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ICAS Science and Mathematics 2026 Dates, Format and Preparation Guide
ICAS Science and ICAS Mathematics are broad school assessment windows. They can be useful as benchmarking tools, especially when interpreted alongside competition-specific preparation.
What is this exam?
ICAS Science and ICAS Mathematics
ICAS Science and ICAS Mathematics are broad school assessment windows. They can be useful as benchmarking tools, especially when interpreted alongside competition-specific preparation.
Use this page to turn exam information into a clear preparation decision for your child.
Exam date
Science: 17-21 August. Mathematics: 24-28 August 2026.
Registration
Check school registration process.
Year levels
School years vary
Official institute
ICAS Assessments
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 ICAS Science and Mathematics?
Core focus
School-aligned extension assessment.Reasoning, reading and application under test conditions.Broad benchmarking rather than a single olympiad pathway.
Preparation focus
Use ICAS to identify broad strengths and weaknesses.Do not confuse a broad benchmark with olympiad readiness.Choose one next preparation focus after the result.
Format and focus
Where to go next
ICAS Maths and Science both reward reasoning above year level. These are the courses that build it — first three lessons free.
Foundation
AMC Y7-8 Foundation
Lessons
10 lessons + mock
Learning time
15–25 hrs
Difficulty
Year group
Y7–8
Best for
- Sitting AMC for the first time
- Aiming to lift Credit into Distinction
By the end: Confident across Questions 15–25 — the band that decides Credit vs Distinction.
A$149 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 →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 →Which questions carry the marks in ICAS Science and Maths?
Focus 1
School-aligned extension assessment.
Maths / Science
Focus 2
Reasoning, reading and application under test conditions.
Maths / Science
Focus 3
Broad benchmarking rather than a single olympiad pathway.
Maths / Science
AceAchievers preparation pathway
How should students prepare for ICAS Science and Mathematics?
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.
ICAS Science vs ICAS Mathematics
ICAS Science tests science understanding, interpretation and reasoning. Students need to read scientific information carefully, interpret data and apply concepts.
ICAS Mathematics tests mathematical problem solving, logic, pattern recognition and procedural fluency in unfamiliar contexts. A student can be strong in one and not the other, so use results diagnostically.
Internal resources
Questions parents ask
FAQ
When is ICAS Science in 2026?
ICAS Science is scheduled for Monday 17 August to Friday 21 August 2026.
When is ICAS Mathematics in 2026?
ICAS Mathematics is scheduled for Monday 24 August to Friday 28 August 2026.
When do entries close?
The listed final parent and school entry deadline is Monday 27 July 2026.
Is ICAS the same as AMC?
No. ICAS Mathematics is an academic assessment; AMC is a dedicated maths competition.
How should students prepare for ICAS Science?
Practise applying science concepts to graphs, experiments, tables and unfamiliar contexts.