The VANDA International Junior Science Olympiad (VIJSO) is an annual science competition for students from Primary 3 through Secondary 4 (described as grades 3–10/11 on the overview), 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: For the historical 2026 local rounds, international candidates used country partners with a June 1–July 31 test window. Singapore private candidates had June 27 or 28 options through the Member Development Portal; Singapore schools used June 8–July 17. These are different test arrangements, not registration deadlines or continuous attendance. The results page now publishes 2026 results dated August 20, rather than the registration page’s earlier August 19 target.
Upcoming qualified global final: STEAM AHEAD 2026 takes place December 11–16 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with registration closing November 11. VANDA’s individual and team contests are specifically December 13. Bronze-and-above winners of VIJSO 2026 are invited; this final is separate from the local qualifying rounds. The final page lists estimated Singapore-time sessions, which are not presented as confirmed local Tashkent hours. Standard packages exclude travel insurance and airport transfers. No universal local or final entry price is stated on the checked pages.
The grade labels vary: the main overview says grades 3–10/11, the 2026 results include an 11–12 category, and the final page’s overview and format headings use different upper-grade labels. No single hard upper-grade limit is confirmed across these sources. No 2027 local application window is announced.
Checked November 4, 2026 against the local registration guidance, 2026 results, STEAM AHEAD schedule and VANDA final prerequisites and contest dates.