International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO)
by International Committee of the International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO)
Gold, silver and bronze medals
International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO) is a competition by International Committee of the International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO) for students in Grade 8 to 12, open to students across India. It is free to take part.
Mode
Hybrid
Eligibility
Grade 8 to 12
Fee
Free
Duration
Four days of international competition, preceded by an online national selection round held between November and January
Format
Individual
Time needed
About two hours for the online national selection test, and a four-hour essay session at the international round
About this opportunity
The International Philosophy Olympiad is an annual essay competition for high school students, held every May in a different host country under the auspices of the International Federation of Philosophical Societies and with the support of UNESCO.
Each country sends at most two students, chosen through its own national round. India has taken part every year since 2008 and has won a medal in almost every edition, most recently a bronze at the 2026 Olympiad in Warsaw. Indian students enter through the national selection round, not by applying to the Olympiad directly.
At the Olympiad itself, students have four hours to write an essay of up to 2,500 words on one of four set topics. The essay must be written in English, German, French or Spanish, and never in an official language of the student's own state. Only paper dictionaries may be used.
Essays are graded anonymously by an international jury of philosophy teachers on relevance to the topic, philosophical understanding, persuasive power of argumentation, coherence and originality. Gold, silver and bronze medals and honourable mentions are awarded, and winning essays are published on the official Olympiad website.
Eligibility
- Grade level
- Grade 8 to 12
- Age range
- 13 to 20 years
- Location
- Nationwide
Academic requirement
Enrolled in a high school recognised by any Indian school board at the time of the national selection round, and not yet moved on from Class 12 to university.
Prerequisites
- Essay writing ability in English
- Ability to write in a second official Olympiad language
- Self-funded travel and visa for the international round
Open to Indian students in Classes 8 to 12 from any school board who are enrolled in school at the time of the national selection round. Participants must be no older than 20 by the end of the year in which the Olympiad is held, and must not have moved on from Class 12 to university. No prior study of philosophy is required. Entry is through the Indian national selection round, since only national delegations may enter the international finals.
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Academic details
Difficulty: Advanced
What's covered
Students work through logic, language and argument analysis in the national stages before writing a timed philosophical essay, first at the national round and then over four hours at the international round.
Rewards and recognition
Prizes
Gold, silver and bronze medals
The Medals Committee awards symbolic gold, silver and bronze medals along with honourable mentions, and may grant more than one medal in each category.
Recognition
Winning essays published internationally
Skills your child builds
Highlights
- Essay written in a language that is not the student's own
- Anonymous grading by an international jury
- Held under the auspices of FISP with UNESCO support
Exam format
- Duration
- 240 minutes
- Format
- Philosophical essay on one of four set topics
- Language
- English, German, French, Spanish
Rounds & format
Entry runs through two rounds. The national selection round for India is an online proctored essay test, and the two highest scorers are named to the Indian delegation. At the international round every delegate writes a four-hour essay on one of four set topics, which is then graded anonymously across three assessment stages by the International Jury before the Medals Committee decides the medals.
How entries are judged
Essays are marked on relevance to the topic, philosophical understanding of the topic, persuasive power of argumentation, coherence and originality. Each assessor scores on a scale of one to ten. Four assessors mark every essay in the first stage and essays averaging at least seven points advance, with the threshold lowered in half-point steps if fewer than thirty percent clear it. Two further assessors mark the surviving essays in the second stage, and the Medals Committee decides the medals in the third stage.
Selection process
Each country may send at most two students, chosen through a national competition. For India the two highest scorers in the national selection round join the delegation. At the international round essays are ranked on the combined assessor averages, and the Medals Committee distributes gold, silver and bronze medals along with honourable mentions, with more than one medal possible in each category.
How to apply
- 1Submit the expression of interest form for the Indian national selection round
- 2Sit the online proctored national essay test
- 3Top two national performers are named to the Indian delegation
- 4Delegation is registered with the host country National Organising Committee
- 5Travel to the host city for the four-day Olympiad
How to prepare
- http://www.philosophy-olympiad.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/IPO_Essay_Guide.pdf
- https://www.philosophy-olympiad.org/?page_id=72
- https://www.philosophy-olympiad.org/?page_id=2
Fees & financial support
Fee details
No entry fee is charged for the Indian national selection round, which is run on a voluntary basis. Students selected for the international round pay their own travel and visa costs, and any stay beyond the official programme days. The host country covers accommodation and meals for two students and one teacher per country during the official programme.
Financial support
No guaranteed scholarship or sponsorship is offered to the Indian delegation. Any funding secured is shared equally between the selected students.
Frequently asked questions
Is International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO) free?
This opportunity is free to participate in.
Who can participate in International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO)?
Students in Grade 8 to 12. Children aged 13 to 20.
What will my child gain from International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO)?
Gold, silver or bronze medal for top essays. Honourable mention for strong essays. Winning essays published on the official Olympiad site. Host country covers stay and meals during the official programme. Four days with delegations from more than fifty countries. Lectures, workshops and cultural visits in the host city.
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