Students take part in the Olympiad by first writing the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) High School Prize Exam.
The CAP exam is prepared in cooperation with the Canadian Physics Olympiad program and is the principal method by which students are screened for invitation to the National Physics Olympiad Finals. All high schools and CÉGEPs in Canada are notified of this examination by the CAP in the spring of each year. It is a fully bilingual examination which usually takes place around mid-April. (Click here to find the date of the next Examination.)
In addition to the above examination, students in Western Canada and in Ontario may be invited to a Regional Olympiad training session based on their results in the following training programs:
- A physics circle program for Metro Vancouver students (British Columbia)is run by the University of British Columbia
- A program for Ontario students is run by the University of Toronto physics department
In these programs, additional laboratory exercises and examinations are used to evaluate students as candidates for the National Olympiad Finals.
National Olympiad Finals:
The 15 top students are then invited to the National Olympiad Finals held each year in May. During this week, competitors sit through lectures, examinations, and laboratories.
At the Finals, the Canadian teams are selected to compete in the International Physics Olympiad, where the best students from some 80 nations compete for gold, silver and bronze medals. Participation in the Canadian Finals or an International Olympiad is a tremendous experience and a unique opportunity to travel and meet fellow students from around the world who share similar interests.
Eligibility and Cost:
To be eligible for selection to the National Olympiad Finals, students must write the CAP High School Prize Exam. Eligible students must also be in full time attendance at a Canadian high school or CÉGEP and must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, or have studied at a Canadian School for at least two years. They must be available for the whole week of the National Olympiad Finals and the period of the International competition. Finally, they must not have reached 20 years of age at the time of the International competitions.
All travel and accomodation expenses for students winning places at the National Finals or the International Olympiad are covered by the Canadian Physics Olympiad program and/or by the host countries of the International Olympiad. In Canada, funding is provided by a number of governmental, corporate and institutional sponsors.