NRF SAASTA 2025 Olympiads & Competitions
Organization : SAASTA – South African Agency for Science & Technology Advancement
Competition Name : NRF SAASTA 2025 Olympiads & Competitions
Applicable For : Students
Website : https://www.saasta.ac.za/competitions/
NRF SAASTA Olympiads & Competitions
The 2025 Olympiads and competitions will be conducted as follows
AstroQuiz
** The first round, which is at a school level, will be offered as a pen and paper examination. The second round to the last round will be done on an online platform. All teams representing schools will be requested to register and participate online.
** In the second round, schools will be competing on a district level, after which schools will be informed which teams will be going through to the third level, i.e. the provincial level. The fourth round will be the national competition where each province will have one team representing their province.
Science Debates
Learners will participate on a Zoom or similar platform for all the rounds.
Natural Sciences Grades 4-6 & Life Sciences Grades 10-12 :
These are in the form of an examination, which will be conducted through pen and paper, on a face-to-face basis.
Natural Sciences Grades 7-9 and Physical Sciences Grades 10-12 : (Online registration)
These will be conducted on a dual base, with those opting to participate in a traditional pen and paper being allowed to do so, while creating an opportunity for those who would like to participate in a pilot online competition.
Important Dates
| Month | Date | Olympiad / Competition | Closing date |
| May | 27 | AstroQuiz 1st Round at School Level | 13 May. Please note that the entry form will be made available on 3 May. |
| June | 21 | Science Debates 1st Round at District Level | Entry forms will be available on 3 May Closing date 3 June. For further information, please contact Ms Litha Masilela on <lithakazi@saasta.ac.za |
| July | 29 | AstroQuiz 2nd Round at District Level | Register school team on App by 25 June. Once round 1 has been completed, further information will be sent to participating schools. |
| August | Science Debates 2nd Round provincial workshops | For further information, please contact Ms Litha Masilela on lithakazi@saasta.ac.za | |
| 17 | Natural Sciences Grades 4-6 | 28 May. Please note that the entry form will be made available on 3 May. | |
| 19 | AstroQuiz 3rd Round at Provincial Level | Organisers will inform schools which teams are going through | |
| 19 | Life Sciences Grades 10-12 | 28 May. Please note that the entry form will be made available on 3 May. | |
| 31 | Physical Sciences Grades 10-12 | 28 May. Please note that the entry form will be made available on 3 May. | |
| September | 2 | Natural Sciences Grades 7-9 | 28 May. Please note that the entry form will be made available on 3 May. |
| 3,10 | Science Debates 3rd Round at Provincial Level | For further information, please contact Ms Litha Masilela on lithakazi@saasta.ac.za | |
| 28 | AstroQuiz 4th Round & Science Debates 4th Round at National Level | Organisers will inform schools which teams are going through |
Note :
** Educators should indicate on the entry forms which mode of participation they will prefer. Learners who participate on the online competition will not be compared to those participating on face-to-face bases for fairness.
** All learners should be willing to participate on a pen a paper bases in case NRF-SAASTA decide not to pursue the online pilot for any undisclosed reason.