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Science Competitions

Just like math, there are numerous science competitions available for students. The key to excelling in science competitions is extensive reading. There are plenty of books available on each of the science related subjects and and getting started early gives students a significant advantage. 

 

The science portion of TMSCA/UIL has been covered under the math competitions section. Below are some notable science competitions, along with links to past contest papers. Reviewing past contest questions can give you a clear understanding of the topics covered. Note that just working on these papers will not guarantee a win.

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In my view, the most effective way to prepare for a contest is to review past papers to familiarize yourself with the format and the level of knowledge required. After gaining an overview, begin by studying the materials and books available to you. You can check the BOOKS link on this site for recommended readings. Once you have a solid understanding of the concepts, try solving past questions again—you’ll likely find that they seem much more manageable this time.

 

​Popular Science Competitions

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The Science Olympiad, in particular, offers a wide range of events, allowing students to choose based on their interests. Exploring these events in advance can help you prepare before joining a club. 

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How to Register

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Science competitions are generally registered through schools and not as individuals. In Middle & High school, they are often organized by science teachers or coaches who run dedicated clubs. Interested students can join these clubs. Note that the admission policies may vary depending on the number of students interested. Club may either allow walk-in participation or require an entrance test, as space is often limited.

 

Although it is uncommon for elementary schools to have science clubs, you can check with your local school to see if any are available. Personally, I believe science is such a vast subject that students need time to explore it. It is not essential to start participating in elementary school; instead, students can use this time to prepare for middle school events.​​

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​Organized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Science Bowl (NSB) is a fast-paced academic competition that challenges middle and high school students in a buzzer-style format, testing their knowledge in science and mathematics.

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Many middle and high schools have dedicated Science Bowl clubs, as it is one of the most prestigious competitions for students passionate about science. Each school selects one or two teams of four students each to compete against other schools. Given the competitive nature of the selection process, securing a spot on these teams requires strong preparation and dedication.

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Contest Divisions & Levels:

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There are 2 divisions in NSB : Middle School and High School.

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Each division has around ~ 50 regions through out the country. Every Middle & High schools falls under 1 of those regions. All schools under 1 Region compete with each other under their own division. (Middle school teams  compete with other Middle schools teams that fall in the same region). The winners of each region go on to compete at the Nationals.​

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  • Regionals: All schools that fall under a single region will compete against each other until 1 team is declared the winner.

  • Nationals: All regional winning teams move on to Nationals to compete for the title.

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Contest Topics:

Science bowl covers all areas of science with difficulty increasing in High school. Questions asked are based in:

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  • Biology

  • Chemistry

  • Physics

  • Earth & Space Science

  • Mathematics

  • Energy

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Typically, each student in the team of four focuses on preparing for two specific subjects. Since it's difficult for any one student to master all topics, teamwork plays a crucial role. By specializing in different areas and overlapping in at least one subject, team members can support one another and ensure well-rounded coverage of all competition topics.

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Contest Format:

Each school sends 2 teams of 4 members each. These teams are matched up with teams from other schools where they compete head-to-head in a question-and-answer format.

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  • The match has two eight-minute halves, with a two-minute break in between.

  • Every round is a set of Toss-Up and a Bonus question.

  • Toss-Up:

    • Answered individually by any player who buzzes in first.

    • Must be answered without team discussion within 5 seconds of being recognized.

    • Correct answers earn 4 points and a chance at a bonus question for the team.

    • Incorrect responses before the question is finished prevents the team from answering again.

  • Bonus Questions

    • Awarded to the team that correctly answers a toss-up question.

    • Allows for team discussion, with one player providing the final answer.

    • Worth 10 points if answered correctly.

  • Scoring and Winning

    • Teams earn points through correct toss-up and bonus question answers.

    • The team with the most points at the end of the match wins.

    • In case of a tie, additional toss-up questions are used to determine the winner.

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Teams compete head-to-head, with the winning team advancing to the next round. This continues until only two teams remain for the final match. The winning team qualifies for Nationals, where the competition follows the same format until the national champions are determined.

