STEAM AHEAD: VANDA International Junior Science Olympiad (VIJSO)
STEAM AHEAD 2025 Info Request Form
(For students residing in Malaysia only)
You may fill up this form and we will send the Invitation + Info Pack to your email.
*Do look out for it under Junk/Spam mail too, just in case.
All students who have won 𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗱/ 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿/ 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘇𝗲/ 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Award in Vanda National Junior Science Olympiad (VNJSO) will be invited to compete in STEAM AHEAD : VANDA International Junior Science Olympiad (VIJSO) – previously VANDA Global Finals. Please join as soon as possible as places are limited.
Grade Level: 3 to 11 (Primary 3 to Secondary 5)
Language(s): English
𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 12-17 December 2025 @ Shenzhen. China
𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆: 24 October 2025!!
𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁:
How to Register
Step 1: Fill in the Info Request Form:
*Note that this is not the Registration Form
.
Step 2: Invitation will be sent to your email when you are eligible to participate.
*Take note that Info Request Form is not “Registration Form” 🙂
<DOWNLOAD STEAM AHEAD INFO BOOKLET HERE>
The Vanda International Junior Science Olympiad (VIJSO) is an annual event held in a SIMCC Partner’s Country. This competition places a strong emphasis on students’ abilities to engage in critical and creative thinking, allowing them to uncover hidden information to assist in problem-solving.
One distinctive feature of VIJSO is its signi cant emphasis on teamwork within the competition. The gold-winning group showcases exceptional levels of collaboration and mutual support. These skills hold high value, as many of our previous winners have successfully gained admission to top schools by sharing the experiences they acquired through their participation in the Vanda International Junior Science Olympiad during admission interviews.
The competition questions are built upon a solid foundation of scienti c knowledge and methodology. They encourage the development of reasoning and analytical skills, decision-making and problem-solving abilities, exibility in responding to diverse contexts, and the cultivation of an open and inquisitive mind. All of these aspects are aligned with the essential 21st-century competencies.
This international competition is open to Grade 3 to Grade 11 (Primary 3 to Secondary 5) Malaysian students who have won Gold/ Silver/ Bronze/ Honorable Mention Award in VANDA National Junior Science Olympiad (VNJSO).
Date
STEAM AHEAD 2025-VIJSO: 12-17 December 2025 @ Shenzhen, China
*Registration Closing: 24 October 2025!!
Format
The contest consists of 2 rounds:
Round 1 Written paper – Individual (90 minutes) – Total points (100 points), the paper starts with 10 points. Section A & Section B are MCQ. Section C is Multiple Correct Answer(MCA)
| Section | Questions | Correct Answers | Wrong Answers | No Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 to 10 | +2 points | -1 point | 0 point |
| B | 11-20 | +4 points | 0 point | 0 point |
| C | 21 to 25 | +6 points | 0 point | 0 point |
Round 2 Team Challenge (2.5 hours)
| Section | Questions | Weightage |
| A | Sketch and Design Rationale | 10% |
| B | Free-response Conceptual Questions | 20% |
| C | Construction, Testing, and Modification | 65% |
| D | Cleanup and Sustainability Practices | 5% |
- Section A – Sketch and Design Rationale
- Tests design thinking, planning, and application of scientific principle
- Section B – Free-response Conceptual Questions
- Assesses theoretical understanding and application of relevant science concepts.
- Section C – Construction, Testing, and Modification
- Evaluates engineering skills, iterative and modification improvement, and data analysis.
- Section D – Cleanup and Sustainability Practices
- Assesses environmental responsibility and discipline.
Students will be separated into teams based on their grade. The team divisions will be as follows:
Refer to the Info Pack here to view more about the format!
Sample Papers
Primary 3 (Grade 3)
Primary 4 (Grade 4)
Primary 5 (Grade 5)
Primary 6 (Grade 6)
Secondary 1 (Grade 7)
Secondary 2 (Grade 8)
Secondary 3 (Grade 9)
Secondary 4-5 (Grade 10/11)
VANDA International Junior Science Olympiad (VIJSO)
The following awards will be given out for the contest:
Individual Awards – Round 1 (Written Paper)
Team Awards – Round 2
| Gold Award | Top 10% |
| Silver Award | Next 15% |
| Bronze Award | Next 25% |
Vanda Global Finals Overall Championship Awards
Vanda Overall Championship awards are given to the top 3 winners per grade level from Grades 3-10/11 based on the VIJSO Individual Score from Round 1 (must be Gold Award) and team score from Round 2. Winners will be announced during the award ceremony.
