Upcoming Olympiad Exams 2025-26: Complete Schedule & Important Dates

Other than being a competition, Olympiad exams provide an ideal opportunity for students to move beyond the textbook curriculum, challenge their understanding, and develop an early academic edge. If you enjoy solving difficult math problems or seeking scientific explanations of natural phenomena, Olympiads give you the opportunity to compete both nationally and internationally in these areas.

Preparation is only part of the equation to excel. The other part is planning. When you have the complete 2025–26 Olympiad exam date schedule, you know how to plan your studies, when to register, and how to optimally use your best Olympiad books and workbooks, without any stress or overlaps with school examinations.

Here’s a sneak peek at the Olympiad exam schedules for 2025–26, along with suggestions for effective preparation and science and math Olympiad book tips you can use year-round.

Why Olympiad Scheduling Matters?

The difference here is that Olympiads are not school exams, there is less flexibility, multiple date slots are available, and registration deadlines must be met. Ultimately, students who were interested but did not happen to read the calendar in time to apply end up missing out. A clear schedule allows you to:

• Set study targets early and make them realistic.

• Steer clear of mid-terms or board prep.

• Set aside time for revision and mock tests.

• Employ your Olympiad workbooks in a systematic, topic-wise cycle.

If you know the “when,” you can manage the “how.”

Confirmed Olympiad Exam Dates for 2025-26

Here is the official time table which is as per the announcements by Science Olympiad Foundation (SOF), HBCSE and other authorities conducting the examinations. Note that schools are usually offered a range of dates for most Olympiads and your school will confirm your date when it gets closer to the exam.

Tip: Always reconfirm your exact school date 2–3 weeks before the exam. For national Olympiads like NSO or IMO, schools select their own exam day from the available slots.

Read More: English Olympiad for Class 1: How to Improve Reading & Vocabulary?

How to Use the Schedule for Smart Preparation?

Knowing the dates is not important – it’s what you do with them that counts. This is how to transform this timeline into a year-round “ahead of the game” prep guide.

1. Start with a Backward Plan

Determine your desired testing date and work backwards from it. Final touch-ups and mock exams must begin in the last 4-6 weeks. Prior to that the emphasis should be on understanding the concepts and practicing.

If your math olympiad is in November then start studying the concepts in July. This means approximately three months for coverage and one for polishing. If you start early it will not be such a stressful process.

2. Study Phases

Divide your preparation for the Olympiad into distinct stages instead of cramming everything at the very end.

It helps to keep your mind sharp and to organize your effort.

3. Balance School and Olympiad Preparation

School exams, projects, and extracurriculars can create chaos if you don’t schedule wisely. Instead of studying both at once, align them. For example:

When your school teaches “Chemical Reactionbest book for math olympiads,” revise that from your science olympiad book immediately.

When you’re learning “Quadratic Equations” in class, solve higher-difficulty problems from your best book for math olympiad the same week.

This “parallel study” saves time and strengthens both school and Olympiad performance.

4. Practice Through Mock Tests

Practice makes memory stronger — and mock tests make confidence real. Every few weeks, simulate exam conditions using previous years’ papers.

Timed practice helps in two ways:

• It trains your brain to focus under pressure.

• It exposes weak chapters early enough to fix them.

Use the best olympiad books for mock papers and the olympiad workbooks for section-wise drills.

Choosing the Right Olympiad Books

You can only be as prepared as the books you use. Scattered materials or notes online are a waste of time. To select the appropriate ones:

• Best Olympiad Books: These cover the full syllabus with concept explanations, examples, and practice questions at increasing difficulty levels. Perfect for foundational learning.

• Olympiad Workbooks: Designed for drill practice, with chapter-wise and mixed mock tests to sharpen speed and accuracy.

• Science Olympiad Book: Includes detailed explanations of physics, chemistry, and biology concepts with MCQs that mirror real Olympiad patterns.

• Best Book for Math Olympiad: Look for one that teaches problem-solving strategies, pattern recognition, and logical reasoning — not just formula recall.

• Usually one study book and one workbook per subject is sufficient. And the more you add, the more likely you are to overload.
  

How to Avoid Burnout During Olympiad Season?

Olympiads are exciting, but juggling multiple subjects can become stressful. Stay balanced with these quick tips:

• Study in 50-minute focus sessions with 10-minute breaks.

• Keep weekends for light review and mock tests.

• Don’t study late into the night before the exam — your brain needs rest to recall efficiently.

• Reward yourself for consistent effort, not just scores.

Remember, Olympiads test your thinking ability and a calm, rested mind always performs better than a tired one.

Final Thoughts

Olympiad success does not depend on your ability to memorize facts – it requires curiosity, consistency, and a solid plan. If you set your study schedule to know the dates of your exams and practice in stages by regularly practicing with the best olympiad books or olympiad workbooks, you are already halfway there.

So open up that calendar, register early, and study your butt off – because every Olympiad is an exam, but it’s also a way to learn to think better, and learn for life.

FAQs 

Q1: Are these Olympiad dates for 2025-26 confirmed?

Yes, the main ones like NSO, IMO, RMO and INMO, are indeed reported by official organizers. A similar time period is followed every year by other Olympiads such as IEO and IGKO.

Q2. How many Olympiads can a student participate in?

You may participate in as many Olympiads as you want: Maths, Science, English and GK, provided the dates don’t clash in your school. A large number of students also participate in NSO and IMO along with each other.

Q3. Which books should be used for Olympiad preparation?

Start with the best known olympiad books which are very clear on the fundamentals. Then use the olympiad workbooks for timing practice. For certain subjects, a good science olympiad book or the best book for math olympiad providing mock questions topic-wise can be used.

Q4. If Olympiads are in November or December, when should I start?

Start at least four months early, and ideally around July. Starting earlier also gives you way more time for revision, troubleshooting and mock testing.