Senior / High School Students
Selection Round
Close date of registering Selection Round: 16 April 2025
Date and time: 3rd May 2025, 19:00-20:30 (in NZ time)
Format: Individual, 5 multiple choice question + 2 Short Answer (in 90 mins)
Location: Online at home
Content: Microeconomics，Macroeconomics，International Economics
Entry Fees: $68.00
Please note that there will be no study materials for Selection Round.
Global Final in Greece
Close date of registering Global Final: TBC
Date and time: in August or September 2025
Format: Individual and team challenges, including an economic quiz, oral presentations, and the World Bank Model simulation.
Location: Physically travel to Ancient Olympia, Greece
Content: TBC
Entry Fees: TBC
Please note that there will be no study materials for Global Round.
Further details about the IEO Global Final are expected to be released in late June
What is IEO
Register for Preliminary Round!
(Registration for Preliminary Round is closed)
The International Economics Olympiad (IEO), founded in 2016 by the Institute of Economic Education, has quickly become one of the Czech Republic’s top school competitions.
Now involving around 97,000 students globally, the IEO welcomes middle and high school students from all types of secondary education.
Supported by national and international bodies, including ministries of education and central banks, the competition has grown impressively from 4,000 participants in 2017 to nearly 100,000 in 2024.
Middle School / Junior division (NZ Year 8-10):
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Preliminary Round (December or March), online at home.
High School / Senior division (NZ Year 11-13):
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Preliminary Round (December or March), online at home;
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Selection Round (in April), online at home;
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Final Round (in August), offline travel to Greece.
(Must participate in Selection Round to be eligible for the Final Round)
The International Economics Olympiad (IEO) is your gateway to global recognition, prestigious awards, and an unparalleled opportunity to compete with students from around the world.
If you are passionate about economics and eager to showcase your skills, this competition is the perfect platform.
Format and Structure
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Middle School Division (NZ Year 8-10, lower levels welcomed)
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Perfect for students who are interested in economics, regardless of whether they have formal training.
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Topics: Methodology of economics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Economic History, Contemporary Economic Issues.
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Format: Preliminary remote online test (25 multiple-choice questions).
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High School Division (NZ Year 11-13)
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Suitable for students with or without formal economics courses.
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Topics: Methodology, International Economics, Financial Literacy, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics.
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Format: Preliminary remote online test (50 multiple-choice questions).
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Why Should New Zealand Students Join the IEO?
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Direct Access to the Global Round: New Zealand participants do not need to compete in the national round. The top 5 students will directly be qualified for the Global Round in Ancient Olympia, Greece.
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Global Recognition: Compete against 97,000+ students from 28+ countries and regions worldwide.
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Olympic Prestige: The Global Round will be held in Ancient Olympia, the revered birthplace of the Olympic Games.
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Authoritative Certification: Receive certificates from the International Olympic Academy and the Institute of Economic Education.
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High-Quality Resources: Prepare using academic materials based on Mankiw's Principles of Economics, tailored to the IB, AP, and A-Level syllabus.
Free Study Materials for Preliminary Round!
Rounds and Key Dates
• Preliminary Round:
(Middle School / Junior division,
High School / Senior division)
Date：
12th December, 2024 (Thursday)
Time:
NZ: 19:00-20:20
Sydney (NZ-2): 17:00-18:20
Perth/ Singapore/ China (NZ-5): 14:00-15:20
Format: Individual multiple-choice test to evaluate fundamental knowledge in economics.
Location: Participate online at home.
Entry Fees: $120.00 with Study Materials
Deadline to register: 29th Nov 2024
• Preliminary Round:
(only High School / Senior division)
Date：
27th March, 2025 (Thursday)
Time:
NZ: 19:00-20:20
Sydney (NZ-2): 17:00-18:20
Perth/ Singapore/ China (NZ-5): 14:00-15:20
Format: Individual multiple-choice test to evaluate fundamental knowledge in economics.
Location: Participate online at home.
Entry Fees: $120.00 with study materials
(Dec round and Mar round shares the same study materials)
Deadline to register: 6th March, 2025
For Middle School / Junior students: You can only participate in the Preliminary Round in December.
For High School / Senior students:
You only need to participate one Preliminary Round (either in December or in March), to be qualify for Selection Round.
Junior / Middle School Students
Preliminary Round
online at home
(in December)
Senior / High School Students
Preliminary Round
online at home
(Either in December or in March)
Outstanding Award (top 45%)
and above senior students
👉
Selection Round
online at home
(in May 2025)
5 top students
👉
Global Final
Ancient Olympia, Greece
(in Aug or Sep 2025)
• Selection Round:
NZ Date and time: 3rd May 2025, 19:00-20:30
Format: Individual, 5 multiple choice question + 2 Short Answer (in 90 mins)
Location: Online at home
Content: Microeconomics，Macroeconomics，International Economics
Deadline to register: 16 April 2025
High School / Senior students only (Year 11-13)
Entry Fees: $68.00
You must participate in the Selection Round to be eligible for the Global Round in Greece.
