23 Best Physics Competitions for High School Students – 2025
January 31, 2025
High school students curious about showcasing鈥揳nd testing鈥搕heir knowledge of physics should look no further. Like most specialized competitions, physics competitions for high school students are fantastic academic and professional opportunities to take advantage of. They鈥檙e also unique gatherings where students can network and build community with physics-driven peers and leaders. It would be remiss not to mention that these physics competitions are great additions to the resume.
The list below presents the 23 best physics competitions for high school students around the world. Participants will find themselves solving problems in close-knit teams, diving deep into quantum theory, theoretical astrophysics or mechanics. Some of these physics competitions will judge contestants based on individual performance and presentation. Either way, high schoolers eager to push the boundaries of their grasp on physics will find the following competitions worthwhile.
Best Physics Competitions for High School Students
1)
- Location: U.S. Physics Team training camp is at the University of Maryland; in 2025, the International Physics Olympiad will take place in France
- Program Dates: May 27 to June 7, 2025, U.S. Physics Team training camp; July 17-25, 2025, International Physics Olympiad
- Application Deadline: January 27, 2025, F=ma Registration Deadline
- Cost: 75$ school registration fee, plus $15 per student
- Prize: Competing as part of the U.S. Physics Team; certificates given at the end
The prestigious Physics Olympiad is one of the most competitive physics competitions for high school students. Students will dive into topics like classical mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics.
2)
- Location: ICPS 2025, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Program Dates: August 3-10, 2025
- Application Deadline: Check back on the website for updates
- Cost: 200 Euros per student
- Prize: A common prize given is the 鈥淓arly Career Scientist Prize鈥
The International Conference of Physics Students (ICPS) is a unique physics competition where participants can present their research, work closely with students from around the world, and network with physics experts.
Best Physics Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
3)
- Location: Palaiseau, Ecole Polytechnique, France
- Program Dates: July 17-25, 2025
- Application Deadline: May 15, 2025, registration and payment deadline
- Cost: For a standard full team (5 students, 2 leaders), 鈧3500; for smaller teams, 鈧500 per participant
- Prize: Gold medal, top 8% participants; silver medal, top 25% participants; bronze medal, top 50% participants
With a focus on cultural exchange and global teamwork, the International Physics Olympiad is a physics competition that has participants from all over the world. Students will find themselves tested through difficult experimental and theoretical exams, but they鈥檒l also meet international peers and have the opportunity to inspire one another.
4)
- Location: Exam given in each region
- Program Dates: Exams given one day between March 19 and April 14, 2025
- Application Deadline: February 24, 2025
- Cost: $10 per student; five students needed to qualify for team competition
- Prize: Scores announced per region
High school students from across the United States are invited to test their physics knowledge at the American Association of Physics Teachers PhysicsBowl. Consider this the Super Bowl but for physics.
Best Physics Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
5)
- Location: PLANCKS 2025, Barcelona, Spain
- Program Dates: May 1-4, 2025
- Application Deadline: Mid-to-late February 2025
- Cost: Previous registration fees ranged from 200-300 Euros
- Prize: See for more details
Looking for atypical physics competitions for high school students? PLANCKS challenges students to go beyond the traditional expectations of an education in physics. Think of this physics competition as an entrepreneurial adventure.
6)
- Location: Kutaisi International University, Georgia
- Program Dates: July 15-19, 2024
- Application Deadline: Typically early April
- Cost: 鈧1500 for a full team of 5 students and 1 leader; additional members is 鈧350
- Prize: At least 8% will receive a gold medal; at least 25%, gold or silver medal; 50%, gold, silver or bronze medal
Europe鈥檚 brightest young students in physics are brought together at the European Physics Olympiad, where they鈥檒l take rigorous exams and collaborate with diverse peers to test the boundaries of what they know.
Best Physics Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
7)
- Location: Kamnoetvidya Science Academy, Thailand
- Program Dates: April 6-10, 2025
- Application Deadline: Registration deadline, February 15, 2025
- Cost: 鈧270 per person
- Prize: Medals awarded for achievement
The International Conference of Young Scientists is an innovation-focused competition that covers a multitude of subjects, such as physics. ICYS gives high school students the chance to present their research, participate in scientific discussions, join workshops and network with global leaders.
8)
- Location: Changes by Year
- Program Dates: April 7-13, 2025
- Application Deadline: December 23, 2024
- Cost: 鈧1100 per team of 6 students and 2 accompanying persons
- Prize: Champion team awarded for primary prize
At the International Physicists鈥 Tournament, teams of high school students are tested on how well they understand fundamental concepts of physics. Through experimental investigation and theoretical analysis, participants are prepped to solve pressing issues in physics today.
Best Physics Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
9)
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- Program Dates: April 24-28, 2025
- Application Deadline: Usually by the end of November
- Cost: Varies by location and event
- Prize: Top 2 schools receive $5000; top 16 schools receive $1000
The National Science Bowl covers physics questions alongside biology, chemistry and earth science in a rapid-paced quiz competition. It鈥檚 one of the more thrilling physics competitions for high school students as participants go against each other in teams, racing the clock.
