SIMCC · Syllabus 2026

International
Junior AI Olympiad

The accessible first rung of the AI Olympiad ladder, where Grades 1 to 12 learn to think computationally and about AI.

Computational Thinking · Generative-AI Fundamentals · First-Principles Problem Solving
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An accessible learning pathway

A structured route from early recognition and safe use, through understanding, to principled design, evaluation and creation, to build AI literacy and fluency.

Age group appropriate
Attitudes + Knowledge + Skills
Mechanism + Judgement
How to use this site
1
Read the overview
Philosophy, pillars and format.
2
Pick a grade level
Open the detailed syllabus.
3
Attempt the problem sets
Two interactive practice sets (A · B) per band, linked from each band card below.
/ what is the IJAIO

The IJAIO completes SIMCC's informatics suite, empowering young learners to become future-oriented, innovative and responsible problem solvers.

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/ the thinking model

Computational Thinking + AI Thinking

Classical computational thinking is the deterministic foundation; AI thinking augments it for the probabilistic, data-driven nature of modern generative AI.

CT

Computational Thinking

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AI

AI Thinking

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/ the five AI pillars

One spine, from first principles

Five Pillars spiral across every band, each led by a disposition and deepening from play to design. Generative AI sits at their heart, because the aim is to grow learners from users of AI into creators of it.

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/ the first-principles library

One machine, two depths, three ways in

The same journey, from numbers to a machine that writes, told at two depths. Each track offers the ideas as a hands-on explainer, an interactive story, and a one-scroll poster, and finishes with AI agents: the model put to work with tools.

The spiral behind the syllabus Ten generative-AI fundamentals, revisited at every age, shown side by side Explore the spiral →
/ choose your category

Four bands, one journey

Each card links to the band's disposition-led syllabus, its first-principles explainer, hands-on learning activities, interactive stories and two practice problem sets.

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View syllabus →
Problem sets
/ format at a glance

Knowledge, Skills, Dispositions

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/ the road ahead

Pathway to higher olympiads

IJAIO is the foundational tier of the AI Olympiad ladder. Strong high school candidates progress to the National (NOAI) and International (IOAI/IAIO) Olympiads in Artificial Intelligence.

IJAIO → NOAI → IOAI/IAIO