15 Physics Competitions for High School Students

Aug 12

Students interested in physics often want to go beyond coursework to demonstrate initiative, analytical ability, and problem-solving skills. Physics competitions can do exactly that. They offer structured opportunities to apply concepts under pressure, solve novel problems, collaborate on research-style challenges, and sometimes even represent a country internationally. Strong performance in these competitions can strengthen a student’s academic profile, add substance to a resume or CV, support future research applications, and provide concrete material for college essays or statements of purpose.

If you want to check out other competitions for high schoolers, check out art competitions here and for writing-based competitions, find a list here!

Why should I participate in a physics competition in high school?

Participating in a physics competition during high school is a practical way to deepen your understanding of the subject while demonstrating your skills beyond the classroom. Strong performance in competitive contests can strengthen applications for college, scholarship, and research programs by showcasing advanced quantitative reasoning and problem-solving ability. Many competitions require you to tackle open-ended questions, design experiments, or analyze complex scenarios, helping you develop the kind of analytical thinking used in scientific research.

We’ve curated 13 Physics Competitions for High School students, all across the country, ranging from virtual to in-person competitions.

Key takeaways

This list gathers physics competitions for high schoolers spanning national buzzer-style science bowls, Olympiad qualifying exams, and university-hosted tournaments, with standout hosts including Johns Hopkins, Yale, and the University of Alabama.
Entry is free for many of these, including several university-hosted events, while a handful charge a modest registration fee, and the strongest performers can earn scholarships, medals, or a spot on the U.S. Physics Team.
A few of these follow a clear progression path, starting with an entry-level qualifying exam and building toward the U.S. Physics Team and eventually the International Physics Olympiad, giving motivated students a long-term track to work toward.
Most of these are open nationally or internationally, with a couple of university-hosted events and one state-level tournament requiring in-person travel to a specific location.
A few of the earliest deadlines fall in mid-January for two of the most established competitions, so it's worth registering early since several of these fill up or close registration well before the actual contest date.

1. National Science Bowl

Location: Regional competitions held across the United States
Cost: Free
Contest Dates: Regional competitions begin in January; National Finals April 30 - May 4
Application Deadline: Varies by regional competition
Eligibility: High school teams of four students

The National Science Bowl is a team-based academic competition for high school students interested in science and mathematics. You’ll compete in fast-paced buzzer-style matches that test knowledge in physics, chemistry, biology, Earth science, energy, and math. Teams typically advance through regional competitions to qualify for the national finals. The competition emphasizes collaboration, quick reasoning, and broad STEM knowledge, while exposing participants to challenging scientific problem-solving. With thousands of students competing annually, it is a longstanding opportunity for students interested in academic competition and STEM enrichment.

2. F=ma Exam (U.S. Physics Team Qualifying Exam)

Location: Online
Cost: $15.50 per student (plus $75 school registration fee, or $37.50 for American Association of Physics Teachers members)
Contest Dates: February 12
Application Deadline: January 21
Eligibility: U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or students attending a U.S. school who are physically located in the U.S. on exam day; typically open to high school students studying introductory mechanics.

The F=ma Exam is the entry-level qualifying competition for students seeking to advance through the U.S. Physics Team selection process. Focused primarily on mechanics, the exam emphasizes problem-solving beyond standard classroom physics and serves as the gateway to the United States Physics Olympiad. The exam is administered fully online with in-person proctoring, and calculators are allowed within specified restrictions. Students often use past exams and problem sets to prepare for the conceptual and mathematical rigor of the competition.

3. United States Physics Olympiad (USAPhO)

Location: Online
Cost: No separate student fee beyond the F=ma qualification and registration pathway
Contest Dates: April 10
Application Deadline: No direct separate application; qualification occurs through top performance on the F=ma Exam
Eligibility: Students must qualify through F=ma, be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and be physically located in the U.S. for the exam.

