Prepare with the right materials
Start from the official documents and past papers, build the fundamentals, and use IEOx to practise the real format online. Here is what to read, and how to use it.
Syllabus, rules & past papers
We’ve distilled the official syllabus, rules and rating system into on-site guides — no hunting across scattered PDFs. Past problems go back to 2018, still the best way to learn the style.
The syllabus, rules and rating are summarised here on this site — the actual past-paper and report files stay as official downloads (ieo-official.org), so you always get the current version.
Two online challenges worth entering
IEOx is the IEO’s free online community. Beyond great practice, these are real competitions you can add to your profile — no national selection required.
WinterChallenge
The “full IEO experience” online — a two-week business-case challenge with alumni support each February, culminating in a team presentation with a peer-grading stage. Open to students under 21.
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EssayChallenge
An international economics essay competition on real global problems — recent themes have included semiconductors, renewable energy, education inequality and the digital divide. You also peer-review other entries; winning essays are published. Open to students under 20.
What to read, by area
Economics
The Economy 2.0: Micro & Macro (CORE Econ, free & open-access online) is the IEO’s main recommended text; Principles of Economics (Mankiw) and any A-level / IB text round it out. The Nobel-laureate list helps connect theory to the ideas behind it.
Financial literacy
CORE’s finance unit (Unit 9), plus free courses from GFLEC, the FDIC’s Money Smart, the PwC financial-literacy curriculum, and Khan Academy’s personal- and core-finance tracks.
Business case
Structure & communication: The Pyramid Principle (Minto), Case in Point (Cosentino), The McKinsey Way (Rasiel) and Crack the Case (Ohrvall) — then practise on past IEO cases.
From fundamentals to finals
Adapt the pace to how long you have before your round — each phase builds on the last.
1 · Fundamentals
Work through CORE’s micro then macro, and the finance topics, using Mankiw to reinforce anything that doesn’t click. Goal: use every concept, not just recognise it.
2 · Master the syllabus
Turn the syllabus into a checklist and rate yourself line by line. Fill the gaps — and don’t over-study topics that aren’t on it.
3 · Past papers, timed
Do several years’ papers — untimed first to learn the style, then under real conditions. Mark open answers against the official grading files.
4 · Business case
Learn a structuring method (Minto’s pyramid), then practise on past case briefs and their evaluation criteria. Rehearse aloud with your team.
5 · Mock rounds
Full mock papers plus a timed team case with a live presentation. Enter OpenTrack or WinterChallenge for real, low-stakes reps against an international field.
Round-by-round tips
MCQ: budget time, bank the sure ones, guess when there’s no penalty. Open: claim → reasoning → model → conclusion, mirroring the rubric. Case: lead with the recommendation, back it with the brief’s own data.