Frequently Asked Questions
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General Information
What is IAAC?
Astronomy is an outstanding scientific subject that has inspired us, humans, for thousands of years: By looking into the sky and imagining the earth as a tiny boat in the depths of space, we feel connected and curious about all the planets, stars, and galaxies out there. The International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition takes this fascination-sparking subject and gives students the opportunity to challenge their astronomy and astrophysics knowledge and to learn more about this exciting subject beyond what the typical school curriculum has to offer.
What makes IAAC unique?
Internationality, Digital Accessibility, Real-World Research, Adjusted Difficulty, Online Tools for Teachers, Supportive Alumni Network, and more. All details are available here: About IAAC
I have already participated. Should I participate again?
Yes, of course!
Are teams allowed?
Everyone has to submit their own solution papers in all rounds. However, for the Qualification Round, you are allowed to work on the problems with your friends and classmates together. Working together or receiving help from other people is not permitted in the Pre-Final and Final Round. You can find more about rules and cheating policy here: Cheating Policy
Where do I find the problems of last year's competition?
You can find them here: Training Problems
Will there be verification codes on the certificates?
Yes, all of your IAAC certificates have verification IDs. This enables others to verify the authenticity of the certificates and documents: Verification page
How does IAAC compare to other science competitions? (e.g., IAO, IOAA)
Comparing the International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition to other science competitions can be misleading: IAAC does not intend to be an alternative to established competitions (e.g., IAO or IOAA) or its national variations and actively encourages students to take part in such opportunities.
Instead, IAAC serves as a supplementary program designed to engage a wide range of students, particularly those just beginning to develop an interest in scientific subjects. It focuses on accessibility, making it a platform for students of all skill levels to explore and grow their fascination of science.
Learn more on this page: About IAAC
How is the International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition organized?
The International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition is an independent educational competition. More information about the history, organization, and funding is available here: About IAAC
How is this international competition funded?
Such an international competition has several expenses, including human resources, technical infrastructure, materials, and much more. The costs are covered by sponsors and partners as well as through the participants via the pre-final registration costs: More Information
Where is the competition located? What is the address of IAAC?
The International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition takes place primarily online and is accessible to students around the world; you do not need to travel somewhere to participate. The organizing team is constantly evolving, with most team members and technical infrastructure being located in Germany. There are also many other people around the world, such as the IAAC ambassadors, who do their best to make this competition a valuable experience. More information and contact details are available here: Contact Information
Eligibility
Who can participate?
All current high school and university students are allowed to participate. However, there are different age groups: Age Groups
Are high school students and university students allowed to participate?
Yes.
My age or grade changes after the submission deadline. To which group do I belong?
Your grade/age on the day of the submission deadline of the Qualification Round (i.e., 4 July 2025) determines your age group, and it will not change throughout the competition.
What is the difference between the age categories?
Students from both categories will receive the same problems in all rounds; however, students from higher age groups will have to reach more points: More Information
Do I have to be a student to participate?
Yes, you have to be a student in a high school or a university to participate. If you are currently between high school and university (e.g., gap year) and plan to start university any time soon, you are also eligible to participate.
Prizes and Awards
How much is the total prize?
The prizes and awards worth a total of 1200-1400 USD (including cash prizes and telescopes signed by astronauts and Nobel Prize laureates): All Awards and Prizes
Do all participants receive certificates?
Yes, we will send participation certificates (soft copy) to all participants regardless of the results.
How many prizes and awards are there?
You can find more information about the awards and prizes here: All Awards and Prizes
What is the 'Special Honour for digital Submission'?
All participants who use professional computer programs (e.g., TeX) to write down their solutions receive a special honorary note on their certificates.
What are the national awards?
Since the International Astronomy and Astrophysics Competition is a global competition with participants from various countries, we honour the best students from each participating nation with a special national award certificate
How can I receive my results and certificates?
We will send all results & certificates via email, and they are accessible through your participant account: Login
Do I need to win to receive a certificate?
No, all participants (regardless of the results) receive certificates.
Do I receive a hard copy of my certificate?
We will send hard copies of the certificates to all 1st, 2nd and 3rd Prize winners. All other participants, including the finalists, will receive a soft copy version of the certificates, which also includes a permanent verification-ID (iaac.space/verify).
Are there awards for teachers and schools?
Yes, we understand the crucial role of teachers and schools for education. Because of that, we award three school awards to honour the efforts of the teachers and the school (the awards are not connected to a cash prize): Teacher Information Flyer
How does a school win one of the school awards?
