Questions
FAQ
Answers to the questions we hear most.
General
What is IUPO?
The International Urban Planning Olympiad is a free, global competition that challenges high school students to solve real-world city planning problems.
Who can participate?
Any high school student, grades 9-12 or the international equivalent, from any country. You compete as an individual, not as part of a team.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. IUPO is completely free to enter.
When is IUPO 2027?
We're expecting early 2027, but exact dates haven't been finalized. Join our mailing list and we'll email you the moment they're announced.
Competition Format
What's changing from last year?
IUPO 2027 moves to a two-round format. Last year's competition was a single written test, and most of it could be answered by pasting questions into an AI chatbot. This year, a General Round determines who advances, and a live Finals round with real judges determines final rankings, so the top of the leaderboard is something we can actually verify.
What is the General Round?
An online, asynchronous round open to every registered competitor, built around a single fictional city. It takes about 2.5 to 3 hours and includes map-based questions, data analysis, and a design challenge with a sketch component.
What is Finals?
A live round on Zoom for the top scorers from the General Round. You'll get a short follow-up scenario before your slot, then join a live 15 to 20 minute call where you present your thinking and answer follow-up questions from our judges.
How many people advance to Finals?
We haven't locked in an exact number yet. It'll be a small share of competitors, and we'll announce the specific cutoff once we know how many people register.
How is my final score calculated?
Your General Round score and your Finals performance are both factored in, with Finals carrying more weight since it's a direct, judged conversation. We'll share the exact weighting closer to the competition.
Can I use AI tools during the competition?
No. Both rounds are meant to reflect your own thinking, and the live Finals round exists specifically so judges can check that in real time.
What if I can't make my Finals time slot live?
We're still working out the logistics here, especially around time zones, since IUPO is a global competition. If you advance to Finals, we'll reach out directly to sort out scheduling.
Getting Involved
I'm not competing. Can I still help out?
Yes. We're a small, student-run team and always looking for people who want to help with marketing or partnerships. Check out our Join the Team page to apply.
How do I stay in the loop?
Sign up for our mailing list. We'll email you as soon as registration opens and key dates are announced.
I have a question that isn't answered here.
Reach out any time at info@iupo-official.org.