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Science Olympiad (SciOly) covers a vast range of subjects and events, but I’ll break it down as simply as possible. Like any other competition, once you get familiar with it, finding additional information will become much easier.

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This competition has something for everyone. With so many events available, a school team can have over 30–35 students participating in the early invitational rounds, making it an exciting and engaging experience for all.

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Every event is a team event, meaning students always work in pairs or groups. And it gets even better—you can bring notes for most events! There’s no need to memorize complex scientific terms or formulas—just include them in your notes and focus on problem-solving.

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Where do I begin?
Science Olympiad has 2 divisions and each division has more than 20 events.  
 


Look at the events under the Division you belong to. SciOly has an excellent wiki source where you can find all the past papers and information about this contest. Note that these events are rotated yearly.

 

Get an understanding of how events are rotated here: https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Past_Event_Rotations 

 

All students DO NOT participate in ALL events. Students can pick the events they are interested in, find a teammate and compete in that event. A student can pick 1 event or more, based on their interests. Shortlist the events you are interested in. Remember that just picking an event might not guarantee a spot on the school team.​ Popular events often have lot of interest among students and you may have to go through your school's selection process to make it to the team that represents your school. 

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Contest Registration & Levels

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  • The school science club/coach will take care of registering the school with the state and national Science Olympiad organization.

  • You cannot register for this contest as an individual.

  • A school can have 2 or more teams. (Team A , Team B etc.,)

  • A school can have a selection process in place, such as an entrance test for each event, if the number of students that are interested in an event is large.

  • For each Scioly event, top performing students will be placed in TEAM A , followed by TEAM B and TEAM C and so on, depending on how many students participate.

  • Multiple teams participate in Invitationals and Regionals. Depending on how each team is performing at these invitationals, the coach will ultimately pick a SCHOOL TEAM OF 15 STUDENTS, who will participate at the State and Nationals  tournaments, if qualified.

  • A school need not participate in all events in a given year. There are events that have a lot of interest among students and there are events that do not have any students to participate in. So, it is entirely on a school to pick the events that it wants to participate in.

  • NOTE: The disadvantage of not participating in all events is the school placement in the overall tournament. The total rankings of all combined events will determine which school will go on to compete at State or National Levels.

  • The school can win top placements at some events individually, however an individual team cannot advance to State or Nationals. The overall participation of the school at all events and its ranking at each event will determine which school advances.

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​Invitationals: Invitationals are informal, practice-oriented competitions that are hosted by individual schools, colleges, or universities. These tournaments do not impact regional or state advancement or rankings. All participating teams must be registered members of their state and national Science Olympiad programs. Participation in invitationals is optional and often requires a separate event fee.

 

The Invitationals serve 2 purposes - 

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  1. An opportunity for teams to refine their skills, test their devices, and gauge the difficulty level of various events.

  2. and an opportunity for the school coach to decide who the top performing teams are that can advance to higher levels. Note that just making it to TEAM A, does not guarantee a spot on the State or National team. If some individuals on TEAM B or C are performing better at an event, they can easily replace the Team A Member.

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Regionals: Regional tournaments are the first tier of official qualifying competitions. Teams compete within their designated regions, and the top performers earn the opportunity to advance to the state level. The number of teams that progress varies by state and is typically based on the number of participating teams and regional allocations.

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State: Teams that excel at the regional level move on to state tournaments. These competitions are more rigorous and often held on university campuses. The top teams from each state tournament earn the privilege to represent their state at the national level. In most states, the first-place team advances to the national competition, but states with a larger number of teams may be allotted additional spots.

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National: The national tournament is the culmination of the Science Olympiad season, bringing together the best teams from across the country. Each year, a different university hosts the event, providing students with the opportunity to explore new regions and academic institutions. The national tournament features high-level competition, with teams vying for medals, trophies, and scholarships. Example: The 2025 Science Olympiad National Tournament is scheduled to be hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln on May 23-24, 2025.

