Natural Science Olympiad
Natural Science is the language of the universe, helping us decode the rhythm of rivers, the logic of lightning, and the quiet brilliance of a growing leaf. From the swirl of galaxies to the flutter of a butterfly’s wing, natural science turns curiosity into clarity — guiding us through the mysteries of life, matter, and the cosmos.In a world where technology evolves at lightning speed and artificial intelligence reshapes our future, the need to stay grounded in the fundamentals of natural science has never been more important. The Copernicus Natural Science Olympiad invites students to go beyond memorizing facts — it challenges them to think like scientists: to observe, to question, to experiment, and to uncover the logic behind the world around them.
Natural science is not just a subject — it’s a way of seeing. It opens young minds to the hidden patterns of life and the laws that govern our planet and universe. From the tiniest cell to the vastness of galaxies, it empowers students to explore how everything connects.
Divided into the life sciences (biology) and physical sciences (physics, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy), this Olympiad encourages students to stretch their curiosity and apply scientific reasoning to real-world challenges. By engaging in decision-making and problem-solving rooted in natural phenomena, they gain not only knowledge but also the confidence to question, create, and innovate.
At its core, natural science inspires students to wonder boldly, think critically, and see the extraordinary in the everyday. That spirit of exploration is exactly what we aim to cultivate.
Rules And Regulations
✔ The Copernicus Natural Science Olympiad is an international competition open to students from Grades 3 to 12.
✔ The Olympiad consists of two rounds – the Preliminary Round and the Global Round.
✔ All registered participants must take an online qualifying exam as part of the Preliminary Round.
✔ The examination process is divided into two rounds.
Round 1- Saturday, September 27, 2025
Round 2 – Saturday, November 1, 2025
Assessment Criteria
Students must take the exam based on their respective grade category:
✔ Category 1 – Grades 3 & 4
✔ Category 2 – Grades 5 & 6
✔ Category 3 – Grades 7 & 8
✔ Category 4 – Grades 9 & 10
✔ Category 5 – Grades 11 & 12
- Duration: 75 minutes.
The exam includes a total of 20 questions: 15 multiple-choice questions and 5 open-ended questions (i.e., without answer choices) designed to assess deeper understanding and critical thinking.
Marks Distribution: Preliminary Round
- 5 easy questions – 4 marks each
- 10 average questions – 5 marks each
- 5 hard questions – 6 marks each
Total: 100 marks
Marks Distribution: Global Round
- 5 easy questions – 3 marks each
- 5 medium difficulty questions – 4 marks each
- 5 high difficulty questions – 6 marks each
- 5 open-ended questions – 7 marks each
Total: 100 marks
Qualifying Details
✔ Students who score at least 40% in the Preliminary Round are eligible to participate in the Global Round.
✔ Global Round qualifiers must complete a separate registration on the official website or through their country representative to provide necessary travel documentation.
✔ Details regarding the date and venue of the Global Round will be announced shortly.
Awards
Preliminary Round:
✔ All Preliminary Round participants, regardless of score, will receive a Certificate of Participation.
✔ Students who qualify for the Global Round will receive a Certificate of Achievement and a medal (gold, silver or bronze) based on their Preliminary Round performance.
✔ In the Preliminary Round, medals will be awarded based on the following percentages :
- 40% to 49% – Honorable Mention Certificate
- 50% to 74% – Bronze Medal
- 75% to 90% – Silver Medal + 5% discount in the Global Round registration fees
- 91% to 100% – Gold Medal + 10% discount in the Global Round registration fees
✔ Absolute winners (youngest top scorers) of each category will receive free participation in the Global Round.
Global Round
✔ All Global Round participants, regardless of score, will receive a Certificate of Participation.
✔ In the Global Round, medals will be awarded based on the following percentages:
- The top 10% will receive a Gold Medal.
- The next 11-30% will receive a Silver Medal.
- The next 31-60% will receive a Bronze Medal.
- The next 61-75% will receive an Honorable Mention Certificate.