10)
- Location: International online competition
- Program Dates: Mid-February to June 2025
- Application Deadline: May 2025
- Cost: 鈧8 registration cost for pre-final round
- Prize: First prize, $150; second prize, $100; third prize, $50; special national awards are given to outstanding participants from each country; awards are also given to schools and ambassadors
For physics lovers with an inclination towards astrophysics, this is the competition for you. The International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition presents high school students the opportunity to challenge their understanding of astronomy, cosmology and theoretical astrophysics.
Best Physics Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
11)
- Location: Malaysia
- Program Dates: June 3-10, 2024
- Application Deadline: Typically late October or early November
- Cost: Check website for more information
- Prize: Winning prize awarded
12)
- Location: Lund, Sweden
- Program Dates: June 29 to July 6, 2025
- Application Deadline: Check website for updates
- Cost: 2100 EUR for a Team; 1600 EUR for a Visitor; 500 EUR for a First-Time Juror; 500 EUR for a Single Room Upgrade
- Prize: 1st place 鈧3000, 2nd place 鈧2000, and 3rd place 鈧1000
Best Physics Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
13)
- Location: Columbus, Ohio
- Program Dates: May 10-16, 2025
- Application Deadline: Late December 2024
- Cost: Finalists and student observers: $375 before April 30; Adult in charge: $400 before April 30; Other official party: $400 before April 30; Additional attendee over official party limit: $425 before April 30
- Prize: Top prize of $250,000; individual awards ranging from $25,000 to $250,000
14)
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- Program Dates: April 7, Regional Winner announced; May 5, National Winner announced; June 11-14, ExploraVision Awards Weekend
- Application Deadline: January 31, 2025
- Cost: No entry fee
- Prize: First Prize (given to 4 teams) of $10,000 U.S. EE Savings Bond for each student; Second Prize (given to 4 teams) of $5,000 U.S. EE Savings Bond for each student; National Finalists (given to 8 teams) are awarded a trip to Washington, DC in June to attend ExploraVision Awards Week. Regional Winners (given to 24 teams) are awarded a Chromebook for each student and each regional winning team is awarded an awards ceremony at its school; Honorable Mention (given to 500 teams) of a certificate and prize for each student
Best Physics Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
15)
- Location: Online
- Program Dates: All applicants notified on or before July 15
- Application Deadline: February 12, 2025
- Cost: No entry free
- Prize: Scholarships of $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000 available
16)
- Location: 2024, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Program Dates: August 17-27, 2024
- Application Deadline: Applications are usually open until January of every years
- Cost: No fee; transportation costs must be covered by participants; accommodation is provided
- Prize: Gold, silver and bronze medals awarded based on performance
Best Physics Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
17)
- Location: At the beamlines in CERN鈥檚 Proton Synchrotron and DESY-II synchrotron
- Program Dates: Winning teams notified in June; Winning teams invited to the research laboratory at the end of September
- Application Deadline: April 10, 2025
- Cost: No fee
- Prize: Winners stay at CERN and DESY are fully covered, including accommodation, meals and travel.
18)
- Location: Online or at the Yale Leitner Family Observatory & Planetarium, New Haven
- Program Dates: Online directed self-study program, June 23 to July 4, 2025; On-campus program, July 6 to August 3, 2025
- Application Deadline: March 8, 2025
- Cost: $8,000; doesn鈥檛 include travel and other expenses
- Prize: No specific prize available
Best Physics Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
19)
Location: Competitors are expected to take the exam in their local school
Program Dates: February 12, 2025
Application Deadline: January 27, 2025
Cost: $75 school registration fee ($37.50 for AAPT members); $15 student registration fee;
Prize: The top 400 qualifying students then move on to take the USA Physics Team exam
20)
- Location: Online, hosted by FYKOS
- Program Dates: (2024 date) November 20, 2024
- Application Deadline: Registration usually happens between September and November
- Cost: No fee
- Prize: Access to Avast, Chess.com, Wolfram Mathematica, etc.
21)
- Location: Online
- Program Dates: (2024 dates) August 12-14, 2024
- Application Deadline: (2024 date) August 10, 2024
- Cost: Usually ranges from $10 to $30 per entry
- Prize: Subscription to Wolfram Alpha Notebook Edition; top 3 teams receive monetary prizes
Best Physics Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
22)
- Location: Online submission
- Program Dates: Winners are announced at the summer AAPT meeting
- Application Deadline: Registration open March 1 to May 15, 2025
- Cost: $10 fee per photo for non-members ($5 fee per photo for AAPT members)
- Prize: Student 1st place $100 and a certificate; Student 2nd place $75 and a certificate; Student 3rd place $50 and a certificate; Teachers of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place students receive a $100 gift certificate from Vernier and a certificate.
23)
- Location: Online (Written Test)
- Program Dates: Contest date, May 1, 2025
- Application Deadline: Register by April 24, 2025
- Cost: Free
- Prize: Top 50 participants are awarded book prizes; Sir Isaac Newton Scholarships are offered to incoming University of Waterloo students studying physics and astronomy
Testing for the long run
Inevitably, physics students will find themselves immersed in solitary work. And it can be difficult to understand what the next chapter holds not just for the physics matter at hand but for the students themselves. That鈥檚 where physics competitions come in. They鈥檙e excellent opportunities for high school students to help enhance their problem-solving skills, teamwork capabilities, research approaches and innovative collaboration.
While you鈥檙e trying to answer a question about the cosmos, who knows? You might open doors for yourself you haven鈥檛 yet imagined.
Additional Resources – Best Physics Competitions for High School Students (Continued)