The exam includes challenging free-response theoretical problems that test deeper reasoning across mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, and modern physics. The strongest performers may advance further in the U.S. Physics Team selection process, with some moving toward training for the International Physics Olympiad. The competition is known for emphasizing original problem-solving rather than routine computation, making it especially valuable for students interested in theoretical physics.

4. PhysicsBowl

Location: International; administered through participating high schools and approved testing sites
Cost: $10 per student (online or printable exam format)
Contest Dates: March 18 - April 3
Application Deadline: February 25
Eligibility: High school students may participate in either Division I (first-year physics students) or Division II (second-year or advanced physics students). Students compete through their school, and schools may enter teams in one or both divisions

PhysicsBowl is an international high school physics competition organized by the American Association of Physics Teachers in which students complete a 40-question, 45-minute multiple-choice exam covering topics from high school physics. You will compete individually and as part of school teams, with team scores based on the top five student scores from each school. The contest is divided into regions and divisions to allow students to compete against peers with similar coursework backgrounds. Questions may draw from conceptual physics, honors-level courses, and AP-level topics, making the competition accessible to a wide range of participants while still challenging strong problem-solvers.

5. Iowa Science Olympiad State Tournament (Division C)

Location: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Cost: $150 early registration / $200 regular registration (first and second teams); $125 early registration / $175 regular registration (third+ teams)
Contest Dates: April 11
Application Deadline: January 15 (regular registration deadline)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 competing through school-based Division C teams in Iowa. Typically, only a school’s first and second teams are eligible to compete at the state tournament.

The Iowa Science Olympiad State Tournament is the state-level Science Olympiad competition for high school students in Division C. Student teams compete across 23 national events covering subjects such as physics, engineering, chemistry, earth science, and biology, with additional trial events in some years. Events may include written exams, laboratory challenges, and engineering design competitions, requiring both subject knowledge and teamwork. Schools compete as teams rather than as individual entrants, and students often prepare for multiple events over the course of the academic year.

6. National Science Bowl 2026 (High School Division)

Location: Regional competitions nationwide in the United States; National Finals hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy (finals location varies by year)
Cost: No participation fee specified
Contest Dates: April 30 - May 4
Application Deadline: Varies by regional competition
Eligibility: High school students compete in teams of four students plus one alternate, with a teacher serving as coach/advisor.

The National Science Bowl is a national team-based academic competition focused on science and mathematics for high school students. Teams compete in a fast-paced buzzer format, answering questions in physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, energy, and math. You’ll begin in regional tournaments, and winning teams advance to the National Finals. Because the competition emphasizes breadth across STEM subjects as well as speed and teamwork, preparation often involves collaborative study and practice with quiz-bowl style questions. For students interested in multidisciplinary science competitions, the National Science Bowl offers experience in academic team competition and rapid problem-solving.

7. Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF)

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, AZ
Cost: Varies by affiliated fair; participation in local/regional fairs may involve separate fees, while Regeneron ISEF finalists typically attend through sponsorship or affiliated fair support
Contest Dates: May 9 - 15
Application Deadline: No central direct application; students qualify through Society-affiliated local, regional, and state fairs, with deadlines varying by fair
Eligibility: High school students who advance through an affiliated science fair and qualify for international competition

Regeneron ISEF is an international research competition for high school students conducting original projects across 22 scientific categories, including physics, engineering, computer science, and biomedical sciences. You will first compete in affiliated fairs and may advance to ISEF based on your performance. Finalists present their research to judges, engage with peers from around the world, and compete for awards, scholarships, and recognition. The competition emphasizes independent inquiry, scientific rigor, and ethical research practices.

8. University of Alabama High School Physics Contest

Location: The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Cost: Free
Contest Date: January 30
Application Deadline: Registration materials are typically distributed in October; no fixed public deadline is listed
Eligibility: High school students, including homeschool students at equivalent levels; teams and individuals may participate

The University of Alabama High School Physics Contest is a one-day competition that includes both an individual written exam and a team-based “ciphering” problem-solving contest. You are tested on introductory physics topics and can compete individually or as part of four-student teams. In addition to the competition, you can attend a student career panel, a physics show, and an awards ceremony. Top performers may receive medals, trophies, and scholarships, including in-state tuition scholarships for eligible top written exam finishers who attend the university.

