In today's landscape of international higher education admissions, majors in economics, finance, and business investment have emerged as the top choices for a vast number of students. This is particularly true when applying to Ivy League institutions, where possessing high-caliber experience in economics and business competitions serves as an undeniably crucial factor in enhancing one's competitiveness. Compared to competitions in other scientific disciplines, business competitions may be fewer in variety; however, their intrinsic value is not to be underestimated—indeed, they can be aptly described as a "powerful weapon" for gaining admission to prestigious universities.
NEC National Economics Challenge
The National Economics Challenge (NEC) stands as one of the most authoritative and influential economics competitions for high school students in the United States, organized by the Council for Economic Education (CEE). This competition not only attracts outstanding students from across the nation but also serves as an exceptional platform for inspiring young people to gain a deeper understanding of economics.
Eligible Students
Pre-Introductory Division: Recommended for students in Grades 8–9.
DR-Introductory Division: Recommended for students in Grades 9–10.
AS-Advanced Division: Recommended for students in Grades 10–12.
Competition Rules
Economics Assessment (QUALIFYING TEST):
Participants must complete a series of objective questions within 60 minutes, testing their knowledge of Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Economics, and Current Events.
Case Analysis (CRITICAL THINKING):
Teams present an analysis of an economics case study. Presentations are strongly recommended to be delivered in English; presentations delivered in Chinese will incur a score penalty. All team members must participate, and judges will pose questions to evaluate the team's analytical and presentation skills.
Economics Innovation Challenge (SUPER ECON):
A timed question-and-answer competition designed to assess fundamental economics knowledge and teamwork skills. The round consists of 15 multiple-choice questions, categorized into standard questions and high-value questions.
Economics Super Bowl (QUIZ BOWL):
A buzzer-based rapid-response competition for top-performing teams, designed to test focus and deductive reasoning skills. The first team to provide a correct answer wins the round; an incorrect answer allows the opposing team to attempt to answer.
SIC Student Investment Challenge
Officially certified by the U.S. Council for Economic Education (CEE) and supported by the academic expertise of the ACME U.S.-China Economics Society, the Student Investment Challenge aims to cultivate students' interest in the fields of investment and finance.
Eligibility: Grades 6–12
Competition Formats
Trading Category: Individual
Strategy Category: Team (2–4 members)
Each team must consist of 2 to 4 students; team members may come from different schools, grade levels, or regions. Each student may join only one team, and team compositions may be modified at any time prior to the registration deadline.
Competition Stages: [Details to follow]
CBPA Business All-Rounder Challenge
Officially recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USED) and the Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO), and endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the CBPA competition stands as a leading global academic business challenge for secondary school students, focusing on areas such as business management, financial accounting, and information technology. It is structured as a hybrid competition, combining both examination and project-based components.
Eligible Students
Subjective Assessment Track: Grades 6–12
Objective Assessment Track: Grades 9–12
Competition Content
Objective Assessment Track:
The individual objective assessment track is divided into two categories: [Marketing] and [Business Management]. The Marketing category covers topics such as brand marketing, market segmentation, advertising media, and e-commerce; the Business Management category covers multinational business operations, human resource management, corporate financial management, management decision optimization, and similar subjects. The assessment for the preliminary study phase consists of an online objective test, requiring participants to complete 80 multiple-choice questions within 60 minutes. Correct answers earn 5 points, while incorrect answers or unanswered questions receive no points, for a total possible score of 400 points. Participants must complete the questions independently within the allotted time; their final score constitutes their official result.
Subjective Assessment Track:
The subjective assessment is conducted in a team format, with groups consisting of 3 to 4 members. Teams are required to formulate a comprehensive business plan based on an annual business case theme released by the organizers, and subsequently submit a video presentation of their plan (submitted centrally by the team captain). The preliminary round is jointly developed by the Peking University HSBC Business School Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; it features business themes that are highly relevant to students' daily lives, with case studies designed to closely simulate practical tasks found in the real business world, thereby allowing students to gain hands-on experience in actual business operations.
IEO: International Economics Olympiad
The International Economics Olympiad (IEO) is a highly prestigious global competition designed to inspire students' passion for and understanding of economics. Since 2018, the IEO has been officially organized under the leadership of Eric Maskin—the 2007 Nobel Laureate in Economics and a distinguished Professor at Harvard University and Adams University.
Eligibility
Enrolled students in Grades 9–12 (The IEO International Organizing Committee requires that participants be under 20 years of age).
Assessment Process
Assessment Content:
Economics Test: An individual assessment consisting of multiple-choice questions covering three subject areas: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, and International Economics & Current Affairs.
Test Format:
Preliminary Round: Comprises 20 questions on Microeconomics, 20 questions on Macroeconomics, and 5 questions on International Economics & Current Affairs—totaling 45 questions.