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SciOly Events:

Use the following links to browse through the events:​

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Each event has its own set of rules: Search the term "Scioly Event Rules" to get the link for the latest event rules. Here is a sample link for 2025 event rules: https://www.soinc.org/rules-2025

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The rules for each event will clearly mention the number of team members allowed, if a cheat sheet is allowed etc. Some events like Anatomy & Physiology has a single A4-sized, double-sided notes allowed and other events like Fossils have an entire binder of notes allowed. It's on the student how they organize this data and how familiar they are with it that will enable the student to ace the contest.

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Here is a sample pdf for Microbe Mission that i personally made.

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I hope the above information will help you get started. For any additional information email me using the contact form. I can also share my experience on some events that I participated in, listed below:

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  • Anatomy & Physiology

  • Microbe Mission

  • Fossils

  • Codebusters

  • Fast Facts

  • Heredity

  • Crime Busters

  • Circuit Lab

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Physics Bowl is a prestigious annual physics competition organized by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). It is designed for high school students and consists of a 40-question, 45-minute multiple-choice test that covers a broad range of physics topics, including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, waves, and modern physics.

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The competition is divided into two divisions:

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  • Division 1: For students taking their first-year physics course.

  • Division 2: For students with advanced physics coursework experience.

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Contest Format:

The test covers a variety of physics topics, including:

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  • Mechanics (approximately 40%)

  • Electricity & Magnetism (approximately 25%)

  • Waves & Optics

  • Thermodynamics

  • Modern Physics

  • Miscellaneous Topics (e.g., relativity, fluids, nuclear physics)

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  • Total Questions: 40 multiple-choice questions

  • Time Limit: 45 minutes

  • Scoring:

    • +1 point for each correct answer

    • No penalty for incorrect answers

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  • Students compete individually but also contribute to their school’s team score, which is based on the top five individual scores.

  • It is a single test that is taken by students at their schools. There are no other levels as the results  on this contest are ranked regionally and nationally.

  • Awards are given to high-scoring individuals and teams.

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Contest Registration:

 

Registration is always done by the school or registered test center. High school students can reach out to their physics teacher, or science club to register. Middle schoolers interested in physics can start early and register for the physics bowl at any high school offering it. Contact the physics club coach, pay the registration fee and show up on the Day-time suggested by the school. This will give a good head start for students who would like to pursue it in high school.

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The F=ma contest is a highly regarded physics competition for high school students, sponsored by AATP. In my view, it is a demanding contest, and students should have a solid grasp of the high school physics curriculum before they begin preparing for it. A basic understanding of high school physics is just the starting point; after reviewing past papers, you'll see that the questions are quite tough. Although it is stated that calculus is not required for the F=ma contest, I believe having a background in calculus can provide a significant advantage.


The top 400 students advance to the next level of the competition, which is the USAPHO. While the cutoff score can vary each year, it generally hovers around 14 out of a possible 25 points, giving you an idea of the contest's level of difficulty.

The F=ma contest consists of a series of challenging multiple-choice and free-response problems centered on classical mechanics. The problems are designed to assess participants' understanding and application of key physics concepts such as Newton's laws, kinematics, dynamics, and energy principles.


Contest Format:
 

  • Duration: It lasts for 75 minutes.

  • Questions: The exam includes a set of problems, generally 25 questions, that cover a variety of topics within high school-level physics. The problems vary in difficulty, requiring both conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills.

  • No Calculus Required: The F=ma contest is designed so that participants do not need to use calculus to solve the problems, although a basic understanding of calculus can be helpful.


Contest Topics:

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  • Kinematics: Motion in one and two dimensions, including velocity, acceleration, and projectile motion.

  • Newton's Laws of Motion: Concepts related to force, mass, and acceleration, including applications to objects at rest and in motion.

  • Work and Energy: Work-energy theorem, kinetic energy, potential energy, conservation of energy, and power.

  • Momentum: Conservation of momentum, impulse, and collisions (elastic and inelastic).

  • Rotational Motion: Concepts like torque, angular velocity, angular acceleration, and moment of inertia.

  • Gravitation: Newton's law of gravitation, gravitational potential energy, orbits, and satellite motion.

  • Harmonic Motion: Simple harmonic motion, oscillations, and springs.

  • Fluid Mechanics: Concepts like pressure, buoyancy, and Bernoulli’s principle (in some cases).

