- Grades1 to 12
- Cost$125 to $175
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereOnline
Math
AIME
Fifteen problems, three hours, integer answers only. Invitation required.
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- CostUp to $25
PreparationA qualifying score on AMC 10 or AMC 12
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
Art and design
All American High School Film Festival
The largest high school film festival in the world, screening student work in Times Square.
Math
AMC 10 and AMC 12
The 75-minute exam that opens the door to the US math olympiad ladder.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$20 to $75
- FormatEither
- WhereIn person
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- CostFree to $70
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
Math
AMC 8
A 40-minute, 25-question exam for middle schoolers and the natural first step into contest maths.
36 days left
- Grades1 to 8
- CostFree to $30
RecommendedGrades 6 to 8
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
Engineering
American Rocketry Challenge
Design a rocket that carries eggs to an exact altitude and returns them intact, to the second.
Math
ARML
Fifteen-student regional teams competing in relays and a power round over one intense weekend.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$100 to $1,000
- FormatTeam
- WhereIn person
88 days left
- Grades1 to 12
- Cost$100 to $800
PreparationComfort with olympiad-style problems, and a place on a regional team
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Coding
Bebras Challenge
A short online computational thinking challenge with no programming required, from age 8 upward.
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- CostUp to $5
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline
Robotics
Botball
Fully autonomous robotics where all the programming is done in advance and nothing is driver-controlled.
Business
Business Professionals of America
Competitive events in business, IT, digital media and management, with a strong technical event list.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$500 to $3,000
- FormatTeam
- WhereIn person
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$20 to $1,500
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Civics and social science
C-SPAN StudentCam
Make a short documentary on a national policy question, free, with a large cash prize pool.
83 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereOnline
Coding
Codeforces
Free short-format algorithmic contests several times a month, open to anyone with a rating attached.
133 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree
PreparationImplementing algorithms under time pressure in C++, Java or Python
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline
Coding
Congressional App Challenge
Build an app, compete only against students in your own congressional district, and win a display in the U.S. Capitol.
Business
Conrad Challenge
A year-long innovation competition where teams build a product and a business around a real global problem.
Coding
CyberPatriot
Teams defend deliberately broken computer systems against a clock, from middle school upward.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree
- FormatEither
- WhereOnline
47 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree to $499
- FormatTeam
- WhereBoth
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree to $250
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereOnline
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.
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- CostFree
PreparationA completed piece of work at or close to college graduate level
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline
Engineering
Destination Imagination
Team creative problem solving across technical, scientific, engineering, fine arts and service challenges.
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- Cost$165 to $5,500
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Art and design
Doodle for Google
Redesign the Google logo around an annual theme, with a scholarship and a day on the homepage at stake.
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- CostFree
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline
Engineering
eCYBERMISSION
Solve a problem in your own community using science or engineering, entirely online, for free.
Engineering
ExploraVision
Pick a technology, project it twenty years forward, and write the paper explaining how it gets there.
Check site
- Grades6 to 9
- CostFree
- FormatTeam
- WhereOnline
168 days left
- Grades1 to 12
- CostFree
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereOnline
Business
FBLA
More than seventy competitive events in business, technology and finance, competed through a school chapter.
140 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$20 to $600
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Robotics
FIRST LEGO League
The entry point to competitive robotics, starting at age four and running through middle school.
Check site
- Grades1 to 8
- Cost$100 to $1,200
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Writing
Foyle Young Poets
A free international poetry award for 11 to 17 year olds, with a hundred winners chosen each year.
Music
From the Top Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award
A scholarship award for outstanding young classical musicians with financial need, including a national radio appearance.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree
- FormatIndividual
- WhereOnline
325 days left
- Grades3 to 12
- CostFree
PreparationRepertoire ready for broadcast performance, plus demonstrated financial need
FormatIndividual
WhereBoth
Engineering
Future City
Design a city a century from now, in simulation, in an essay, and as a physical model built from recycled materials.
61 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$25 to $25
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Debate and speech
Harvard Speech and Debate Tournament
One of the largest invitational tournaments in the country, over Presidents' Day weekend, with a full novice field.
