How to Prepare for the Big Science Competition
To prepare for the Big Science Competition, revise your year-level school science and then practise applying it to unfamiliar, real-world questions and to graphs and tables under time pressure — the 30-question, 50-minute online paper rewards quick, accurate reasoning rather than extra memorisation. Run by Australian Science Innovations, Big Science is a curriculum-aligned competition for Years 7–10 and an accessible first step into science competitions, often used to test whether a student is ready for the Junior Science Olympiad.
Key facts at a glance
- 2026 window: 4–15 May 2026 (runs once a year).
- Format: 30 questions in 50 minutes, mixed format, online.
- Levels: four papers, one each for Years 7, 8, 9 and 10.
- Alignment: Australian Curriculum – Science; questions set in real-life contexts.
- Entry: through your school.
- Difficulty: accessible — a good entry point and JSO readiness check.
- Official source: Australian Science Innovations.
- Dates & format: see the Big Science Competition dates and format page.
What the Big Science Competition tests
Big Science is built around the science your child already studies, but it asks them to use it rather than recall it. Questions are set in contemporary, real-life contexts — a news scenario, an experiment, a graph of data — and ask students to apply curriculum knowledge, read carefully, and reason to an answer. It is deliberately accessible, but the step from ‘knowing the content’ to ‘applying it to something unfamiliar’ is exactly what makes it worthwhile preparation.
The format, and what it means for preparation
With 30 questions in 50 minutes, students have under two minutes per question on average. That makes pace and careful reading the deciding factors. Many marks are lost not to difficult science but to misreading a question or rushing a data table. Preparing for the clock — practising short, timed sets — matters as much as content revision.
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 30, mixed format |
| Time | 50 minutes |
| Mode | Online, at school |
| Levels | Years 7, 8, 9, 10 (separate papers) |
| Content | Australian Curriculum – Science, in real-world contexts |
A simple preparation plan
- Revise the year-level curriculum. Cover the biology, chemistry, physics and Earth-science topics for the student’s year so nothing is unfamiliar.
- Practise data and context questions. Work through graphs, tables and experiment descriptions, stating what the data shows before answering.
- Add timed sets. Do short blocks of 10–15 questions against the clock so the 50-minute pace feels normal.
- Review by type. Sort mistakes into ‘didn’t know it’ and ‘misread or rushed it’ — the second group is the quickest to fix.
Why data-reading is the key skill
Because the content is curriculum-aligned, the questions that separate students are the ones built around unfamiliar data and scenarios. A student who can read a graph accurately, identify the variable being changed, and reason from evidence will outperform one who simply knows more facts. This is the same skill the Junior Science Olympiad tests at a higher level, which is why Big Science is such a useful stepping stone.
Using the result to plan next steps
A strong Big Science result is a clear signal that a student is ready for more demanding science competitions. The natural next step is the Junior Science Olympiad, which asks for the same applied reasoning but with harder, cross-topic problems. Our Big Science vs Junior Science Olympiad comparison explains the jump, and the science olympiads pathway guide shows where it ultimately leads. To see exactly where a student stands, use a free diagnostic, and build applied science skills with the Ace Achievers Junior Science Olympiad course.
Format and dates last verified June 2026 against Australian Science Innovations. Exam windows and rules change every year — always confirm the current details with ASI or your school before relying on a date.
Frequently asked questions
How do I prepare for the Big Science Competition?
Revise your year-level school science, then practise applying it to unfamiliar, real-world questions and to graphs and tables. The 30-question, 50-minute format rewards quick, accurate reasoning, so practise reading carefully and keeping a steady pace rather than memorising extra facts.
What is the format of the Big Science Competition?
It is a 50-minute online competition of 30 questions in a mixed format, set in real-life contexts and aligned with the Australian Curriculum – Science. There are four paper levels, one for each of Years 7, 8, 9 and 10.
When is the Big Science Competition in 2026?
The 2026 competition window was 4–15 May 2026. It runs once a year; check the official Australian Science Innovations site for the next year’s dates and registration, which is handled through schools.
What year levels can sit the Big Science Competition?
Students in Years 7 to 10. Each year level sits its own paper, so a Year 7 student and a Year 10 student answer different questions pitched to their stage.
Is the Big Science Competition harder than school science?
It uses the same curriculum content but asks students to apply it to unfamiliar situations and interpret data, which is more demanding than recall. It is a good readiness check for the Junior Science Olympiad.