Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) — A 2025 Guide for IP Maths & Physics Families
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)05 Aug 2025, 00:00 Z
TL;DR
Regeneron ISEF is the world's largest pre-university research competition: ~1 700 finalists aged 14-19 from more than 65 countries present original work in 22 categories, competing for over US$9 million in awards. Singapore sends qualifiers through the SSEF and A*STAR Talent Search schemes, and the winning skill-set overlaps heavily with IP Maths (data analysis, calculus fluency) and IP Physics (experimental design, uncertainty). This guide shows parents and students how the fair works, what prizes look like, and how focused tuition can turn an IP WA project into an ISEF-class investigation.
1 What exactly is ISEF?
ISEF began in 1950 under Society for Science and has been sponsored by Regeneron since 2020. It functions like an “Olympics of research” for secondary-schoolers: finalists bring posters and prototypes to a week-long fair that rotates host cities (Los Angeles 2024, Columbus 2025). Judges drawn from academia and industry interview each student in two rounds. Winners are announced on the final evening at a ceremony livestreamed worldwide.
2 Who gets to compete?
- Affiliated fairs — Students must first win top places at one of ~425 local, regional or national fairs recognised by Society for Science.
- Finalist quota — Each affiliated fair is allotted a certain number of finalist “slots”.
- Grade & age — Competitors must be in grades 9-12 (or international equivalent) and younger than 20 on 1 May of the fair year.
For Singapore, the main feeder events are:
- Singapore Science & Engineering Fair (SSEF)
- ASTAR Talent Search* (ATS)
3 Scale and prize pool
| Metric (2024 edition) | Value |
| Finalists on-site | ≈ 1 700 students |
| Represented locations | 67 countries, territories and regions |
| Project categories | 22 (from Animal Sciences to Systems Software) |
| Cash & scholarship pool | > US$9 million |
| Top individual award | US$75 000 (George D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award) |
| Next two awards | 2 x US$50 000 (Regeneron Young Scientist • Gordon E. Moore) |
Every category also confers 1st-4th place awards (US$5 000, 2 000, 1 000 and 500 respectively) and a raft of sponsored special prizes.
4 Judging rubric in one glance
- Research question (10 %) — originality and depth
- Design & methodology (30 %) — controls, reproducibility, safety
- Execution (20 %) — data volume, statistical treatment, rigour
- Creativity (20 %) — novelty or interdisciplinary leap
- Presentation (20 %) — poster clarity, verbal defence, logs
Physics, mathematics and computer-science projects must additionally show error analysis (uncertainty, propagation) and proper use of symbols — exactly the skills drilled in IP WA practicals and A-Level Paper 4.
5 Why IP Maths & Physics students should care
5.1 Skill overlap
- Calculus & vectors — model derivations in Mechanics, Electromagnetism and Further Math map 1:1 onto trajectory-optimisation or materials-stress projects.
- Spreadsheet proficiency —
LINESTgradient±SE used in IP Physics Paper 4 appears in many ISEF posters. - Statistical hypothesis testing — a standard rubric item and a Term-3 IP Math topic.
5.2 Portfolio advantage
ISEF honours often translate to bonus points in DSA-JC interviews and future university STEM scholarships.
5.3 International networking
Finalists mingle with Nobel laureates, Regeneron scientists and peers from MIT PRIMES, Broadcom MASTERS and the International Mathematical Olympiad camp.
6 Training timeline for Singapore IP students
| School year | Action window | Focus |
| Sec 2 Term 4 | Brainstorm & narrow research question | Feasibility, mentor scouting |
| Sec 3 Term 1 | Prototype + pilot data | Apply SUVAT, differential equations, spreadsheet error bars |
| Sec 3 Term 2 | Enter SSEF with 10-page report | Judges weigh methodology heavily |
| Sec 3 Term 4 | If selected, refine logbook & statistics for ATS finals | Practise 8-min viva using Feynman-style analogies |
| Sec 4 Term 1 | Receive ISEF finalist slot | Dry-run poster defence weekly under timed conditions |
| JC 1 Term 2 | Travel to ISEF (May) | Keep WA pacing via asynchronous tuition catch-up |
7 Tuition strategies that boost ISEF readiness
- Math-Physics hybrid sessions — connect calculus (rate problems) directly to experimental data fitting.
- Mini-peer review — tutor and classmates critique draft abstracts for clarity, a core judging metric.
- Uncertainty boot camp — weekly spreadsheet labs: pendulum (T^2) vs (L), (I-V) resistor, log-log power laws.
- Presentation dojo — rehearse 5-minute and 12-minute versions; record, annotate pauses and jargon slips.
8 Quick FAQ
Q: Does ISEF accept team projects?
A: Yes, up to three students per project, but top prizes often go to solo entries.
Q: Are math-theory projects welcome?
A: Absolutely — the Mathematics category spans pure proofs, algorithms and applied modelling.
Q: How much does the trip cost?
A: Travel and lodging for Singapore finalists are typically covered by MOE or A*STAR grants; families mainly budget for personal expenses.
9 Further reading
10 Call-to-action
Parents: Schedule a 1-hour ISEF-ready Research Methods clinic before your child's Term 1 WA.
Students: Pick one past ISEF abstract tonight, highlight its methodology verbs and copy the structure for your own draft — start the journey early.
Last updated 5 Aug 2025. Next review when Regeneron ISEF releases the 2025 (Columbus) programme.
