Damascus, Oct. 25 (SANA) A total of 3,477 students took part in the first round of Syria’s Science Olympiad for the 2026-2027 season on Saturday, competing in six scientific disciplines across 12 governorates, the Distinction and Creativity Agency said.
This year’s competition covers mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, informatics and nuclear science, which has been introduced as a new discipline for the current season.
The 90-minute tests were held simultaneously at university examination centers, with standardized questions assessing core scientific knowledge expected of eighth- and ninth-grade students, as well as selected concepts from the tenth-grade curriculum. Answer sheets will be graded centrally using an automated system.
Eligible participants included students who had completed ninth grade and met the academic requirements, along with young competitors who qualified directly for the first round after winning medals in the final stage of the Junior Science Olympiad.
Participation rises by 26%
Dr. Shadi al-Azmeh, head of the Distinction and Creativity Agency, told SANA that participation in this season’s qualifying rounds had risen by 26% compared with the previous year.
He highlighted a significant increase in participation from eastern Syria, with 160 students from Hasakah and Raqqa taking the tests, compared with just four in the previous season.
More than 700 students sat the examinations in Damascus, which hosted participants from the capital, its surrounding countryside and Quneitra, al-Azmeh said, describing the testing environment as positive.
The introduction of nuclear science is the season’s main new development, he added, reflecting growing interest in the field and its applications, including its potential implications for sustainable development and society.
The first-round tests focus on fundamental scientific concepts, with the aim of identifying students who could go on to represent Syria in international nuclear science Olympiads.
Selection process for national teams
Dania Qabbani, director of the Syrian Science Olympiad at the Agency, said the first-round tests were being conducted simultaneously across the governorates.
Fifty students from each governorate who score above the local average will advance to the second round, a nationwide competition covering all six disciplines.
The next stage will narrow the field to 50 students per discipline for the centralized final qualifying round. Based on those results, 15 students in each subject will be selected for the national teams, alongside students in 11th grade and the final year of secondary school.
Further selection tests are scheduled for March 2027 to determine which students will represent Syria at international Olympiads.
Students set their sights on the finals
Students reported mixed reactions to the difficulty of the questions, with some finding them manageable and others describing them as challenging.
Haya Ali, a chemistry contestant from Damascus, said the questions were relatively easy. She learned about the Olympiad through classmates who encouraged her to participate and said she hoped to reach the finals and earn a place on the national team.
Mohammad Jahjah, a biology contestant from rural Damascus, found the questions somewhat difficult. He said his school had organized training sessions and provided sample questions from previous years to help students prepare. He expressed determination to progress to the advanced rounds.
Bayan Abdulqader al-Saeed, another chemistry contestant from Damascus, said the questions ranged from easy to difficult. She prepared through in-person and online training sessions led by specialized instructors at her school, covering course material and practice questions from previous years. She said she hoped to become a chemist.
Registration for the current season opened after the results of the Basic Education Certificate and Sharia Preparatory Certificate examinations were announced. Students were able to register through the Olympiad’s online platform from Aug. 18 to Oct. 10, 2026.
The Syrian Science Olympiad seeks to identify talented students in scientific fields, strengthen their analytical and problem-solving skills, and prepare top performers for international competitions. The multistage selection process culminates in the formation of national teams representing Syria in different scientific disciplines.
RD.Abd
