8 Great Competitions for High School Students

Physics competitions are a great way to gauge your standing among your high school peers, especially when you’re gearing up for college. They not only test your knowledge of the subject, but also help make your college application shine, as well as provide you with invaluable networking opportunities within the community.

Here’s a comprehensive list of 8 great physics competitions for high school students that you can explore as a rising high school student ready to conquer the world of physics!

1. Physics Bowl

The Physics Bowl is an international competition that tests your knowledge of physics, basic concepts, real-world applications, as well as modern physics. Students must answer 40 MCQ-based questions in 45 minutes, and it's not easy - the average score of this test is only around 40-45%!

Being one of the most competitive and prestigious Physics contests internationally, it requires students to first compete and excel in school, regional, and national levels to qualify for the final round.

Location: San Diego Math Circle (2024).

Cost: $10 per student.

Program dates: Between March and April of every year.

Application deadline: Applications are open till February of every year.

Eligibility: Education institutions must apply, however, each school  must have at least 5 participants to qualify.

2. International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)

In this prestigious international competition, participants are put through a challenging combination of theoretical as well as experimental physics tests across the areas of quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, and classical mechanics. 

However, students cannot apply directly to the IPhO as it is the final round of a global event. It is a prerequisite for students to first compete in the F=ma Competition, the winners of which will proceed to the USAPhO contest, and eventually to the IPhO.

Location: Ispahan, Iran.

Cost: There is no cost to participate. Medals and honorable mentions are awarded.

Program dates: July 21 to 29, 2024.

Application deadline: Deadlines vary for different (regional and national, country-wise) rounds.

Eligibility: All high school students can participate, provided they have cleared and excelled in the regional and national rounds.

3. Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair

One of the biggest and most prestigious STEM competitions in the world, Regeneron ISEF spans across various subjects including Physics such as Biochemistry, Environmental Engineering, and more. Students are required to participate in an ISEF-affiliated regional competition and submit a research project to be considered for ISEF.

This global contest sees over 600 brilliant individual and team participants each year, making it one of the most competitive Physics competitions in the world. Winners are awarded with substantial scholarships, and additional prizes up to $9 million are awarded to exceptional participants and winners from each round leading up to the final round of ISEF.

Location: Columbus, Ohio (2025).

Cost/Prize: $25 registration fee. Winners receive scholarships up to $75,000, with $9 million in additional prizes.

Program dates: May 10-16, 2025.

Application deadline: Applications for 2025 are open till November 7, 2024.

4. ExploraVision

Organized by Toshiba and the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA), ExploraVision is a forward-thinking STEM competition that requires students to tackle real-world problems using STEM-focused solutions. Participants must create groups of 2-4 and take on a current technology, research on elevating its potential, and explore its applications and impact in the next 10 years.

This contest has seen over 450,000 participants since its inception in 1992, and there are no guesses why - winners of every round receive exciting gifts while the ultimate winner gets whisked off to Washington, DC for the Awards ceremony.

Location: Virtual. 

Cost/Prize: There is no entry fee. Winners will receive:

• Up to $240,000 in savings bonds for winning team and one runner-up

• An all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC for the ExploraVision Awards Weekend

• A technology/science-related gift for each regional winning student

Program dates: Regional winners are announced by April and national winners by May of every year. The award function is usually held in June.

Application deadline: Applications are open till January of every year. 

Eligibility: High school students from U.S. and Canada.

5. Davidson Fellows

One of the most selective and prestigious programs to get into, the Davidson Fellows Scholarship program is designed to seek out the brightest young minds in STEM, through an original research project developed by teams of up to 2 people. 

Participants are expected to submit research that is “at, or close to, the college graduate level with a depth of knowledge in their particular area of study.” Not only does the contest offer substantial scholarships to exceptional students, you also walk away with the prestigious title of a “Davidson Fellow”, along with access to excellent networking opportunities in your field.

Location: Virtual. 

Cost: No entry fee. Scholarships of $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 are awarded to extraordinary students.

Program dates:

Application deadline: Applications for 2025 will open in Fall of 2024.

Eligibility: Applicants must be 18 or younger as of the application deadline, and a U.S. citizen residing in the United States, or a Permanent Resident, or be stationed overseas due to active U. S. military duty.

6. International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA)

Aimed at generating and promoting interest in astronomy and astrophysics in students, the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Physics is a global-level competition that is sure to add a few stars to your college applications.

Through theoretical problems, paper-based practical problems, compute-based problems, and planetarium simulation, this competition aims at identifying the next generation of astronomy and astrophysics geniuses, while providing a uniquely niche networking opportunity to all attendees.

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2024).

Cost: No entry cost. Participants must bear their own transportation costs to the host country, accommodation and other facilities are provided at the venue.

Program dates: August 17-27, 2024.

Application deadline: Applications are typically open till January for the 

Eligibility: Open to high school students who have yet to complete 20 years of age before July 1st in the year of the competition. Students should not have completed their high school education before January 1st of the same year. Students must also have competed in (and won) regional and national level rounds in their respective countries.

7. Beamline for Schools (BL4S)

Organized by American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), this unique physics competition requires participants to propose an experiment they would like to perform with a particle accelerator. Applicants must submit a written proposal including visual aids explaining how they would like to use the beam to help with their experiment.

The best part about this competition is that it does not ask participants to simply dream up projects - two winning teams actually get to travel to Switzerland or Germany to perform their experiments using an actual particle accelerator!

Location: At the fixed-target beam facilities of CERN and DESY (2024).

Prize: An all-expenses-paid trip to the leading particle physics centers CERN and DESY where winners get to conduct a student-led particle physics experiment.

Program dates: Winners will be notified by June 2024.

Application deadline: Applications for 2024 are now closed.

Eligibility: Teams of high-school students from all around the world!

8. Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics

The Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics is designed for students with an aptitude in math and science, an inclination towards astrophysics and are considering a career in scientific research. This six-week program selects 32 rising students and immerses them in college-level education at Yale.

In this program, participants attend classes at the Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium (LFOP) at Yale, learn data programming and analytics, as well as use the telescope at the Observatory to gather data for their research. Students are then invited to present their findings in the form of a research paper at the YSPA mini conference.

Location: Virtual or at Yale Leitner Family Observatory & Planetarium, New Haven, United States.

Cost: 7,500.

Program dates: June 24-July 5, 2024 (online self-study),  July 7-August 4, 2024 (residential program).

Application deadline: Applications for 2024 are now closed.

Eligibility: Advanced high school seniors and juniors studying in the U.S. International students proficient in English are also welcome to apply.

As an ambitious high school student with a strong interest in Physics, these competitions are sure to make your profile stand out among the herd. However, that is easier said than done - being some of the most competitive programs in the country, preparing for these contests requires a strategic blend of theoretical study, practical applications, and problem-solving skills.

Remember, these competitions are not just about winning medals and prizes - but more about fulfilling your curiosity about the mysteries of the universe, continuously challenging yourself, learning to work in collaboration with other brilliant minds, and taking your education up a notch (or several!).

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