Schedule of Events

The first draft schedule of 2025 International History Olympiad is available here.

Please read the following FAQs related specifically to the schedule:

1. Why does it look like there no time for meals available?
Most of the events listed on the schedule will finish before the end times that are in fact listed here. For example, on Tuesday, it is very likely that most Hextathlon teams will finish around 11:30 rather than 11:50, but those extra 20 minutes are important to add a buffer for contingencies. Thus even if students are competing in the French Military History Bee or the Junior Varsity Great Trading Game, they would still have 30 minutes to eat a packed lunch (which we highly recommend bringing if you have a tight schedule, though there are numerous fast food options within a 10 minute walk of the school).
Note also that we strongly recommend that students pace themselves throughout the week and do not attempt to fit in every last competition or field trip that would be theoretically possible. Thus if students aren’t in fact competing in back-to-back-to-back events, they will often have plenty of time for a leisurely meal, if that’s what they prefer.

2. How do you recommend we go about selecting our events?
Other than taking part in the relatively small number of mandatory events, how you structure your week is up to you. This “choose your own adventure” aspect is a defining feature of the Olympiad, and only you can determine the right balance of competitions, field trips, down time, social time, family time, and (yes) sleep. Particularly if you are not an elite level buzzer quiz player, we recommend that you focus your preparations on one or two (or zero) buzzer quiz events; especially those in aspects of history you are keenly interested in. We also recommend that if you have your heart set on winning a medal that you aim to focus on some of the less commonly-known aspects of history (e.g. the Australian & Oceanian Exam, the South American History Exam, the Film History Bee, the Classical Music History Bee, one of the Other Language History Bees, etc.). Often the competition is a bit less stiff in these. The 2025 International History Olympiad has (by far) more medal events than any other world championship competition that International Academic Competitions has ever run, and that’s not even including the Historical Games.

3. How and when will Field Trips be scheduled?
Please see a detailed answer to this question here.

4. Will this schedule considerably change in the months leading up to the Olympiad?
Only through the addition of field trips and additional Historical Games. Other changes are likely to be minor. If you see that two events conflict, you should start deliberating which of the two (if any) you wish to compete in, since you would not be able then to compete in both.

5. When do we actually sign up for these events?
No earlier than March, and more likely in April. The exact way that event selection will work is still to be determined, and in particular, we need to hear back from most museums and sites to see what group visit times are available before it makes sense to do so.

6. When will additional Historical Games be added?
On an ongoing basis, but in particular in March and April once we have solicited sufficient interest from competing students and have had a chance to discuss among our staff which games are viable for competitions at the Olympiad.

7. What on earth is Table Combined and when will it be taking place?
Table combined is a competition that was created for the first International History Olympiad in 2015, and was contested in 2016 and 2018. It will return following a seven-year hiatus in Paris in 2025 as one of our Historical Games. It is a combination history bee / table tennis competition (the table refers to the table tennis table on which the buzzer is placed at the start of the game). Ten buzzer questions are played, with each being worth one point. After these ten questions have been played, ten table tennis points are played (at least one of which will be necessary to play). Then five more buzzer questions are played (if necessary). Then the game is played to completion in table tennis (if necessary). Matches are played to 11 points, you must win by 2. Matches will be scheduled throughout the week when players are not otherwise signed up for other competitions or field trips. The draw will be posted by the beginning of check in; matches will be played on arrival day as well if possible. The tournament is single elimination, except there will be a bronze medal match for the losers of the semifinals.

8. What if we have further questions?
Please email info@historyolympiad.com as usual.