Expert Overview

The International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition (IAAC) is an online, three-round astronomy problem-solving competition for high school and university students worldwide, run by an independent organizing team. Entrants compete in Junior, Youth, and Senior categories set by grade or age.

Format

Individual

Judging Format

Scoring based

Monetary

Recognition

Grade Eligibility

Rising Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors

Geographic Eligibility

US, International

Discipline

AstronomyAstrophysicsPhysicsMath

Entries

~14,000

Percent Awarded

~20%

Important Dates

Qualification Round Deadline

April 17, 2026

Qualification Results Announced

May 4, 2026

Pre-Final Round Registration Deadline

May 26, 2026

Pre-Final Round Opens

May 29, 2026

Pre-Final Round Deadline

June 2, 2026

Pre-Final Round Results Announced

June 15, 2026

Final Round Exam Date

June 30, 2026

Final Results Announced

July 6, 2026

Passed

Open

Approaching: < 1 mo.

Priority: < 2 weeks

Urgent: < 1 week

Registration Cost

Pre-Final Round registration costs

13 EUR

Financial aid

Available

About

The Qualification Round is free: five problems, submitted online, with a minimum score of 15, 17, or 20 points by category to advance. The Pre-Final is a supervised 60-minute exam with a registration fee, and financial aid is available. The Final is a supervised online exam of about 30 short-answer and multiple-choice questions, ranked by points. Cash prizes go to the top three in each category, and the top three scorers per country earn national awards.

The organizers describe IAAC as independent and unaffiliated. A Final ranking, a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Honour, or a national award is the credential, and advancing past the Qualification Round alone is participation.

IAAC is the right competition for a student who wants to test astronomy problem-solving against peers worldwide, entirely online, without needing a school team or a travel budget.