Schools participate automatically if a student registers with the school's name. (Please make sure that all of your students write the school name correctly and in the same format.)
Who receives the gold, silver and bronze honours in the Final Round?
Participants that receive at least 50% of the total points in the Final Round are awarded depending on their relative score: Gold, silver, and bronze honours are awarded in the ratios of 1:2:3. Therefore, around 16% and 34% of the participants receive a gold and silver honour, respectively. All other students (with at least 50% of the total points) receive a bronze honour.
Submission and Qualification Round
What should the submitted file include?
The submission should include the solution to the problems of the Qualification Round 2025. Depending on your age group, you need a certain number of points to qualify for the next round: Age Groups
Do I have to write my answers on the problem sheet?
No. You can (a) write your answers in the blank space below the questions. However, you can also (b) write your solutions on a separate sheet of paper or (c) type your solution on a computer. In cases (b) and (c), you do not need to write down the wording of the problems again.
Do I have to write down the steps or only the final solution?
Please write down your approach and the steps you performed (such as mathematical operations).
Which file formats are allowed?
We accept PDF files and picture files. We do not accept any other formats, including Word and ZIP files.
Do I need to register somewhere before I can submit my solution?
No, you participate in IAAC by submitting your solution.
Do I need to solve all problems of the Qualification Round?
No. You do not need all points to qualify for the next round. The number of points required depends on your age group (Age Groups).
How can I check my submission and results?
Via your participant account: Login
Can I send you my solution via email?
No, we do not accept any submissions or solutions that we receive via email. You have to submit your solution via the official submission form: Submission
Can I edit or change my submission?
Yes, until the submission deadline. Please login as a participant and click on 'Edit Details'.
When is the deadline for the qualification round?
The submission deadline is Friday, 4 July 2025 23:59 UTC+0.
When will the results of the Qualification Round be announced?
The results of the Qualification Round will be announced on Monday, 21 July 2025. You will receive an information email and you can view your results online by this date: Login
What are the time zones of the deadlines?
The time zone is UTC+0 for all deadlines.
I have problems uploading my file. What should I do?
(1) Check whether your submission was already successful on this page: Login. (2) If your submission/e-mail was not found, use a different browser, use a different computer or laptop, or try to compress your file. (3) If nothing works, please get in touch with us.
Do I have to write my answers in English?
Yes, if you need to write sentences, please use only English.
How can I change my name and other personal information?
To change your personal information, please use the login page and click on 'Edit Details'. You can no longer change your details after the Pre-Final Round.
Why was my submission deleted?
Some submissions will be deleted during the evaluation process due to one of the following reasons: (1) It was not possible for us to open your file. In this case, you usually receive an email from us. (2) The file was unrelated to IAAC or did not contain any solutions and was thus regarded as spam. (3) The file barely contains any solutions to the problems and was thus regarded as spam, e.g. files that contain only answers to one problem written in a poorly formatted way are usually deleted.
Pre-Final Round
Do I need to solve all five problems to qualify for the Pre-Final Round?
No. You do not need all points to qualify for the Pre-Final Round. The number of points required depends on your age group (Age Groups).
How does the Pre-Final Round take place?
All participants who are qualified and registered for the Fre-Final Round will receive the problems via email and via the participant account on Thursday, 14 August 2025. From that day on, you have four days until Sunday, 17 August 2025 to solve as many problems as possible!
What are the 'research problems' of the Pre-Final Round?
The research problems require you to read a short scientific paper that will help you to answer the questions. You can find more information here: Information Flyer
How are the problems of the Pre-Final Round structured?
All details are available here: Process & Rounds
When does the Pre-Final Round take place?
All participants who are qualified and registered for the Pre-Final Round will receive the problems via email and their participant account on Thursday, 14 August 2025. From that day on you have until Sunday, 17 August 2025 to solve as many problems as possible!
Final Round
Can my teacher supervise me online (via Zoom, etc.)?
No. A teacher must supervise the exam in person. The teacher is not allowed to supervise you via an online call (for example, Zoom or Skype). If you do not have a teacher available, please use the self-recording option and record your exam.
Can I do the exam on my phone?
Yes, it is allowed to do the exam on your phone.
I have no teacher to supervise the exam. What should I do?
Please use the recording option in this case. To do this, please start the exam during the exam period (see information flyer or email) and select the recording option when the approval screen appears. You then have to specify a person filming the exam (you can also film yourself). You can find more information in the Final Round flyer and in the information video (see the announcement email or your participant account).
