National School Olympiads (Romania)Olimpiade naționale

Overview

Romania's school olympiads are run by the Ministry of Education and Research. Each school year the Ministry approves, by order, a list of competitions and a calendar. For 2025-2026 the list is set by Order 3.153 of 28 January 2026, and the rules for how all olympiads work are in the methodological norms of Order 6.727/2025.

There is one national olympiad per subject. The 2026 calendar covers language and communication (Romanian, minority and mother tongues, modern and classical languages), mathematics and sciences (mathematics, astronomy and astrophysics, physics, chemistry, biology), informatics and technology, and humanities and social sciences (such as geography). Several subjects also have a separate olympiad for schools teaching in a minority language. For subjects with an international olympiad, the national stage is also used to pick Romania's team.

Who can apply

Participation is open to lower secondary and upper secondary students in all forms of education: state, private and confessional schools. Each olympiad sets which grades take part. In the 2026 calendar, for example, the Romanian language olympiad has separate papers for grades 5 to 8 and 9 to 12, physics covers grades 6 to 12, and chemistry covers grades 7 to 12.

Olympiads in arts, technologies, religion, modern and classical languages and minority languages are open only to students in counties where that subject is taught. Students may enter alone or in teams, depending on the olympiad's own regulation. For international stages, the rules and age categories of the international competition apply.

Levels or stages

A national olympiad can have these stages: school, local, county (or Bucharest sector), inter-county or zonal where an olympiad uses one, national, and international where the subject has one. County inspectorates may skip the school and local stages if few schools or students take part.

County stage

The county school inspectorate organises it. For 2026 the calendar shows, for example, physics on 14 March and chemistry on 22 March. County dates differ by subject and are listed in the calendar.

National stage

Each county and each Bucharest sector gets one place per grade and subject. Extra places, funded by the Ministry, are then filled in descending order of county-stage score from the national ranking. Mathematics, informatics, physics, chemistry and biology get 43 extra places per grade, and the other olympiads get 23. If the total would be under 8, extra places are added to reach 8. To take any place, a student must score at least 60 points at the county stage. Places that nobody qualifies for can be moved to the national pool.

Examples of 2026 national stage dates and venues from the calendar:

The calendar lists every olympiad with its own county and national dates, and the Ministry has issued several amendments during the year, so check the current version for the olympiad you want.

International stage

For subjects that have an international olympiad, the national stage is used to pick Romania's team. The regulation allows a wider training squad, qualifying or language tests, and training camps, as set out in each olympiad's regulation. Romania takes part on the invitation of the organisers and under the international rules.

Exam pattern

Results at every stage are scored out of 100 points, of which 10 are given automatically under the marking scheme. Written work is marked independently by two teachers, and their scores may differ by no more than 10 points; larger gaps send the paper to a further marking process. Informatics and similar olympiads can use automatic evaluation. The format of each paper (written, practical, project or online) is set by the specific regulation of each olympiad and differs across subjects.

Syllabus

Each olympiad has its own syllabus, set in its specific regulation. The general rules do not give one syllabus for all subjects.

Marking and results

Students unhappy with a written result can file an appeal. The deadline is set at each stage and announced with the first results, and a student can first ask to see their own paper. Appeals are answered within 24 hours of the deadline. Oral tests cannot be appealed, and for practical tests the olympiad's regulation says whether appeals are allowed.

At the national stage of individual olympiads, for each grade, subject and section, the Ministry awards one First Prize, one Second Prize and one Third Prize, plus mentions for up to 15 percent of participants. For team olympiads, up to three prizes and mentions for up to 15 percent of the teams are given. Ties are decided by the criteria in the olympiad's regulation. Winners get a registered diploma. Special prizes may also be given by scientific societies, universities, local authorities or sponsors. The Ministry funds financial rewards for national and international results.

Important dates

The 2026 calendar of national olympiads was approved on 28 January 2026. Most county stages fall between late January and April and most national stages between March and May, with some later in the year (for example the INFOEDUCATIE informatics innovation and creation olympiad on 28-31 July 2026). Dates differ by olympiad and are published each school year.

Fees

Taking part in school competitions costs nothing. The rules say students and teachers do not pay any contribution and cannot be required to buy books, materials, worksheets or other items.

How to apply

Students enter through their school and the county school inspectorate for the subject. Each olympiad's specific regulation gives the entry details, so ask your subject teacher or inspectorate for the current rules.

After the exam

National stage results and prizes are certified by registered diplomas from the Ministry. Strong national and international results can also bring Ministry-funded rewards, trips and camps. Students chosen for a national team squad take part in training periods set by the annual calendar.

Preparation tips

• Find the specific regulation for your subject and grade on the Ministry's competitions page.

• Aim for at least 60 points at the county stage, because that is the minimum for a national place.