Blog

Insights, guides, and updates for students, teachers, and parents.

CompeteMap Blog

Popular Student Competitions Open in July-August 2026 (UK & Ireland)

A parent guide to high-value summer deadlines in poetry, essays, science, chess, citizenship and research

Published on 7 Jul 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

UK Chemistry Olympiad: Complete Guide for Students and Parents

How the RSC UK Chemistry Olympiad works, who it suits, how to prepare, and how it connects to international selection.

Published on 6 Jul 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

BBC 500 Words: Complete Guide for Young Writers

What BBC 500 Words is, who it suits, how children can prepare, and how parents can support without taking over.

Published on 5 Jul 2026Details

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Primary Mathematics Challenge: Complete Guide for Parents

Who the PMC suits, how schools enter, how pupils can prepare, and how it compares with FMC and UKMT JMC.

Published on 4 Jul 2026Details

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UKMT Intermediate Mathematical Challenge: Complete Guide

A practical guide to the IMC, including who should enter, how it differs from JMC, and how students can prepare.

Published on 2 Jul 2026Details

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UKMT Junior Mathematical Challenge: Complete Guide for Parents and Students

How the UKMT JMC works, who it suits, how to prepare, and where it fits in the junior maths pathway.

Published on 30 Jun 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Best UK Primary Maths Competitions: A Parent-Friendly Guide

A practical guide to UK maths competitions for primary and early secondary pupils, including FMC, PMC and the UKMT Junior pathway.

Published on 29 Jun 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

UK Chemistry Competition Pathway Explained

A parent-friendly guide to the UK chemistry competition route, from Cambridge Chemistry Challenge to the UK Chemistry Olympiad and international selection.

Published on 28 Jun 2026Details

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Trinity College Cambridge Gould Prize: English Literature Essay Competition Guide

A parent-friendly guide to the Gould Prize for Essays in English Literature, including who it suits, how to choose a topic, and how to prepare.

Published on 27 Jun 2026Details

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Maths Competitions and Activities for Primary School Students in Ireland

A parent-friendly guide to maths opportunities for Irish primary pupils, from Maths Week activities to worldwide primary challenges.

Published on 20 Jun 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Trinity College Cambridge R.A. Butler Politics Prize: Complete Guide

Who should enter, how to approach the essay and how it fits a politics or PPE pathway.

Published on 13 Jun 2026Details

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International Biology Olympiad: How the Competition and UK Selection Pathway Work

A parent-friendly explanation of IBO eligibility, national selection, theory and practical exams, preparation and the route through the British Biology Olympiad.

Published on 12 Jun 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

British Biology Olympiad (UKBC): Complete Guide and UK Team Pathway

How the British Biology Olympiad works, who it suits, how to prepare, and how top UK students progress toward the International Biology Olympiad.

Published on 11 Jun 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Biology Challenge 2026 (UKBC): Complete Guide for Students and Parents

A beginner-friendly guide to UKBC's Biology Challenge, including eligibility, format, preparation and the route to higher-level biology competitions.

Published on 10 Jun 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

UK Biology Competition Pathway Explained: From Biology Challenge to IBO

A parent-friendly guide to the UKBC biology competition pathway, age groups, difficulty levels and the route to international selection.

Published on 9 Jun 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Intermediate Biology Olympiad 2026 (UKBC): Complete Guide for Students and Parents

How the UKBC Intermediate Biology Olympiad works, who it suits, how to prepare, and where it fits in the UK biology competition pathway.

Published on 8 Jun 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2026: Complete Guide

A guide for young writers, parents and teachers on entering one of the best-known poetry competitions.

Published on 7 Jun 2026Details

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Discover Economics Young Economist of the Year 2026: Complete Guide

Who should enter, how to prepare and how it compares with other economics competitions.

Published on 6 Jun 2026Details

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Cambridge King's Entrepreneurship Essay Competition 2026: Complete Guide

A guide for students interested in business ideas, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Published on 5 Jun 2026Details

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Science in School Student Writing Contest 2026/2027: Complete Guide

A guide for students who want to communicate science clearly through writing.

Published on 4 Jun 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

FCDO Next Generation Economics Competition 2026: Complete Guide

A guide for students interested in economics, policy and global affairs.

Published on 3 Jun 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

New on CompeteMap: Find the Right Competition for Your Child

A new search and filtering feature to help parents discover competitions that fit their child's age, interests and entry route.

Published on 2 Jun 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge: Complete Guide

How the science fair pathway works and who it is best suited for.

Published on 1 Jun 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize 2026: Complete Guide

How to choose a question, prepare a strong essay and decide whether it is worth entering.

Published on 31 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Cambridge Chemistry Challenge (C3L6): Complete Guide for Students and Parents

Who should enter, how school registration works, how difficult it is and how to prepare.

Published on 30 May 2026Details

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Science Fair vs Olympiad: Which Is Better for a STEM Student?

How parents can choose between project-based STEM competitions and subject challenge routes.

Published on 29 May 2026Details

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How to Choose the Right Competition for Your Child's Personality

A parent-friendly guide to matching competitions with motivation, confidence and learning style.

Published on 28 May 2026Details

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What Is a Project-Based Competition?

A simple explanation for parents comparing fairs, awards and challenges.

Published on 27 May 2026Details

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What Counts as a Strong Competition Achievement for University Applications?

How to judge competition value beyond medals, rankings and famous names.

