List of Olympiad Exams 2026
There are a number of national and international Olympiads that students can appear for. Here is the list of some of the popular Olympiad exams in 2026.
STEM Olympiad
The International STEM Olympiad is an online global competition for students from Classes 1 to 12. The exam is based on STEM education principles, focusing on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills.
ISOCSEA
The International Science Olympiad Competition of Southeast Asia (ISOCSEA) is a global science competition for primary and secondary students. It promotes excellence in subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, and astronomy while encouraging international collaboration and Southeast Asia tourism.
Indian Olympiads (HBCSE/National Level)
The Indian Olympiad programme connects talented school students to international Olympiads in science and mathematics. Conducted by HBCSE, it covers astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics, junior science, and mathematics through multi-stage national-level examinations.
IMOCSEA
The International Mathematics Olympiad Competition of Southeast Asia, IMOCSEA for brevity, is an international competition in mathematics for primary and secondary levels. It aims to promote excellence and proficiency in mathematics (Arithmetic, number theory, algebra, geometry, logical analysis, and combinatorics) through friendly global competitions and to promote Southeast Asia’s tourism, with Philippines as the first destination, then Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to other country partners worldwide.
SASMO (Math)
VANDA Science
The primary objective of VANDA is to develop students’ critical and creative thinking skills in science. By following the Singapore science syllabus and emphasizing higher-order thinking, VANDA encourages participants to analyze, reason, and solve problems effectively. The competition aims to strengthen scientific knowledge, foster inquiry and nurture 21st-century competencies such as adaptability, decision-making and a curiosity-driven approach to learning.
Olympiad Exams 2026 – Important Dates
Staying updated with registration deadlines is crucial to ensure participation. The table below outlines the application window and exam dates for the 2026 academic cycle.
Olympiad Exams 2026 Application Timeline
| Exams | Last Date of Application | Exam Date |
| SASMO (Math) | March 25, 2026 | April 5, 2026 |
| VANDA Science | May 5, 2026 | May 12, 2026 |
| IMOCSEA | June 10, 2026 | June 21, 2026 |
| ISOCSEA | June 30, 2026 | July 19, 2026 |
Also Read: Types of Scholarship Programmes in India 2026: Complete Guide with Official Links
Olympiad Exams 2026 – Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility varies significantly between international and national-level exams. It is essential for students to verify their grade level and nationality requirements before applying.
STEM Olympiad
Note: There is no restriction on board or country, making it an international-level competition.
ISOCSEA
Kindergarten students and all levels in the primary school (Class 1 to 6) and all levels in the secondary school (Class 7 to 12) are eligible to join ISOCSEA.
Note: There is no pre-requisite in participating in this olympiad.
Indian Olympiads (HBCSE/National Level)
For Astronomy / Biology / Chemistry / Physics
- The student must be an Indian citizen (OCI students can participate up to the OCSC stage if qualified).
- Date of birth must be between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2011 (both dates included).
- The student must be studying and living in India or enrolled in an Indian school system since November 30, 2023 or earlier.
- The student must not have passed Class 12 before November 30, 2025.
- The student must not have started or planned to start university studies before June 1, 2026.
- A valid date of birth proof (Aadhaar card, passport, birth certificate, or board admit card) is required at the exam centre.
For Junior Science
- The student must be an Indian citizen (OCI students eligible up to OCSC stage if qualified).
- Date of birth must be between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2012 (both dates included).
- The student must be studying and living in India or part of an Indian school system since November 30, 2023 or earlier.
- The student must not have passed Class 10 before November 30, 2025.
- A valid date of birth proof is mandatory at the exam centre.
Additional Requirements for International Olympiads
- Students selected for international Olympiads must have a valid Indian passport before the start of the Orientation-cum-Selection Camp (OCSC).
- The passport must be valid for at least six months after the international Olympiad ends.
- Selection also depends on age limits, parental consent and institutional approval.
IMOCSEA
Kindergarten students and all levels in the primary school (Class 1 to 6) and all levels in the secondary school (Class 7 to 12) are eligible to join IMOCSEA.
Note: There is no pre-requisite in participating in this olympiad.
Singapore & Asian School Math Olympiad
- SASMO is open to students from Classes 1 to 6 (Primary) and Classes 7 to 10 (Secondary) studying in recognized schools.
- Students of Classes 11 and 12 (Junior College) from international schools are also eligible to participate.
VANDA Science
VANDA is open to students from Class 3 to Class 11.
Also Read: Shahid Madho Singh Haath Kharcha Scheme: Registration Opens, Eligibility and Rewards
Olympiad Exams 2026 – Award and Benefits
The Olympiad exams awards and benefits vary according to the organizing body and the specific exam. Each Olympiad offers its own set of rewards such as medals, certificates, scholarships, rankings and other academic benefits based on performance.
