Dates and Times:

The Illinois Economics Challenge (ILEC) has two divisions: David Ricardo and Adam Smith

Choose the correct level in which to compete.  If you have questions, please contact Joy Joyce. 

Students who have taken or are taking economics courses for college credit from a post-secondary instructor are not eligible to compete. Students who have or are currently taking economics courses for college credit from high school level instructors are eligible to compete only in the Adam Smith division.

DAVID RICARDO: one semester of high school level economics (non-Advanced Placement and non-college credit course) taught by a high school teacher.  All students on a David Ricardo team must meet this standard and the school representing IL will be asked to certify that all students on their David Ricardo team meet the eligibility standard.  Students can compete in the David Ricardo division only one time.

ADAM SMITH: one or more semesters of Advanced Placement or IB economics taught by a high school teacher or more than one semester of high school economics taught by a high school teacher.

Students compete in teams of three or four and must be registered, and coached, by their high school teacher. 

WHEN TO TEST ON THE ILLINOIS ONLINE PORTAL: The online testing portal will be open for a period in the fall and in the spring. Fall testing is now open until December 19, 2025.  Spring testing will be open March 2-20, 2026.

WHEN TO RETRIEVE SCORES FROM TESTING: Teachers can access scores while the testing window is open.

The top scoring teams in Illinois in the Adam Smith division will be invited to a state finals event at North Central College in Naperville on April 13, 2026.  Teams will be notified a few weeks beforehand.

Work is in progress on an in-person state finals for determining the winning team in the David Ricardo division.

NATIONAL SEMI-FINAL ROUND ONLINE: The winning team in Illinois in each division will participate in the semi-final round of the National Economic Challenge conducted online April 20-24, 2026.

NATIONAL FINALS IN PERSON: Teams advancing to the National Finals will be announced around May 1.  The national finals will be held May 27-29, 2026 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.