Format

Overview

Two main stages -
Stage 1: Shortlisting
Stage 2: Physics Fight

Shortlisting

Shortlisting will be held in person at on 15 and 22 Nov 2025 for Categories B and A respectively.
For the shortlisting, teams will prepare a 12-minute presentation comprising:

  • 10 minutes oral presentation to a panel of jurors on one main problem, and

  • 2 minutes of discussion on the progress of any two other problems in the registered category*. 

After the presentation, registered teams will participate in a 10-15 min Q&A session with a panel of jurors regarding their presentation.

  • The problems may be chosen from any of the SYPT problems in the registered Category

  • For schools with more than one team, the main problem presented by each team must be different. This applies across Categories as well, i.e. Cat A and Cat B teams cannot both present on the same main problem.

Category A - for participants in JC1 / IP5 / PU1 (or equivalent) and below as of 2025;
Category B - for participants in Sec 3 / IP3 (or equivalent) and below as of 2025.

Physics Fight

SYPT 2026 will be held on-site at National University of Singapore for Category B and Nanyang Technological University for Category A. The dates are: 

  • 7 Feb 2026 - Finals: Category B

  • 14 Feb 2026 - Finals: Category A

As with previous years, teams will still present 2 problems and oppose 2 problems in the category list. This can include the problems used during shortlisting. Problems will be based on IYPT challenge rules.

Details on the rules and guidelines for the online event will be updated soon. The scoring rubric can be found here. This rubric is adapted from the IYPT rubric.

The format for each fight is as follows: 

Sequence

Time (min)

Opponent challenges the Reporter. Reporter team captain accepts or rejects the challenge.

-

A team may reject the challenge of four different problems without penalty. From then on, every subsequent rejection will result in drop of coefficient of 0.2 (starting from 3.0).

.

The problems that an opponent cannot challenge will be informed by the chief juror in the room. Problems cannot be challenged if :
(a) presented by the opponent earlier, (b) opposed by the opponent earlier,
(c) presented by the reporter earlier, (d) rejected by the reporter earlier.

.

There must be at least 2 problems left to challenge, otherwise the conditions are released in the order a, b, c, d.

.

The Reporter prepares his/her presentation

2

The Reporter presents the proposed solution to the problem 

10

The Opponent orally questions the Reporter

2

The Opponent prepares his/her presentation

4

The Opponent takes the floor and leads an oral discussion with the Reporter within 5 minute of taking the floor

12

The Opponent takes the floor to summarise the discussion

1

Final concluding remarks from the Reporter

1

Questions from jurors

10

All jurors write initial comments and scores for Reporter and Opponent

5

Open scoring (Head juror requests all jurors to reveal their scores and request jurors to comment)

5

Total

52