STEM Olympiad
Evaluation of Final Exams (Grades 1–3)
1. The top 3 participants in each grade and category will receive: physical gold medal, certificate of achievement
2. Award distribution based on performance:
- Top 25% – Digital gold medal certificate + certificate of achievement
- 25% to 60% – Digital silver medal certificate + certificate of achievement
- 60% to 80% – Digital bronze medal certificate + certificate of achievement
- 80% to 100% – Digital honorable medal certificate + certificate of achievement
Evaluation of Final Exams (Grades 4–12)
1. The top 3 participants in each category will receive: physical gold medal, certificate of achievement
2. Award distribution based on performance:
- Top 15% – Digital gold medal certificate + certificate of achievement
- 15% to 35% – Digital silver medal certificate + certificate of achievement
- 35% to 60% – Digital bronze medal certificate + certificate of achievement
- 60% to 80% – Digital honorable medal certificate + certificate of achievement
- 80% to 100% – Digital participation certificate (Final round exams)
National Junior Informatics Olympiad
- Perfect score award (Full marks): Awarded to students who achieve full marks; recognized as a significant award for IJHS.
- Gold award (Top 8%): Given to the top 8% of performers; qualifies as a significant award for IJHS.
- Silver award (Next 12%): Presented to the next 12% of high-performing students.
- Bronze award (Next 20%): Awarded to students ranked in the following 20%.
- Honorable mention award (Next 10%): Given to the next 10% of participants for notable performance.
- Certificate of participation (Next 50%): Awarded to the remaining 50% of students for participating.
ISOCSEA
1. The top 60% of participants qualify for the international round and receive awards based on their scores:
- 96–100 points: Diamond medal & certificate
- 81–95 points: Gold medal & certificate
- 66–80 points: Silver medal & certificate
- Remaining qualified participants: Bronze medal & certificate
2. Global Ranking Awards:
- Perfect scorer: Cash award
- Champion: Trophy & certificate
- 1st Runner-up: Trophy & certificate
- 2nd Runner-up: Trophy & certificate
- 3rd Runner-up: Trophy & certificate
3. Honorable Mention:
- The lower 40% of participants receive an honorable mention certificate.
IMOCSEA
National Round (Conducted Locally in Each Country)
1. The top 60% of total participants will qualify for the international round. These qualified students will receive awards based on their scores:
-
- 90 points or above – Diamond medal & certificate
- 75 to 89 points – Gold medal & certificate
- 60 to 74 points – Silver medal & certificate
- Below 60 points (within the top 60%) – Bronze medal & certificate
2. Top scorers in the national round will receive a glass trophy.
3. The lower 40% of participants will receive an honorable mention certificate.
Global Ranking Awards
- Champion – Trophy (convertible to cash for overseas participants)
- 1st Runner-Up – Certificate
- 2nd Runner-Up – Certificate
- 3rd Runner-Up – Certificate
- Participants in the lower 40% globally will receive an honorable mention certificate.
SASMO (Math)
- Perfect score award – Given to participants who achieve a perfect score.
- Gold award – Given to high-performing participants based on ranking.
- Silver award – Given to participants scoring just below the gold category.
- Bronze award – Given to participants meeting the bronze-level criteria.
- All participants will receive a participation certificate.
- The top 40% of participants will receive both an award certificate and a medal, distributed as follows:
- Top 8% – Gold medal
- Next 12% – Silver medal
- Next 20% – Bronze medal
VANDA Science
- Perfect score award – Given to participants who score full marks.
- Gold award – Given to top-performing participants.
- Silver award – Given to participants with strong performance after gold awardees.
- Bronze award – Given to participants who meet the bronze-level performance criteria.
- All participants will receive a participation certificate.
- The top 40% of participants will receive an award certificate along with a Medal, as follows:
- Top 8% – Gold medal
- Next 12% – Silver medal
- Next 20% – Bronze medal
Also Read: Azim Premji Foundation Deepika Scholarship – Last Date, Benefit and Application Process
Olympiad Exams 2026 – Application Links
| Exams | Official Link |
| STEM Olympiad | Click Here |
| National Junior Informatics Olympiad | Click Here |
| ISOCSEA | Click Here |
| Indian Olympiads (HBCSE/National Level) | Click Here |
| IMOCSEA | Click Here |
| SASMO (Math) | Click Here |
| VANDA Science | Click Here |
FAQs
Are Olympiad exams conducted online or offline?
Most Olympiad exams are conducted online, while some national-level Olympiads by HBCSE are held offline at designated exam centres across India.
Do Olympiad exams follow the school syllabus?
Yes, Olympiad exams are largely based on the school curriculum, with an added focus on logical thinking, conceptual understanding, application-based questions, and higher-order problem-solving skills.
Is there any passport requirement for Olympiad exams?
A passport is not required for all Olympiads, but students selected for international Olympiads must hold a valid Indian passport for attending selection or training camps.
What benefits do students receive from participating in Olympiads?
Depending on the Olympiad, students can earn medals, certificates, rankings, merit awards, trophies, performance reports and global recognition based on their exam performance.
Where can students apply for Olympiad exams 2026?
Students can apply for Olympiad exams 2026 through the respective official websites of each Olympiad, such as STEM Olympiad, HBCSE, SASMO, ISOCSEA, IMOCSEA, and VANDA Science.