Olympiads are the exams or competitive tests that are conducted on national as well as international levels. Olympiads are subject-oriented as well as based on general aptitude testing. These Olympiads are open to students from class 1 till the 12th standard and are widely popular. Parents encourage their children to participate in such Olympiads because of the kind of exposure and learning they offer. These Olympiads are conducted by the Science Olympiad foundation every year and offer students an excellent opportunity to outshine. These tests are important for the holistic development of the student because they not only test the theoretical or subject matter knowledge of the students but also put to test the analytical, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. There are different Olympiads organized by the science Olympiad foundation including, National Cyber Olympiad (NCO), National Science Olympiad (NSO), International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO), International English Olympiad (IEO), International General Knowledge Olympiad (IGKO), International Commerce Olympiad (ICO).
Here are the 5 Must-Know Benefits of Olympiads-
1. Boost the confidence of students- a good number of students participate in Olympiads every year and they are exposed to a high level of competition. The participating spirit builds the confidence of students and the ones who hold a rank gain a great deal of confidence. The students gain a competitive mind-set and are able to perform better academically.
2. Helps in improving academic performance- as mentioned above, these exams put to test knowledge as well as their critical thinking ability. The preparation for Olympiads improves the learning abilities as well as understanding power which thereby facilitates as well as improves the academic performance.
3. Builds a base for the future competitive exams- we are not stating that each and every student will appear for a competitive exam in the near future, but it has been observed that to seek admission in good institutions students have to appear in some or the other competitive exams. By participating in these Olympiads students can build for a base for themselves. They can have a good understanding of the way a competitive exam is attempted and how to prepare for the same. They can also help the student in figuring out their area of interests, likes, and dislikes.
4. Helps in strengthening thinking abilities- these tests challenge the students in multiple ways and expect them to think and answer critically. This aspect prepares their mind to function in a similar manner and helps them in applying the same in real life as well as the academic curriculum. Olympiads are time-bound and thereby students are also given an opportunity to work upon their speed and accuracy while attempting the question papers.
5. Gaining additional knowledge and recognition- parents these days lay much emphasis on encouraging their children to step out of their comfort zone and participate in skill-building as well as knowledge-building activities. Participating in Olympiads serves the same purpose as students have to travel an extra mile to prepare for these exams and refer to a different set of books to be fully prepared. Not only do they gain additional knowledge but are also able to gain confidence as well as recognition. It has been observed that students who perform, tend to outshine others, and thereby all students should participate in these Olympiads diligently.
The above-mentioned points can help students as well as parents in understanding the importance and benefits associated with Olympiads. Students should always try to step out of their comfort zone because all good things happen outside this zone. Olympiad prepares them for future challenges as well as opportunities and thereby should be attempted by each and every student.