Syllabus
Life science
● Characteristics of living things
● Basic needs of living things
● Structures and functions of plants
● Structures and functions of animals
● Parts and functions of the human body
● Major organs of the human body
● Classification of animals – vertebrates and invertebrates
● Basic plant and animal adaptations to their environment
● Simple food chain
● Roles in ecosystem – producers, consumers, decomposer
Physical science
● Definition of matter
● Classification of matter
● Characteristics of solid, liquid, gases
● Sorting objects as solid, liquid, gases
● Measuring volume and mass
● Definition of force
● Effects of force on matter
● Definition of energy
● Types of energy – potential and kinetic
● Forms of energy
● Types of weather
● Members of the solar system
Life science
● Characteristics of living things
● Basic needs of living things
● Structures and functions of plants
● Structures and functions of animals
● Parts and functions of the human body
● Major organs of the human body
● Classification of animals – vertebrates and invertebrates
● Basic plant and animal adaptations to their environment
● Simple food chain
● Roles in ecosystem – producers, consumers, decomposers
Physical science
● Definition of matter
● Classification of matter
● Characteristics of solid, liquid, gases
● Sorting objects as solid, liquid, gases
● Measuring volume and mass
● Definition of force
● Effects of force on matter
● Definition of energy
● Types of energy – potential and kinetic
● Forms of energy
● Types of weather
● Members of the solar system
Life science
● Levels of biological organization
● Human body systems – parts, functions, and interactions
● Cell structure and function
● Cell theory
● Comparing plant and animal cells
● Vascular and nonvascular plants
● Angiosperm and gymnosperm
● Levels of ecological organization
● Biotic and abiotic factors of ecosystem
● Food chain, food web, and transfer of energy in ecosystem
● Interactions in ecosystem (symbiotic and non-symbiotic relationships)
● Microorganisms – bacteria, fungi, and protists
● History of life and earth formation (different eras)
Physical science
● Classification of matter – pure substances and mixtures
● Phase changes
● The Periodic Table of Elements
● Chemical symbols and formulas
● Law of conservation of mass
● Two-dimensional motion
● Newton’s laws of motion
● Work, power, and energy
● Transformation of energy (potential to kinetic and vice versa)
● Magnetism
● Rock cycle
● Types of rocks
● Weathering, erosion, and deposition
● The Universe
Life science
● Human body systems – parts and functions
● Basic parts and functions of the cell
● Comparing prokaryotes and eukaryotes
● Plant reproduction – natural and artificial
● Reproductive parts of the plants
● Seed germination
● Life cycle of plants
● Animal reproduction – internal and external reproduction
● Life cycle of animals (i.e.,insects, frog, mammal)
● Complete and incomplete metamorphosis
● Behavioral and structural adaptations of plants and animals
● Classification of animals based on the food they eat
● Food chain and food web
● Nutrient cycle (carbon, water, oxygen, nitrogen)
Physical science
● Basic structure of an atom
● Subatomic particles
● Atom vs molecule
● Element vs compound
● Physical and chemical properties of matter
● Physical and chemical changes in matter
● Motion in one dimension
● Speed vs velocity
● Distance vs displacement
● Acceleration
● Transformation of energy
● Energy sources
● Heat vs temperature
● Circuits
● Phases of the moon
● Seasons and tides
● The Milky Way
● Types of galaxies
● Minerals and rocks
● Rock layers and soil formation
Life science
● Human body systems – illnesses affecting organs
● Human reproduction
● Cell cycle
● Cell division – mitosis and meiosis
● Prokaryotes and viruses
● Energy pyramid and trophic levels
● Carrying capacity and limiting factors
● Factors affecting the population in an ecosystem
● Biodiversity and sustainability
● Mendel’s experiments
● Laws of inheritance (Mendelian and non-Mendelian
● Human genome and chromosome
● Punnett square – monohybrid and dihybrid cross
● Genetic disorders
Physical science
● Atomic theory
● Isotopes and average atomic mass
● Chemical reactions
● Parts of a chemical equation
● Balancing a chemical equation
● Momentum
● Newton’s law of gravitation
● Waves and energy
● Electromagnetic waves
● Electromagnetism
● Optics
● Fossilization
● History of earth – ice cores
● Stars
● The Big Bang Theory