Does my family/household member need to register to film the exam?
No, if you choose the recording option, you only need to write down the name of the person. The person filming does not need to register somewhere.
Can I bring a blank paper and a pen during the exam?
Yes, you can bring a blank paper and a pencil for notes during the exam.
Can I skip questions and complete the exam under 20 minutes?
Yes, you can answer/skip a question in under 60 seconds.
Must the video recording have sound?
Yes, the video must include the surrounding sound.
What should the recorded video show?
You can find examples here: Examples ➚.The video has to clearly show (a) yourself in front of the computer/laptop/phone and (b) the exam content on the screen. For example, you can open the exam website on your desk and sit in front of it. Another person films you doing the exam from behind at a distance of 1-2 metres. The video shows you (from behind) doing the exam and the screen with you selecting the answers. Of course, it is also possible to film you from the side or any other angle (as long as you and the content on the screen are visible). Your face can be visible in the video, but this is not a requirement.
Does my teacher need a stamp on the teacher form?
Yes. If your teacher cannot get a stamp on the teacher form, there are multiple possibilities. If they have already supervised exams during past editions of IAAC, your teacher can submit the current form without a stamp and attach a form from previous editions which has a stamp. If not, your teacher can write 'Not Possible Due To ...' in the stamp field (and state the reason). However, we will request the missing stamp later (in case you score very high results or we detect any other suspicious activities).
My camera/phone cannot film for 20 minutes. What should I do?
It is allowed to have short cuts (under 5 seconds) within the video, e.g. to stop and restart the video, so that you have multiple shorter videos. You can cut the videos together into a single long video, OR you can send us a link to a folder with all the videos. Also, you can proceed to the next question even before the 60 seconds are over.
What is the deadline for the video upload?
Please upload the link to the video as soon as you are done with the exam. The last possible day is Thursday, 11 September 2025.
How can I upload the video of my recorded exam?
After you are done with your exam, you will see a window 'Final Exam Video Upload' at the bottom of the participant login page. There, you can upload a link to your video. (You have to upload the video to a cloud or storage site; for example Google Drive, Dropbox, and others).
Can I film the exam myself (without another person)?
Yes, a camera stand or tripod can be used to film the exam. In this case, please enter your name in the 'Full Name' field and 'NA' in the 'Relationship' field during the exam process.
Who can film my exam?
The person filming must not be a participant of IAAC. It should be a family or household member. You can also film the exam yourself without the help of another person.
I want to record my exam. Does a teacher need to register for me?
No. If you choose to record the exam, you do not need a teacher. Thus, no teacher needs to register or add you as a student.
What should the photo show that my teacher has to take?
You can find examples here: Photo Examples ➚. The picture should show the exam conditions/environment. That means the student taking the exam / in front of the device and the device screen.
How to qualify for the Final Round?
Please see 'Pre-Final Round' here: Process & Rounds
I had technical issues. Can I do the exam again or continue later?
No. You have to make sure that there is a steady internet connection during the exam and that your browser is up-to-date. You are responsible for any recording or filming mistakes. It is not possible to pause, continue or re-take the exam once you have started.
When will the final winners be announced?
The results of the Final Round and IAAC 2025 will be announced on Monday, 15 September 2025.
What if two participants have the same number of points in the Final Round?
In this case, the results of the Pre-Final round and of the Qualification Round will be used to determine the final winner based on the total points. If the tie remains, both participants will receive the same award and split the cash prize. However, this has never happened before.
What help/tools are allowed for the Final Round?
You can bring blank paper and a pencil to take notes during the exam. No other tools are allowed. The computer/laptop/phone must only be used to open the final exam website.
My teacher was rejected as a supervisor. What should I do?
Please ask another teacher who can prove to hold the exam as an independent authority. The rejected teacher can also register again with other documents (e.g., in case some information or documents are missing).
There are multiple finalists in my school. Can we have the same teacher?
Absolutely yes. If there are multiple students that participate in the Final Round in your school, it is important that the same teacher takes the final exam for all students at the same time! Please contact your teacher and inform them about the other participants.
Does the teacher have to be a physics/science teacher?
No.
Does the teacher have to be from my school?
No
Can you refer me to some teachers who can supervise my final exam?
Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with teachers who can take your final exam. Please get in touch with the teachers of your school or teachers of other regional schools. Also, you can use the self-recording option in this case and conduct the exam yourself without a teacher.