SIMCC Contest Cash Vouchers will be awarded:
| Overall Champion | SGD250 |
| Overall Runner-up | SGD150 |
| Overall 2nd Runner-up | SGD100 |
In the event of any ties, we will give the winners the same position. For example, if two contestants score 90 points and the third contestant scores 87 points, we will grant 2 overall champions (with the prize voucher split between them, giving each S$200) and an overall 2nd runner-up.
OVERALL CHAMPION AWARDS – PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) – PAExS & PAExS Star Award
The top performing contestants who win all 2 out of 5 Individual Gold Awards in IJMO, VIJSO, IJIO, IJCO and IJAO will be honored with the President’s Award for Excellence in STEAM (PAExS).
For Grades 3 to 11 (1 winner per grade)
- Trophy
- Certificate
- Induction into the International Junior Honor Society (IJHS)
>>> Download the STEAM AHEAD 2025 Info Booklet here <<<
STEAM AHEAD (A COMBINATION OF 5 COMPETITIONS – IJMO, VIJSO, IJIO, IJCO, IJAO)
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. STEAM AHEAD is our initiative to combine our international academic competitions to educate students and bring them international exposure about possible career choices in these fields.
So, STEAM AHEAD is the first to combine 5 international arts and academic competitions in one location and offer multiple opportunities for students to win awards. The following are the awards participants can stand to win:
- IJMO – Math Olympiad Individual Award
- Vanda International Junior Science Olympiad (VIJSO) – previously VANDA Global Finals Individual Award
- Vanda International Junior Science Olympiad (VIJSO) – previously VANDA Global Finals Team Award
- International Junior Informatics Olympiad (IJIO) – previously DrCT Global Finals Individual Award
- International Junior Informatics Olympiad (IJIO) – previously DrCT Global Finals Team Award
- International Junior Cybersecurity Olympiad (IJCO) Individual Award
- International Junior Cybersecurity Olympiad (IJCO) Team Award
- International Junior Arts Olympiad (IJAO) – previously SIAT Global Finals Individual Award
- IJMO Overall Champion, Runner-up, 2nd Runner-Up in each grade level
- VIJSO Overall Champion, Runner-up, 2nd Runner-Up in each grade level
- IJIO Overall Champion, Runner-up, 2nd Runner-Up in each grade level
- IJCO Overall Champion, Runner-up, 2nd Runner-Up in each grade level
- President’s Award for Excellence in STEAM (PAExS) winners in IJMO, VIJSO
Individual & IJIO Individual
PAExS Award
The top performing contestants who win all 2 out of 5 Individual Gold Awards in IJMO, VIJSO, IJIO, IJCO and IJAO will be honored with the President’s Award for Excellence in STEAM (PAExS).
These contestants will be awarded a PAExS Trophy, certificate and International Junior Honor Society (IJHS) Induction.
PAExS Star Award
The top performing contestants who win all 3 out of 5 Individual Gold Awards in IJMO, VIJSO, IJIO, IJCO and IJAO will be honored with the President’s Award for Excellence in STEAM (PAExS).
These contestants will be awarded a PAExS Platinum medal and certificate plus get inducted into the International Junior Honor Society (IJHS) and win a full scholarship to attend the Young Achievers Leadership Academy (YALA).
STEAM AHEAD 2025 is brought to you by SIMCC in collaboration with Scholastic Trust Singapore Limited and our global partners in over 35 countries and territories.
At each STEAM AHEAD event, we will start to promote linkages across the subjects so that it will up-skill students and boast their interest in STEAM.
Our goal is to help our students get into professional paths that are future proof. Our society’s demand for technically driven roles is rising and therefore it is crucial that students are encouraged to get qualifications in Science, Technology, and related fields. By getting qualifications that will allow students to work in innovative fields, they are guaranteed to have fulfilling and well-paid professions.