Math
HMMT
One of the hardest and best-run student math tournaments in the world, held twice a year in Boston.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$100 to $2,000
- FormatEither
- WhereBoth
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$20 to $100
PreparationRegular practice on olympiad-level problems
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Science
HOSA
Over sixty competitive events across clinical skills, health knowledge and leadership, from middle school upward.
11 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$20 to $1,500
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Academic
International Geography Bee
A buzzer geography competition with online qualifying, filling the gap left by the discontinued National Geographic Bee.
82 days left
- Grades3 to 12
- Cost$10 to $500
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereBoth
Coding
International Olympiad in AI
The newest international science olympiad, with a scientific round and a practical machine learning round.
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- CostFree to $500
PreparationProgramming plus an understanding of machine learning fundamentals
FormatTeam
WhereBoth
Engineering
Invention Convention
Invent something that solves a real problem, document the process, and pitch it like an inventor.
173 days left
- Grades1 to 12
- CostFree to $100
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Business
InvestWrite
A free national essay competition on investing, judged on reasoning rather than returns.
Check site
- Grades4 to 12
- CostFree
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline
Science
Junior Innovators Challenge
The premier middle school science research competition, entered by nomination from an affiliated science fair.
Engineering
Junior Solar Sprint
Design and race a solar-powered model car, free, for middle school teams.
Robotics
MATE ROV Competition
Build an underwater remotely operated vehicle and run real ocean-industry missions in a pool.
Check site
- Grades6 to 8
- CostFree
- FormatIndividual
- WhereBoth
Check site
- Grades4 to 8
- CostFree to $150
- FormatTeam
- WhereIn person
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- Cost$100 to $3,000
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Math
Math Kangaroo
A friendly international puzzle contest that starts in grade 1.
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- Cost$21 to $30
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
Math
Math Prize for Girls
The largest cash prize in pre-college mathematics, open to girls and non-binary students.
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- CostFree
PreparationAn AMC 10 or AMC 12 score above the year's cutoff
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
Math
MATHCOUNTS
The national middle school math league, from your classroom to a televised countdown round.
Debate and speech
Model United Nations
Represent a country in simulated UN committees, negotiate resolutions, and compete for awards at hundreds of conferences.
Math
MOEMS
Five short contests across the school year, designed as a first taste of olympiad problem solving from grade 4.
Check site
- Grades6 to 8
- Cost$42 to $80
- FormatEither
- WhereIn person
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$25 to $1,500
- FormatEither
- WhereBoth
Check site
- Grades4 to 8
- CostNot confirmed
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Music
MTNA Performance Competitions
A structured national competition ladder for young performers, from state through division to national finals.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$25 to $150
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Academic
NACLO
Solve puzzles in languages you have never seen, with no prior linguistics knowledge required.
Coding
NASA App Development Challenge
Build software against a real NASA mission problem, free, with winning teams meeting NASA engineers.
Coding
NASEF Scholastic Esports
School-based esports leagues paired with a curriculum in production, broadcasting, analysis and game design.
Civics and social science
National Civics Bee
Write a short essay about a problem in your community, then defend it in a live civics quiz.
Academic
National History Bee and Bowl
Buzzer competition in history, run as both an individual bee and a team bowl, with online qualifying.
0 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree
- FormatIndividual
- WhereIn person
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree
- FormatTeam
- WhereOnline
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree
- FormatTeam
- WhereOnline
Check site
- Grades6 to 8
- CostFree
- FormatIndividual
- WhereBoth
146 days left
- Grades2 to 12
- Cost$10 to $800
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereBoth
Academic
National History Day
Original historical research presented as a paper, exhibit, documentary, performance or website.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree to $150
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Academic
National Latin Exam
A single low-cost exam sat at school, with medals and a very high award rate for prepared students.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- CostUp to $10
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
Science
National Science Bowl
A fast buzzer competition across all sciences and maths, run free by the Department of Energy since 1991.
142 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree to $50
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Debate and speech
NSDA National Tournament
The largest academic competition in the world, reached by earning qualifying points on your district circuit.
Writing
Ocean Awareness Contest
A free international contest accepting art, writing, film, music and interactive media on a yearly ocean and climate theme.
