China IESO Selection Committee

National Earth Science Olympiad (CESO)

Organized by the Seismological Society of China (SSC), CESO is a national academic competition dedicated to promoting earth science education and discovering talented students. Since its establishment in 2018, CESO has been successfully held for seven editions, covering 31 provinces and municipalities, with tens of thousands of students and teachers participating annually. CESO serves as the official selection pathway for China's team to the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO).

Knowledge Promotion

Promote earth science literacy and spark curiosity

Talent Discovery

Identify and nurture top earth science talents

International Vision

Cultivate future leaders on the global stage

Research Mindset

Foster scientific inquiry and innovative thinking

31
Provinces Covered
Nationwide simultaneous exams
10,000+
Participants
Students & teachers annually
6
Editions Held
Growing competition scale
100+
International Awards
Outstanding results worldwide
2018
Founded Year
Organized by SSC

Learning & Growth Plan

From science outreach to competitive excellence — build a complete learning system

1
2-3 months Foundation

Building Interest & Awareness

Understand what earth science is, build a basic framework, spark curiosity

Earth's position in the universe Earth's internal layered structure Rock & mineral identification Introduction to plate tectonics Atmosphere & hydrosphere concepts
2
4-6 months Systematic Study

Four Branches — Systematic Learning

Master the foundational knowledge of four core earth science branches

Geology: mineralogy, three rock types, geologic time Atmospheric science: pressure belts, major weather systems Ocean science: ocean current systems, air-sea interaction Astronomy: solar system structure, Earth's motions
3
3-4 months Competition Prep

Competition-Level Training & Past Papers

Master competition-level knowledge and complete the first round of past paper training

Advanced geology: crystal optics, petrography, structural geology Advanced meteorology: air masses, fronts, tropical cyclones Geophysics: seismic wave types, earthquake location principles Environmental geoscience: geological hazard types & causes
4
4-5 months Advanced Sprint

Advanced Skills & IESO Standard

Reach finals level, adapt to the International Earth Science Olympiad (IESO) format

IESO专项: International Olympiad theory training (in English) Field skills: geological compass, section description standards Cross-disciplinary: Earth Science + Physics/Chemistry/Biology
5
3-4 months Academic Depth

Academic Output & Deep Exploration

Convert learning into academic output, cultivate research thinking

Literature: Chinese core journals, English scientific abstracts Data analysis: visualization, chart design Frontiers: climate change, planetary geology, earthquake prediction
2026 National Earth Science Olympiad Preliminary Round

2026 New Season · Explore the Blue Planet

New challenges await — see you on the stage of Earth Science

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