About

International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO)

The International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) is a competition that assesses students’ knowledge in the three fundamental sciences: Biology, Physics, and Chemistry. It is open to secondary school students under the age of 15. The first competition took place in Jakarta, Indonesia, from December 5–14, 2004, with participants from 29 countries. Thailand has been participating since the inaugural event, sending six students, who won two gold medals and four silver medals. Since then, the competition has been held annually.

IJSO in Thailand

The organization of IJSO in Thailand is a collaboration between the POSN Foundation, the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST), and leading universities in Bangkok, including Chulalongkorn University, Mahidol University, and Srinakharinwirot University. These institutions oversee the selection process, training programs, and national team selection.

This initiative aligns with the vision of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, who emphasized that:

“Science education at the lower secondary level is crucial for establishing a strong foundation for students in upper secondary education.”

To support this vision, the POSN Foundation provides direct entry privileges for selected students from the IJSO training camp into the POSN upper secondary science program without requiring an entrance exam. This system has yielded outstanding results. For instance, Mr. Jenwit Wongboonsin, a silver medalist in IJSO, later won a gold medal in Biology Olympiad and ranked first in the world. This success reflects the belief expressed by Her Royal Highness:

“If the foundation is strong, academic excellence will follow.”

Thailand as the Host Country

In 2023, Thailand was honored to host the 20th International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO 2023). This event served as an opportunity to honor the invaluable contributions of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana to science education and to showcase Thailand’s academic capabilities on the global stage.

IJSO Selection Process in Thailand

The selection process is conducted annually by the POSN Foundation, in collaboration with IPST and OBEC, starting from November to December each year.

Application and Selection Process

• Bangkok Applicants: Apply through three designated schools:
  • Satriwithaya School
  • Sarawittaya School
  • Suksanari School
• Regional Applicants: Apply through 40 regional secondary education offices (Districts 3–42).

Special Quotas for Round 2 Qualification:

Two special quota programs allow direct entry into the second round:

1. Students who excel in the IPST Science and Mathematics Talent Development Program.
2. Students who represented Thailand in the International Mathematics and Science Olympiad (IMSO) at the primary school level.

(Note: Students from these programs must be officially nominated for final approval by the POSN Foundation.)

Examinations

Round 1:

• Held in January every year
• Approximately 6,000–8,000 applicants nationwide
• Exam subjects:
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
• Exam format: Multiple-choice questions
• Selection: Around 300 students advance to Round 2

Round 2:

• Held in March every year
• Exam subjects:
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
• Exam format: Written response questions
• Selection: 30 students advance to the training camp

National Team Selection and Training

The third round of selection occurs during a specialized training program. Students are divided into two groups:

1. General applicants: Selected from Round 1 and Round 2 (~30 students)
2. School quota students:18 students from high-potential schools with strong applicant pools. These schools receive a quota of 6 students each:
   • Suankularb Wittayalai School
   • Srinakharinwirot University Prasarnmit Demonstration School
   • Saengthong Vitthaya School (added in 2017)

Training Camp (April–May)

• Duration: 21 days (theory and practical training)
• Final selection:
  • 6 main representatives
  • 4 reserve students

Training Locations:

• Biology: Chulalongkorn University
• Chemistry: Srinakharinwirot University
• Physics: Triam Udom Suksa School

Intensive Training Before the Competition

• Duration: 9 days (October)
• Focus: In-depth analysis of past IJSO exam questions
• Training locations:
  • Biology: Chulalongkorn University
  • Chemistry: Srinakharinwirot University
  • Physics: Mahidol University