- Grades1 to 12
- CostFree
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.
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereOnline
Science
HOSA
Over sixty competitive events across clinical skills, health knowledge and leadership, from middle school upward.
140 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$20 to $1,500
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Science
PhysicsBowl
A 40-question, 45-minute physics exam sat at school, with divisions matched to how much physics you have taken.
82 days left
- Grades9 to 12
- CostUp to $20
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
Engineering
eCYBERMISSION
Solve a problem in your own community using science or engineering, entirely online, for free.
Engineering
American Rocketry Challenge
Design a rocket that carries eggs to an exact altitude and returns them intact, to the second.
Science
Brain Bee
A neuroscience competition running from local chapters up to a world championship.
Check site
- Grades6 to 9
- CostFree
- FormatTeam
- WhereOnline
168 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$100 to $1,000
- FormatTeam
- WhereIn person
88 days left
- Grades9 to 12
- CostFree to $400
PreparationReading Brain Facts or Neuroscience: The Science of the Brain
FormatIndividual
WhereBoth
Science
Breakthrough Junior Challenge
Explain a hard scientific idea in a three-minute video, for a $250,000 scholarship package.
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- Grades8 to 12
- CostFree
PreparationDeep understanding of one concept in physics, life sciences or mathematics
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline
Environment
GENIUS Olympiad
An international project competition on environmental issues, spanning science, art, writing, business and robotics.
6 days left
- Grades8 to 12
- CostNot confirmed
PreparationA completed project on an environmental theme, plus funds for the finalist fee and travel
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Environment
NCF-Envirothon
Field-based environmental science: teams are tested outdoors on soils, forestry, wildlife, water and a current issue.
Science
National Ocean Sciences Bowl
A buzzer-based ocean science quiz competition for high school teams, run through regional bowls.
Science
National Science Bowl
A fast buzzer competition across all sciences and maths, run free by the Department of Energy since 1991.
Check site
- Grades9 to 12
- CostFree to $1,000
- FormatTeam
- WhereIn person
Check site
- Grades9 to 12
- CostFree to $300
- FormatTeam
- WhereIn person
Check site
- Grades6 to 12
- CostFree to $50
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.
75 days left
- Grades6 to 12
- Cost$50 to $500
StructureDivisions by grade or level
FormatTeam
WhereIn person
Science
Chemistry Olympiad
A local exam, a national exam, then a study camp that picks the four-person United States team.
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- Grades9 to 12
- CostUp to $25
PreparationFamiliarity with a full first-year high school chemistry curriculum
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
Science
JSHS
Present original research to a live audience of scientists at a regional symposium, with scholarships attached.
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- Grades9 to 12
- CostFree
PreparationOriginal independent research, usually with a mentor
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
Science
Physics Olympiad (F=ma)
A 25-question mechanics exam that opens the pathway to the United States physics team.
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- Grades9 to 12
- CostFree to $50
PreparationFluency with mechanics: kinematics, forces, energy and momentum
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline
Environment
Stockholm Junior Water Prize
An international water research prize with national competitions in over thirty countries.
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- Grades9 to 12
- CostFree
PreparationA completed water-related research paper
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Science
USA Biolympiad
An open biology exam that narrows to twenty finalists and the four-person United States team at the International Biology Olympiad.
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- Grades9 to 12
- Cost$125 to $125
PreparationFamiliarity with a full first-year high school biology curriculum
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline
Science
USAAAO
Two rounds of astronomy and astrophysics exams leading to the US team for the international olympiad.
44 days left
- Grades9 to 12
- Cost$20 to $30
PreparationSelf-directed study of the IOAA syllabus, beyond school astronomy
FormatIndividual
WhereIn person
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.
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- Grades1 to 12
- CostFree
PreparationA completed piece of work at or close to college graduate level
FormatIndividual
WhereOnline
Science
Regeneron ISEF
The world's largest pre-college science research competition, reached by winning your way up through affiliated fairs.
Check site
- Grades9 to 12
- CostFree to $50
PreparationAn ongoing research project and a win at an affiliated fair
FormatEither
WhereIn person
Science
Regeneron Science Talent Search
The oldest and most prestigious science research competition for United States high school seniors.
Check site
- Grades12 to 12
- CostFree
- FormatIndividual
- WhereBoth
57 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.