The International Academic Competitions Portfolio

IAC is an organization that oversees a portfolio of academic competitions for students in over 50 countries. Please see below for an overview of our competitions that are offered in the USA on an annual basis. In addition to these events, IAC also administers three biennial World Championship level events: International History Olympiad (next held in July 2025), International Geography Championships (next held in July 2026), and the International Science Championships (debuting in 2026, 2027, or 2028). US students qualify for these through participation in our annual history, geography, and science competitions in the USA.

Annual Competitions for Students in the USA

National History Bee

National History Bee

  • Divisions: Varsity, Junior Varsity, 8th Grade, 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 5th Grade, 4th Grade, 3rd Grade and Younger

  • Competitors: Individual Students

  • Competition Style: Buzzer-based (additional Qualifying Exam stage for Middle & Elementary schoolers)

National Geography Bee

  • Divisions: Varsity, Junior Varsity, 8th Grade, 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 5th Grade, 4th Grade, 3rd Grade and Younger

  • Competitors: Individual Students

  • Competition Style:

    • Varsity/JV – Buzzer-based, with an optional Qualifying Exam
    • Middle/Elementary – Buzzer based (additional Qualifying Exam Stage for Middle & Elementary schoolers)
National Science Bee

National Science Bee

  • Divisions: Varsity, Junior Varsity, 8th Grade, 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 5th Grade, 4th Grade, 3rd Grade and Younger

  • Competitors: Individual Students

  • Competition Style:

    • Varsity/JV – Buzzer-based, with an optional Qualifying Exam
    • Middle/Elementary – Buzzer based (additional Qualifying Exam Stage for Middle & Elementary schoolers)
National History Bowl

National History Bowl

  • Divisions: Varsity, Junior Varsity, Middle School (up to 8th grade), Intermediate (up to 6th grade), Elementary School (up to 4th grade)

  • Competitors: Teams of up to 4 students play at a time (up to 2 substitute players allowed per team at Regionals, unlimited substitute players allowed at Nationals)

  • Competition Style: Buzzer-based

National Geography Bowl

  • Divisions: Varsity, Junior Varsity, Middle School (up to 8th grade), Intermediate (up to 6th grade), Elementary School (up to 4th grade)

  • Competitors: Teams of up to 2 students play at a time (up to 1 substitute player allowed per team)

  • Competition Style: Buzzer-based. Online only.

US History Bee

United States History Bee

  • Divisions: Varsity, Junior Varsity, 8th Grade, 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 5th Grade, 4th Grade, 3rd Grade and Younger

  • Competitors: Individual students

  • Competition Style: Buzzer-based (additional Qualifying Exam stage for Varsity and Junior Varsity Divisions)

United States Geography Bee

  • Divisions: Varsity, Junior Varsity, 8th Grade, 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 5th Grade, 4th Grade, 3rd Grade and Younger.

  • Competitors: Individual students

  • Competition Style: Buzzer-based. Online for Varsity & Junior Varsity. In-Person for Younger Age Divisions.

United States Geography Championships

  • Divisions: Varsity, Junior Varsity, 8th Grade, 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 5th Grade, 4th Grade, 3rd Grade and Younger

  • Competitors: Individual students

  • Competition Style: Exam

National Academic Bowl

  • Divisions: Middle School (up to 8th grade), Intermediate (up to 6th grade), Elementary School (up to 4th grade)

  • Competitors: Teams of up to 4 students play at a time (up to 2 substitute players allowed per team at Regionals, unlimited substitute players allowed at Nationals)

  • Competition Style: Buzzer-based

National Academic Bee

  • Divisions: Varsity, Junior Varsity, 8th Grade, 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 5th Grade, 4th Grade, 3rd Grade and Younger

  • Competitors: Individual students

  • Competition Style: Buzzer-based

National Political Science Bee

  • Divisions: Varsity, Junior Varsity

  • Competitors: Individual students

  • Competition Style: Buzzer-based at Nationals; required National Qualifying Exam done at the Regional level

National Championship Exams

National Championship Exams

  • Divisions: Varsity, Junior Varsity, 8th Grade, 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 5th Grade, 4th Grade, 3rd Grade and Younger

  • Competitors: Individual students

  • Competition Style: Exam

Introduction to Model United Nations

  • Divisions: 8th Grade, 7th Grade, 6th Grade, and 5th grade.

  • Competitors: Individual students or pairs of students (who can be from different schools but must be in the same grade)

  • Competition Style: Simulation of the United Nations; students, known as delegates, represent a country and debate world issues in a committee with other delegates

US Spelling Championships

United States Spelling Championships

  • Divisions: 8th Grade, 7th Grade, 6th Grade, 5th Grade, 4th Grade, 3rd Grade and Younger.

  • Competitors: Individual students

  • Competition Style: Spelling. All students will receive the same words.