Contests · 2026–27 season
Competitions
Math contests, spelling and writing awards, Science Olympiad, science fairs and olympiads for elementary through high school, in date order. Past dates drop off automatically when the site is rebuilt.
Season calendar
Deadline Oct 6, 2026YoungArts National Competition (Writing)Grades 10–12EnglishOct–Nov 2026 (local)National PTA ReflectionsGrades Pre-K–12EnglishRegister by Oct 22, 2026Noetic Math Contest (fall)Grades 2–8MathDeadline Oct 31, 2026Nancy Thorp Poetry ContestGrades 10–11EnglishDeadline Nov 1, 2026Bennington Young Writers AwardsGrades 9–12EnglishNov 5, 2026AMC 10A / 12AGrades ≤10 / ≤12MathDeadline Nov 5, 2026Regeneron Science Talent SearchGrades 12ScienceNov 13, 2026AMC 10B / 12BGrades ≤10 / ≤12MathRegional deadlines Dec 2026–Jan 2027Scholastic Art & Writing AwardsGrades 7–12EnglishDeadline Jan 2, 2027Harvard International Review Writing ContestGrades 9–12EnglishJan–Mar 2027National Science Bowl regionalsGrades 6–12ScienceJan 21–27, 2027AMC 8Grades ≤8MathLate Jan / early Feb 2027F=ma physics examGrades 9–12ScienceFeb 2027AIME (by AMC qualification)Grades QualifiersMathFeb 2027USA Biology Olympiad open examGrades 9–12ScienceFeb 2027 (school rounds)MATHCOUNTS Chapter CompetitionsGrades 6–8MathFeb–Mar 2027Science Olympiad regionalsGrades 6–12ScienceMarch 2027Math KangarooGrades 1–12MathLate Mar / early Apr 2027Chemistry Olympiad local examGrades 9–12ScienceApr 1–15, 2027Noetic Math Contest (spring)Grades 2–8MathMay 8–14, 2027Regeneron ISEF finalsGrades 9–12Science
Dates checked October 2026. Always confirm on the official site before registering; many contests register through a school or approved test center.
Math Math competitions
| Competition | From grade | Who & when | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math Kangaroo | 3+ | Grades 1–12 · March | Paid |
| Noetic Math Contest | 3+ | Grades 2–8 · Nov 12–25, 2026 and Apr 1–15, 2027 | Paid |
| Math Olympiads (MOEMS) | 4+ | Grades 4–8 · five monthly school contests | Paid |
| AMC 8 | 5+ | Open to grade 5 · a stretch attempt for strong students | Paid |
| MATHCOUNTS | 6+ | Grades 6–8 · school, chapter, state, national rounds | Free |
| AMC 10 | 8+ | Open to grade 8 · Nov 5 or Nov 13, 2026 · good stretch attempt | Paid |
| AIME | 9+ | Invitation from a high AMC score · February | Paid |
| Purple Comet! Math Meet | 9+ | Free online team contest · spring | Free |
| Math League | 9+ | School-based contests through the year | Paid |
| AMC 10 or AMC 12 | 10+ | Last AMC 10 year · Nov 5 or Nov 13, 2026 | Paid |
| AIME → USAJMO / USAMO | 10+ | Olympiad track for top AIME scorers | Paid |
| HMMT | 10+ | Harvard–MIT team tournament | Paid |
| AMC 12 | 11+ | Nov 5 (12A) or Nov 13 (12B), 2026 | Paid |
| AIME → USAMO | 11+ | Olympiad track for top scorers | Paid |
| ARML | 11+ | National team competition · June | Paid |
English English competitions
| Competition | From grade | Who & when | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Word Masters Challenge | 3+ | Grades 3–8 · analogy and vocabulary contest | Paid |
| National Spelling Bee | 3+ | Through 8th grade · via a sponsored school bee | Free |
| EngineerGirl Writing Contest | 3+ | Grades 3–12 · engineering-themed writing · usually due Feb | Free |
| Stone Soup contests | 3+ | Writers age 13 and under · monthly contests | Free |
| Write the World | 4+ | Monthly writing competitions; junior division ages 8–12 | Free |
| National PTA Reflections | 6+ | Pre-K–12 · includes a literature category · local deadlines Oct–Nov 2026 | Free |
| Scholastic Art & Writing Awards | 7+ | Grades 7–12 · opens Oct 1, 2026 | Paid |
| NYT Learning Network contests | 7+ | Writing, podcast and review contests year-round | Free |
| Bennington Young Writers Awards | 9+ | Grades 9–12 · deadline Nov 1, 2026 | Free |
| JASNA Essay Contest | 9+ | Grades 9–12 · Jane Austen essay | Free |
| YoungArts (Writing) | 10+ | Grades 10–12 · deadline Oct 6, 2026 | Paid |
| Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest | 10+ | Grades 10–11 · deadline Oct 31, 2026 | Free |
| Harvard International Review Contest | 10+ | Grades 9–12 · deadline Jan 2, 2027 | Paid |
| The Adroit Prizes | 10+ | Poetry and prose · spring | Paid |
| Princeton high school contests | 11+ | Poetry prize and ten-minute play contest for 11th graders | Free |
| John Locke Essay Competition | 11+ | Under 19 · global essay prize · spring | Free |
Science Science competitions
| Competition | From grade | Who & when | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| School & regional science fair | 3+ | Start with a school fair; Science Buddies has project guides | Free |
| Science Olympiad (elementary) | 3+ | Elementary events run by state organizations | Paid |
| 3M Young Scientist Challenge | 5+ | Grades 5–8 · video entry · typically opens January | Free |
| Science Olympiad | 6+ | Team events · Division B grades 6–9, Division C grades 9–12 · regionals Feb–Mar | Paid |
| National Science Bowl | 6+ | U.S. Dept. of Energy quiz-bowl for middle and high school teams · regionals Jan–Mar | Free |
| Thermo Fisher JIC | 6+ | Grades 6–8 · national middle school science fair competition | Free |
| USA Biology Olympiad | 9+ | Grades 9–12 · open exam Feb 2027 · register through school | Paid |
| Regeneron ISEF | 9+ | Grades 9–12 · qualify through affiliated fairs · finals May 8–14, 2027 | Free |
| U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad | 10+ | Grades 9–12 · local ACS exam Mar–Apr 2027 | Free |
| F=ma → USAPhO | 11+ | Grades 9–12 · F=ma exam late Jan/early Feb 2027 · register through school | Paid |
| Regeneron STS | 12+ | Seniors · research report · applications due Nov 5, 2026 | Free |
| JSHS | 12+ | Grades 9–12 · research symposium | Free |
GiftedGlobe is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organizations, contests or products linked on this site. Names are trademarks of their owners. Check each organization’s site for current eligibility, fees and dates. Families should choose acceleration with their child’s school and teachers.