Einstein Science Olympiad (ESO) - Introduction and Purpose
Albert Einstein was renowned in the scientific world not only for his theories but also for his imagination and creative approaches. Inspired by his scientific legacy, ESO is organized to encourage young students to deepen their interest in natural sciences, develop their thinking skills, and enhance their problem-solving abilities. The main goal of ESO is to enable students to thoroughly learn the laws of nature, improve their analytical thinking, and discover how to apply this knowledge to real-life problems. The primary value of the competition is to foster students' interest in science and provide them with the opportunity to gain both theoretical and practical knowledge.
Educational Objectives of ESO
The main goal of ESO is to teach students natural sciences more deeply and to develop their skills in applying these subjects in real life. At each stage, students will expand their theoretical knowledge while also enhancing their analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, and creative approaches.
ESO Rules and Exam Structure
The Einstein Science Olympiad (ESO) is an international event designed for students from 3rd to 12th grade. The Olympiad will be held in two stages – the Selection Round and the Final Round.
Categories
The competition will be divided into five categories based on grade levels:
Category 1 – For 3rd-4th grade students. In this category, students will mainly answer questions related to basic natural sciences. Topics include plant and animal life, celestial bodies, and simple physical processes (motion, light, and sound).
Category 2 – For 5th-6th grade students. At this level, students will encounter questions about life sciences, the structure of the Earth, simple chemical reactions, and basic physics topics. The focus will be on botany, zoology, basic genetics, and ecology.
Category 3 – For 7th-8th grade students. This age group will cover more complex scientific topics, including biological functions, the chemical and physical composition of the Earth and atmosphere, genetic processes, planetary systems, and astronomy.
Category 4 – For 9th-10th grade students. At this level, students will solve more complex problems related to physics, chemistry, biology, and Earth’s climate. Topics include microscopic organisms, Earth processes (volcanoes, earthquakes), chemical reactions, and energy systems.
Category 5 – For 11th-12th grade students. Senior students will face even more advanced scientific questions. Topics will include astrophysics, quantum mechanics, microbiology, complex genetic reactions, and global climate change.
Selection Round
The selection round will be conducted online, and students will answer 25 multiple-choice questions in each category. The questions will be related to natural sciences, and students will test their scientific knowledge.
Number of questions: 25 multiple-choice questions
Correct answer: 4 points for each correct answer
Wrong answer: 1 point deducted for each wrong answer
Maximum score: 100 points
This round will initially assess students' knowledge, and those scoring above 40% will qualify for the Final Round.
Final Round
The final round will consist of more challenging questions, including both closed and open questions.
Closed questions: 15 multiple-choice questions, 4 points for each correct answer
Open questions: 5 open-ended questions, 5 points for each correct answer
Penalty for wrong answers: A wrong answer will deduct 1/4 of the points of a correct answer
The final round aims to test students’ knowledge at a deeper level and challenge them with more complex topics. It will also evaluate their practical thinking abilities and their skills in solving real-life problems.
Exam Language Policy
Selection Round: The exam will be presented in English to the country representatives. During the selection round, representatives may translate the exam into their native language if required.
Final Round: The questions will be in English, and students must answer in this language. If multiple countries belong to the same international language family, the final questions may be translated into that language for those countries.
Topics and Difficulty of Questions
Elementary Level (3rd-4th grades): Topics include basic physical laws (motion, gravity, light, and sound), plant and animal life, and the water and air cycle.
Intermediate Level (5th-6th grades): Topics include simple chemical reactions, genetic processes, atmospheric and weather changes, world geography (earth layers, seas, and oceans), and basic physical laws.
(7th-8th grades): Topics include microbiology, genetic mutations, Earth's atmosphere and climate, astronomy, planetary systems, and global events (volcanoes, earthquakes).
(9th-12th grades): Topics include microscopic organisms, quantum mechanics, energy and entropy, astrophysics, global climate changes, complex chemical reactions, and genetic research.
Results and Award Process
Selection Round: Student results in the selection round will be evaluated as follows:
Top 10%: Gold medal - 15% discount for the Global stage
Top 20%: Silver medal - 10% discount for the Global stage
Top 30%: Bronze medal - 5% discount for the Global stage
Next 20%: Honorary diploma
Remaining participants: Participation certificate
Final Round: In the final round, the evaluation will be as follows:
The final round will be held in a different country each year, or in Germany. Special electronic gifts will be awarded to the top 3 students worldwide. The top-performing student in each country will be awarded the "National Star" trophy.
World Ranking
The world ranking will be determined based on the medals students earn, and a global ranking for the year will be established. This ranking aims to highlight the best students from each country on the global stage.
