GENERAL EXAM & CATEGORY CONDITIONS

  1. The International STEM Olympiad online exams consist of 3 rounds:
    - Qualification Round
    - Final Round
    - Best of the Best (BOB) Round
  2. Participants may register for multiple categories in the Qualification Round.
  3. Students who achieve a minimum score of 40 points in a category in the Qualification Round advance to the Final Round in that category.
  4. Students in grades 3–11 who rank in the top 15% of the Final Round exams in the Math, Science or Technology & Engineering categories qualify for the BOB Round.
  5. A separate payment of 20 € is required for each category and exam chosen in the Qualification Round.
  6. Applications cannot be cancelled, and payments are non-refundable once completed.
  7. Students who miss the exam or are unable to take it for any reason will not be eligible for a make-up exam or a refund.
  8. Participation in the Final Round and BOB Round is free for qualified participants.
  9. Exam dates and times should be checked prior to category selection and payment.
  10. Exams are monitored through a camera system used as part of the examination process. Students must use a device with an active, functioning camera throughout the exam.
  11. The Qualification and Final Round exams require a single camera connection, whereas the BOB Round requires two separate camera connections.
  12. All exam activity will be recorded. Any detected cheating will result in disqualification and cancellation of exam results.
  13. Students must ensure that their camera(s) are positioned exactly as instructed in the exam conditions provided before the exam.
  14. If a student ranked among the top 10 fails to keep the camera on during the exam, the student will not be included in the ranking, and the position will be assigned to the next eligible student.
  15. The camera status of students ranked below the top 10 will be reviewed through automated monitoring and AI-assisted analysis to ensure compliance with the exam rules.
  16. All exams are conducted via the STEM Student Panel. No additional exam links will be sent via email.
  17. Qualification and Final Exam Languages:
    Math and Science Categories: Available in English, Spanish, French, Russian, Azerbaijani and Turkish.
    Technology & Engineering Category: Available only in English.
  18. BOB Exam Language: The exams will be conducted only in English.
  19. The use of calculators, books, printed materials and dictionaries is strictly prohibited during the exam.
  20. Opening any browser tab other than the exam tab will trigger a notification to the exam center and a warning will appear on the screen. Such actions may result in the cancellation of the exam results.
  21. The use of AI tools to answer exam questions is strictly prohibited. The exam center uses advanced monitoring and AI-assisted analysis to detect irregular activity and potential violations. Any attempt to use AI assistance may result in the immediate cancellation of exam results and disqualification from the olympiad.

QUALIFICATION ROUND EXAMS

  1. The Olympiad is open to all students in the grades stated below:
    -> Math: Grades 1-12
    -> Science: Grades 1-12
    -> Technology & Engineering: Grades 7-11
  2. There are no age restrictions. Students must register according to their current grade level, not school enrollment year.
  3. Click the link below to view the comparison table of education year and grade level by country:
    https://main-team.org/documents/comparison_chart.pdf
  4. The Qualification Exams will be held online on two alternative dates: 21 November 2026 and 30 January 2027, allowing schools and students to choose the date(s) that best suit their schedules.
  5. The Qualification Exams will be open for 24 hours on the specified exam dates. Students may take exams in their registered categories at any time during this period.
  6. Students may take the exam on either one date or on both dates. Each exam attempt requires a separate payment.
  7. The questions are different for each exam date, but both exams have the same level of difficulty.
  8. The participation fee for each of the Math, Science and Technology & Engineering categories is 20 € per exam.
  9. Applications cannot be cancelled, and payments are non-refundable once completed.
  10. The Qualification Round Exams are available in the following languages: English, Spanish, French, Russian, Turkish and Azerbaijani.
  11. Students who achieve a minimum score of 40 points in a category in the Qualification Round advance to the Final Round in that category.
  12. Students who qualify in multiple categories may continue to compete in all qualified categories in the Final Round. However, students who qualify for the Best of the Best (BOB) Round may continue in only 1 category.
  13. Participation in the Final Round and the Best of the Best (BOB) Round is free for qualified participants.
  14. All participants will receive a digital Certificate of Participation in the Qualification Round Exams of the International STEM Olympiad.
  15. Students in grades 3-11 who achieve at least 60 points in the Qualification Round will qualify for participation in the Grand Final.

FINAL ROUND EXAMS

  1. The Final Round Exams of the International STEM Olympiad will also be held ONLINE.
  2. Participation in the Final Round Exams is free for all qualified participants.
  3. Students may take the Final Exams in the same language in which they took the Qualification Round Exams (English, Spanish, French, Russian, Turkish or Azerbaijani).
  4. Students who rank in the top 15% but fail to keep their camera on throughout the exam or fail to position it as instructed in the exam conditions provided before the exam, will not be eligible to advance to the BOB Round.
  5. All students who participate in the Final Round Exams of the International STEM Olympiad will receive a digital certificate of participation.
  6. Final Round Exam Results and Evaluation:
    • The top 3 students in each grade will receive a physical Gold Medal (Gold 1, Gold 2 or Gold 3) and a Certificate of Achievement delivered by post.
    • Students scoring 90-100 points: Digital Gold Medal Certificate & Certificate of Achievement
    • Students scoring 75-89.99 points: Digital Silver Medal Certificate & Certificate of Achievement
    • Students scoring 55-74.99 points: Digital Bronze Medal Certificate & Certificate of Achievement
    • Students scoring 25-54.99 points: Digital Honorable Mention Certificate & Certificate of Achievement
    • Students scoring 0-24.99 points: Digital Participation Certificate
  7. Students in grades 3–11 who rank in the top 15% of the Final Round will qualify for the Best of the Best (BOB) Round Exams.
  8. Students in grades 3–11 who achieve at least 40 points in the Final Round will qualify to participate in the Grand Final.

BEST OF THE BEST (BOB) ROUND EXAMS

  1. Students in Grades 3–11 who rank in the top 15% of the Math, Science or Technology & Engineering categories in the Final Round will be eligible to take the Best of the Best (BOB) Round Exams.
  2. Students who qualify for the BOB Round in multiple categories may participate in only one category.
  3. The BOB Round exams are only available in English.
  4. Students who qualify for the BOB Round must register for the exam. Students who do not register within the specified timeframe will be unable to take the exam and will forfeit any claims, even if they qualify.
  5. The BOB Round Exams are free for all qualified participants. No additional payment is required.
  6. The BOB Round Exams will be held ONLINE.
  7. Exams are monitored through the use of 2 cameras. Students must ensure that their camera(s) are positioned exactly as instructed in the exam conditions provided before the exam.
  8. If a student fails to keep both cameras on during the exam or fails to position either camera as instructed in the exam conditions, and ranks among the top 3, the position will be transferred to the next eligible student.
  9. Exams will take place in limited-time sessions, which may be scheduled in the morning, afternoon or evening depending on the country. The exam times for the BOB Round will be announced after the Final Round Exams.
  10. The top 3 students in the BOB Round Exams will be awarded the following physical medals, certificates and Grand Final discount awards:
    1st Place: BOB Physical Gold Medal & Achievement Certificate — 75% Discount for the Grand Final
    2nd Place: BOB Physical Gold Medal & Achievement Certificate — 50% Discount for the Grand Final
    3rd Place: BOB Physical Gold Medal & Achievement Certificate — 25% Discount for the Grand Final
  11. The remaining participants will receive a BOB Digital Participation Certificate.

Students who receive a discount and wish to attend the Grand Final must apply within 15 days of the results being announced. Late applications will be accepted only if places are available.