The fair is judged on the project. So we start with the project.
ISEF qualification starts at a regional fair with a project that was designed to compete. Fellows work with a PhD mentor to pick a question judges care about, run it properly, and rehearse the defense before they walk into the room. Fellows have qualified for Regeneron ISEF and taken 1st place at regional fairs.
Ten weeks of research, then two weeks of competition coaching, timed backwards from your fair date.
Judges reward preparation, not luck
W1–2
Topic selection and research design
Your PhD mentor helps identify a competition-worthy question with real-world impact. We look at what has placed before and design the methodology backwards from the judging criteria.
W3–5
Literature review and methodology
Read the existing work, sharpen the hypothesis, and establish experimental protocols that meet ISEF standards for rigour and documentation.
W6–8
Execution and data collection
Run the experiments with weekly mentor guidance, then analyse the results using statistics a judge will accept.
W9–10
Paper and poster
Draft the research paper and build the board. The poster is designed to be read in ninety seconds, because that is roughly what a judge gives it.
W11–12
Competition coaching
Mock judging, presentation practice, and Q&A drills, so the first time your child defends the work is not in front of a real judge.
[02]
ONE COMPETITOR
A 9th grader with no research experience, eleven weeks before his regional fair.
From zero experience to 1st place
Avyay G.
1ST PLACE · STATE QUALIFIER
“My research won 1st place at my science fair and I qualified for state. I never imagined achieving that in 9th grade.”
The International Science and Engineering Fair is the world's largest pre-college science competition. Over 1,800 students from more than 80 countries compete for millions in awards and scholarships. Placing at ISEF is one of the most prestigious things a high school student can put on an application, particularly for top STEM programs.
FAIR SEASON
Regional fairs are decided months before May.
The projects that place were designed to place. Apply now and we will plan the timeline backwards from your fair date.
ROLLING ADMISSIONS · SEATS LIMITED · NOW REVIEWING
