Where Tomorrow’s Investors Get Their First Move
SIC S16 combines individual trading practice with a team strategy pathway for students in grades 6–12.
SIC S16 registration: 11 September–29 November 2026. Register and pay through Webloom, the official registration channel. Junior enters individually; Senior teams have 2–4 students. The Preliminary Stage handbook confirms the trading and report deadlines below.
S16: Building Market Thinking
SIC S16 offers two ways for students in grades 6–12 to develop financial knowledge: individual simulated trading in Junior, or simulated trading and team research in Senior.
Two Tracks, One Discipline
The S16 Preliminary Stage uses different scoring by division: Junior is 100% simulated trading; Senior is 10% simulated trading plus 90% investment strategy report. Senior team trading scores average the members’ individual scores.
Trading Track
Individual · Grades 6–12Junior participants trade individually. Scores follow portfolio-return rankings at the specified market close, subject to account and trading rules. Junior ends at the Preliminary Stage and does not advance to the Global Stage.
- FormatIndividual entry
- EngineOnline portfolio simulator
- DeliverableSimulated trading portfolio
- Best forSelf-directed analysts
Strategy Track
Team of 2–4 · Grades 6–12Senior teams of 2–4 combine individual simulated trading with a team investment strategy report analysing up to three stocks. Trading contributes 10% and the report 90% of the team total.
- Format2–4 person team
- EngineSimulation + research report
- DeliverableInvestment Strategy Report
- Best forCollaborative researchers
S16 Timeline · 2026–27
Trading runs from 12 October to 11 December 2026 US Market Close. Senior reports are due on 11 December 2026 at 15:00 Beijing time. Complete registration and Senior team formation by 29 November at 23:59 Beijing time. Later Global Stage and Omaha windows below come from Hanlin’s September operator briefing; exact arrangements require the organiser notice.
Three Pillars Behind the Program
SIC is built around three deliberate outcomes — what a student should leave the season with, beyond a ranking. These pillars guide curriculum, judging, and mentor selection.
Global Financial Practice
Students work in the same markets institutional analysts do — equities, sectors, macro signals — using the same valuation frameworks taught at top business schools. SIC is not a game; it is an introduction to professional method.
University Admissions Edge
Standing out in competitive university admissions takes more than transcripts. A defended investment thesis or a multi-month portfolio log gives admissions readers something specific — a piece of structured intellectual work — to evaluate. SIC alumni have used their entries in applications to leading business and economics programs worldwide.
ESG & Responsibility
The operator’s S16 briefing describes the theme as AI+ESG Investing. Senior teams should relate their research to the assigned theme and use the current Bloom report criteria.
Editorial Notes &S16 Updates
SIC S16 AI+ESG Investing: Spotting Greenwashing in a Company Thesis
For SIC S16 participants working under the AI+ESG Investing theme, an ESG claim is only as strong as its evidence. This guide gives a…
Read →SIC Leverage in Simulation: Stress-Testing Margin Before a Position Blows Up
SIC leverage magnifies equity loss, not just return. This S16 teaching guide shows how to stress-test margin before a simulated position blows up.
Read →SIC Junior Division: How to Review Simulated Trades Without a Strategy Report
For S16, the SIC Junior Division is described as individual online simulation and trading, with the investment strategy report listed under Senior Division. This…
Read →Registration closes 29 November 2026.
11 September–29 November 2026 · S16 registration
SIC guidance is available through WhatsApp &WeChat for guidance. Formal S16 registration and payment are completed through Webloom; the QR code connects you to an advisor for questions and preparation support.
The S16 Preliminary Stage handbook lists standard fees of RMB 449 per Junior participant and RMB 649 per Senior participant. Eligible early-bird and returning-participant discounts have separate conditions; confirm the payable amount in Webloom.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate in the Student Investment Challenge?
SIC S16 accepts students in grades 6–12. Junior is individual; Senior teams have 2–4 students and may span schools, grades and regions. Confirm any school-specific or guardian requirements in Webloom.
What is the difference between the Junior and Senior Divisions?
The S16 Preliminary Stage uses different scoring by division: Junior is 100% simulated trading; Senior is 10% simulated trading plus 90% investment strategy report. Senior team trading scores average the members’ individual scores. Junior is individual and ends at the Preliminary Stage; Senior teams of 2–4 may qualify for later stages.
What does the Omaha Dialogue Summit involve?
The S16 handbook includes an Omaha progression route for Senior; Junior is limited to the Preliminary Stage. Hanlin’s operator briefing lists May 2027, with exact dates, costs and selection to be confirmed.
How are entries judged — is it based on portfolio returns?
The S16 Preliminary Stage uses different scoring by division: Junior is 100% simulated trading; Senior is 10% simulated trading plus 90% investment strategy report. Senior team trading scores average the members’ individual scores.
What are the confirmed S16 dates?
SIC S16 registration: 11 September–29 November 2026. Register and pay through Webloom, the official registration channel. Trading runs from 12 October to 11 December 2026 US Market Close. Senior reports are due on 11 December 2026 at 15:00 Beijing time. Complete registration and Senior team formation by 29 November at 23:59 Beijing time.