International Finance Olympiad

IFO 2025

An emerging international student competition in the fields of finance and economics, designed to nurture and develop the next generation of financial talent.

Registration Closed Learn More
Mock Test: August 15, 2026 19:00 - August 22, 2026 19:00 (designated continental local time)
Comprehensive Objective Test: August 22, 2026 19:00 - 21:30 (designated continental local time)

IFO 2025 Registration Closed

IFO 2025 Application

Registration for this IFO cycle is now closed. Please follow the official website for future IFO updates.

Registration Status: Closed

For first-time schools: New school and institution registrations for this IFO cycle are no longer being accepted.

For returning schools: Returning-school and student registration links for this IFO cycle are no longer available.

Students must be enrolled in high school/secondary/pre-collegiate education at the time of competition and must be graduating in the next year or after. Fresh graduates, gap year students or college students are not eligible to participate.

School Registration Closed Student Registration Closed

About IFO

The International Finance Olympiad (IFO) is an emerging student competition in the fields of finance and economics, targeting secondary school students worldwide.

Our mission is to nurture and develop the next generation of financial talent by providing a comprehensive platform that emphasizes:

  • Critical thinking and analytical skills
  • Real-world financial problem-solving
  • International perspective on finance
  • Collaborative learning environment
Competition
Global
Format
Online
Rounds
2

Understanding Finance, Business, and Economics

A reference guide to help you understand the differences between these related fields

Finance vs. Business

Choose FINANCE if you:

  • Love numbers, data, and models
  • Are fascinated by markets and investing
  • Enjoy solving quantitative problems
  • Are detail-oriented and comfortable with volatility/risk
  • Aim for roles like "Analyst" or "Manager" of specific financial functions

Choose BUSINESS (General) if you:

  • Are more interested in the "big picture"
  • Enjoy working with people, strategy, and processes
  • Like varied responsibilities
  • Have strong leadership and communication skills
  • Aim for roles like "Manager," "Director," or "Entrepreneur" overseeing broader operations

In summary: Finance is a specialized, technical field within the broader domain of business. It's deep and vertical. Business Administration is a generalist, integrative field that includes finance as one of its core pillars. It's broad and horizontal.

Finance vs. Economics

You are leaning toward ECONOMICS if:

  • You are fascinated by "why" things happen in society—why are some countries poor? What is the real impact of a tax cut?
  • You enjoy abstract model-building, rigorous statistical analysis, and thinking about policy and large-scale systems

You are leaning toward FINANCE if:

  • You are driven by markets, want to learn how to value a company, manage an investment portfolio, or help a business fund its growth
  • You are more action-oriented, drawn to concrete problems with numerical answers, and motivated by direct applications in the business world

In a nutshell: Economics provides the "why"—the foundational theory and systemic understanding. Finance provides the "how"—the practical tools for decision-making within that system.

IFO 2025 Competition

Comprehensive Objective Test

August 22, 2026 19:00 - 21:30
(designated continental local time)
150 minutes duration
300 questions
Online with remote proctoring

International Final

-

Module 1: Material-Based Objective Test

120 minutes 5 materials, 100 questions: 15 multiple-choice and 5 true/false questions per material 2 points per question, 200 points total

Module 2: Advanced Thinking

180 minutes 1 case material, 5 short-answer questions, 40 points each, 200 points total

Qualifications

Student Status

Currently enrolled in high school or secondary education

Graduation Timeline

Must be graduating next year or after

School Registration

Requires school advisor registration and approval

Application Process

IFO 2025 Application

Registration for this IFO cycle is now closed. Please follow the official website for future IFO updates.

Registration Status: Closed

For first-time schools: New school and institution registrations for this IFO cycle are no longer being accepted.

For returning schools: Returning-school and student registration links for this IFO cycle are no longer available.

Students must be enrolled in high school/secondary/pre-collegiate education at the time of competition and must be graduating in the next year or after. Fresh graduates, gap year students or college students are not eligible to participate.

School Registration Closed Student Registration Closed

Competition Process

Please follow the steps to get your best IFO experience.

Exam Timing & Time Zones

The date and time all refer to the designated local time for each continent.

Mock Test
August 15, 2026 19:00 - August 22, 2026 19:00

Students may use this window to check the remote exam environment before the formal test.

Comprehensive Objective Test
August 22, 2026 19:00 - 21:30

This is the formal online objective test for the Global Grand Test.

Asia & Oceania GMT+8
Europe & Africa GMT+1
North & South America GMT-4

Important: Asia & Oceania: GMT+8, Europe & Africa: GMT+1, North & South America: GMT-4. The continents referenced here refer to where your school is located, not your physical location. For instance, if your school is in the U.S., you'll take the exam according to North American time zones.

How to Check Your Exam Time

Students can view their assigned exam information in the EAE system.

1

Log in to the EAE system.

2

Open My EAE and go to My Activity Programs.

3

Find 2026 International Finance Olympiad, click the Program dropdown, and select View Exams.

