About NOAI and the IOAI Pathway
NOAI and the IOAI selection process are two separate stages run by different organisations.
NOAI (National Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence) is organised by AI Singapore (AISG) and funded by Singapore’s Ministry of Education. It consists of a Preliminary Round and a Final Assessment. The Preliminary Round is proctored by participating MOE schools and helps schools identify talent among their students. AISG runs it centrally on schools’ behalf, at no cost to schools or students.
IOAI Selection and Training is led by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and follows NOAI. Top performers from the Final Assessment may be invited to the NTU-run IOAI Selection Test, followed by training and final team selection for the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI). Eligibility and arrangements for the Selection Test and training are determined by NTU.
National Olympiad in AI (NOAI) Preliminary Round
- Date: 19 Feb 2027, Friday
- Start Time: 9:30am
- Duration: 1.5 hours + 5 mins for administrative matters
- Format: Online Google Form Quiz – 150 MCQs
- Venue: Individual School’s Computer Lab
Areas of Assessment:
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Mathematics |
: |
Linear Algebra, Calculus, Probability, Optimisation |
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Computing |
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Python, NumPy / Pandas, PyTorch, Debugging |
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AI/ML/DL |
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Classical ML, Neural Networks, Computer Vision, NLP, GenAI |
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Problem Solving |
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Algorithm Design, Debugging, Optimisation, System Design |
*More details to be released nearer to date.
NOAI 2027 Final Assessment Format
Designed to nurture interest and talent in AI among students in MOE schools regardless of their prior experience, the assessment focuses of fundamental AI concepts and programming skills, serving two key purposes:
- Identify exceptional talent for international competitions while maintaining an accessible environment that encourages broader student participation in AI learning;
- Align with MOE’s goal of fostering widespread interest rather than creating barriers to entry.
The Final Assessment consists two distinct sections designed to comprehensively assess students’ AI knowledge and practical skills.
Section 1
20 multiple-choice questions that test theoretical understanding of fundamental AI concepts, algorithms, and principles.
Section 2
Three AI programming questions that require students to implement solutions using Python, allowing them to demonstrate their ability to translate theoretical knowledge into practical code.
This dual-format approach ensures students are evaluated on both conceptual understanding and hands-on programming capabilities essential for AI development.
*Updated as of 14 Jul 2026
*Applicable to Full-time MOE School students only.
Interest to Participate Window
MOE Schools are invited to indicate their interest to participate from 1 August 2026 to 15 January 2027.
Contact Email: noai@aisingapore.org
Each MOE school will have an appointed teacher representative who will serve as the point of contact for issues pertaining to registration and participation. Students should reach out to the appointed teacher representative of their school to indicate their interest to participate. Individual requests from students will not be entertained, except for the situations described under Eligibility below.
Why the Interest to Participate Window Matters
With only 150 seats available for the NOAI finals, advance planning is crucial. The window helps us to:
- Allocate seats fairly among participating schools based on the number of schools
- Coordinate the preliminaries with participating schools
- Plan the logistics effectively for both preliminaries and finals
Eligibility
Full-time students below the age of 20 currently enrolled in the following MOE Schools regardless of nationality:
- Secondary
- Integrated Programme (IP)
- Junior College
- Institute of Technical Education (ITE)
- Polytechnic
NOAI is an individual competition. There is no team-based competition.
12 Schools that have indicated interest as of 29 Sept 2026
- BUKIT BATOK SECONDARY SCHOOL
- CLEMENTI TOWN SECONDARY SCHOOL
- FUHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL
- HWA CHONG INSTITUTION
- NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE
- NUS HIGH SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE
- RAFFLES GIRLS’ SCHOOL (SECONDARY)
- TAMPINES MERIDIAN JUNIOR COLLEGE
- VICTORIA JUNIOR COLLEGE
- NANYANG POLYTECHNIC
- NGEE ANN POLYTECHNIC
- SINGAPORE POLYTECHNIC
Students who write in directly to AI Singapore
The following students may write in directly to noai@aisingapore.org. The last date on which enquiries will be entertained is 27 November 2026 (end of MOE Calendar Term 4).
Home-schooled students
Home-schooled Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents should write in with their full name, age and a brief description of their current learning arrangement.
Students in transition between institutions
Students who have completed Secondary 4 and are about to enter a Junior College/ Polytechnic may not be enrolled in an MOE school at the time of the Preliminary Round. If you are in this situation, please write in with your full name, your most recent school, and the Polytechnic you intend to join (if known). We will review each case and get back to you.
Students in private or international schools
NOAI is funded by Singapore’s Ministry of Education and is primarily designed for students in the national education system. Students in private or international schools in Singapore are welcome to write in with their full name, school, year level and nationality. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and submitting an enquiry does not guarantee participation.
Preliminary Round arrangements for students who write in directly
Approved students will sit the Preliminary Round at the AI Singapore NUS Office Premise, at the same date and time as all other participants. Places are subject to venue capacity. Venue and reporting details will be sent to approved students by email. Approved students compete for the same 150 Final Assessment seats as all other participants.
Representing Singapore at the IOAI
NOAI is the first stage of Singapore’s pathway to the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI). To keep the international team representative of the country it represents, only Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents may represent Singapore at the IOAI. Students of other nationalities are welcome to take part in NOAI, subject to the eligibility criteria above, but will not progress to represent Singapore at the IOAI. Eligibility for the NTU-led IOAI Selection Test and training is determined by NTU.