Published on 27 May 2026Details

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Competition Difficulty Explained: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Elite

A parent-friendly framework for understanding how hard a student competition really is.

Published on 26 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

How to Choose Between Olympiads, Essay Competitions and Project Fairs

A simple decision guide for families building a balanced competition plan.

Published on 25 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Best Creative Competitions for Students in Ireland

A parent-friendly guide to art, poetry, photography, design and creative competitions for students in Ireland.

Published on 23 May 2026Details

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How to Build a Competition Portfolio for University

A practical guide to turning competitions into a coherent, subject-relevant university preparation portfolio.

Published on 22 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Economics and Business Competitions in the UK & Ireland (2026 Guide)

A parent-friendly guide to economics, policy and enterprise competitions for students in the UK and Ireland.

Published on 21 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Ireland Maths Competition Pathway Explained

A parent-friendly guide to Ireland's maths competition routes, from beginner activities to the olympiad pathway.

Published on 20 May 2026Details

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What Makes a Competition "Prestigious"?

A parent-friendly framework for judging competition prestige without getting pulled into hype.

Published on 19 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

How to Prepare for UKMT Junior Maths Challenge

A parent-friendly guide to preparing for JMC without turning it into stressful cramming.

Published on 18 May 2026Details

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Top Competitions in Ireland for Beginners (2026)

A parent-friendly guide to low-pressure, beginner-friendly competitions for students in Ireland.

Published on 17 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition 2026: Now Open for Entries

A parent-friendly guide to the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Photography Competition, its theme, eligibility, deadline, and entry requirements.

Published on 15 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

How to Prepare for the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2027

A parent-friendly preparation roadmap, with recent winner analysis and practical project planning tips.

Published on 14 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Writing Competitions Open Now: UK, Ireland & International Opportunities for Students

A parent-friendly roundup of writing, poetry, and essay competitions currently open for student entries.

Published on 13 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

UKMT vs AMC: Which Maths Competition Is Better?

A parent-friendly comparison of UKMT and the American Mathematics Competitions, with guidance on which route may suit your child best.

Published on 11 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2027: A Parent-Friendly Guide

A practical guide to Ireland's major science and technology exhibition for secondary school students.

Published on 10 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

What Is Olympiad-Level Maths? (Simple Explanation for Parents)

A clear, parent-friendly explanation of how olympiad maths differs from school maths, and how to know whether it suits your child.

Published on 7 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

How Many Competitions Should a Student Enter Each Year?

A parent-friendly guide to choosing a healthy number of academic competitions without overwhelming your child.

Published on 4 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Best Competitions for Beginners in UK & Ireland (Ages 11-14)

A parent-friendly guide to low-pressure maths, computing, and STEM competitions for younger secondary students.

Published on 3 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Apps for Good Showcase

CompeteMap helps students and parents navigate UK & Ireland competitions with clear comparisons, structured pathways, and decisionfocused insights.

Published on 1 May 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

How to Choose Competitions for Your Child

CompeteMap helps families navigate UK & Ireland competitions with clear comparisons, structured pathways, and decisionfocused insights.

Published on 29 Apr 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Top Competitions for Ireland Secondary Students (2026 Guide)

CompeteMap helps students and parents navigate UK & Ireland competitions with clear comparisons, verified pathways, and decisionfocused insights.

Published on 24 Apr 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Olympiad Pathways Explained: From School Contest to IMO

CompeteMap helps students and parents navigate UK & Ireland competitions with clear pathways, verified structures, and decisionfocused insights.

Published on 23 Apr 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

UK & Ireland Competitions You Can Enter (April–May 2026)

CompeteMap helps students and parents navigate UK & Ireland competitions with verified data, clear timelines, and decisionfocused insights.

Published on 17 Apr 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition 2026

CompeteMap helps students and parents navigate UK & Ireland competitions with clear, structured, and decisionfocused insights.

Published on 15 Apr 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Immerse Education Essay Competition: A Complete Guide (Now Open for Entries)

What the Immerse Education Essay Competition is, how it works, and whether it is worth entering.

Published on 10 Apr 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

CREST Awards Explained: A Complete Guide for UK Students

What CREST Awards are, how they work, and whether they are worth doing for secondary school students in the UK.

Published on 9 Apr 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Essay Competitions for UK Students: Complete Guide (Types, Strategy & Top Choices)

A complete breakdown of UK essay competitions — types, difficulty levels, and how students should choose the right one.

Published on 5 Apr 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

What Topics Does the John Locke Essay Competition Focus On? (2020–2026 Analysis)

A verified, evidence-based breakdown of the key themes, trends, and changes in the John Locke Essay Competition over recent years.

Published on 4 Apr 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

UK vs US Maths Competitions: UKMT vs AMC Explained

Subtitle: A clear comparison of the UKMT Maths Challenges and the AMC competition system — structure, difficulty, and pathways explained.

Published on 3 Apr 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Are Competitions Necessary for University Applications?

Subtitle: Do students in the UK need competitions to get into top universities? A clear, evidencebased guide for parents and students.

Published on 28 Mar 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

How to Register for UKMT Through School

A clear step-by-step guide for students and parents on how UKMT registration works in UK and Ireland schools.

Published on 24 Mar 2026Details

CompeteMap Blog

Unique Hands-On Competitions for Secondary School Students in the UK and Ireland

From building rockets and racing cars to designing robots and satellites — exciting competitions that go beyond traditional academic contests.

Published on 21 Mar 2026Details