In addition to organizing the International History Bee and Bowl, International Academic Competitions organizes the International Science Bee! See below for a summary of our science event calendar. For further information on our science competitions, please contact canada@iacompetitions.com.
1. International Science Bee – Championships Qualifying Exam
The International Science Bee Championships Qualifying Exam (CQE) is offered at all International History Bee and Bowl regional tournaments. Students take the Qualifying Exam during the lunch break. The Qualifying Exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions on all aspects of Science; students have 20 minutes to take the Exam. Students can also take the exam online with a teacher proctoring it if they are unable to attend an International History Bee and Bowl tournament where the Qualifying Exam is offered. For the 2024-25 school year, the cost is 20 USD or 25 CAD to take the test in person, and 20 USD to take the test online. Two separate Qualifying Exam versions are offered each year; the Beta Set CQE is given at International History Bee and Bowl tournaments that run on the Beta Question Set and the Alpha Set CQE is given at International History Bee and Bowl tournaments that run on the Alpha Question Set.
Students qualify for the ISB Canadian Championships and the International Environmental Science Olympiad by accomplishing one of the following things:
1. Finishing in the top half of students in their age division who take their respective version of the CQE at any given tournament site. If there is an odd number of students, or if two students tie for the last spot, we “round up” so that 4 students out of 7 would qualify, for example, unless there was a tie for 4th place, in which case 5 (or more, if more than two students tied for 4th) would qualify.
2. Students can also qualify by finishing in the top half throughout Canada among all students who take the CQE within their age division for any given exam. These median scores are calculated for Beta and Alpha Sets for all students who have taken an Exam by March 1 for Beta Set, and April 1 (subject to change) for Alpha Set.
3. Students who score at the automatic qualifying level for the International Environmental Science Olympiad: a score of at least 75 (if they are Varsity), 65 (if they are Junior Varsity), 55 (if they are Middle School) and 45 (if they are Elementary) – also qualify for the ISB Canadian Championships.
Students only need to qualify once (either on either version of the Championships Qualifying Exam or at any Regional Tournament, whether online or in-person) each year for the European Championships, and once in every two year cycle (i.e. either in the 2022-23 or 2023-24 school years) for the International Environmental Science Olympiad
2. International Science Bee – 2025 Canadian Championships.
At the Canadian Championships, qualified students compete in three rounds of buzzer-based Bee play, followed by a Final Round to determine the Canadian Champions. High School, Middle School, and Elementary Divisions will be offered. The rules for game play are identical to those of the History Bee.
4. International Environmental Science Olympiad
December 2024
The International Environmental Science Olympiad is a multi-faceted, five day-long competition for the best science students from around the world. Held every two years (the next IESO will take place in Puerto Rico from December 27-31, 2024), the International Environmental Science Olympiad features numerous separate buzzer-based quiz competitions, other competitions, field trips, cultural activities, and a chance to meet other students who excel at and enjoy studying science. This event is specifically designed to encourage students’ families to attend. There will be activities for all family members in attendance to take part in, and not just for the competing students.