Sir Isaac Newton Exam (SIN)
$1,000 Waterloo Science entrance award
A test of high school physics from the University of Waterloo's Department of Physics & Astronomy. Students write it online at school, registered by a teacher.
Mode
Online
Fee
C$4 per student
Participation format
Individual
Duration
A two-hour period on contest day
Time needed
One online contest, written at school in a two-hour period
Eligibility
Written for students in Grade 11 and 12, and open to students in any grade. A teacher at an accredited high school registers the students.
- Grade level
- Grade 11 to 12
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Prizes
Scholarships and awards for top scorers
The top scorers are marked by hand to choose the SIN scholarship winners and high-achiever awards. Written solutions are needed only to be considered for a scholarship.
Certificate
Certificate of participation
Teachers download certificates of participation and rankings from the school's account. Results and certificates are not emailed.
Recognized by
Opens doors to
A student who wrote the contest and enters first year of a full-time Faculty of Science degree at Waterloo can receive one $1,000 Faculty of Science Contest and Camp Award. Aviation, Optometry and Pharmacy are not included. The admissions office sends the details to students offered admission.
Key dates
- Exam
- 29 Apr 2027
Schools register by
A teacher orders and pays for the students online.
Online · SciOn
How to apply
- 1The student asks the physics teacher or guidance counselor
- 2A teacher at an accredited high school registers and pays online for the students
- 3The teacher gets the login on the Monday of contest week, and students write on contest day
Rules and guidelines
- Written at school under supervision; no self-administered tests
- Written in one two-hour period the school picks
- A correct answer earns 4 points, a wrong answer loses 1, a blank earns 0
- A scientific calculator; no other materials or devices
- Written solutions only for students who want to be considered for a scholarship
Technology requirements
- A school computer or the student's own laptop, with internet
- A scientific calculator
Fees and financial support
Fee details
$4 per student. The teacher pays by credit card when registering the students, and there are no refunds. Large international groups can ask for a contest of their own, at an additional fee.
About this opportunity
The Sir Isaac Newton (SIN) Exam is a test of high school physics, offered by the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Waterloo, Canada. Students take part from across Canada, the USA and abroad. In 2024 they included students from India.
It is written for students in Grade 11 and 12, and students in any grade may write it. A teacher at an accredited high school registers the students. A student cannot register alone, and tutoring schools cannot register. A student whose school does not take part can join another local school that allows it.
The cost is $4 per student. The teacher pays by credit card when registering, and there are no refunds.
The contest is written online at school, under supervision, in one two-hour period the school picks on contest day. Students use a school computer or their own laptop, and a scientific calculator. The questions cover basic physics, mainly from the suggested Ontario Secondary School Physics Curriculum, with a stress on classical mechanics. A correct answer earns 4 points, a wrong answer loses 1 point and a blank earns 0.
The teacher downloads certificates of participation and the rankings from the school's account. The top scorers are marked by hand to choose the SIN scholarship winners and high-achiever awards, and written solutions are needed only to be considered for a scholarship. A student who wrote the contest and enters first year of a full-time Faculty of Science degree at Waterloo can receive one $1,000 Faculty of Science Contest and Camp Award (not in Aviation, Optometry or Pharmacy). The results are never seen by admissions staff.
Exam format
- Format
- A correct answer earns 4 points, a wrong answer loses 1 point and a blank earns 0. Written solutions are needed only to be considered for a scholarship.
Selection process
Results are computer-processed. The top scorers are marked by hand to choose the SIN scholarship winners and high-achiever awards.
How to prepare
- Practice problems from past SIN exams on the organizer's site
- A Decade of SIN Plus Sixteen: past exams and solutions from 1969 to 1994, sold by the university
Academic details
What's covered
Basic physics, mainly from the suggested Ontario Secondary School Physics Curriculum, with a stress on classical mechanics. The subject matter is from Ontario's Grade 11 and Grade 12 science curriculum.
Frequently asked questions
Who can write it?
It is written for students in Grade 11 and 12, based on Ontario's Grade 11 and 12 science subject matter. Students in any grade may write it.
Can my child register directly?
No. A teacher at an accredited high school registers the students, and tutoring schools cannot register. If your child's school does not take part, your child can join another local school that allows it.
What does it cost?
$4 per student. The teacher pays by credit card when registering, and there are no refunds.
When is the 2027 contest?
Thursday, April 29, 2027, in a two-hour period the school picks. Schools register by Friday, April 16, 2027.
How is it marked?
A correct answer earns 4 points, a wrong answer loses 1 point and a blank earns 0. The top scorers are marked by hand to choose the SIN scholarship winners.
Does the score affect university admission?
No. The results are never seen by admissions staff and cannot count against a student.
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