EAE My Activity Programs page showing Program dropdown and View Exams option
Aug
Sep
Oct
1
Registration Closed
Registration for IFO 2025 is closed
Registration Closed
2
Check Exam Time
Log in to EAE, open My Activity Programs, and use Program -> View Exams to confirm your assigned exam information.
EAE System
3
Mock Test
Check your exam system access and remote testing environment
August 15, 2026 19:00 - August 22, 2026 19:00 Designated continental local time: Asia & Oceania GMT+8; Europe & Africa GMT+1; North & South America GMT-4
4
Comprehensive Objective Test
Take the formal IFO Global Grand Test independently online with remote proctoring.
August 22, 2026 19:00 - 21:30 Designated continental local time: Asia & Oceania GMT+8; Europe & Africa GMT+1; North & South America GMT-4
150 minutes 300 questions Online with remote proctoring
5
Finalists Announcement
Top performers from the Comprehensive Objective Test will advance to the International Final.
After global test review
6
International Final
Finalists complete two advanced finance modules.
Material-Based Objective Test: 120 minutes, 5 materials, 100 questions, 200 points total Advanced Thinking: 180 minutes, 1 case material, 5 short-answer questions, 200 points total
7
Awards Announcement
IFO award winners will be officially announced after final review.
Final stage

School Team Awards in the Global Grand Test

Starting in 2026, we are introducing a new international recognition system for schools and institutions that organize their students to participate in the Global Grand Test.

Recognition Recipients

This recognition will be given to the school, the advisors, and the top 6 students representing their school.

Eligibility

Schools and institutions with 6 or more students participating in the Global Round are eligible for School Team Awards

Scoring System

Team scores are calculated using the top 6 students' scores from each school

International Rankings

The top 30 schools worldwide will receive internationally ranked awards

Award Tiers

🥇

Golden Schools

Top 10

The highest achievement in school team excellence

🥈

Silver Schools

Top 11-20

Outstanding school team performance

🥉

Bronze Schools

Top 21-30

Excellent school team achievement

News & Updates

Stay informed about the latest IFO 2025 announcements and updates

Past IFOs

Explore summaries and highlights from previous International Finance Olympiad competitions

2025 IFO

Summary and highlights from the 2025 International Finance Olympiad competition.

View Summary

Using Your IFO Experience in College Applications

Learn how to effectively showcase your International Finance Olympiad participation and achievements

Participating in the International Finance Olympiad demonstrates your commitment to academic excellence and your passion for finance and economics. Here's how to effectively highlight this experience in your college applications:

1

List the Experience

Add your IFO participation and achievement under "Awards & Honors" or a dedicated "Competitions" section. Be specific about your level of achievement (e.g., Finalist, Award Winner, Top Performer).

2

Highlight Leadership

Emphasize any initiative, project management, or team role that demonstrates leadership. If you helped organize school participation, mentored other students, or took on responsibilities during the competition, make sure to mention it.

3

Connect to Academia

Explicitly link the knowledge and methods used in the competition to college subjects such as Finance, Economics, Business Administration, Accounting, Financial Analysis, Investment Management, and Quantitative Methods.

4

Elaborate on its Significance

In your essays or descriptions, detail how this experience sparked your intellectual curiosity, shaped your academic interests, and motivated you to pursue further study in finance, economics, or related fields.

5

Showcase Skills

Articulate the transferable skills gained, such as research, data analysis, problem-solving within real-world financial constraints, quantitative reasoning, case analysis, and professional communication.

Pro Tip

When describing your IFO experience, focus on specific examples and outcomes. Instead of just saying "I participated," explain what you learned, how you applied financial concepts, and how the experience influenced your academic and career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Know more about IFO

What is the scope of the Grand Test?

The Grand Test will be primarily based on the IFO Official Syllabus and Guide, which will be made available after the 2025 registration opens.

Is the IFO competition online or offline?

The competition will be held entirely online. The exam will be conducted through a dedicated online examination system, and the presentation will be submitted in the form of a video. All you need is a computer device with access to the internet.

I can't find an advisor / My school is unwilling to organize the registration. Can I register without an advisor?

NO, advisor is required. An advisor doesn't need to be heavily involved in the registration process; they just need to verify your academic level and identity if we contact them. You can reach out to a former teacher or an external mentor who is familiar with your academic background.

I'm currently on a gap year. Am I eligible to participate?

No, only students who are currently enrolled in high school (and have not yet graduated) are eligible to participate.

I'm studying in the U.S., but I'll be in Singapore during the competition. Should I register with the U.S. or Singapore?

The exam time is automatically assigned based on the country/region you select during registration. If you'll be in Singapore during the exam, it's advisable to register with Singapore to avoid taking the exam in the middle of the night. However, advancement is also determined by country/region. If you register as a Singaporean student, you'll be competing with other Singaporean students for advancement opportunities.

Do team members need individual accounts to participate, or are we supposed to use a single shared account for the Final Round?

In the final round, each student must use their own individual account to participate. Team scores are calculated based on the average of all members' results—you cannot use a single shared account for the competition.

I will be traveling during the exam and won't be able to take it. What should I do?

We've accounted for situations like this and offer some flexibility. You can log into the EAE system to request a customized exam time.

The schedule mentions time zones for different continents—does this depend on my physical location when taking the exam, or something else?

The continents referenced here refer to where your school is located, not your physical location. For instance, if your school is in the U.S., you'll take the exam according to North American time zones.

About the Organizer

Information for schools and teachers

1

Extracurricular Activity Excellence International Private Limited is the exclusive organizer and operator of the International Finance Olympiad.

2

EAE International is officially registered in Singapore ACRA as an accreditation service and examination service provider for EDUCATION SERVICES.

3

We ensure that the International Finance Olympiad is a free of charge competition for students. Registration is completely free—there are no charges to participate in the competition.

4

We ensure full transparency and integrity of the program. We hold the mission to stimulate student learning, competitiveness, and growth.

Contact Us

IFO Registration Is Closed

Registration for this IFO cycle is now closed. Please use the contact form only for general inquiries and follow the official website for future IFO updates.

Registration Closed

Email

info@finance-olympiad.com

Website

www.finance-olympiad.com

Business Hours

Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (SGT)