Entering the IEO
There are two ways to take part — the main competition through your regional round, or OpenTrack online, which anyone can enter directly. Here is exactly how each works, who is eligible, the China pathway, and the key 2026 dates.
We’re an independent guide — and our team helps you enter. The IEO itself and its official registration are run by the organisers: your national or regional organiser for the main track, and the official OpenTrack page online. We’re not that official body — what we do is take you through the whole process: registration, team formation, full-competition guidance and training. Add us on WeChat and we’ll help you choose a route and get in.
Choose your route
Represent your region
Qualify through your country’s or region’s national selection. The top performers form the team that represents that region at the international finals. Entry is through your national organiser — for Chinese Mainland students, the official China programme (see below) — not through the international office directly. This is the path to medals and team trophies.
Best for: students aiming for the full IEO experience and the finals.
Enter online, directly
A parallel category with no selection — register yourself online. People of all ages and backgrounds can join. It uses the same three tests as the main competition but is scored and normalised separately, and it’s free. A great low-stakes way to try the real format.
Best for: younger students, first-timers, or anyone who wants a genuine run at the papers.
Who is eligible for the IEO?
To enter the main competition you must be a high-school student under 20 on 30 June of the competition year, in a national team of up to five. These rules are from the official international regulations; OpenTrack is open to all ages and relaxes them.
- AgeUnder 20 on 30 June of the competition year — for 2026, born after 30 June 2006.
- LevelWorking toward a high-school (secondary) diploma as of 1 December of the year before.
- TeamUp to 5 contestants, with 1–2 team leaders (adults responsible for the team).
- RepresentThe country/region you’re a citizen or resident of; international students on a study permit may compete for their host country.
- LanguageEnglish throughout — tasks are not translated.
- One teamOne team per country; the host country may field additional teams.
The China route, step by step
For Chinese Mainland students, the main-track route runs through the official China programme. These are the currently published figures for the 2026 season — always reconfirm on the official channel before acting.
1 · Register
Team registration for the China Station closes 14 Jan 2026 (early-bird 4 Jan). Teams are typically 4–5 members.
2 · Preliminary
An online round in December 2025 — a simultaneous multiple-choice assessment.
3 · China Station
The national round, held offline in Huzhou, Zhejiang, 5–8 March 2026.
4 · Advance
As host nation, China fields three national teams — two to the global finals, one to the Asia Regional Final (Sydney, July 2026).
The China programme groups entrants by level (only the top division advances internationally; beginner divisions are for experience). Official registration, fees, the practice bank and mock rounds run through the official China organiser; our team helps you handle registration, form a team and prepare. Division names and dates are set each season, so confirm the current details on the official China channel.
What is OpenTrack?
OpenTrack is individual, fully online and free. You sit the same three rounds — a 40-question Economics & Finance MCQ, five open questions (best four graded), and a Business Case recorded in English for peer-grading and an alumni jury. Scoring and normalisation are independent from the main track. Register on the official OpenTrack page; questions go to OpenTrack@ieo-official.org.
- CostFree
- Competition13–19 Jul 2026
- Registration closes9 Jul 2026
- WhereOnline
Mark your calendar
- China Station registration closes14 Jan 2026
- China preliminary round (online)Dec 2025
- China Station · Huzhou, Zhejiang5–8 Mar 2026
- OpenTrack registration closes9 Jul 2026
- OpenTrack (online)13–19 Jul 2026
- International finals · Shenzhen12–20 Jul 2026
Dates follow the official 2026 regulations and the China programme’s published schedule, and may change. Regional-round dates for Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese Taipei are set separately each season — contact us for the current window. Note: the international official site lists the 2026 finals in Shenzhen; the China programme site has listed Suzhou — we follow the international official venue and recommend confirming both close to the event. Always verify at ieo-official.org and with your regional round.