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Contest registration:


Registration is always done by the school or registered test center. High school students can reach out to their physics teacher, or science club to register.  A middle school student who wants to start off early can reach out to the high school to register.


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Top scorers in F=MA contest are invited to participate in the Physics Olympiad organized by AATP.  The cutoff scores to advance to USAPhO might change from year to year based on the level of difficulty of the contest and how well the students perform. But it is usually between 14-16 points out of a possible 25 on F=MA. The school where you register will be notified of all students eligible for the Physics Olympiad and will help you with the next steps of registration.

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Contest Format:


This exam is divided into two parts, each lasting 90 minutes and containing three free-response questions.It is graded out of 50 points.

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Contest Topics:

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The questions cover a broad range of physics topics, including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, fluids, relativity, waves, and nuclear and atomic physics. Students are required to justify their answers thoroughly. 

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Awards & Cutoffs (Approximate)
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  • Honorable Mention: Typically awarded to students scoring in the top 400-500.

  • Bronze Medal: Around the top 150-200 students.

  • Silver Medal: Around the top 100 students.

  • Gold Medal: Top 50-60 students, who then qualify for the Physics Team Camp.

  • Top 20 Campers: From the camp, the Top 5 go on to compete at the IPhO.

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​IPhO:

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  • Top 20 students on USAPhO contest are invited to the U.S. Physics Team Training Camp.

  • U.S. Physics Team Training Camp
     

    • A rigorous two-week program where top students receive intensive training in advanced physics topics and problem-solving.

    • The top five students from the camp are selected to represent the U.S. in the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO).

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The USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) is a prestigious national competition that identifies and trains top high school students in biology, ultimately selecting the U.S. team for the International Biology Olympiad (IBO). ​USABO consists of multiple rounds of testing, leading to the selection of the top students for the IBO. The competition is administered by the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE).

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Contest Eligibility:
 

  • Open to U.S. high school students (grades 9-12).

  • Must be enrolled in a U.S. school (public, private, or homeschool).

  • U.S. citizens and permanent residents can advance to the IBO team, but non-citizens may still participate.

  • No prior qualifications are needed—any interested student can take the exam if their school is registered.

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​How to Register:

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  • Step 1: A teacher or school official must register their school with the CEE (usually by November).

  • Step 2: Students then register through their school and pay a registration fee (usually around $95 per school, covering all students).

  • Step 3: The teacher or proctor administers the Open Exam at the school or an approved testing center.

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Contest Levels:

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USABO consists of three rounds, with increasing difficulty:

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1️⃣ Open Exam (January)

  • Format: 50 multiple-choice questions

  • Time Limit: 50 minutes

  • Content: Covers broad high school biology topics

  • Advancement: Top ~10% of scorers qualify for the Semifinal Exam

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2️⃣ Semifinal Exam (March)

  • Format:

    • First section: 60 multiple-choice questions

    • Second section: 8 short-answer questions

  • Time Limit: 120 minutes

  • Advancement: Top 20 students qualify for the Finals

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3️⃣ National Finals (May)

  • Format:

    • Theoretical and practical exams

    • Lab-based assessments and data analysis

  • Location: Typically held at a university (e.g., Purdue University in recent years)

  • Outcome: Top 4 students are selected to represent the U.S. at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO)

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Contest Topics:

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USABO covers all major areas of biology, with some college-level content. Key topics include:

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High School Level Topics:
 

  • Cell Biology

  • Genetics & Molecular Biology

  • Plant Anatomy & Physiology

  • Animal Anatomy & Physiology

  • Ecology & Evolution
     

Advanced Topics (University Level):
 

  • Biochemistry

  • Neurobiology

  • Immunology

  • Bioinformatics

  • Ethology (Animal Behavior)
     

Recommended Textbook: Campbell Biology (latest edition)—it’s the primary resource for the competition.

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Past Cutoff Scores

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Awards & Recognition
 

  • Semifinalists – Certificate of Achievement

  • Finalists (Top 20) – Invitation to the National Finals

  • IBO Team (Top 4) – Represent the U.S. at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO)

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International Biology Olympiad (IBO)
 

  • The Top 4 finalists from USABO advance to the International Biology Olympiad (IBO), held in a different country each year.

