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Q: What is HKISO (Hong Kong International Science Olympiad)? A: HKISO (Hong Kong International Science Olympiad) is an international science competition run by Olympiad Champion Education Centre (OCEC) for students from Primary 2 to Senior Secondary. It has a Heat Round (20 MCQ, 60 min) and a Final Round (24 MCQ, 75 min) covering physics, biology, chemistry, and integrated science. Marking uses +2/0/−1 (negative marking applies). Register through your school or via the official HKISO site at hongkongiso.org.
TL;DR HKISO is a two-round paper-based science contest run by Olympiad Champion Education Centre (OCEC) in Hong Kong. • Heat Round: 20 MCQs (5 each physics/biology/chemistry/integrated science), +2 / 0 / -1, 60 minutes HKISO structure.
• Final Round: 24 MCQs (6 per strand) with the same marking scheme in 75 minutes HKISO structure.
• Awards: About 8%/16%/24% per grade receive Gold/Silver/Bronze per the organiser’s published bands HKISO prizing.
Registration and venues are announced on the official HKISO site each cycle; follow organiser notices only.
Registration quick answer (Singapore): Schools typically coordinate entries or the organiser announces a local partner each cycle. For current registration routes and official partners, follow the HKISO site only: http://www.hongkongiso.org/
Registration & Access: Open-entry - schools typically coordinate entries, or register via the organiser's local partner. Check hongkongiso.org for the current cycle's registration route.
Status: HKISO structure/prizing pages last checked 2025-11-30 (HTTP access);
heat remains 20 MCQs in 60 min with +2/0/-1 and final 24 MCQs in 75 min
with the same marking; medal ratios still ~8%/16%/24% per grade.
1 Who runs HKISO and what the organiser publishes
Organiser: Olympiad Champion Education Centre (Hong Kong) HKISO structure.
Round structure: Each grade receives its own paper. Heat = 20 MCQs (5 per strand) in 60 minutes. Final = 24 MCQs (6 per strand) in 75 minutes. Marking: +2 correct, 0 blank, -1 wrong HKISO structure.
Languages: English or a regional language, as listed by the organiser HKISO structure.
Awards: About 8% / 16% / 24% per grade earn Gold / Silver / Bronze; remaining candidates fall into Merit/Participation as posted by HKISO HKISO prizing.
Official strand split from the organiser’s structure page; Final Round uses 6 per strand.
5 Awards (per organiser)
Award
Share per grade (paper-based test)
Gold
About 8%
Silver
About 16%
Bronze
About 24%
Merit / Participation
Remainder
Published ratios from the HKISO prizing page; the organiser posts year-specific honour rolls after marking.
6 Three exam-craft reminders for IP math & physics students
Unit discipline matters. HKISO papers routinely check prefixes and density/pressure conversions across physics and integrated science strands; rehearse with units carried through every step.
Graph-reading is common. The organiser’s four-strand structure favours data-interpretation MCQs, so practise matching linear vs quadratic trends and proportionality checks.
Negative marking demands triage. With the +2 / 0 / -1 scheme, skipping is mathematically better if your success probability p satisfies 4p−1<0⇒p<0.25.
7 Registration and official updates
Registration routes, venues, and any regional partners are announced by HKISO each cycle. Refer to the official site for current details: http://www.hongkongiso.org/.
7.1 DSA / Admissions Value
An HKISO Gold or Silver medal can be included in a Direct School Admission (DSA-Sec) portfolio, particularly under Science or STEM talent domains. Because HKISO tests across physics, chemistry, biology, and integrated science, a strong result demonstrates breadth of scientific understanding - a quality valued by IP schools with accelerated science curricula. When preparing your DSA application, note the specific award level, the grade-level paper you sat, and any reflections on your preparation process. Always verify each target school's DSA criteria for the current year.
7.2 Pathway Progression
HKISO sits alongside other international science olympiads that Singapore students may encounter at different stages. At the primary level, students might also participate in the Singapore Primary Science Olympiad (SPSO) or the Vanda Science competition. At the secondary and JC level, strong science students may progress toward national selections for the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) via the Singapore Physics Olympiad pathway. HKISO's multi-strand format is useful preparation for the breadth required in IP science, where students study all three sciences concurrently. See the 2026 Competition Calendar for scheduling context.
What is HKISO (Hong Kong International Science Olympiad)?
HKISO (Hong Kong International Science Olympiad) is an international science competition for school students run by Olympiad Champion Education Centre (OCEC) in Hong Kong. It is open to students from Primary 2 to Senior Secondary and covers four science strands: physics, biology, chemistry, and integrated science.
What does HKISO stand for?
HKISO stands for Hong Kong International Science Olympiad.
When is HKISO 2026?
HKISO 2026 dates are announced each cycle on the official HKISO site. Check hongkongiso.org and your school coordinator for the confirmed 2026 Heat Round and Final Round schedule.
How do I register for HKISO 2026?
Schools typically coordinate entries for HKISO, or the organiser announces a local partner each cycle. For current Singapore registration routes and official partners, follow the HKISO site: http://www.hongkongiso.org/.
Does HKISO have negative marking?
Yes. HKISO uses a +2 / 0 / −1 marking scheme: +2 for correct, 0 for blank, −1 for wrong. This applies to both the Heat Round and the Final Round. You should skip questions where you are less than 25% confident to avoid losing marks.
Final Round: 24 multiple-choice questions (6 per strand), 75 minutes, +2/0/−1 marking
The four strands are: physics, biology, chemistry, and integrated science.
What levels or grades can enter HKISO?
HKISO has separate papers for: Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Primary 5, Primary 6, Secondary 1, Secondary 2, Secondary 3, and Senior Secondary. Each grade receives its own paper.
Where can I find HKISO past papers?
HKISO does not publish an official public past-paper archive. Preparation materials from the organiser or local enrichment centres are the main resources. Check the official site at hongkongiso.org for any available downloads.
What are the HKISO medal/award bands?
Gold: approximately top 8% per grade
Silver: approximately next 16% per grade
Bronze: approximately next 24% per grade
Merit / Participation: remaining candidates
Year-specific honour rolls are published by HKISO after marking. See HKISO prizing.
What topics does HKISO test?
HKISO covers four strands equally across both rounds:
Integrated science: cross-topic application and data interpretation
Can my child prepare for HKISO without tuition?
Yes. Like Vanda, HKISO is a broad-based science MCQ competition where the school syllabus covers most of the tested content. Students who are strong across all four science strands (physics, chemistry, biology, integrated science) and comfortable with data-interpretation questions can prepare independently by reviewing weaker topics and practising with past HKISO papers. See our competition prep resources guide for free materials.
Last updated 26 Nov 2025. Next review after the next organiser syllabus update.
