What is SPSO?
SPSO stands for Singapore Primary Science Olympiad (SPSO). It is an annual national competition which has been organised by the NUS High School of Mathematics and Science since 2009 with the aims to generate greater interest in Biology, Chemistry and Physics among Primary school pupils.
Eligibility for SPSO
SPSO is only for Primary 5 pupils in all primary schools in Singapore
Round 1
| Format | Online and held in Primary Schools |
| Type | 40 MCQ questions – 50 marks (total marks) |
| Duration | 75 minutes |
Round 2
To qualify for Round 2,
- Top 1.5% participants or the top 50 participants whichever is lower
| Format | Written Practical Round and held in NUS High School of Mathematics and Science (NUS High School) |
| Type | Hands-On Practical Paper with an integration of Biology, Chemistry and Physics – 50 marks (total marks) |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
Awards
There are two categories of awards: individual and school awards.
a) Individual Awards:
Medals will be awarded to the participants of the competition based on their scores in both the theory and practical rounds.
b) School Awards
Trophies will be awarded to the top 20 schools based on the cumulative scores of their top 5 students from the Theory Round.
In preparation for the International Mathematics & Science Olympiad (IMSO), the top twenty students from the SPSO will be shortlisted for a training programme conducted by NUS High School of Mathematics and Science. Within the training squad, twelve pupils will eventually be selected to form the Science team to represent Singapore in IMSO.
Our Detailed Analysis for SPSO:
- SPSO questions are classified into 4 main modules – Earth Science, Life Science, Physical Science and Data Analysis. As SPSO questions are more challenging, students will need to be familiar with lower secondary science topics.
- Mastering the 4 main modules (Earth Science, Life Science, Physical Science and Data Analysis) is essential for students to advance to Practical Round due to the highly competitive nature of SPSO.