Who can supervise the final exam?
The person supervising your final exam must be an active teacher (i.e. not retired) at some officially recognized school or university, and the person must be able to prove his employment at a school and his teaching duty.
What kind of questions/topics will be asked in the final exam?
The exam consists of 20 multiple-choice questions. Most of them are knowledge questions that test your general knowledge in astronomy and astrophysics. All standard astronomy topics are included (e.g. history of astronomy, observations in the night sky, constellations, observation techniques, the solar system and the planets, the structure of our sun, properties of stars, physical properties of astronomical objects, galaxies, interstellar physics, and more). Three example questions: 'Who was the first person to observe the moons of Jupiter?', 'Which is the brightest star in the night sky?', 'What spectral type is the star Beteigeuze?'.
How many questions does the Final Round have?
The Final Round consists of a single online exam with 20 multiple-choice questions. Finalists have 60 seconds for each question. There are four possible answers to every question (only one is correct). A correct answer equals one point. The awards and prizes are given to the finalists with the most points in the Final Round.
How does the Final Round take place?
Participants who have solved the Pre-Final Round problems successfully are qualified to participate in the Final Round: a multiple-choice online exam with 20 questions. The exam will take place in the school of each finalist supervised by a teacher. All finalists have to select a teacher who agrees to supervise the final exam. We will send all the required information to the selected teacher. The final exam has to be taken on the Tuesday, 9 September 2025 between 6-7 pm. You can also record the exam (self-recording option). In this case, no teacher is needed.
How to collect my prize or award?
We will use international shipping to deliver all of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes; there is no need to travel somewhere. The national awards and final round honours will be sent digitally as a soft copy.
Registration Costs
Do I need to pay something to partcipate?
The IAAC competition is free to enter for all students from around the world. However, all students who have qualified and want to register for the Pre-Final Round have to cover the registration costs of 11 EUR to make this year's competition possible. You can find further information here: More Information
Why are there the 'Pre-Final Registration Costs'?
This educational opportunity comes with diverse costs, including those for human resources, technical infrastructure, materials and more. While our sponsors cover some of these expenses, we need to ask participants to cover this year's Pre-Final Round registration costs to make IAAC on an international level possible. The registration costs are necessary to provide the resources for the evaluation and, in particular, for the comprehensive Pre-Final Round. There are no other costs involved. You can find detailed information about the registration costs here: More Information
How much are the registration costs?
The pre-final registration costs are 11 EUR: More Information
Are there any other costs or fees in other rounds?
No, the registration costs for the Pre-Final Round are the only costs that have to be covered by participants of this year's competition.
Do I have to pay if I participate in the Qualification Round?
If you are successful in the Qualification Round, you can decide whether you want to register for the Pre-Final Round or not. You will always receive a certificate of your results in the Qualification Round.
Can I only participate in the Qualification Round and not in the Pre-Final Round?
Yes, you can participate in the Qualification Round and receive your participation certificate without registering for the Pre-Final Round.
How to pay the registration costs?
We will inform all successful participants of the Qualification Round about the registration process for the Pre-Final Round. The registration costs have to be covered before the Pre-Final Round starts if you want to participate. The costs can be covered by any common payment method, such as PayPal or credit card.
Can I pay the registration costs in my currency?
Yes, the currency will be converted automatically to EUR during the payment process.
Are there fee waivers, financial aid, or scholarships available?
We are continuously searching for additional partners who will help us to reduce the overall costs further. If you are not able to cover the costs under any circumstances, please get in touch with us. There are some fee waivers, reductions, and regional sponsorships available each year. Pre-Final Round participants will be informed on how to apply for financial aid together with the Qualification Round announcement.
Is it possible to cover the costs for a group/class of students?
Yes, we provide a group payment page for teachers and schools to cover the pre-final registration costs for multiple participants at the same time (as a group).
Teachers and Schools
I am a teacher. Can I use this competition in class?
Yes, teachers and schools are invited to share this opportunity with their students. You can use all problems, posters, and materials. The registration form for teachers is available here: Registration
How can I check the results of my students?
We have implemented an online tool to check the submissions and results of your students: Login
Are there awards for teachers and schools?
Yes, we understand the crucial role of teachers and schools for science education. Because of that, we award three school awards to honour the efforts of the teachers and the school (the awards are not connected to cash prize): Teacher Information Flyer
Will there be certificates for teachers?
All teachers who supervised the Final Round exam with students will receive a verification/certificate about their commitment (which includes the list of supervised participants).
