The assessment process and timeline for the 2026 cycle are given below:

September 16 – September 30: Material review and preliminary qualification screening.

October 1 – November 2: Regional evaluations and divisional oral presentations to select candidate teams advancing to the Global Final.

November 3 – November 10: Online public announcement of Global Finalists and research reports.

December 5 – December 6: Global Final and Awards Ceremony at Tsinghua University. The final competition includes an oral defense of the Research Report in English, reviewed and chaired by the International Judging Committee.

Selection Criteria

The S.-T. Yau High School Science Award strives to provide a fair and encouraging environment for all participants. Depending upon the level of competition, projects will be evaluated by regional, national or international panels. All panelists are asked to evaluate each project with professionalism and scholarship according to the following criteria.

1. Relevance to mathematical sciences (pure and applied mathematics, statistics and probability)
        The topics for investigations could be pure mathematics including applied mathematics and statistics. In applied mathematics, the issues could be in all the subject areas mentioned in the section of “Research Area”.However, the leading factor for evaluation will be in the level of innovation of mathematical methodology in the project.

2. Originality in choice of subject for investigation and/or choice of techniques
        Subjects for investigation could be either original problems or existing conjectures. A participating team is responsible for adequate literature review on the background or originality of its problems. A problem known to the learned community in general, but unknown to the participating teams do not constitute originality.

3. Creativity in problem solving and methodology
        Successful projects, especially those in applied mathematics, are expected to either develop new methodology or to synthesize existing techniques. A  routine application of existing methodology may not be competitive.

4. Rigor in mathematical development
        Development of methodology and solutions are expected to demonstrate rigorous concepts and derivations.

5. Contribution and potential to future mathematical development
        A project carries high merits if the results will induce other or further advance in mathematical sciences or if the methodology has potential for application in wider or other applications.

6. Scholarship and clarity of written report
        A report has to be well written, with an abstract in less than one page, review of the background problems and methodology, and citation of references. The report must also make clear distinction between background materials and original contributions.

7. If applicable, scholarship and clarity of spoken presentation
        An oral presentation should demonstrate the background of the problem, key background materials, and above all, the teams’ original contributions.

8. If applicable, demonstration of teamwork
        In oral presentation, it is expected that every participating student will speak on behalf of the team in an organized manner.

9. If applicable, impact to subjects other than, but related to, mathematical sciences
        In an applied mathematics project, the topics and results are expected to be relevant to its subject area. Its impact will carry merits, but such merits do not override the merit in the previous criteria, especially in Criteria 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.