Cambridge Science Competition

Work together. Make discoveries. Solve problems.

The Science Competition is an exciting extra-curricular activity for teams of aspiring
scientists. Teams work together on a scientific investigation into topic of practical
relevance to their school or community and are asked to consider sustainability
throughout – helping students connect science to solving real-world problems.

Participating in the Science Competition helps learners become more engaged with
science through practical work - investigating topics of interest and using the scientific
method. It also supports the development of Cambridge learner attributes and
complements the study of Cambridge science qualifications through the extra practice
and exposure.

Who is it for?
The Science Competition is for teams of three to six students studying Cambridge
IGCSE and Cambridge O Level science.
What do students do?
Teams choose a topic and work on a scientific investigation over 20-25 hours.

To conduct the investigation students will use the scientific method to:

● select a topic and formulate a research problem

● plan and implement practical work
● analyse and interpret results
● evaluate outcomes.

The competition encourages investigations into areas of some practical or community

relevance to the school and the students. Students are asked to consider sustainability
in their planning, either in the focus of their investigation or in their use of resources.
Projects may involve laboratory work or other scientific investigation.

At the end of the project, students will present their findings, giving them the opportunity
to communicate their work to a wider audience. This could be in the form of a science
fair at school, team presentations or posters. Teams will also reflect on the way they
have worked together.

Through their work, learners develop key skills that are widely considered essential for
success in education and employment. These include:

● critical thinking and problem solving

● collaborative working
● innovation and creative thinking
● reflection
● communication.

How is it assessed?
Teachers mark the competition, awarding Gold, Silver, Bronze or Participation to each
team’s project.

Teachers submit any Gold investigations to Cambridge and our expert panel of judges
will consider them for a Best in Country, Best in Region or Sustainability Award. The
winning teams will receive a certificate in recognition of their achievement. Their
projects may also be featured on our website and in promotional materials.
At the end of the year, the winners of the Best in Region awards are put forward to be
judged for the Best in World award. The winning team will receive a certificate, be
interviewed by a member of the Cambridge team and be featured on our website and in
promotional materials. The school will also receive a plaque to display.

Key dates
Each year, there are two entry periods. Schools may enter for whichever entry period
suits them best and schools can enter both, if they wish.

Stage Details Period

Stage 1 Teams carry out investigations July to October

Stage 2 Inventure teachers grade the projects and submit the best 31 October
projects to cambridge

Stage 3 Cambridge announces the projects that are best in country November
and best in region awards

Stage 4 Cambridge announces the best in the world award December

Recognition
The Science Competition is not a qualification but an extra-curricular activity which will
complement a student’s academic studies. Discussions with US and UK universities
have told us that they are keen to see applications that include this type of
extra-curricular activity throughout a student’s academic career because it helps to
demonstrate a passion and commitment to the subject area outside the formal
curriculum.

Science competition winners 2023