International Science Olympiad


The International Science Olympiads are a group of worldwide annual competitions in various areas of science. The competitions are designed for the 4-6 best high school students from each participating country selected through internal National Science Olympiads, with the exception of the IOL, which allows two teams per country, the IOI, which allows two teams from the hosting country, and the IJSO, which is designed for junior secondary students. Early editions of the Olympiads were limited to the Eastern Bloc, but later they gradually spread to other countries.

Overview

The Olympiads themselves are separate competitions each with its own organising body, even though they are loosely grouped together as "ISOs". The aims of each ISO are to promote a career in science; to challenge the brightest students from around the world; and to compare the various teaching systems of each country. Although the competitions are aimed for secondary school pupils, the standards of the exams are extremely high. In fact, in several countries, achieving a high ranking in any ISO guarantees access to a university of choice and a fellowship.

International Science Olympiads

NumberScienceSymbolYear
1International Mathematical OlympiadIMOsince 1959
2International Physics OlympiadIPhOsince 1967
3International Chemistry Olympiad IChOsince 1968
4International Olympiad in InformaticsIOIsince 1989
5International Biology OlympiadIBOsince 1990
6International Philosophy OlympiadIPOsince 1993
7International Astronomy OlympiadIAOsince 1996
8International Geography OlympiadiGeosince 1996
9International Linguistics OlympiadIOLsince 2003
10International Junior Science OlympiadIJSOsince 2004
11International Earth Science OlympiadIESOsince 2007
12International Olympiad on Astronomy and AstrophysicsIOAAsince 2007
13International History OlympiadIHOsince 2015
14International Economics OlympiadIEOsince 2018

Countries