Official NEC Test Center – China National Round

Team Recruitment Now Open

America’s Premier High School Economics Competition

2026 CNEC China National Round – Team Recruitment in Progress

The National Economics Challenge (NEC) is the most influential high school economics competition in the United States. Organized by the Council for Economic Education (CEE), NEC has long been recognized as a gold-standard academic competition in economics.

Since its introduction to China in 2016, CNEC has expanded to more than 20 provinces and regions, reaching 300+ schools and benefiting thousands of students with strong interests in economics and finance.
Its academic rigor and student participants have received broad recognition and support from Wall Street financial institutions and top global universities.

CNEC is the only official pathway in China to advance to the NEC Global Rounds.

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🔔 Latest Updates

• 2026 CNEC Preliminary “Key Scores” Released — Check Now!

• All-in-One CNEC Preparation Resources Available
  (Past exams, booklists, mock tests, guidance materials, and more)

• 2026 NEC Preparation Materials Now Available

• 🎁 Free 2026 CNEC Preparation Package ⇓

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I. 2026 NEC China National Round – Schedule Overview

👉 Click to view: Detailed Schedule for the 2026 CNEC China National Round

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CNEC 2026 China National Round – Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the rules for changing team members?

Each advancing team is allowed one opportunity to replace one team member only.
A single representative from the team should submit the replacement request via Bloom Platform – Task Card 4.5. Multiple submissions are not required.

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2. What opportunities do waitlisted individuals have to participate in the China National Round?

• Option 1: Join an already qualified advancing team.

• Option 2: Submit a Motivation Letter (ML) as part of a Regional Round team.
  If approved, the entire team may advance to the China National Round.

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II. 2026 CNEC Annual Competition Timeline

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III. Eligibility & Division Overview

1. PRE Division (Introductory Level)

Zero-barrier entry into economics exploration

The PRE Division is designed for students new to economics. Through engaging, real-life economics concepts, diverse activities, and peer collaboration, students explore the discipline, spark academic interest, and begin building a distinctive academic profile.

Eligibility:
Students who have not yet studied economics or have only completed IGCSE introductory economics prior to September 2025.

Regional Round Format:
Online assessment covering:

• Microeconomics

• Macroeconomics

Team Rules:

• Teams of 2–4 students

• Team formation must be completed by November 30, 2025

• Cross-school teams default to the team leader’s school (modifiable once on Bloom)

* Individual participation is allowed at the Regional Round stage only. Team participation is required at the China and Global Rounds.

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2. David Ricardo Division (Intermediate Level)

A powerful booster for standardized economics performance (50%+ improvement)

The DR Division aligns with IB, AP, and A-Level curricula and emphasizes structured self-study, practice-driven learning, and academic skill development.

Eligibility:
Students who have studied Microeconomics or Macroeconomics in IB, AP, or AS curricula before September 2025.

Regional Round Format:
Online assessment covering:

• Microeconomics

• Macroeconomics

• International Economics

Team Rules:

• Teams of 4 students

• Same-division teams only

• Team formation deadline: November 30, 2025

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3. Adam Smith Division (Advanced Level)

A must-have credential for Ivy League & G5 aspirants

The AS Division represents the highest level of CNEC competition, featuring advanced academic challenges, multi-dimensional evaluations, and rigorous judging. It is widely recognized by Ivy League and UK G5 universities.

Eligibility:
Recommended for students who have completed IB/AP/A-Level Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.

Regional Round Format:
Online assessment covering:

• Microeconomics

• Macroeconomics

• International Economics

Team Rules:

• Teams of 4 students

• Same-division teams only

• Team formation deadline: November 30, 2025

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IV. Competition & Academic Program Structure

One China Round · Three Global Rounds

Multiple global pathways, maximum academic value

Backed by CEE’s 76+ years of academic standards, CNEC brings together youth economics leaders from 50+ countries, impacting over 5 million students worldwide.

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Regional Round – Foundation in Economic Literacy

Qualifying Test
Objective-format assessment covering microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economics. Emphasis is placed on foundational concepts and classic models to build structured economic thinking.

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China National Round – China’s Largest High School Economics Academic Event

Qualifying Test
Advanced assessment incorporating complex data, real-world scenarios, and higher-order reasoning.

Critical Thinking – Case Analysis
Team-based research involving data collection, analysis, report writing, and presentation before expert judges. Develops research, writing, public speaking, and critical thinking skills.

Super Econ! – Economics Innovation Quiz
Fast-paced, competitive quiz emphasizing economic knowledge, responsiveness, and teamwork.

Econ Lab – Interdisciplinary Economics Lab
A time-limited, real-world, interdisciplinary research challenge integrating economics with other fields to solve complex problems.

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Global Rounds – U.S. / Asia / UK

Where the world’s top young economists compete

Quiz Bowl
Head-to-head buzzer competition testing focus, speed, and strategic reasoning.

U20 Voice of Econ Youth
Global youth forums addressing major economic issues. Outstanding teams receive recognition and joint recommendations from academia and industry.

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Global Highlights

• June 2026 | United States
  Elite academic challenge reviewed by Wall Street think tanks and global economic leaders.

• August 2026 | Asia
  A selective (1:70) global youth economics summit—often described as a “TED-stage for young leaders.”

• August 2026 | United Kingdom
  A newly launched global round in collaboration with institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge, creating a premier economics academic stage in the UK.

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V. Academic Value & Global Recognition

01. Globally Recognized Academic Standards

CEE — A 76-year global authority in economics education
Partner institutions include PwC, Citi, Bloomberg, and other leading financial organizations.

Judging panels feature:

• Former Federal Reserve policymakers

• Chief economists from global investment banks

• Senior executives from Fortune 500 companies

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02. A Global Hub for Youth Economics Exchange

• Students from 5+ countries and regions

• 3 global destinations

• An academic platform impacting 5M+ students worldwide

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03. A Powerful Boost for IB / AP / A-Level Economics

Over 60% of Global Round participants receive offers from top universities, including:
Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial College, NYU, UChicago, Toronto, and more.

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04. Direct Exposure to Real-World Institutions

Opportunities include:

• Visits to the U.S. Federal Reserve

• Exposure via CNBC global coverage

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05. A Fully Integrated Academic Training Pathway

From theory → case analysis → interdisciplinary application → creative solutions, CNEC builds depth, analytical ability, application skills, and creativity.

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VI. NEC Preparation Resources

• Past NEC Exam Papers

• Official Reading Lists

• CNEC Mock Exams & Solutions

• Student Handbooks & Guidance Materials

🎁 Free access available via QR code

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VII. NEC Official Preparation Materials

Exclusive CNEC & IEO (International Economics Olympiad) training materials compiled by the center’s senior faculty team—recognized and adopted by leading international schools.

🎁 Available on a first-come, first-served basis

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About NEC

NEC is America’s leading high school economics competition.
Each year, nearly 10,000 students nationwide participate, testing their understanding of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and the global economy.

The competition builds knowledge, confidence, and lifelong friendships, offering students an unforgettable academic experience.

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Disclaimer:
This website is not the official NEC website. The NEC Economics Competition Club provides competition consultation and preparation resources only.