Australian Science Olympiads

Overview

The Australian Science Olympiads (ASO) are run by Australian Science Innovations for senior secondary students. They cover four disciplines: Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Environmental Science, and Physics. The program is staged, and the best students can end up on Australia's teams at the international science olympiads.

Who can apply

Students should ideally be in Years 9 to 12 and must be at least 15 years old on 1 January of the Summer School year. For Biology, Chemistry and Physics, a student cannot have completed Year 12 before attending the Summer School. For Earth and Environmental Science, students who finished Year 12 the year before can still take part. Australian citizenship is needed for the Summer School and the international teams. Entries come only through schools, not from individual students.

Levels or stages

1. ASO exam. The first stage, held once a year.

2. ASO Summer School. By invitation, held in January at the Australian National University, with 96 students in total (24 per discipline).

3. International teams. Chosen from Summer School students: 4 students each in Biology, Chemistry and Earth and Environmental Science, and 5 in Physics.

Exam pattern

Each exam lasts 2 hours. In 2026 Physics was on paper, and Biology, Earth and Environmental Science and Chemistry were online.

Fees

For 2026, the exam fee was AUD 22 per student per exam, including GST. The Summer School and the international competition are each listed at AUD 3,500 per student, which covers accommodation, meals, travel and equipment. Financial help is available based on need.

Preparation tips

• Revise senior secondary content in the discipline and practise unfamiliar problem types.

• Past exams are the best preparation for timing.