<p>tough luck compadre, If you guys were really that interested in science, you should’ve started back in 8th grade (it’s true, they allow younger candidates on case by case basis), the real science whizzes have more knowledge than an average 12th grader. </p>
<p>IESO might be an exception but for most international olympiads (and certainly for IOL), you can be a part of the team as a grade 12th student (last year, two of the five people who participated in IOL were in grade 12). </p>
<p>@qwerty1739 actually candidates from abroad are mostly from class 12. it’s just that the Indian school year is a bit early scheduled</p>
<p>What do you mean by “bit early”, 3 months? 'Cause that’s how much ahead we are, not to mention that most American kids go to college before 17. I’m still not sure whether it’s an age requirement or a grade requirement. Anyone?</p>
<p>speaking of experience , it is an age and school attendance requirement. there were participants from class 8 as well in the ieso. </p>
<p>I know I know, parents who think that kid is “special” go to all the troubles to get their kid to participate even when he/she’s only in grade 8th.</p>
<p>but mark my words , an Olympiad is seriously going to mess with your IIT jee prep</p>
<p>@peepington "gifted " prodigies are in excess at Olympiads</p>
<p>“Gifted” is cliched. I meant parents who THINK their kids are gifted, it doesn’t imply that their kids are ACTUALLY gifted. It’s such an overused expression. Anyways, I know a professor next door who hired me to tutor his 6th grade kid for JEEs. I was like what the hell, but I agreed anyways (He made me an offer I wasn’t able to refuse ;-)). It turned out, his kid was just a normal Joe who couldn’t even solve a simple linear equation! Parents these days, they push their kids really hard. NOT OKAY</p>