  • IBO Exam Format:

    • Theoretical Exam: Covers advanced biological topics at a university level.

    • Practical Exam: Involves lab work, including microscopy, biochemistry, and bioinformatics.

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The USA National Chemistry Olympiad (USNCO) is a prestigious national competition organized by the American Chemical Society (ACS) to identify and train the top high school chemistry students in the U.S. The top students advance to the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO).

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Contest Eligibility:
 

  • Open to high school students (grades 9-12) in the U.S.

  • Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents to qualify for the national team.

  • A school must be registered with a local ACS section to participate.

  • No prior qualifications are needed—students only need to be nominated by their school to take the Local Exam.​

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How to Register?
 

  • Step 1: A high school teacher contacts the local ACS section coordinator (found on the ACS website) to register their school.

  • Step 2: Schools nominate their top-performing chemistry students to take the Local Exam.

  • Step 3: Top-performing students advance through the competition levels, ultimately competing for a spot on the IChO team.

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Contest Levels:

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USNCO consists of four rounds, each increasing in difficulty:

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1️⃣ Local Exam (March)

  • Format: 60 multiple-choice questions

  • Time Limit: 110 minutes

  • Content: AP Chemistry-level questions with some Olympiad-style problems

  • Advancement: The top students in each ACS section (~1,000 students nationwide) qualify for the National Exam.
     

2️⃣ National Exam (April)

  • Format:

    • Part I: 60 multiple-choice questions (90 minutes)

    • Part II: 8-10 free-response questions (105 minutes)

    • Part III: 2 laboratory practical tasks (90 minutes)

  • Advancement: The Top 20 scorers are invited to the Study Camp
     

3️⃣ Study Camp (June)

  • Location: Held at the University of Maryland

  • Duration: Two weeks of intensive chemistry training, including theoretical and lab work

  • Advancement: The Top 4 students are selected to represent the U.S. at the IChO
     

4️⃣ International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) (July)

  • The U.S. team competes against students from ~90 countries

  • Theoretical and experimental exams covering university-level chemistry

  • Students compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals

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Contest Topics

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USNCO covers high school and advanced college-level chemistry concepts. The main topics include:

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High School Chemistry Topics:
 

  • Atomic Structure & Periodicity

  • Chemical Bonding & Molecular Geometry

  • Stoichiometry & Chemical Reactions

  • Thermodynamics & Kinetics

  • Equilibrium (Acid-Base, Solubility, Redox)

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Advanced Topics (University Level):
 

  • Quantum Chemistry & Spectroscopy

  • Organic Chemistry (Reaction Mechanisms, Synthesis)

  • Inorganic Chemistry (Coordination Compounds, Crystal Field Theory)

  • Electrochemistry & Analytical Chemistry

  • Biochemistry (Amino Acids, Enzymes, Metabolism)

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Past Cutoff Scores:

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Awards & Recognition

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  • Top Local Exam Scorers – Invitation to the National Exam

  • Top 150 National Exam Scorers – High Honors

  • Top 50 National Exam Scorers – Honors

  • Top 20 National Scorers – Invited to the Study Camp

  • Top 4 Campers – Represent the U.S. at IChO

  • Top 10 Campers – Recognized as Alternates

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At the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO), students compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals. The U.S. has historically performed very well, often earning multiple gold medals.

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International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)
 

  • The Top 4 students from the Study Camp form Team USA.

  • IChO Format:

    • Theoretical Exam (60%) – Covers advanced chemistry concepts at a college level

    • Practical Exam (40%) – Includes lab-based problem-solving and experiments

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personal note...

For Students who are starting out in STEM competitions, specially Science, I would highly recommend TMSCA Science  and Science Bowl contest. TMSCA & Science Bowl cover academic curriculum in all areas of Science including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Space & Earth Science etc.,. This will create a strong foundational knowledge for all other competitions.

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Scioly
PBowl
FMA
USAPHO
USABO
USNCO
SBowl
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