IMHO 2026 · Competition August 22
International Medicine and Health Olympiad
Registrations Open

Your future of
medicine starts
here.

The International Medicine & Health Olympiad is the rigorous global competition for high school students who are serious about a future in medicine. Test your knowledge of human biology, physiology, and disease against students from every corner of the world.

Register for 2026 → See exam format
Aug 22
Competition date
Online
No travel required
Gr. 9–12
All countries welcome
Medical students studying
International Medicine & Health Olympiad
Where the next generation of physicians begin
🌍
Compete globally

12-hour window, every time zone welcome

🏅
Earn recognition

Gold, Silver, Bronze & Honorable Mention

Our Mission

Inspiring the next generation of healers

Every great physician began as a curious student who asked why. Why does the heart fail? Why does a cell turn malignant? Why does one treatment work where another doesn't? The IMHO exists to find those students and to give them a stage worthy of their ambition. We believe that the deepest preparation for a life in medicine isn't memorization. It's learning to reason through complexity, to hold uncertainty, and to think clearly under pressure. That's what we test. That's what we celebrate.

Who can compete

Eligibility

The IMHO is an invitation-only international round. To compete in the USMHO and IMHO, you must meet all of the following requirements.

Age
20 or younger
At the time of the IMHO exam.
Identity
Citizen or permanent resident
You must be a citizen or permanent resident of the country you compete under.
Education
High School
You must be currently enrolled in secondary school (high school or equivalent) at the time of competition.
★
Qualification
Invitations to the IMHO are sent to the top 5 scorers per country from the USMHO qualifying exam. All students compete at the USMHO first — IMHO spots are earned, not registered for directly.
Exam Format

Rigorous, fair, and
internationally benchmarked.

Read the full rules & regulations →
The USMHO qualifying exam is structured across three question types, each testing a different depth of medical reasoning.
USMHO · Step 1 qualifying exam
50
MCQ
Multiple Choice
Single best-answer questions across all major systems and topics.
10
SAQ
Short Answer
Written responses in your own words. Partial credit is awarded.
4
FRQ
Clinical FRQs
Extended patient case scenarios requiring diagnostic reasoning and data interpretation.
Step 2 · Invitation only
IMHO
International Medicine & Health Olympiad
Exam format — to be announced
Format details will be sent directly to qualifiers after USMHO results are published. Only the top 5 scorers per country advance to this stage.
★Top 5 per country qualify
★Represent your nation internationally
★Invitations sent after results
Window
12-hour window
Start any time between 12:00–23:59 Eastern on August 22. Every time zone accommodated equally.
Format
Online proctored
Advanced proctoring software ensures results mean something — a credential worth putting on your application.
Awards
Gold, Silver, Bronze & Honorable Mention
Top performers receive medals and formal award documentation. All participants receive an official certificate.
Preparation

Study resources & sample problems

Use these resources to prepare. Sample problems reflect the style and difficulty of the real exam.

Recommended Readings
Campbell Biology

Campbell Biology (12th Ed.)

The foundational reference for cell biology, genetics, and physiology.

Core text
Guyton and Hall

Guyton & Hall Medical Physiology

The gold standard for human physiology. Focus on cardiovascular, renal, and neurological systems for the IMHO.

Physiology
Robbins Basic Pathology

Robbins Basic Pathology (10th Ed.)

Essential for the disease and pathology sections. Focus on general principles and systemic diseases.

Disease & Pathology
Sample Problems
Problem 1 · Cardiovascular
Blood pressure regulation
MCQ
A patient stands up quickly from a lying position and momentarily feels dizzy. Within a few seconds, their blood pressure stabilizes.

Which of the following best explains the rapid correction of blood pressure in this scenario?

AIncreased secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
BActivation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
CBaroreceptor activation triggering increased heart rate and vasoconstriction
DIncreased erythropoietin production by the kidneys
Answer: C — Baroreceptors in the aortic arch and carotid sinuses detect the drop in blood pressure. They signal the brainstem, which increases sympathetic outflow: heart rate rises and arterioles constrict. This response occurs within seconds. ADH and RAAS (A & B) take minutes to hours. Erythropoietin (D) affects red blood cell production over days.
Problem 2 · Cell Biology
Passive vs. active transport
MCQ
Oxygen moves from the alveoli into the pulmonary capillaries, while sodium is pumped out of cells by the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase pump.

Which statement correctly describes the transport mechanisms in this scenario?

