Singapore K12 Top Competitions
The competitions that matter for Singapore primary, secondary and JC students — from national olympiads with international pathways to accessible first contests. Timings are typical annual patterns; always confirm dates and eligibility on the official site.
🤖 Artificial Intelligence
AI Singapore & NTU, supported by MOE
Covers machine learning, NLP, computer vision and algorithms. An MCQ preliminary leads to a final with theory questions and Python AI programming problems.
Singapore's official selection pathway to the International Olympiad in AI (IOAI) — the highest-signal K12 AI credential.
Prep courses at
AI Singapore, supported by IMDA
Teams of 1–5 build AI solutions to real industry problem statements across themed tracks, with training resources, mentorship and internship opportunities on some tracks.
Singapore's flagship national student AI competition, government-linked and industry-sponsored — a strong portfolio and DSA signal.
Eligibility varies per track and year; check the current tracks.
Prep courses at
Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA)
Teams train and deploy AI models across computer vision, speech and LLM tasks; at the finals, their AI autonomously controls robots on a mission course.
Defence-technology backed and technically rigorous, with thousands of participants each year.
Roboto Coding Academy
A generative-AI coding competition for ages 7–16 across three tracks (Scratch + AI, web/games, Python apps). Everything is built live on-site and pitched to judges.
One of the few generative-AI competitions open to primary-age children; the live-build format ensures authentic work.
Privately run by a commercial academy — a fun entry point rather than a national credential.
Prep courses at
Science Centre Singapore, MOE-supported
Teams of 2–3 train an AI/machine-learning model so their robot recognises mission cards while autonomously navigating a track.
Part of Singapore's longest-running national robotics competition — MOE-supported and DSA-relevant.
SuperAI (Marina Bay Sands conference)
An intense in-person hackathon where teams build a working AI product from scratch and demo it to industry judges, with a large prize pool.
A goal for advanced students beyond JC — participants are mostly university students and young professionals.
Not a K12 competition; listed for ambitious seniors planning ahead.
📐 Mathematics
Singapore Mathematical Society
The national olympiad with Junior (Sec 1–2), Senior (Sec 3–4) and Open (JC/IP) sections: a short-answer Round 1 and a proof-based Round 2 for top scorers.
The top mathematics credential for DSA; the Open section feeds the national training team from which the IMO team is selected.
NUS High School of Math and Science
A 90-minute, 35-question paper pitched at Primary 5, sat at your own school. Registration is through schools only.
The most established serious primary math olympiad — a well-known DSA portfolio item for NUS High and IP schools.
Raffles Institution
Junior (P4–5) and Open (P6) divisions; an online MCQ round followed by a written round at RI for roughly the top 2–3%.
Running since 1996 and organized by one of Singapore's top schools — more selective than mass-market olympiads and DSA-relevant for RI and IP schools.
SIMCC (Singapore round of the global Math Kangaroo)
A single-round MCQ contest across six age bands from P1 to JC2, focused on logic and creative problem-solving rather than syllabus knowledge.
The Singapore edition of the world's largest school math contest — an accessible entry point to competition math.
Prep courses at
SIMCC
Divisions from P2 to Sec 4 with a mix of MCQ and open-ended questions; top scorers are invited to SIMCC follow-on contests.
One of Asia's largest math olympiads and a friendly first competition.
Commercially run with generous award bands — less prestigious than SMO/NMOS/RMO.
Prep courses at
Mathematical Association of America (local registration via Asia Maths Alliance)
25-question MCQ papers by grade band; high AMC 10/12 scorers qualify for the AIME.
The world's best-known US competition series — AMC/AIME scores are used in US university admissions, a popular complement to SMO.
Prep courses at
Learners' Connections & Marshall Cavendish Education
A two-hour, 58-question paper for P5 and below, with both school and private registration routes.
Long-running (nearly two decades) and accessible to private candidates whose schools do not register.
Prep courses at
🔬 Science & Research
Institute of Physics Singapore, MOE-supported
A two-hour written physics paper for lower-to-mid secondary students, with Gold/Silver/Bronze medals. Registration is via schools.
The entry point of the physics olympiad ladder (SJPO → SPhO → APhO/IPhO); MOE-supported and DSA-cited.
Prep courses at
Singapore National Institute of Chemistry & NUS
A two-hour online MCQ round, with the top ~20% advancing to an in-person written round at NUS. For Sec 3–5 students.
Run by the national chemistry body since 2010; a step toward the SChO/IChO pathway.
Singapore Institute of Biology & Science Centre Singapore
A theory-based biology competition for upper secondary (Sec 3–4 / IP 3–4) students.
The only national biology competition at secondary level; a step toward the SBO/IBO pathway.
Prep courses at
NUS High School of Math and Science
The main primary-level science olympiad, organized by NUS High and registered through schools. The Raffles Science Olympiad (RI) is a comparable primary competition.
The leading science competition credential for upper-primary students, often cited in DSA portfolios.
IPS, SNIC & SIBiol with MOE and NUS
The official senior physics, chemistry and biology olympiads for JC1/IP Year 5 students, nominated through schools.
