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Science Olympiad · MESO

MESO — Milpitas Elementary Science Olympiad.

An elementary Science Olympiad for grades 1–6, run by Milpitas High School's Science Olympiad team. One division, 15 topics, season runs February through May. We're not affiliated; we just prep for it well.

Division
A
Topics
15
Season
Feb – May
Last update
Aug ’25
§01 / What it is

The competition in one page.

Who runs it, who competes, what the season looks like.

MESO is the Milpitas Elementary Science Olympiad — an elementary competition for kids in grades 1–6 (teams of up to 15, with at most seven sixth-graders), organized by Milpitas High School's Science Olympiad team, with 15 events in a single division. They are not all the same shape: four are written tests, three are hands-on events with no written component, and the other eight have both a written part and a hands-on part. Most events are entered by one or two students; two take up to three. The competition season runs February through May.

§02 / Topics covered

All 15 topics.

The list below is what MESO publishes each season. For event-specific scope, rules, and what to bring, check the official MESO Rulebook — it's the source of truth.

  • Anatomy & PhysiologyHuman Body & Anatomy
  • Circuit LabElectricity & Circuits
  • CodebustersCodes & Ciphers
  • CrimebustersForensics
  • Experimental DesignScientific Method
  • Green GenerationEcology & Environment
  • EstimaniaMath & Estimation
  • Knock Knock - Who's ThereBirds & Mammals
  • Weather or NotWeather & Climate
  • Reflection RelayLight & Optics
  • Simple MachinesSimple Machines
  • Straw TowerTower Engineering
  • Clay BoatBoats & Buoyancy
  • Insect InvestigationInsects & Entomology
  • Rocks & MineralsRocks & Minerals

For full event scope, rules, and eligibility → see the official MESO Rulebook.

§03 / Past tests

200+ tests. Princeton, UT Austin & more.

Past tests library · included in Premium · browse from any topic pageBrowse free sourcesSee Premium
§04 / How OlyPrep helps

What we built for MESO.

Topic-level prep spaces, AI Coach scoped to the rulebook, adaptive practice from past tests, Listen & Learn audio, and a 200+ test library. The full picture is on the homepage — start there.

See what's inside
§05 / Questions

What parents ask about MESO.

The official MESO Rulebook stays the source of truth for anything event-specific.

Q·01Who can compete in MESO?
MESO is for kids in grades 1–6. Teams are up to 15 students, with at most seven sixth-graders. It is organized by Milpitas High School's Science Olympiad team, and OlyPrep is not affiliated with the organizers.
Q·02How many events does MESO have?
Fifteen, in a single division, and they are not all the same shape. Four are written tests, three are hands-on events with no written component — Clay Boat, Straw Tower and Experimental Design — and the remaining eight have both a written part and a hands-on part. Most events are entered by one or two students; Codebusters and Experimental Design take up to three. For event-specific scope, rules, and what to bring, the official MESO Rulebook is the source of truth.
Q·03When is the MESO season?
The competition season runs February through May.
Q·04Does OlyPrep cover every MESO topic?
Yes. OlyPrep has a prep space for each of the 15 topics, scoped to the rulebook: an AI coach that stays inside that topic, practice built from past tests, audio lessons, and a report card showing which parts of a topic need work.