How coaching institutes are tapping the new market – Olympiads after Indian students’ stellar run

New space, big opportunity

The market is subtly growing. Big coaching giants are entering this space. Unacademy and Career Launcher launched their aptitude series last year, FIITJEE entered this year while Vedantu started its online Olympiad school in 2020. Aakash Institute and Allen Institute have been in the business for nearly a decade.

Indian students performance in International Olympiads this year. (Graphic by Abhishek Mitra)

Apart from these, there are many players in the business that have mushroomed in the last 10-15 years. They provide rewards such as cash prizes, trophies, and scholarships to lure the students. School support is also a reason why many private bodies are thriving in the market.

“We realised that many institutes’ claim to prepare students for Olympiads is not genuine as they don’t prepare for an all-India Olympiad or just give them easy objective-type questions that don’t test problem-solving skills. Since parents who want their children to build aptitude have been demanding guidance… we decided to start our own series,” said Ramesh Batlish, managing partner and head, FIITJEE Noida centres.

As per a Pune-based consultancy firm, the market revenue of the coaching industry in India was around Rs 58,088 crore in March 2022 and will scale up to Rs 1,33,995 crore by 2028.

However, the registration for Olympiad preparation classes is not as high as the other two big competitive exams in the undergraduate category – JEE Main and NEET. Some of these students later join the coaching classes for competitive exams. The Olympiad schools also prepare them for the National Talent Search Examination. This way, these institutes are tapping the talent early and increasing their reach.

Batches generally start in September-October and are in sync with the international Olympiad schedule that is usually held in July. Fees for most are somewhere around Rs 8,000-25,000, depending upon the course, sessions, and study material. The students from Classes 6-12 are eligible to appear.

Why is the popularity of science and maths Olympiads growing?

School initiatives, the Internet, social media, and the commendable performances of Indian students in the last decade have made parents sit and take serious note of science and maths competitions. “In 2009, when we started batches, there was little information available and that too in the metro cities. The inquiries picked around 2016 and we started focusing on Olympiads,” said Vivek C Bhatt, national academic director (foundation), Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL).

While the first International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) was held in 1959, India started participating in 1989. During the ’90s, the awareness was limited to cities. India was not doing so well then, but the on-ground ecosystem was rich enough to inspire many.

Opening up of newer avenues and science branches are some of the reasons for the growing demand, as per Batlish. “Now, research on pure or core sciences is attracting young minds. They also want to be ready for global exams like SAT, GRE, etc to be able to get admissions in the foreign universities,” he said.

In these years, parents’ approach, too, has changed. They do understand starting early will be beneficial for students. They are more aware of the exams and the benefits. “One mother came and enquired about the physics Olympiad preparation. She was keen on getting her child admission in MIT, USA, or the Ivy League colleges,” Bhatt said.

These exams, as per experts, not only build problem-solving skills, and boost confidence but also prepare students for milestone exams like JEE, SAT, NTSE, and more. Many reputed universities recognise these Olympiad winners. Akarsh Sahay won a silver medal in the International Physics Olympiad this year. He will pursue physics from Oxford University. He said his performance in physics added value in his personal statement.

Moreover, students with exceptionally good performance in the national Olympiads in maths and physics (conducted by HBSCE) and the Indian Computing Olympiad conducted by IARCS are exempted from writing the BSc entrance examination at Chennai Mathematical Institute. Recently, IIT Kanpur has announced that admission through Olympiads in BTech-BS programmes will be made in five departments from the 2025-26 academic year.

Some of these winners also perform well in national exams or their careers. Parag Agrawal, the former CEO of Twitter (now X), won a gold medal in the International Physics Olympiad in 2001.

Olympiads teach more than just academics

Unfortunately, the success ratio of reaching the international Olympiad is low.

Many parents believe even if their ward fails to reach the top level, at least they are skilled for school exams and other tests. “Even if my child doesn’t make it to the international stage, the preparation and skills gained through this journey will benefit them greatly in their school exams and beyond,” said a parent of a national-level math Olympiad participant.

“It is not just about winning; it’s about nurturing a strong foundation and resilience in learning,” he added.

Moreover, most parents want their children to qualify undergraduate national or state competitive examinations. Besides topics, they learn to handle exam anxieties.

“Participating in serious Olympiad exams develops logical thinking, enhances analytical skills, and instils study discipline. Facing pressure in these challenging competitions early on helps students build resilience while the stakes are still low,” said Nitin Shukla, father of Aaryan Shukla who won the Guinness World Record in maths.

Is it overburdening young minds?

Would these competitions add pressure on the children who start preparing for entrance tests for admission in colleges at a tender age? Experts said that while the JEE Main and Advanced syllabus is book and application-based, international Olympiads have a practical and experimental approach. In maths, JEE broadly covers Class 11 and 12 syllabi while Olympiads focus on the geometry of advanced level. Similarly, physics and chemistry Olympiads cover the topic in depth. Biology Olympiads, however, are similar to NEET. “Any student who has prepared for the biology Olympiad can score above 108 marks in NEET UG,” said Bhatt.

Participating in Olympiads and competitions has improved my analytical and problem-solving skills, the math genius Aaryan Shukla said.

“I don’t focus much on gaining a competitive edge, but I do believe those who avoid challenging exams may miss out on valuable growth. School studies are well-structured, so with good time management, I feel very little pressure. Additionally, support from school and teachers makes managing everything easier,” Aaryan Shukla added.

As Sandeep Kamra, head (senior years), Shiv Nadar School Gurugram put it: “Olympiads provide an excellent opportunity for students to deepen subject knowledge and sharpen problem-solving skills, which are beneficial for exams like JEE and NEET. With the right guidance and time management, Olympiad preparation can complement regular studies and even serve as a ‘super curriculum’ advantage for international university admissions.

“While it may seem Olympiads and competitive exams require different approaches, both focus on conceptual understanding and critical thinking. Effective self-management helps students handle both pursuits, enriching their academic journey without added pressure.”

The final goal is to encourage participation, building resilience and confidence while ensuring students enjoy the process, experts said.