The International History Olympiad is a celebration of history attended by some of the best young history students from around the world that features numerous buzzer-based competitions, exams, and other competitive events. Participants compete in the International History Bee World Championships and the International History Bowl World Championships, as well as in various optional events, including a History of STEM Bee, a Historical Geography Bee, and an Art History Bee.
Participants are divided into Elementary, Middle School, Junior Varsity, and Varsity Divisions depending on their birthdate and/or grade in school. Students in the Middle School and Elementary divisions are required to attend with a parent or guardian.
Location(s)
- Location varies each year; past events have been held in Rome, Italy; Williamsburg, Virginia; Honolulu, Hawaii; Berlin, Germany; Princeton, New Jersey; and New York, New York.
Schedule
- Eight days in late July
Cost/Compensation
- Student program (no housing): $1,995
- Student program with on-campus housing: $2,955
- Student program with hotel housing: $3,195
- Parent/family fee: $100
- Additional fees for planned excursions and activities not related to the competition
Eligibility Requirements
- Qualification is conducted through participation in regional, national, and international qualifying events.
- U.S students: Students and teams in the USA who finish in the top half in the Bee or the Bowl at the Varsity, Junior Varsity, Middle School, or Elementary National Championships will be eligible to participate in the Olympiad. Students on History Bowl teams with at least a .500 winning percentage in the preliminary rounds at Nationals are eligible as well.
- Students who make the playoffs of the US History Bee at the US National Championships qualify for the International History Olympiad.
- Students who finish in the top 50% of their age division or who post a minimum qualifying score on the National Ancient History Exam will qualify for the International History Olympiad.
- International students: Students who finish in the top half in the History Bee or the History Bowl at any regional or championship tournament outside the USA will be eligible to participate in the International History Olympiad. Students on History Bowl teams with at least a .500 winning percentage in the preliminary rounds or a playoff win are eligible as well.
- All students currently living outside the USA and foreign Nationals living in the USA who are interested in attending the Olympiad also have the option of taking a multiple choice Qualifying Exam, which must be administered by a teacher at their school or community proctor. Students who obtain a high enough outright score (i.e. at least 60 for the Varsity, 50 for the JV, and 40 for the Middle School and 30 for the Elementary Divisions) on the qualifying exam typically qualify for the Olympiad, though IAC reserves the right to require an additional qualifying exam and/or interview via video depending on the score. There are two versions of the exam, so there are several chances to qualify this way; students may take both.
- At the Olympiad, citizens and residents of the USA will represent their state, while citizens and residents of the rest of the world will represent their country. The preliminary rounds of the International History Bee World Championships will be used to determine the composition of National and State teams for the team events at the Olympiad. Normally, the top three students from a country or state will form the A Team for that country of state, the next top three scoring students will form Team B and so on per age group. However, some teams may consist of just two students due to the need for rounding, while solo students will be paired up either with a higher age division within one’s country or state or with students from a different country or state. Solo teams will not be permitted.
Deadline
- Late June, approximately one month before the first day of the competition.
Application or Entry Requirements
- Qualified participants can register for the event at https://registration.historyolympiad.com/web/event?eventid=2138572483
Notifications of Decisions
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
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International Academic Competitions (IAC) is a global organization that hosts academic tournaments, quizzes, and competitions for students across various subjects. Founded with the mission to foster intellectual curiosity and camaraderie among young scholars, IAC offers a platform for students to showcase their knowledge and skills in history, geography, science, and other disciplines. These competitions attract participants from different countries, promoting cultural exchange and friendly competition on an international scale.
