The International Finance Olympiad (IFO) is a free annual online competition that challenges high school students worldwide to apply finance and economics knowledge to financial problems. Organized by EAE International (registered in Singapore), IFO identifies top performers globally.
Qualification:
Beginning in 2027, qualification replaces the former qualifying test. Students qualify by completing the official IFO Qualification Bundle on LearningFirst (self-paced lessons and practice materials) and earning 470 or more points before the qualification deadline. There is no separate qualification examination.
Competition structure:
Module A: Analytical Reasoning (all qualified students, online with remote proctoring)
- 120 minutes, 5 materials, 100 objective questions (200 points)
- The top 6 students from each country/region become Finalists
- Students in Asia and Oceania sit at GMT+8, Europe and Africa at GMT+1, and the Americas at GMT-4 (based on school location)
Module B: Advanced Thinking (Finalists only)
- 180 minutes, 1 case material, 5 written-response questions (200 points)
Recognition:
- Individual awards announced after final review
- School Team Awards for schools with 6 or more participating students
- Top 30 schools receive international rankings (Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers)
2027 key dates:
- Registration deadline: August 11, 2027 (23:59 GMT+8)
- Mock test: August 14, 2027
- Qualification deadline: August 21, 2027
- Module A: August 21, 2027
- Module B (Finalists): September 11, 2027
Registration note: Participation requires a school advisor. The advisor registers the school, then each student registers, qualifies, and competes with an individual account.