Medalists enter national training and selection for the IPhO/APhO, IChO and IBO teams — the top pre-university science credentials.
A*STAR & Science Centre Singapore
A televised team science quiz for Sec 3 / IP Year 3 school teams, with challenges filmed at A*STAR research institutes.
A*STAR-backed with national TV visibility, running for 17+ seasons.
MOE, A*STAR & Science Centre Singapore
The national STEM research-project fair with poster-and-interview judging. Top finalists also feed the National STEM Talent Search.
Singapore's official affiliate of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair — winners represent Singapore internationally.
💻 Coding & Informatics
NUS School of Computing
Competitive programming: five algorithmic tasks in five hours, automatically judged. Registration is through a school teacher-in-charge.
The official pathway to the International Olympiad in Informatics (and EGOI) — the single most recognized coding credential for DSA.
SIMCC (Singapore round of the global Bebras challenge)
Online logic and computational-thinking puzzles (~40 minutes) requiring no programming — the most accessible informatics competition, from P1 up.
Part of a genuine international movement spanning 60+ countries; a gentle first step toward NOI.
Hwa Chong Institution with CSIT & the Digital and Intelligence Service (MINDEF)
A CTF-style team competition covering cybersecurity and AI, preceded by training workshops, for JC and IB students.
Backed by national defence-tech agencies — the leading pre-university cybersecurity competition.
🦾 Robotics
Science Centre Singapore, MOE-supported
Regular (LEGO challenge), Open (project) and AI Maker categories built around an annual sustainability-aligned theme, for ages 5–20.
Singapore's longest-running and largest national robotics competition — the flagship school robotics credential since 1999.
Developing Innovative Youth Ltd with Duck Learning
Explore (ages 6–10) and Challenge (ages 9–16) divisions combining a LEGO robot game, an innovation project and core-values judging.
Winners advance to FIRST international events — a globally recognized robotics pathway.
Space Faculty (national organizer since 2023)
RoboMission age categories from 8 to 19 plus RoboSports and Future Engineers/Innovators tracks; nationals held at Singapore Polytechnic.
A direct national-team pathway to the WRO International Final, contested by 85+ countries.
VEX Robotics Competition Singapore
VIQRC / V5RCREC Foundation, supported locally by VM Education
Alliance-based robot matches with driver and autonomous periods plus engineering-notebook judging, across VEX IQ (ages ~9–14) and V5RC (~11–18).
A pathway to the VEX Worlds — the world's largest robotics competition.
Singapore Polytechnic & Science Centre Singapore
RoboCupJunior leagues — Soccer, Rescue and OnStage — for primary and secondary teams, alongside senior tertiary leagues.
The national selection route to the international RoboCup and RoboCupJunior events.
🗣️ Humanities, Writing & Debate
The Royal Commonwealth Society
Individual creative writing on annual themed prompts, in Junior (under 14) and Senior (14–18) classes. Rebranded from the Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition in 2026.
The world's oldest international schools' writing competition (since 1883), hugely popular in Singapore schools.
Prep courses at
Julia Gabriel Centre (organizer since 1999)
Around 70 schools compete in three divisions using a modified World Schools debating format.
The de facto national secondary debating championship and a feeder for World Schools (WSDC) national-team selection.
Prep courses at
Gifted Education Branch, MOE
A competitive-selection writing programme: portfolio admission leads to the Creative Arts Seminar and, for selected students, year-long mentorship.
The most prestigious MOE-recognized credential for young writers — alumni include many published Singapore authors.
Teacher-led collective, supported by MOE and NAC
Unseen-text debates, flash fiction, book trailers and choral staging built around the literature set texts.
The main national stage for secondary literature students, running since 2005.
NUS Political Science Society
A UN council simulation under formal rules of procedure, drawing 500+ delegates from local and regional schools.
One of the most established Model UN conferences in Asia-Pacific.
SPH Media & Nanyang Girls' High School
A written preliminary followed by game-show style finals covering Chinese language, literature, culture and history.
The highest-profile national Chinese-language school contest, backed by SPH Media and a top MOE school.
YMCA of Singapore, in partnership with MOE
Prepared-speech and impromptu rounds across age bands from pre-school to JC, running since 1987.
The recognized national public-speaking title, MOE-partnered under the Speak Good English Movement.
Prep courses at
💼 Business & Entrepreneurship
Junior Achievement Singapore, sponsored by HP
Teams of four (Sec 2–3) go through design-thinking, prototyping and pitching bootcamps, then pitch tech solutions to UN SDG challenges at an expo.
Corporate and CDC-backed, with implementation funding for winning teams.
Junior Achievement Singapore
Teams found and run a real mini-company under business-volunteer mentorship, competing for Singapore Company of the Year.
Winners represent Singapore at the JA Asia Pacific Company of the Year Competition — a genuine international pathway.
Junior Achievement Singapore
Practitioner-taught investing fundamentals; teams manage a simulated client portfolio and pitch their strategy.
A new JA competition (inaugural 2026) for aspiring young investors.