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Big Science Competition 2026 Dates, Format and Preparation Guide
The Big Science Competition is a curriculum-aligned science competition that can help students test whether they understand school science well enough to use it in unfamiliar situations.
What is this exam?
Big Science Competition
The Big Science Competition is a curriculum-aligned science competition that can help students test whether they understand school science well enough to use it in unfamiliar situations.
Use this page to turn exam information into a clear preparation decision for your child.
Exam date
4-15 May 2026
Registration
Registrations closed; 2026 competition complete.
Year levels
Years 7-10
Official institute
Australian Science Innovations
Key date timeline
Now
Read the official guide
Check whether the exam is appropriate for the student.
Next
Download the free sheet
Use it as a parent-friendly preparation checklist.
Then
Choose one preparation focus
Foundation, advanced question types or mock exam readiness.
Content map
What do students need to know for the Big Science Competition?
Core focus
Curriculum science concepts.Scientific literacy and careful reading.Reasoning from real-world contexts and evidence.
Preparation focus
Review core school science before the test window.Practise interpreting graphs, tables and experiment descriptions.Use results to decide whether JSO preparation is the next step.
Format and focus
Where to go next
Big Science is the usual stepping stone into the Junior Science Olympiad.
Foundation
JSO Foundation
Lessons
30 lessons
Learning time
35–45 hrs
Difficulty
Year group
Y7–8
Best for
- New to science olympiad
- Strong ICAS or Big Science result
By the end: Solid across biology, chemistry, physics and earth science fundamentals.
A$299 one-time
Try 3 lessons freeFull curriculum & details →Acceleration
Y7-8 Chemistry Acceleration
Lessons
20 lessons
Learning time
25–35 hrs
Difficulty
Year group
Y7–8
Best for
- Talented students ready to work above year level
- Building toward science competitions
By the end: Covers 100% of NSW Stage 4 chemistry — matter, atoms, reactions.
A$269 one-time
Try 3 lessons freeFull curriculum & details →Acceleration
Y7-8 Physics Acceleration
Lessons
30 lessons
Learning time
35–45 hrs
Difficulty
Year group
Y7–8
Best for
- Talented students ready to work above year level
- Enjoys problem-solving over memorising
By the end: Confident with forces, energy, waves and circuits well before school covers them.
A$299 one-time
Try 3 lessons freeFull curriculum & details →Acceleration
Y7-8 Biology Acceleration
Lessons
30 lessons
Learning time
35–45 hrs
Difficulty
Year group
Y7–8
Best for
- Talented students ready to work above year level
- Strong ICAS or Big Science result
By the end: Cells, systems, ecology and genetics covered ahead of year level.
A$269 one-time
Try 3 lessons freeFull curriculum & details →Which questions carry the marks in the Big Science Competition?
Focus 1
Curriculum science concepts.
Science
Focus 2
Scientific literacy and careful reading.
Science
Focus 3
Reasoning from real-world contexts and evidence.
Science
AceAchievers preparation pathway
How should students prepare for the Big Science Competition?
Preparation runs in three stages: build a solid foundation, then learn by topic and question type, then mock exam and targeted practice.
Build a solid foundation
Make sure the core school skills behind this competition are stable before moving into harder questions.
Learn by topic and question type
Practise the topic patterns and question types that appear most often in this competition.
Mock exam and targeted practice
Use timed mocks to find weak areas, then practise those exact topics deliberately.
Who should enter?
Big Science suits students who enjoy science, want an external challenge and are in Years 7 to 10. It is especially useful for students who are not yet ready for a more demanding Olympiad-style exam but want to move beyond ordinary classroom tests.
Big Science vs Junior Science Olympiad
Big Science is broader and more accessible. Junior Science Olympiad is more selective and pathway-oriented. Choose Big Science for broad enrichment and benchmarking; choose JSO when the student is ready for deeper science competition preparation.
Internal resources
Questions parents ask
FAQ
When was Big Science in 2026?
The 2026 competition ran from Monday 4 May to Friday 15 May 2026.
Which year levels can enter?
Students in Years 7 to 10 can enter globally.
How long is the competition?
The competition is 50 minutes.
Is Big Science good preparation for JSO?
Yes. It can be a useful first benchmark before JSO preparation.
What should students focus on?
Broad science foundations, graphs, data, variables and real-world application.