BAAO Astro Round 1
Rated Expert, This two-hour national astrophysics paper combines many short problems with a choice of extended questions and begins the UK astronomy team-selection route. It is open through schools to Year 13 students and younger, but it best suits confident A-level physicists prepared to study additional astronomy material. The main challenge is sustaining rigorous mathematical reasoning across celestial mechanics, stellar physics, optics and cosmology while selecting longer problems strategically.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗OVERALL COMPETITION LEVEL
Expert Level
6 evaluation dimensions have source-backed automatic scores; 0 dimensions need conflict review.
Competition overview
Key information
Eligible ages
Up to 18
School level
Secondary
Registration method
School Only
Competition stages
First UK IOAA selection paper; top eligible performers may be invited to Astro Round 2
Fee
£15 per student; four free papers for non-fee-paying schools.
Online / in-person
In-person
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
Not yet announced by the organiser
Registration closes
Not yet announced by the organiser
Competition starts
23 Nov 2026
Competition ends
27 Nov 2026
Editorial perspective
Our Take
BAAO Astro Round 1 is the first selection paper for the UK team for the International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics. Unlike the introductory challenge, this paper is built for students who are comfortable extending school physics into astronomy. A substantial set of short problems tests breadth, while the choice of longer questions lets students decide where their strongest ideas and techniques lie. Scripts are uploaded for central marking by the Oxford-based team. That makes clear working especially important: a strong response is not just a numerical result, but a readable chain of assumptions, physical relationships and justified approximations.
Read full guide →