Every year, high school students from around the world compete in international Olympiad competitions in math and science. Each country select four to six students in each field: Biology, Chemistry, Informatics, Linguistics, Math and Physics etc.
The international Olympiads and qualifying competitions could enrich the science and math education of the high school students in the classroom and motivate them and take their skills to the level of international competition.
International Biology Olympiad (IBO)
The USA Biology Olympiad (USABO) is qualified through USABO. All the high school students, with US citizens or US permanent residents, are eligible to participate in the USABO upon nominated by their teachers. After two rounds of challenging exams, twenty Finalists are invited to a residential training program where they learn advanced biological concepts and exacting lab skills at Purdue University. Finally, four students represent the USA at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO).
International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO)
The USA National Chemistry Olympiad is qualified through USNCO in three stage. The first stage is at the ACS local sections. The local Chemistry Olympiad competitions are open to all high school students and ACS local sections choose nominees for the national competitions. The second stage is the national chemistry Olympiad competition among the selected 1000 participates. The top 20 scoring students are selected for a study camp to advance to the International Chemistry Olympiad. The final four students will be selected after the two weeks study camp to represent US to the International chemistry Olympiad based on performances and tests of their chemistry knowledge and skills in a five-hour laboratory practical and five-hour written theoretical examination.
International Math Olympiad (IMO)
The United States Mathematical Olympiad ( USAMO) is qualified via the AMC. The USAMO is a six question, two-day, 9h essay/proof examination. About 270 of the top scoring AMC 12 participants (based on a weighted average) are invited to take the USAMO. Approximately 230 of the top scoring AMC 10 participants (based on a weighted average) are invited to take the USAJMO. U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents of US and Canada are eligible.
International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)
The US physics team is qualified via USPhO. American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) is responsible for the selecting and training of the team. To begin with, 400 students are selected based on the scores of the January F=ma exam.
The semi-final exam is used as the basis for selection of the 20 members of the U.S. Physics Team. The 20 students will then have ten days of intensive studying, testing and problem solving at the University of Maryland -College Park. At the end of this training camp, five students will be selected for the “Traveling Team.” The Traveling Team will return for three additional days of intense laboratory work before they are ready for the International Event.
There is also International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI). The US team is qualified via the USACO.