Science & Research Competition Pathway for United Kingdom

QUICK SUMMARY

A UK physics olympiad where students solve advanced written problems requiring full working and mathematical reasoning. Open mainly to Year 13 students through participating schools, with overseas participation available in some regions. Rated Expert Level, with difficulty mainly coming from challenging multi-step problems, broad physics knowledge and rigorous written solutions.

QUICK SUMMARY

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.

QUICK SUMMARY

A UK physics olympiad where top students solve exceptionally challenging theoretical physics problems requiring advanced mathematical reasoning. Open by invitation to leading BPhO Round 1 performers who are eligible for UK team selection. Rated Expert Level, with difficulty mainly coming from advanced physics, complex multi-step problems and highly selective progression to national training.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Expert, This invitation-only three-hour astrophysics paper is the final written competition stage before the Oxford training and UK-team selection camp. Entry is limited to eligible top performers from Astro Round 1 or students invited to BPhO Round 2, and schools supervise the sitting. The main challenge is solving sustained, near-international-level astrophysics problems that demand high-level mathematical physics, specialist preparation and careful explanation.

QUICK SUMMARY

A UK and Ireland chemistry olympiad where students solve challenging written problems based on real-world chemical contexts. Open mainly to students aged 16+ through participating secondary schools and colleges. Rated Expert Level, with difficulty mainly coming from unfamiliar applications, advanced chemical reasoning and highly selective progression.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Expert, this in-person UK rocketry challenge is for school, college or youth-group teams of students aged 11–18. Teams build and test a rocket against the season's technical mission before qualifying launches and national competition. The main challenge is balancing safety, stability, payload protection and target flight performance through disciplined engineering and repeated evidence-led testing.

QUICK SUMMARY

Rated Expert, this UK team engineering challenge is entered through schools, colleges, education providers or youth groups for students aged 11–18. Teams design, build and launch a rocket through regional qualification and a national final, with international progression available. The main challenge is meeting strict flight specifications through safe engineering, testing, data analysis and coordinated iteration.

QUICK SUMMARY

An international biology competition where students complete two online multiple-choice papers covering advanced school-level biology and unfamiliar applications. Open mainly to students in the final year of post-16 education through recognised schools worldwide. Rated Expert Level, with difficulty mainly coming from broad biological knowledge, scientific reasoning and challenging unfamiliar questions.

QUICK SUMMARY

A global biology olympiad where national team members complete demanding theoretical and practical examinations across major areas of biology. Open to secondary-school students selected through their country’s national biology olympiad, with up to four competitors representing each participating country. Rated Expert Level, with difficulty mainly coming from highly selective national qualification, advanced biological reasoning and complex laboratory tasks.