2025 Exam Information
The International Neuroscience Olympiad (INO) is a research-based competition that challenges participants to apply and expand their understanding of neuroscience.
The "Opens" round is a thorough evaluation that covers a wide range of tasks including analyzing research papers, interpreting scientific data, and formulating questions. This stage is designed to assess participants’ analytical and critical thinking abilities. The open round primarily consists of multiple-choice questions.
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Starting October 19th, registered students will receive their login credentials to access the INO Open Examination. The open examination will be conducted in two sessions: one at 6 PM EST on October 26th and another at 8 AM PST on October 27th to accommodate participants from different time zones. The open exam round will take place virtually through a portal on our website, allowing students worldwide to take part. We also anticipate in-person testing centers in select locations in China.
ROUND 2: SEMI-FINALS
Date: November 9th & 10th | Duration: 120 Minutes
Location: Virtual & In-Person | Format: 20 Questions (10 MCQ & 10 Short Answers)
Participants who meet a predetermined cutoff score, based on overall performance in the Open examinations, will advance to the semifinals. In this stage, the challenge intensifies with free-response questions evaluated by qualified researchers, delving deeper into the participants' ability to articulate and apply their understanding of scientific concepts.
ROUND 3: FINALS
Date: November 23rd | Duration: Varies
Location: Virtual | Format: Research Proposal Case Study
The top 20 participants will formulate a research proposal in a case study format. Finalists will be provided with a rubric for their live submissions, which will be graded by esteemed faculty in the field. The 1st place winner will receive a specialized research opportunity with faculty from a Top 20 university worldwide, while the top 3 places will be awarded additional sponsor prizes, opportunities for media exposure, research opportunities, and recognition.
ROUND 1: OPENS
Date: October 26th & 27th | Duration: 60 Minutes
Location: Virtual & In-Person | Format: 40 Questions (35 MCQ & 5 Short Answers)