75 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$100 to $3,000
- FormatEither
- WhereIn person
187 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereOnline
Engineering
Odyssey of the Mind
Teams solve a long-term creative problem over months, then face a spontaneous problem they have never seen.
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- Cost$290 to $400
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Writing
Patriot's Pen
A short patriotic essay contest for middle school students, free, with national awards.
Coding
picoCTF
A free capture-the-flag cybersecurity competition designed specifically for students with no security background.
Check site
- Grades6 to 8
- CostFree
- FormatIndividual
- WhereBoth
52 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree
PreparationComfort with a command line and basic scripting
FormatTeam
WhereOnline
Math
PUMaC
A team math tournament at Princeton with a live power round and a strong international field.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$20 to $100
PreparationExperience with proof-based problems
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Math
Purple Comet! Math Meet
A free, online, team-based maths contest open to any school or club in the world.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereOnline
Academic
Quiz Bowl (NAQT HSNCT)
Buzzer-based team quiz across every academic subject, with a huge published archive of past questions.
Robotics
RoboCupJunior
International robotics with three distinct leagues: robot soccer, disaster rescue, and performance.
187 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$50 to $2,000
- FormatTeam
- WhereIn person
Check site
- Grades5 to 12
- Cost$50 to $2,000
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Science
Science Olympiad
A 23-event team tournament covering everything from anatomy to bridge building, run at invitational, regional, state and national level.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$50 to $500
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Academic
Scripps National Spelling Bee
The most watched academic competition in America, reached through school, district and regional bees.
Robotics
SeaPerch
Build an underwater robot from PVC pipe and motors for well under a hundred dollars, then race and manoeuvre it.
Engineering
STEM Racing (formerly F1 in Schools)
Design, manufacture and race a miniature air-powered car, and run the team like a racing outfit. Rebranded from F1 in Schools to STEM Racing in 2024.
Check site
- Grades1 to 8
- CostFree to $225
- FormatIndividual
- WhereIn person
142 days left
- Grades1 to 12
- Cost$50 to $300
- FormatTeam
- WhereIn person
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$200 to $3,000
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Coding
Technovation Girls
A free global season where girls aged 8 to 18 build an app or AI project and pitch it as a venture.
Check site
- Grades3 to 12
- CostFree
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereOnline
Engineering
The Paradigm Challenge
Solve a real social problem however you like, from age four upward, with a large prize pool.
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- CostFree
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereOnline
Business
The Stock Market Game
Manage a virtual $100,000 portfolio against other school teams over a full trading season.
Chess and strategy
US Chess Scholastic National Championships
National championships separated by grade, age and rating, so beginners are never paired against masters.
234 days left
- Grades4 to 12
- CostFree to $30
- FormatTeam
- WhereOnline
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- Cost$30 to $200
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Coding
USACO
Free, worldwide algorithmic contests on a four-division ladder, and the route to Team USA at the IOI.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline
Robotics
VEX IQ Robotics Competition
A snap-together robotics league for elementary and middle school, with cooperative rather than head-to-head matches.
Check site
- Grades3 to 8
- Cost$200 to $1,200
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Robotics
VEX Robotics Competition
The largest robotics competition in the world by team count, with tournaments running most weekends.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$300 to $3,000
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Coding
WAICY
A project-based global AI competition with tracks for art and video as well as technical builds.
Civics and social science
We the People
A simulated congressional hearing where your class testifies as constitutional experts before a panel of judges.
Check site
- Grades4 to 12
- CostFree to $100
- FormatEither
- WhereOnline
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree to $1,000
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Robotics
World Robot Olympiad
An international robotics competition running in over eighty countries, with categories from age six upward.
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- Cost$50 to $2,000
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Debate and speech
World Scholar's Cup
A team academic competition combining debate, collaborative writing, a quiz bowl and a scholar's challenge, with rounds in dozens of countries.
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$100 to $3,000
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereBoth
Chess and strategy
World Youth Chess Championship
The international age-group championship, entered through your national chess federation.
Check site
- Grades1 to 12
- Cost$500 to $5,000
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
Check site