Competitions · Resources
Past papers and preparation packs.
Every competition page on this site offers free material: past papers, the syllabus, the marking or judging criteria, and the dates for the current cycle. Scan the WeChat code, say what you need, and an advisor sends it - and if we do not already hold it, we go and find it.
How it works
Three steps, and you can stop after the second.
There is no gate on any of this. The pack goes out whether or not a course is ever discussed.
Step 1Scan and tell us which competition
Add an advisor on WeChat and name the competition and the student's school year. That is enough - there is no form and nothing to enrol in.
Step 2We send the material
Usually the same day. Past papers, the syllabus, the judging or marking criteria, and the dates for the current cycle.
Step 3Sit the placement paper, if you want to
Optional, free, and takes about an hour. It is the only honest way to tell which course tier a student belongs in, and you are welcome to take the result elsewhere.
What is in a pack
It depends on what kind of competition it is.
An examined olympiad and a science fair need entirely different preparation, so they get entirely different packs.
| Competition type | Examples | What the pack contains |
|---|---|---|
| Olympiads and written papers | AMC, USABO, BPhO, UKChO, USACO, Euclid and the rest of the examined competitions | Past papers, every year the organiser has released Worked solutions, where the organiser publishes them The syllabus on one page - every topic, and how heavily it is examined Entry checklist and the dates for the current cycle |
| Essay competitions | John Locke, the Marshall Society, LSE, the IEA and the other set-question prizes | Every past question the competition has set Shortlisted and published essays, to calibrate the standard Structure, referencing and word-count guide Entry checklist and the dates for the current cycle |
| Science fairs and research programmes | ISEF, Regeneron STS, the Yau Science Award, JSHS and CTB | Past finalist project titles and abstracts Category definitions and the judging criteria, broken down A project timeline working back from the submission date Entry checklist and the dates for the current cycle |
| Business and economics | NEC, IEO, the Diamond Challenge, BPA, FBLA and the case competitions | Past cases and question sets A worked example of a full submission Event categories and the judging criteria, broken down Entry checklist and the dates for the current cycle |
| Debate, Model UN and quiz | Cal Debate, NHSDLC, NMUN, the World Scholar's Cup and the bee and bowl circuit | Past motions and topic areas A case-file template, ready to fill in Format, speaking times and the judging criteria Entry checklist and the dates for the current cycle |
| Robotics, engineering and invention | FRC, FTC, VEX, WRO, iGEM, Technovation and the build competitions | Past season materials and game manuals The judging rubric, broken down by what earns each point Build log and documentation checklist Entry checklist and the dates for the current cycle |
| Mathematical modelling | HiMCM, IMMC and MCM/ICM | Every past problem set Outstanding papers, with the structure annotated A modelling toolkit - the methods that keep recurring, and when each applies Entry checklist and the dates for the current cycle |
Where a competition needs something more specific than its type, the pack is written for that competition. Those are listed below.
Written for one competition
Packs assembled competition by competition.
These carry material that only makes sense for that one competition - the cutoff tables, the qualifying indices, the annotated Outstanding papers. Ask from the competition's own page.
Beyond competitions
Curriculum and test materials.
The same arrangement for the taught curricula and the admissions and language tests.
IB
Past-paper collections, recommended book lists and a subject-selection guide
AP
AP past papers, subject textbooks and tutor notes
IGCSE
Subject collections, tutor notes and past-paper sets
A-Level
Reference-book lists and past-paper collections
US high school
Subject notes and reading lists for the US 9th-grade entry point
Standardised tests
Test specifications, practice papers and question guides for the admissions and language tests
Talk to an advisor
Scan, say what you need, and we send it.
There is no form and no download gate. Tell an advisor which competition and year group, and the material comes back the same day - and if we do not already hold it, we go and find it.
Competition entry and planning
Which competitions suit this student, in what order, and by when - then we handle the registration, including the ones that can only be entered through a school or a centre.
Competition coaching
Taught by full-time subject tutors, on a course tier chosen by placement paper rather than by year group.
International curriculum tutoring
IB, AP, A-Level, IGCSE and the US high school curriculum, taught alongside school and timed around the exam calendar.
Competition past papers, free
A large library of past papers, mark schemes and syllabus breakdowns across every competition on this site. No charge and no enrolment.
Scan to add an advisor
Say which competition or course you are asking about. Replies in Chinese or English.
Or call +86 21 6352 6630FAQ
The resource packs, briefly answered.
What people ask before getting in touch.
What does it cost?
Nothing. There is no charge for any of the material on this page and no obligation to enrol in anything.
What is actually in one?
It depends on the competition, and there is no fixed bundle. For an examined competition it is normally the past papers, published solutions where the organiser releases them, the syllabus on one page, and an entry checklist with the dates for the current cycle. For an essay competition, the past questions, shortlisted essays and a structure guide. Ask for whatever you actually need - if we do not hold it, we will go and find it.
How do I ask?
Scan the WeChat code on this page, or on the competition's own page, and say which competition and school year. You can also call +86 21 6352 6630.
Do I have to be a Hanlin student?
No. The material goes to anyone who asks. Existing students also get the past-paper classes free, which is a different thing.
Are these the official materials?
They are the published papers and the organiser's own published rules, collected and indexed, plus Hanlin's own syllabus breakdowns and checklists. Hanlin is not affiliated with the organisers, and entry rules and deadlines should always be confirmed with the organiser directly.
What is the placement paper?
A short paper that shows what a student can currently do, so a course tier is chosen on evidence rather than on their year group. It is free, it takes about an hour, and the result is yours.
Resource enquiries
Name the competition and we will send the pack.
No form, no enrolment, no charge. If you are not sure which competition suits the student, say what they are good at and an advisor will suggest two or three and send the packs for all of them.