Science competitions for high school students

Research fairs, subject olympiads and lab-based challenges for grades 9 to 12. Research fairs want a project you designed and ran yourself; olympiads are exams first, with residential training camps for the highest scorers.

21 competitions · 7 free · 8 online · 7 with preparation guides

Engineering ExploraVision Pick a technology, project it twenty years forward, and write the paper explaining how it gets there.

Grades1 to 12
CostFree
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereOnline

137 days left

Science HOSA Over sixty competitive events across clinical skills, health knowledge and leadership, from middle school upward.

Grades6 to 12
Cost$20 to $1,500
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereIn person

79 days left

Science PhysicsBowl A 40-question, 45-minute physics exam sat at school, with divisions matched to how much physics you have taken.

Grades9 to 12
CostUp to $20
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person

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Engineering eCYBERMISSION Solve a problem in your own community using science or engineering, entirely online, for free.

Grades6 to 9
CostFree
FormatTeam
WhereOnline

165 days left

Engineering American Rocketry Challenge Design a rocket that carries eggs to an exact altitude and returns them intact, to the second.

Grades6 to 12
Cost$100 to $1,000
FormatTeam
WhereIn person

85 days left

Science Brain Bee A neuroscience competition running from local chapters up to a world championship.

Grades9 to 12
CostFree to $400
PreparationReading Brain Facts or Neuroscience: The Science of the Brain
FormatIndividual
WhereBoth

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Science Breakthrough Junior Challenge Explain a hard scientific idea in a three-minute video, for a $250,000 scholarship package.

Grades8 to 12
CostFree
PreparationDeep understanding of one concept in physics, life sciences or mathematics
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline

3 days left

Environment GENIUS Olympiad An international project competition on environmental issues, spanning science, art, writing, business and robotics.

Grades8 to 12
CostNot confirmed
PreparationA completed project on an environmental theme, plus funds for the finalist fee and travel
FormatEither
WhereIn person

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Environment NCF-Envirothon Field-based environmental science: teams are tested outdoors on soils, forestry, wildlife, water and a current issue.

Grades9 to 12
CostFree to $1,000
FormatTeam
WhereIn person

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Science National Ocean Sciences Bowl A buzzer-based ocean science quiz competition for high school teams, run through regional bowls.

Grades9 to 12
CostFree to $300
FormatTeam
WhereIn person

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Science National Science Bowl A fast buzzer competition across all sciences and maths, run free by the Department of Energy since 1991.

Grades6 to 12
CostFree to $50
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person

72 days left

Science Science Olympiad A 23-event team tournament covering everything from anatomy to bridge building, run at invitational, regional, state and national level.

Grades6 to 12
Cost$50 to $500
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person

Check site

Science Chemistry Olympiad A local exam, a national exam, then a study camp that picks the four-person United States team.

Grades9 to 12
CostUp to $25
PreparationFamiliarity with a full first-year high school chemistry curriculum
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person

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Science JSHS Present original research to a live audience of scientists at a regional symposium, with scholarships attached.

Grades9 to 12
CostFree
PreparationOriginal independent research, usually with a mentor
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person

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Science Physics Olympiad (F=ma) A 25-question mechanics exam that opens the pathway to the United States physics team.

Grades9 to 12
CostFree to $50
PreparationFluency with mechanics: kinematics, forces, energy and momentum
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline

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Environment Stockholm Junior Water Prize An international water research prize with national competitions in over thirty countries.

Grades9 to 12
CostFree
PreparationA completed water-related research paper
FormatEither
WhereIn person

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Science USA Biolympiad An open biology exam that narrows to twenty finalists and the four-person United States team at the International Biology Olympiad.

Grades9 to 12
Cost$125 to $125
PreparationFamiliarity with a full first-year high school biology curriculum
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline

41 days left

Science USAAAO Two rounds of astronomy and astrophysics exams leading to the US team for the international olympiad.

Grades9 to 12
Cost$20 to $30
PreparationSelf-directed study of the IOAA syllabus, beyond school astronomy
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person

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Scholarships and challenges Davidson Fellows Scholarship Scholarships of up to $50,000 for a significant piece of work in science, technology, mathematics, literature, music or philosophy.

Grades1 to 12
CostFree
PreparationA completed piece of work at or close to college graduate level
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline

Check site

Science Regeneron ISEF The world's largest pre-college science research competition, reached by winning your way up through affiliated fairs.

Grades9 to 12
CostFree to $50
PreparationAn ongoing research project and a win at an affiliated fair
FormatEither
WhereIn person

Check site

Science Regeneron Science Talent Search The oldest and most prestigious science research competition for United States high school seniors.

Grades12 to 12
CostFree
FormatIndividual
WhereBoth

54 days left

Questions people ask about this

What is the best science competition for a beginner?

Start with something rated 1 or 2 out of 5 for difficulty on this page. Those assume no prior competition experience and usually publish past problems or past winning entries so you know exactly what you are walking into.

Are there free science competitions?

7 of the 21 listed here have no entry fee for the student. Note that a free entry fee is not the same as a free competition: team-based events can carry materials and travel costs, which each listing states separately.

Science competitions for high school students

Questions people ask about this

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