The VANDA International Junior Science Olympiad (VIJSO) is an annual science competition for students from grades 3 through 10, held globally through SIMCC's network of country partners. The competition follows the Singapore School Science Syllabus as a foundation but emphasizes higher-order thinking — critical reasoning, creative problem-solving, and applying scientific knowledge to novel contexts rather than rote recall.
Grade-level tracks:
| Grade range | Topics | | --------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Primary 3–6 (Grades 3–6) | Diversity, Cycles, Systems, Interactions, Energy (general science) | | Secondary 1–2 (Grades 7–8) | Physical/chemical properties of matter, cell biology, forces, heat, ecosystems, electricity, human body systems | | Secondary 3–4 (Grades 9–10) | Full Biology, Chemistry, and Physics tracks aligned to Singapore O-Level syllabus |
Competition format:
- Administered as a paper-based or online test depending on country partner; exact competition and results dates are set by each country partner
- Multiple-choice questions requiring critical and analytical thinking
Awards:
- Top 50% of participants: Award certificate
- Top 40% of participants: Certificate and medal; invited to compete at STEAM AHEAD — the VANDA International Junior Science Olympiad international final, held in December
- Perfect scorers: Personalized medallion and certificate
- Honorable mention: E-certificate
- All participants receive a digital performance report with topic-level analysis and peer comparison data
Registration: Registration is handled through SIMCC's local country partners — fees and deadlines vary by country. Check vanda.simcc.org for your country partner's contact information and register early as spots are first-come, first-served.