ABoth oxygen and sodium move by active transport
BOxygen moves by simple diffusion; sodium is moved by primary active transport
COxygen requires a carrier protein; sodium moves by facilitated diffusion
DBoth processes require ATP hydrolysis
Answer: B — Oxygen is a small, nonpolar molecule that crosses lipid bilayers directly by simple diffusion along its concentration gradient — no energy or carrier needed. The Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase uses ATP hydrolysis to move sodium against its concentration gradient (3 Na⁺ out, 2 K⁺ in), which is primary active transport.
Problem 3 · Immunology
Vaccination and immune memory
MCQ
A child receives a vaccine against a bacterial pathogen. Two years later, she is exposed to the same pathogen. She does not become ill.

Which cell type is most responsible for her rapid, effective immune response upon re-exposure?

ANeutrophils
BNatural killer (NK) cells
CMemory B and T lymphocytes
DDendritic cells
Answer: C — Vaccination generates memory B and T cells that persist for years. On re-exposure, memory B cells rapidly differentiate into plasma cells producing high-affinity antibodies, and memory T cells quickly mount a cytotoxic response. Neutrophils (A) and NK cells (B) are innate immune cells with no antigen-specific memory. Dendritic cells (D) present antigen but don't carry immunological memory themselves.
Qualification Structure

From qualifying exam
to international stage

The IMHO uses a two-competition structure. Everyone begins at the USMHO — the open qualifying exam. Top scorers advance to the IMHO international round.

Step 1 · Open Exam
USMHO
US Medicine & Health Olympiad
✓ Open registration — any eligible high school student from any country
✓ August 22, 2026 — online, proctored, 12-hour window
✓ Scores ranked within your country
Register now →
TOP 5
Step 2 · Invitation only
IMHO
International Medicine & Health Olympiad
★ Top 5 per country — invited after USMHO results
★ Represent your nation on the international stage
★ Full details sent to qualifiers only after results are published
🏅 Qualify via the USMHO first

Everyone registers for the USMHO. IMHO invitations are sent automatically to top scorers.

1

Register for the USMHO

The open qualifying competition. Any eligible high school student from any country can register and compete.

2

Sit the exam on August 22

Complete the online, proctored exam within the 12-hour window.

3

Top 5 per country advance

The top 5 scorers from each participating country qualify to represent their nation at the IMHO. Results within 2 weeks.

4

Receive your recognition

All participants receive an official certificate and full results breakdown. Medal winners receive formal award documentation.

Questions about eligibility or the competition structure? Read the full rules & regulations →
Registration

Register for the 2026 USMHO

Registration is now open. Fill in your details, then complete payment.

USMHO 2026 Registration

Competition date: August 22, 2026 · Online, proctored

1
Your Details
2
Payment
Student information
Parent / Guardian
Additional
USMHO 2026 Registration
$39.00
Secured by Stripe

Your registration fee goes directly back into running this competition, covering advanced proctoring software, question writers, and our organizing team. We are grateful for your support in making the USMHO/IMHO a rigorous and credible international competition.

All fees are non-refundable. Questions? support@imholympiad.org

FAQ

Common questions

Everything you need before registering.

Can't find your answer?

support@imholympiad.org

Looking for detailed rules?

Rules & Regulations document →
Any student currently enrolled in grades 9–12 (or equivalent secondary education), who is 21 years old or younger at the time of competition. Open to students from every country — no citizenship requirements.
The USMHO (US Medicine & Health Olympiad) is the open qualifying exam — all registered students compete here on August 22. The IMHO (International Medicine & Health Olympiad) is the international round, open only to the top 5 scorers from each country in the USMHO. You register for the USMHO first; IMHO invitations are sent to qualifiers after results are published.
After the USMHO, scores are ranked by country. The top 5 scorers within each participating country advance to represent their nation at the IMHO. You declare your country when registering and may choose either your country of citizenship or permanent residency.
Focus on cell biology and genetics, human physiology (cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, nervous systems), and disease pathology. We recommend Campbell Biology for foundations, Guyton & Hall for physiology, and Robbins Basic Pathology for disease sections.
Yes, fully online. You will need a stable internet connection and a webcam for proctoring software. The exam can be started any time within the 12-hour window on August 22, 2026. Full technical instructions are sent to registered students before the exam date.
Every participant receives an official digital certificate and a full performance report showing their score and percentile. Top performers receive Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Honorable Mention recognition with formal award documentation.