Earth Science Olympiad Masterclass
Explore geology, atmospheric science, oceanography, and astronomy for IESO competition success
What You'll Learn
- Identify common minerals and rocks using physical properties and classify them within the rock cycle framework
- Explain plate tectonic processes and interpret geological maps including cross-sections, folds, and faults
- Analyse atmospheric data including synoptic charts, satellite imagery, and vertical profiles to forecast weather patterns
- Describe ocean circulation patterns, tidal mechanics, and coastal processes using physical oceanographic principles
- Solve problems in celestial mechanics, stellar evolution, and comparative planetology at IESO competition level
+1 more outcome
Your Instructor
Earth Science — IESO Team Bangladesh
Ranked 9th nationally at the National Earth Olympiad 2022 and selected for Bangladesh's International Earth Science Olympiad team, after four years of steady climbing.
Learn more about FaizaFull Curriculum
- Mineral identification: crystal systems, hardness, lustre, and cleavage
- Rock cycle: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock classification
- Bowen's reaction series and magmatic differentiation
- Stratigraphy: principles of superposition, cross-cutting, and unconformities
- Geological maps: reading contours, dip, strike, and cross-sections
- Evidence for plate tectonics: paleomagnetism, seafloor spreading, and GPS data
- Plate boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform with associated landforms
- Subduction zones: island arcs, volcanic arcs, and accretionary wedges
- Folds and faults: classification, stress analysis, and geological mapping
- Earthquakes: seismic waves, focal mechanisms, and magnitude scales
- Mantle convection and plume tectonics
- Atmospheric structure: troposphere through thermosphere
- Radiation balance: solar insolation, albedo, and the greenhouse effect
- Atmospheric dynamics: pressure gradients, Coriolis force, and geostrophic wind
- Weather systems: cyclones, anticyclones, and frontal analysis
- Climate classification: Koppen system and controlling factors
- Reading synoptic charts and satellite imagery
- Ocean structure: temperature, salinity, and density stratification
- Ocean circulation: surface currents, thermohaline circulation, and Ekman transport
- Tides: gravitational theory, spring and neap cycles, and tidal constituents
- Marine sediments: classification, distribution, and paleoceanographic proxies
- Coastal processes: wave dynamics, erosion, and depositional landforms
- Celestial mechanics: Kepler's laws, orbital elements, and perturbations
- Stellar evolution: HR diagram, main sequence, and end states
- Solar system: comparative planetology and formation models
- Planetary atmospheres and surface processes across the solar system
- Observational astronomy: coordinate systems, magnitude scale, and spectral classification
- Cosmology fundamentals: Hubble's law and the expanding universe
- Carbon cycle: reservoirs, fluxes, and perturbations
- Hydrological cycle: precipitation, runoff, and groundwater dynamics
- Biogeochemical cycles: nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur
- Paleoclimatology: ice cores, tree rings, and isotopic proxies
- Climate change science: evidence, attribution, and feedback mechanisms
- Natural hazards: risk assessment and mitigation strategies
- Mineral and rock identification practical tests
- Topographic and geological map interpretation exercises
- Meteorological data analysis and weather forecasting exercises
- Astronomical observation planning and coordinate calculations
- Full-length IESO mock written and practical examinations
- International Team Field Investigation (ITFI) preparation and teamwork strategies
Interactive Lessons
Step-by-step interactive lessons with diagrams, quizzes, and animated visualizations for IESO preparation.
Introduction to Earth Sciences
GeologyBig Bang, Hubble's observations, plate tectonics, Earth's layers, geological time scale, and the Goldilocks zone.
Minerals, Rocks & Mountains
GeologyCrystal structure, rock cycle, igneous/sedimentary/metamorphic rocks, orogeny, and the rainshadow effect.
Sedimentology, Stratigraphy & Fossils
GeologySediment formation, stratigraphic principles, weathering and erosion, fossil types, and radioactive dating.
Atmosphere, Energy & Weather
AtmosphereAtmospheric layers, energy transfer, weather fronts, storms, cyclones, and cloud classification.
Hadley Cells, Tides & Oceans
Ocean & WaterHadley cells, Coriolis effect, ocean zones, tides, surface and deep currents, and ocean basins.
Hydrology & Wetlands
Ocean & WaterFreshwater distribution, streams, lakes, wetlands, groundwater, aquifers, and springs.
Nor'westers, Climate & Landscapes
AtmosphereNor'westers (Kalboishakhi), ITCZ, sea and land breezes, Köppen climate zones, and the rainshadow effect.
Ecosystems, Pollution & Ocean Gyres
EnvironmentFood chains, symbiosis, carrying capacity, pollution types, ocean gyres, garbage patches, and acid rain.
Seasons, Comets & Star Systems
AstronomyEarth's axial tilt and seasons, Oort Cloud, comet anatomy, binary stars, pulsars, nebulae, and planet classification.
Glaciers & Glacial Landscapes
GeologyGlacier types, erosion features, cirques, moraines, drumlins, eskers, and glacial retreat from global warming.
Volcanoes & Eruptions
GeologyLava types, volcano classification, eruption styles, volcanic hazards, pyroclastic flows, and eruption prediction.
Earthquakes & Seismic Waves
GeologyFolds, stress types, P-waves, S-waves, surface waves, Richter scale, and Moment Magnitude Scale.
Practical Earth Sciences
PracticalLatitude and longitude calculations, time zones, compass directions, and bathymetric profile interpretation.
IESO Study Guide & Tips
PracticalEffective study strategies, first-principles thinking, problem-solving techniques, and exam preparation tips.
Sample Problem
A taste of the competition-level problems you'll tackle.
Paleogeographic Reconstruction
Given paleomagnetic data from three continents showing declination and inclination measurements at 200 Ma, reconstruct the positions of these landmasses relative to the geographic poles. Determine which modern ocean basin had not yet formed and describe the tectonic events that led to its opening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Earth science is rarely taught in depth at the school level in Bangladesh, so most participants start from scratch. Module 1 begins with mineral identification and basic geology, building up systematically. Curiosity about how the Earth works is more important than prior coursework.
We recommend 'Earth Science' by Tarbuck and Lutgens as a reference textbook. You will also benefit from free resources such as the USGS educational materials, NASA Earth Observatory, and the IESO past paper archive. We provide a curated reading list at the start of each module.
The IESO is uniquely interdisciplinary, covering geology, meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy in a single competition. It also includes a practical test (mineral and map identification) and the International Team Field Investigation (ITFI), which is a collaborative field-based task. Our course prepares you for all components.
No fieldwork is required. The practical components are taught using high-resolution photographs, geological maps, satellite imagery, and datasets. However, if you have access to rock and mineral samples, we encourage hands-on identification practice as a supplement.
Absolutely. Earth science Olympiad experience demonstrates interdisciplinary scientific thinking and is valued by geology, environmental science, atmospheric science, and geophysics programmes worldwide. IESO medals are recognised by top universities as evidence of scientific ability and breadth.
Ready to begin Earth Science?
Earth Science Olympiad Masterclass · 7 modules · Beginner to Advanced