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International Science Olympiad 2023

International Science Olympiad is a group of annually conducted international exams. Each of these exams is conducted in a member country where students represent their country. The group of Olympiad Exams is International Physics Olympiad (IPhO), International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), International Biology Olympiad (IBO), International Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad (IAAO), and International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO).

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International Science Olympiad 2023 Exam Dates

The selection of students who represent the country at these prestigious events is divided into multiple stages. In India, these exams are conducted by Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), a part of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in close collaboration with multiple teacher associations such as the Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT), Association of Chemistry Teachers (ACT), and the Association of Teachers in Biological Sciences (ATBS).

The International Science Olympiad program in India is fully funded by the following organizations.

  • Board of Research in Nuclear Science, Department of Atomic Energy (BRNS, DAE).
  • Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
  • Indian 2 Space Research Organisation, Department of Space (ISRO, DoS).

Given below are some important dates for International Science Olympiads 2023-24.

ISO 2023 Exam Dates
Exam Date  
Orientation cum Training Camp TBA -
Junior Science Olympiad Orientation Camp (JSOOC)New Aug 18 to Sept 10 and Oct 14 and Oct 15, 2023 -
Astronomy Olympiad Orientation Camp (AOOC) TBA -
Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Physics (IOQP) January 2024 (Tentative) 9 am - 12 pm
Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Chemistry (IOQC) January 2024 (Tentative) 2.30 pm - 5.30 pm
Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Biology (IOQB) January 2024 (Tentative) 2.30 pm - 5.30 pm
Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Astronomy (IOQA) January 2024 (Tentative) 9 am - 12 pm
Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Junior Science (IOQJS) January 2024 (Tentative) 2.30 pm - 5.30 pm

The National Olympiads are overseen by a National Steering Committee (NSC), constituted by DAE, and comprised of members of each funding agency as well as eminent experts in each subject.

Given below are some important dates for International Science Olympiads 2023-24.

Particulars Details
Application Begins
  • March 2023
Stage 1: International Olympiad Qualifier (IOQ) in Science Exam Date (NSE and INO Combined)
  • Nov 25, 2023
Stage 2: Orientation-cum-Selection Camp
  • TBA
Stage 3: International Science Olympiad (ISO)
  • TBA

Selection Process for International Science Olympiad 2023

The selection process is divided into five stages, with the last stage being the International Science Olympiad. These stages are:

Indian Olympiad Qualifier Examination (IOQ)

The first two stages of the HBCSE Science Olympiad NSE and INO are merged into a single stage called the Indian Olympiad Qualifier Examination (IOQ). For every subject, IOQ consists of two parts, National Standard Examination (NSE) and the Indian National Olympiad (INO). All the registered students can appear for IOQ parts 1 and 2, but only the students who qualify through performance in IOQ Part I (MCQ), will be evaluated with their IOQ part 2 (written exam).

The different subjects in Science Olympiad are,

  • Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Physics (IOQPh)
  • Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Chemistry (IOQCh)
  • Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Biology (IOQB)
  • Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Astronomy (IOQA)
  • Indian Olympiad Qualifier in Junior Science (IOQJS)

Orientation cum Selection Camp (OCSC)

HBCSE conducts OCSC camp is changed to Olympiad Orientation Camp conducted online. The camp lasts for a month where students are trained and tested to selected a group of students who can represent the country for the International Science Olympiad.

Pre Departure Camp (PDC) (Cancelled)

PDTC is a camp for students who are selected from OCSC’s and are given intensive training and individual attention so that they are prepared for all obstacles which they will face in the International Science Olympiad. The camp lasts for 8- 10 days.

International Science Olympiad (ISO)

The final section of the HBCSE Science Olympiad is the International Science Olympiad Exam. After four rigorous rounds of selection, the best-performing students are filtered in each round. International Science Olympiad is a global competition for students who have cleared all four rounds successfully.

International Science Olympiad Eligibility Criteria

Given below are the eligibility criteria for ISO.

  • The student who is born between Jul 1, 1999, to Jun 30, 2004 (both days inclusive) is eligible for the exam.
  • The candidate must be eligible to hold an Indian passport.
  • The candidate must be studying and residing in India since Nov 30, 2016 or earlier.
  • The candidate must not have completed the class XII board before Nov 30, 2018.
  • The candidate must not have commenced or planning to commence studies in a University or equivalent studies before Jun 1, 2019.

International Science Olympiad Stages

Given below are the stages of the International Science Olympiads.

International Science Olympiad Stages
Stages  Details
Stage 1
  • Indian Olympiad Qualifier
    • Part 1: NSE
    • Part 2: INO
  • Question Pattern
    • Part 1: Theoretical objective questions
    • Part 2: Written-test (Short/long answers)
  • Exam Venue: Near your school/ Online
Stage 2
  • Orientation-Cum-Selection Camp (OCSC)
  • Exam Date: July to December (Vary for subjects)
  • Question Pattern: Theoretical & experimental sessions
  • Exam Venue: Will be directed by the exam authorities
Stage 4 (Cancelled)
  • Pre-Departure Camp (PDC)
  • Exam Date: July-November 2023
  • Question Pattern: Theoretical & experimental sessions
  • No. of Candidates: 4-6 Students
  • Exam Venue: Same as OCSE
Stage 4
  • International Science Olympiad (ISO)
  • Exam Date: December 2023
  • Question Pattern: Theory & experiment competition
  • No. of Candidates: 4-6 students
  • Exam Venue: International Venue

Important Dates for Examination and Events

Given below are some important dates.

Important Dates for INO Exam
Event Start Date
Registration for centres September 15, 2021
Enrollment of candidates Announced Later
Last date for payment of fee and enrollment Announced Later
Display of marks Announced Later
Announcement of list of candidates of MI & above MAS Announced Later
The final list of selected candidates for INO To be announced

Enrollment Fee Structure Junior Science (NSEJS)

Given below are details pertaining to the enrollment fee of NSEJS.

Junior Science Enrollment Fees
Institution Registration fee (per student per subject) To be paid to IAPT (per student per subject)
Kendriya Vidyalaya and Others INR 150 INR 140
Jawahar Navodyaya Vidyalaya INR 110 INR 110
For other schools registered in JNV INR 150 INR 140

Enrollment Fee Structure Senior Science (NSE)

Given below are details pertaining to the enrollment fee of NSE.

Senior Science Enrollment Fees
Institution Registration fee To be paid to IAPT
Kendriya Vidyalaya and Others INR 150 INR 120
Jawahar Navodyaya Vidyalaya INR 110 INR 110
For other schools registered in JNV INR 150 INR 120

International Science Olympiad Registration

Students interested in participating in ISO (all exams) have to complete NSE registration at the registration centres assigned by IAPT. IAPT will then assign an examination centre closest to the registration centre. Most registration centres are examination centres.

Note: All registration centres are not examination centres.

  • Students can collect the admit card for NSE from their respective registration centres. 
  • Selected students who have qualified for INO will be sent an email stating their qualifications and have to register for INO. Failure to register will lead to disqualification.

International Science Olympiad Syllabus

International Olympiads also have a similar syllabus with a few extra topics which are subject-specific. Exam such as IJSO or IAAO combines the syllabus of multiple subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, etc.).

Science syllabus for most of the HBCSE exams is broadly equivalent to the concepts taught in senior secondary level (up to and including Class XII) of CBSE for NSE’s and INO’s.

International Science Olympiad Results

ISO results (IPhO, IChO, IAAO, IBO, and IJSO) are given at different times depending on the dates of the examination. Students can view the results on HBCSE olympiad website using their registration number and other required details.

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