Where can I register as teacher?
The registration page for teachers is available here: Teacher Registration
Can I cover the registration costs for a group of students?
Yes, we provide a group payment page for teachers and schools to cover the pre-final registration costs for multiple participants at the same time (as a group). Group payments can be made here.
How can my teacher add me as a student?
As soon as your teacher is approved, they can log into the teacher account and add you as a student by clicking on the button 'Add Student'. Your teacher has to enter your year of birth and email. Please note that the email must be the exact email with which you are registered for the competition.
Ambassador Program
What are IAAC ambassadors?
Since IAAC is an international competition with participants distributed all around the world, it is crucial to have official IAAC ambassadors in several schools, cities, and countries. IAAC ambassadors are being honoured with an official certificate: You officially represent IAAC, you can coordinate an IAAC student group, promote IAAC in your country, and ensure that your country has vital IAAC activity! Being an IAAC ambassador is not only good for your CV and career experiences, but it gives you the unique opportunity to prove your skills as a coordinator and to encourage students to get engaged with astronomy.
What are the responsibilities, benefits, and activities of ambassadors?
You have a variety of responsibilities such as to encourage students and youths to participate in IAAC and to inform schools, local institutes, etc. about IAAC. You also have the power to operate in the name of IAAC, to establish a strong and vital IAAC group in your region, and to inspire other youths for astronomy and science! All official IAAC ambassadors additionally receive a personal ambassador page to manage their activities. However, the unique opportunities are just a few of many reasons to become official IAAC ambassador: There are more benefits such as high-class career experiences and the official IAAC ambassador certificate. You find a list of possible IAAC ambassador activities here: Ambassador Activity Flyer
What are the requirements to become ambassador?
You have to be at least 14 years old, be interested in science and astronomy, and be willing to spend the time to encourage students to get engaged with astronomy and to participate in IAAC.
How to apply to become Ambassador?
In order to verify your eligibility as official IAAC ambassador, please fill out the ambassador application form: this includes your CV and a short motivation statement that explains your reasons and plans for becoming IAAC ambassador. After you applied, we will review your application and contact you: Ambassador Application Form
Do I need to translate my transcript to English?
No, please submit your original transcript if no English version is available. However, please submit an English transcript if available.
Is there a deadline for the ambassador application?
Yes, we accept applications about two weeks before the deadline of the Qualification Round, i.e. the ambassador application deadline is 30 June 2025.
Are ambassador allowed to participate in the competition?
Yes.
Are there awards for ambassadors?
Special awards are given each year to the most active ambassadors to honour their excellent and responsible performance. This includes awards for encouraging many participants as well as for coordinating many activities. However, your main purpose of becoming an ambassador should always be to inspire youths! You find more information here: Awards and Prizes
Can I create an IAAC social media page?
In general, we do not recommend to create a local IAAC social media page as information published on the official IAAC social media page are relevant to all participants and a separate page might be misleading for some students. However, feel free to create social media groups etc. to encourage and coordinate your local IAAC group (for example, a group for your school, district, city).
Will I stay ambassador forever?
Once you are approved, you are ambassador without the need to apply again in the future. However, the IAAC team removes all inactive ambassadors (no participants or activities) each year. If you have been removed but want to continue as an ambassador, you must apply again.
What is the ambassador score?
The ambassador score is determined by 10×QR + 20×PF + 30×F where QR, PF, F are the total number of participants in the qualification, pre-final, and final round associated with you as an ambassador. Participants from all previous editions are included. Participants can select their ambassador on the submission form.
What are the ambassador levels?
To award active ambassadors with long-time experience, ambassadors can rank up to five levels depending on their engagement and contribution in making publicity, organizing local events, and other activities. The levels certify the ambassador's dedication and commitment to the IAAC community: Newcomer, Experienced, Accomplished, Senior, Honoured.
What is the requirement for receiving an ambassador certificate?
A certificate will be issued to active ambassadors only. You qualify as an "active ambassador" if you have at least one pre-final round participant associated with your ambassador profile. Please inform participants to select your name during the submission process or forward your personal ambassador submission link.
Where/How can I get my ambassador certificate?
You find a link to your ambassador certificate in your ambassador account. Please note that a certificate will be issued to active ambassadors only (i.e., at least one pre-final round participant associated with your ambassador profile) after the pre-final round announcement (25 August 2025).
Astronaut: Frank De Winne
Nobel Prize laureat: François Englert
Nobel Prize laureat: Michel Mayor