9. Physics Cup

Location: Online
Cost: Free
Contest Dates: Problems released monthly throughout the 2026 competition cycle (with weekly hints and rolling submission deadlines)
Application Deadline: Registration open through the competition cycle; no fixed public deadline listed
Eligibility: High school students eligible for the next International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) may compete in the pre-university division

Physics Cup is an online theoretical physics competition for advanced high school students interested in solving challenging problems beyond the level of many traditional olympiads. You’ll receive one new problem each month, with hints released weekly, and scoring rewards both correctness and early submissions. Solutions are submitted by email and are evaluated throughout the competition, with rankings updated weekly. You can earn certificates, while top performers may receive awards and have their solutions published.

10. Johns Hopkins Physics - Physics Bowl Team Competition

Location: Johns Hopkins University Homewood Campus, Baltimore, MD
Cost: Free
Contest Date: Held annually
Application Deadline: Physics Bowl and Physics Olympiad require pre-registration; Individual Challenge allows on-site registration
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 (some events also include younger divisions)

The competition emphasizes collaboration, as teams must communicate quickly and divide problem-solving responsibilities under time pressure. Questions often cover a wide range of topics, including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, waves, and modern physics, encouraging broad conceptual understanding. Because answers are submitted simultaneously, students get immediate feedback and can track their performance relative to other teams in real time. The event helps participants strengthen analytical thinking, improve speed and accuracy in solving problems, and gain experience with quiz-style academic competition.

11. Johns Hopkins Physics - Physics Olympiad

Students in grades 6 - 12 are invited to try our hands-on Physics Olympics challenges, where teams use simple materials and clever designs to complete various challenges. The events are being kept secret for now, but could be anything ranging from builds like egg drop vehicles or bridges/towers or cantilevers, to hit-the-target challenges, to races, or even simply testing your ability to estimate big and small numbers with simple calculations. No prior experience is needed, just curiosity and teamwork. Come test your intuition, iterate your designs, and see how far physics can take you!

12. Yale Physics Olympics

Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: Free
Contest Date: March 28
Application Deadline: Pre-registration required; waitlist in place after capacity is reached (apply early)
Eligibility: Teams of four high-school-age students with a teacher or coach; parent/guardian waivers required

Yale Physics Olympics is a one-day team competition where high school students work together on physics-based challenges hosted at Yale’s Sloane Physics Laboratory. You’ll compete in hands-on problem-solving events that emphasize creativity, teamwork, and applied physics concepts. Teams participate with a coach or teacher and remain for the full event, which runs throughout the day. The competition is designed for students interested in testing physics knowledge in a collaborative format rather than through traditional written exams alone.

13. Ladder Internship Program

Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
Program dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!

Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average, raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form.

Questions students often ask about these competitions

1. Do I need to already be in an advanced physics class to enter these competitions?

Not for most of them. Several are designed to be accessible to students in their first physics course, while a few of the most advanced Olympiad-track exams do expect stronger preparation. Check each competition's description for the expected level.

2. Some of these competitions require qualifying through an earlier exam. How does that process work?

A few follow a tiered structure, where a strong score on an entry-level qualifying exam earns an invitation to the next round. It's worth starting with the accessible entry point first if you're aiming for the more advanced stages.

3. Can I compete individually, or do I need to form a team first?

It varies by competition. Several are strictly team-based and require coordinating with classmates in advance, while others allow individual participation. Check the format details before assuming you need a team lined up.

Dhruva Bhat

Dhruva Bhat is one of the co-founders of Ladder, and a Harvard College graduate. Dhruva founded Ladder Internships as a DPhil candidate and Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, with a vision to bridge the gap between ambitious students and real-world startup experiences.