International Finance Olympiad

IFO 2027

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

Register Now Learn More
Qualification Deadline: — complete the official IFO Qualification Bundle on LearningFirst
Module A: Analytical Reasoning — (designated continental local time)

IFO 2027 Registration Now Open

IFO 2027 Application

Schools, institutions, and eligible students interested in participating can now submit their IFO registration.

Registration Deadline: 23:59 (GMT+8)

For first-time schools: After you submit the school registration form, we will manually verify your registration and come back to you within 3-5 business days with dedicated school/advisor accounts and exclusive student registration links for your school to enter students.

For returning schools: We will automatically create the registration for you. Please log into the system and fetch the registration link.

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 Student Registration

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 2027 Competition

Qualification is earned through study on LearningFirst. The competition itself is a single round of two complementary modules.

Qualification: Learn & Qualify on LearningFirst


(qualification deadline)
Complete the official IFO Qualification Bundle on LearningFirst
Earn 470 points or more to qualify
No separate qualification examination — the study itself is the qualification
Self-paced: work through the bundle at any time before the deadline

Qualification replaced the former qualifying test. Students earn their place by completing the official bundle on LearningFirst — structured lessons and practice materials that reach well beyond a syllabus, with assessments that confirm genuine learning.

Access the IFO Qualification Bundle

Why qualification requires study

A place at the competition should mean something. Over the years, we have seen too many students register without genuinely preparing — some never intended to compete at all — and that cost everyone: their own time, and ours.

So beginning in 2027, qualification is no longer a separate examination. It is earned by completing the official IFO Qualification Bundle on LearningFirst — structured lessons and practice materials that reach well beyond a syllabus. A single test measures one moment; completing the full bundle measures genuine engagement with finance.

We believe a competition is only as meaningful as the preparation behind it. When every qualifier has truly prepared, the field is stronger for everyone: serious students compete among peers who share their commitment, and every award stands for real, earned achievement.

The Competition: Two Modules

Module A: Analytical Reasoning


(designated continental local time)
Convergent thinking — working within given material
5 materials, 100 objective questions
120 minutes
200 points (2 points per question)
Who takes it: all qualified students
Advancement: the top 6 students from each country/region become Finalists and take Module B

Module A assesses the ability to work within given material. Candidates engage with a series of finance materials, each accompanied by questions that test their capacity to interpret evidence, evaluate arguments, apply financial frameworks, and reach the conclusions the material supports.

Module B: Advanced Thinking


(designated continental local time)
Generative thinking — working beyond given material
1 case material, 5 written-response questions
180 minutes
200 points (40 points per question)
Who takes it: Finalists — the top 6 students from each country/region in Module A

Module B assesses the ability to work beyond given material. Candidates receive a single case and go further than analysis — diagnosing underlying causes, constructing original financial solutions or recommendations, and defending them through rigorous, evidence-grounded argument.

One Competition, Two Modes of Thinking

  • Analytical Reasoning is convergent — it moves from material to conclusion: candidates identify the best-supported answer.
  • Advanced Thinking is generative — it moves from material to construction: candidates build and defend an original response.

Working within material and working from material are not separate skills but two stages of the same discipline. Analytical Reasoning establishes that a candidate reads evidence rigorously; Advanced Thinking establishes that they think productively with it.

Qualifications

Student Status

Currently enrolled in high school or secondary education

Graduation Timeline

Must be graduating in 2028 or later

School Advisor

Requires school advisor registration and verification

Qualification

Complete the official IFO Qualification Bundle on LearningFirst and earn 470 points or more

Application Process

IFO 2027 Application

Schools, institutions, and eligible students interested in participating can now submit their IFO registration.

Registration Deadline: 23:59 (GMT+8)

For first-time schools: After you submit the school registration form, we will manually verify your registration and come back to you within 3-5 business days with dedicated school/advisor accounts and exclusive student registration links for your school to enter students.

For returning schools: We will automatically create the registration for you. Please log into the system and fetch the registration link.

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 Student Registration

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.

Qualification Deadline

Complete the official IFO Qualification Bundle on LearningFirst and earn 470 points or more to qualify.

Mock Test

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

Module A: Analytical Reasoning

Convergent thinking examination — all qualified students participate.

Module B: Advanced Thinking

Generative thinking written response — Finalists only (top 6 from each country/region in Module A).

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 2027 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
Apply
Submit your application for IFO 2027 before 23:59 (GMT+8)
Registration Open
Register Now
2
Complete Qualification
Work through the official IFO Qualification Bundle on LearningFirst at your own pace and earn 470 points or more before the qualification deadline.
3
Mock Test
Check your exam system access and remote testing environment.
Designated continental local time: Asia & Oceania GMT+8; Europe & Africa GMT+1; North & South America GMT-4
4
Module A: Analytical Reasoning
Take Module A online with remote proctoring — convergent thinking within given material.
Designated continental local time: Asia & Oceania GMT+8; Europe & Africa GMT+1; North & South America GMT-4
120 minutes 5 materials, 100 objective questions 200 points
5
Finalists Announced
The top 6 students from each country/region in Module A are named Finalists and advance to Module B.
6
Module B: Advanced Thinking
Generative thinking beyond given material — build and defend an original response.
Designated continental local time: Asia & Oceania GMT+8; Europe & Africa GMT+1; North & South America GMT-4
180 minutes 1 case material, 5 written-response questions 200 points
7
Awards Announcement
IFO award winners will be officially announced after final review.
Final stage

Important Dates

All dates refer to the designated local time for each continent.

1
Registration Opens
Schools, institutions and eligible students may register. Students can begin the IFO Qualification Bundle on LearningFirst at any time.
2
Qualification Deadline
Complete the official IFO Qualification Bundle on LearningFirst and earn 470 points or more to qualify. Qualification is self-paced — there is no separate qualification examination.
3
Mock Test
Students may use this window to check the remote exam environment before the formal test.
4
Module A: Analytical Reasoning
Convergent thinking — all qualified students participate.
5
Finalists Announced
The top 6 students from each country/region in Module A are named Finalists and advance to Module B.
6
Module B: Advanced Thinking
Generative thinking — 1 case material, 5 written-response questions.
7
Results & Awards Announced
IFO results and award winners are officially announced after final review.
Final stage

News & Updates

Stay informed about the latest IFO 2027 announcements and updates

Past IFOs

Explore summaries and highlights from previous International Finance Olympiad competitions

2026 IFO

Summary and highlights from the 2026 International Finance Olympiad competition.

View Summary

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., 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

How do I qualify for IFO 2027?

Qualification is earned entirely through the LearningFirst platform. Complete the official IFO Qualification Bundle and earn 470 points or more. There is no separate qualification examination, and you study at your own pace — just make sure you qualify before the deadline.

What is the scope of the IFO competition?

The competition is built on the official IFO Qualification Bundle and the IFO Syllabus. Qualification is earned by completing the bundle on LearningFirst and reaching 470 points or more. The competition itself consists of Module A (Analytical Reasoning) and Module B (Advanced Thinking).

Is the IFO competition online or offline?

The competition is held entirely online. Both modules are conducted through a dedicated online examination system with remote proctoring. All you need is a computer 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 I need my own account to participate?

Yes. IFO is an individual competition: every student registers, qualifies and competes with their own individual account. Shared or proxy accounts are not permitted.

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

Want to Register for IFO?

If you want to register for the International Finance Olympiad, please go to the Registration section above and click the registration button to use the official registration form directly. Do not use the contact form below for registration purposes.

Go to Registration Section School Registration Student Registration

Email

info@finance-olympiad.com

Website

www.finance-olympiad.com

Business Hours

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