medal can be a great way to show professors and labs that you possess the necessary skills for research as a high schooler.

Overall, participating in the IRO is an excellent way to validate and showcase your intellectual vitality and differentiate yourself in the college application process.

4. International Biology Olympiad (IBO) IBO logo. (Image Credit: IBO Official Website) The International Biology Olympiad is one of the world's most prestigious International Science Olympiads.

First held in 1990, the competition now hosts over 75 participating countries annually.

The 2024 IBO is scheduled to be held in July at Astana, Kazakhstan.

The IBO exam is made up of 2 sections: the theoretical and practical examination.

The theoretical portion typically consists of around 100 closed and open-ended questions, and the practical exam consists of 3 or 4 labs where participants are tested on research and data analysis skills.

The IBO tests over all topics within biology.

This includes but is not limited to cell biology, plant and animal anatomy and physiology, ethology, genetics and evolution, ecology, and biosystematics.

The International Group Project was an extension of the IBO test added in 2020, which requires each national team to choose a topic (ranging from biomedicine to artificial intelligence) and propose a corresponding research proposal.

The national team selection process in the U.

S. specifically consists of an Open Exam open to all high schoolers and the Semifinal Exam, from which the top 20 performers are invited to a training camp, and 4 are selected to represent the United States at the IBO.

5. International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) United States national team at the 2022 IChO. (Image Credit: C&EN) The International Chemistry Olympiad is the world's most famous and prestigious pre-college chemistry competition.

First hosted in 1968, the exam has since grown to boast over 80 participating countries annually, with teams of 4 representing each.

Similar to some of the above competitions, the IChO is an individual-based event.

No team scores are given.

The examination encompasses 2 sections: a theoretical (60 points) and a practical examination (40 points).

Both parts consist of 5 hours, with the practical portion being tested first.

The overall individual score is the sum of points earned in both sections.

The IChO test challenges students by pulling from many areas of chemistry, including physical and analytical chemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, and spectroscopy.

Although this is a pre-college competition, the breadth of knowledge demanded by the exam is comparable to the level studied in post-secondary education.

The U.

S. selection system includes the local exam that feeds into the USNCO national exam.

Similar to the above olympiads, the scorers are invited to a two-week camp from which the top 4 high schoolers are selected for the national team.

Concluding Remarks Olympiads for high school students are the world's premier competitions.

These olympiads are highly regarded by college selection committees, as their reputation for extremely difficult examinations demands a certain intellectual caliber to perform well.

Ultimately, they are a great way to learn beyond the confines of the classroom and join a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about a certain field.

However, if you're intimidated by the academic precedent set by these STEM-based olympiads, don't worry—these aren't the only competitions available to high schoolers.

Check out this comprehensive, free guide that contains 50+ STEM opportunities, including internships, competitions, and more to help you along in your intellectual journey!.