• Global Round:
Date：August or September 2025, invitation from Selection Round only.
More information of Global Round will be available in late June.
Format: Individual and team challenges, including an economic quiz, oral presentations, and the World Bank Model simulation.
Location: Physically travel to Ancient Olympia, Greece
High School / Senior students only (Year 11-13)
Note: Only five New Zealand Senior students will be invited to the Global Round,
based on their performance in the Selection Round.
Therefore, a student (senior student) must participate Selection Round
to be invited to the Global Round.
Fees for the IEO Preliminary Round (December or March) is $120.00 per student.
Please note: If you registered after the deadline, the fees will be doubled.
BANK: ANZ
Name of Account: Pinnacle Education Group
Account: 06-0241-0684634-00
Please make payment with the students 'full name + IEO ' as reference.
⚠️ Please note that any fees and payments made are non-refundable.
⚠️ Before you make any payment, make sure you read through the refund policy on our website to avoid misunderstandings.
(Terms and conditions apply).
PGA reserves the right to interpret all competition and course arrangements.
Fees for the IEO Selection Round (in May) is $68.00 per student.
Syllabus
The IEO syllabus is designed to align closely with international standards, such as the IB, AP, and A-Level Economics syllabus.
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need to study for each division.
Middle School Division
If you're just starting with economics, the Middle School Division introduces core concepts and frameworks that are essential for economic thinking.
Topics Covered:
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Methodology of Economics
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Introduction to the scientific approach in economics
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Basic definitions and key economic principles
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Economic History
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Historical developments in economics
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Major economic theories and contributors
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Microeconomics
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Demand, supply, and market equilibrium
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Consumer behavior and production decisions
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Market structures (perfect competition, monopoly, etc.)
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Macroeconomics
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National income and GDP
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Unemployment and inflation
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Fiscal and monetary policies
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Contemporary Economic Issues
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Current global economic challenges
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Economic inequality, trade policies, environmental economics
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High School Division
The High School Division covers more advanced topics, making it ideal for students with or without formal coursework in economics.
Topics Covered:
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Methodology of Economics
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Economics as a way of thinking and decision-making
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The scientific method applied to economics
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Economic History
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Key events and theories in economic history
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The development of major economic schools of thought
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Microeconomics
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Theory of the firm: costs, revenue, and profit maximization
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Market structures (monopoly, oligopoly, etc.)
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Market failures and government intervention
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Macroeconomics
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Aggregate demand and aggregate supply
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Economic growth, inflation, and unemployment
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Monetary and fiscal policies, central banks
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International Economics
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Trade theories and policies
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Exchange rates and balance of payments
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The role of international organizations (WTO, IMF)
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Financial Literacy
o Understanding personal finance (saving, investing, loans)
o Economic reasoning in financial decision-making
o Financial markets and their functioning
7. Contemporary Economic Issues
o Global economic challenges such as poverty and climate change
o The role of technology and innovation in modern economics
Awards & Recognition
Preliminary Round – Awards & Recognition
Participants in the Preliminary Round will be eligible for the following awards based on their performance:
National Honor Award:
Awarded to the top 10% of participants at the national level (New Zealand).
High Distinction Award:
Awarded to the top 20% of participants at the national level.
Distinction Award:
Awarded to the top 30% of participants at the national level.
Outstanding Award:
Awarded to the top 45% of participants at the national level.
Credit Award:
Awarded to the top 20% of regional participants, excluding those who receive national awards.
Top performers in the Preliminary Round will not only receive these awards but also have the chance to compete for one of the five spots to represent New Zealand in the Global Round in Greece.
Global Round – Awards & Recognition
At the Global Round, students will experience the grandeur of the Olympics at the heart of economic competition.
They will face advanced challenges designed to test their knowledge and application of economics in real-world scenarios.
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Individual Economic Challenge: Written test and essay covering economics knowledge and analytical skills.
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Oral Presentation: Present an economic topic in front of judges, followed by Q&A.
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Economic Quiz Bowl: Teams race against the clock to answer multiple-choice and short-answer questions using buzzers.
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Model World Bank Simulation: Each team represents a country, debating, negotiating, and solving global economic problems.
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Individual Awards:
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Gold: National Top 15%
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Silver: National Top 30%
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Bronze: National Top 45%
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Spotlight Award: Top 30% in Economic Challenge & Oral Exam
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Young Economist Award: Top 30% in Economic Challenge
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Critical Communication Award: Top 30% in Oral Exam
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Team Awards:
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Best Delegate Team: Top 20% in Model World Bank
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Intelligence Excellence Award: Top 20% in Economic Quiz Bowl
Special Recognition: Top individual and team performances are highlighted throughout the competition.
How to prepare
What you'll gain from participating IEO:
• In-Depth Knowledge: Expand your understanding of economics with a syllabus 90% similar to IB, AP, and A-Level Economics courses.
• Real-World Skills: Learn to apply economic theory to practical situations, improve your decision-making and critical thinking, and deepen your financial literacy.
• International Networking: Connect with other bright young minds from around the world, as well as professionals and academics from the field of economics.