I’d like to share with you a post about one of the most powerful STEM ECs for gaining admission into top U.S. colleges.

Today’s topic is about a Physics-related activity that many students either don’t attempt because they don’t know about it—or because it seems too difficult.

IYPT – The International Young Physicists’ Tournament

This is an activity that, if executed well, can produce tremendously strong results: the IYPT, or International Young Physicists’ Tournament.

IYPT is a Physics debate tournament held in the style of a "Physics Fight."

It is a competition that combines research and debate.

Each year, IYPT releases 17 different physics problems. Participants choose one topic and approach it through scientific research.

On the surface, the titles of these problems may sound fun or quirky, but digging into them reveals their complexity.

Still, for students who are passionate about STEM—particularly those considering Mechanical Engineering or Physics majors—these problems can be genuinely engaging and exciting.

Participants choose one of the 17 topics, conduct research, and prepare a slide deck summarizing their findings.

They must submit their presentation as a PDF and also record a video explaining the material in 12 minutes or less.

Submission Requirements and Format
Participants must submit:
• A presentation slide deck (static format, PDF file)
• A recorded video of the student presenting the slides
• A completed participant contact form

Competition Rounds:
• Round 1 – Submission of materials and documents
• Round 2 – A 15–20 minute meeting with an IYPT official, where the student is asked in-depth questions

If the student is well-prepared, they should be able to defend their research and pass this round.

Very few students are eliminated in Round 2—only about 2 to 3 at most.

Round 3 – The Final U.S. Selection
Five finalists are chosen, and Round 3 marks the transition to the international competition.

Once students pass Rounds 1 and 2, they officially become representatives of the United States.

IYPT Round 3 – International Competition

Students who make it to Round 3 as U.S. representatives travel to the host country for the international competition.

In this round, teams from three different countries compete in a league-style format.

Each national team consists of five students.

The format rotates among three roles:
• Reporter – presents the findings
• Opponent – critiques and identifies weaknesses
• Reviewer – evaluates both the reporter and the opponent objectively

These roles rotate through several rounds, and the rankings and awards are determined accordingly.

 

Chances of Being Selected as a U.S. Representative

Because the content is challenging, all students participating in IYPT receive 100% guidance from mentors.

People often assume that only 7–8 students are selected in Round 1 because the competition is extremely difficult—but here’s a surprising fact:

In 2025, only 6 institutions participated in the IYPT, with a total of just 15 applicants.

That means 7–8 were selected from 15—giving applicants about a 50% chance of advancing.

Since 5 students are ultimately chosen as U.S. representatives, that’s a 33% chance of making Team USA.

This low participation rate isn’t just because the competition is difficult—but also because many people simply don’t know about it.

In the 2025 IYPT competition, Singapore placed 1st, South Korea placed 11th, and Brazil placed 14th—while the United States came in at 23rd.

If you're in a country like Singapore or Korea, becoming a national representative may be more competitive.

But in the U.S., the odds are better.

So for students interested in Physics, this is a fantastic opportunity.

 

Why IYPT Matters for College Admissions

As I’ve mentioned before, colleges categorize and rate students’ extracurriculars by tiers.

Physics-related activities fall under the Academic category.

If it’s a national-level accomplishment, it’s classified as Tier 1.

This includes things like the USAMO or being part of an Olympiad National Team.

Being selected as a U.S. representative for IYPT also earns you a Tier 1 Academic rating.

Compared to other Olympiads, the competition rate is lower—so from a student’s perspective, the IYPT offers tremendous strategic value.

Currently, only 6 institutions, including our A-One Institute, are participating in this competition.

If you take part and perform well, this can be a major advantage for your college applications.

Today we shared information on IYPT—an incredibly strong STEM EC.

If you have further questions, please feel free to contact us at A-One Institute.

Thank you!