Academic competitions for high school students
The most beginner-friendly way to find what you love. No team at your school? Start one.
Science 7
Science Olympiad
Team event with 20+ science & engineering events (study, build and lab); regionals → states → nationals. The most beginner-friendly.
VariesScience Bowl
Fast buzzer quiz across physics, chem, bio, earth science and math; regional winners advance to nationals.
VariesUSA Biolympiad (USABO)
Hard biology exam; top scorers reach semifinals and a national training camp.
VariesChemistry Olympiad (USNCO)
Chemistry exam series: local → national → two-week study camp.
VariesPhysics Olympiad (F=ma)
The F=ma exam qualifies you for the USAPhO and the national physics camp.
VariesBrain Bee
Neuroscience competition based on the free Brain Facts book; winners can earn research placements.
VariesiGEM
Build a synthetic-biology project end to end; the premier synbio competition (usually needs lab access or a mentor).
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Math 2
AMC → AIME → USAMO
The main US math olympiad ladder: AMC 10/12, then AIME, then USA(J)MO. Practice on Art of Problem Solving.
NovemberMathWorks Math Modeling (M3)
Solve a real-world problem with mathematical modeling over one intense weekend.
Varies
Computer science 2
USA Computing Olympiad (USACO)
Competitive programming contests with Bronze → Platinum divisions; top scorers reach the USACO camp.
VariesHackathons
Build a project in 24-48 hours. Hack Club lists tons of free high-school hackathons.
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Research 5
Regeneron ISEF
The largest international science fair; qualify through a regional or state fair, then present a project.
VariesRegeneron Science Talent Search (STS)
The most prestigious US research competition; judges your project and full academic profile. Start the essays early.
NovemberJunior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS)
Present original STEM research at a regional symposium for scholarships and a shot at nationals.
VariesDavidson Fellows
$10k-$50k scholarships for significant projects in STEM, literature, music and beyond.
FebruaryBreakthrough Junior Challenge
Explain a science or math concept in a short video for a large scholarship.
June
Innovation 3
Conrad Challenge
Design an innovation or business to solve a real problem, then pitch it to judges.
NovemberDiamond Challenge
High-school entrepreneurship competition with a written concept round and a live pitch.
NovemberMIT THINK Scholars
Propose a STEM project (no prior research needed); winners get funding and MIT mentorship to build it.
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Humanities 4
Quiz Bowl
Buzzer trivia across every subject; question patterns repeat, so practice pays off fast.
VariesAcademic Decathlon
Ten-event academic competition with GPA-based divisions, built so everyone can compete.
VariesNACLO (Linguistics)
North American Computational Linguistics Open - fun logic puzzles, no prior linguistics needed.
JanuaryScholastic Art & Writing Awards
The most recognized creative arts & writing awards for teens; colleges know them.
December
Robotics 2
FIRST Robotics (FRC / FTC)
Build and code competition robots in large team events; grants exist to help cover costs.
VariesVEX Robotics
Build smaller competition robots; fall season, widely accessible for new teams.
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