International Olympiads

Overview

The Olympiads themselves are separate competitions each with its own organizing body, even though they are loosely grouped together as “ISOs”. The aims of each ISO are to promote a career in science; to challenge the brightest students from around the world; and to compare the various teaching systems of each country. Although the competitions are aimed for secondary school pupils, the standards of the exams are extremely high. In fact, in several countries, achieving a high ranking in any ISO guarantees access to a university of choice and a fellowship. Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Cambridge, for example, recruits a multitude of ISO medalists to their incoming undergraduate class every year.