Science olympiad
HUSO India and Dubai preparation: Mathematics and Physics
The Harvard Undergraduate Science Olympiad (HUSO) is run by Harvard College undergraduates and held in India (New Delhi) and the Middle East (Dubai) with Learn with Leaders. Students in grades 7-8 and 9-10 sit an online first round in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Earth Science; the top 50 in each grade band go on to the in-person final round.
- Grade bands
- Grades 7-8 and grades 9-10
- India final, Mathematics
- 50 questions (grades 9-10: 55), 90 minutes, no calculator
- Dubai final, Mathematics
- 25 questions, 60 minutes, no calculator
- Marking
- +1 correct, -0.25 wrong, 0 blank (later India final questions +2 / -0.5)
The HUSO rounds
Round 1 is an online open round covering all five sciences. In the 2024 open round each subject section was designed to take about 20 minutes, with single-answer multiple-choice questions.
The top 50 students in each grade band are invited to Round 2, the in-person final in New Delhi or Dubai, where each subject is a separate, longer paper.
Mathematics papers
The India final is a 90-minute paper with five answer choices per question. Questions 1-30 score +1 for a correct answer and -0.25 for a wrong one; the later, harder questions score +2 and -0.5. A blank scores 0, so an unsure guess has to be judged against the penalty.
The Dubai final is 25 questions in 60 minutes, with +1 for a correct answer and -0.25 for a wrong one.
- Algebra: polynomials and Vieta's formulas, systems of equations, sequences, logarithms
- Number theory: divisibility, factor counting, modular arithmetic, factorials and trailing zeros
- Geometry: angle chasing, similar triangles, circles, areas and volumes, coordinate geometry
- Counting and probability: combinations, complementary counting, expected value, geometric probability
Physics papers
The physics final has a multiple-choice part and a free-response part with longer, multi-step problems, and a non-programmable calculator is allowed. A list of constants is provided; formulas you are not expected to know are given in the question.
- Mechanics: kinematics, Newton's laws, friction and inclines, circular motion, energy and momentum, torque
- Electricity and magnetism: circuits, electric fields, charges in magnetic fields
- Waves, optics and sound: reflection, refraction, standing waves, decibels
- Thermodynamics: ideal gases, isobaric and isothermal processes, heat engines
- Gravitation and modern physics: escape velocity, special relativity
How to prepare
- Sit full past papers under the real time limit, with the real negative marking.
- After each paper, redo every wrong or skipped question before checking the worked solution.
- For physics, practise writing complete free-response solutions: every step, with units.
- Grades 7-8 students can stretch themselves with the grades 9-10 papers once their scores are steady.
HUSO practice on EuclidCurve
Enrolled students take timed HUSO past papers (India finals, Dubai finals and open-round papers, in Mathematics and Physics) with negative marking, automatic scoring, an answer grid and worked solutions. Access is by invitation: contact us to discuss joining.
Frequently asked questions
What is HUSO?
The Harvard Undergraduate Science Olympiad, a science competition run by Harvard College undergraduates, held in India and the Middle East for grades 7-8 and 9-10.
Which subjects does HUSO cover?
Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Earth Science.
Is there negative marking in HUSO?
Yes. A wrong multiple-choice answer loses 0.25 marks (0.5 on the double-mark questions of the India mathematics final); a blank scores 0.
How long is the HUSO mathematics final?
90 minutes in India and 60 minutes in Dubai, with no calculator.
Who reaches the HUSO final round?
The top 50 students in each grade band from the online first round.