Academic Decathlon

Organized by the U.S Academic Decathlon, the Academic Decathlon is an annual high school academic competition, which consists of seven objective multiple choice tests, two subjective performance events, and an essay.
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Academic Decathlon

Competition Overview

9th to 12th grade
Eligibility
$250
Team Registration Fee
April 11, 2024
National Competition Registration Due
May 16-18, 2024
National Competition

Competition Details

1. Competition Introduction
In the competition, students learn an exciting new theme each year. For 2023-2024, the theme is  Technology and Humanity. Students will explore seven subjects connected to that theme, from art and science to math and economics. Students have to master ten different skills and disciplines related to that theme

2. Eligibility
A team consists of nine full-time students from the ninth through twelfth grades of the same high school; or, if there is no ninth grade, a team consists of nine full-time students from the tenth through twelfth grades of the same high school. Each team is made up of three Honor students, three Scholastic students, and three Varsity students in accordance with the following grade point average definitions:

Honor: 3.80 – 4.00 GPA
Scholastic: 3.20 – 3.799 GPA
Varsity: 0.00 – 3.199 GPA

Contestants may compete in a higher division than their own grade point average category but not in a lower division.

3. Deadline

  • Registration Documents Due – December 8, 2023
  • Scrimmage – Subject Area Exams Only – January 11, 2024
  • Essay for Regional Competition – January 25, 2024
  • Regional Competition – February 15, 2024
  • Essay for State Competition – March 7, 2024
  • State Competition – March 28, 2024
  • National Competition Registration Due – April 11, 2024
  • Essay for National Competition – April 18, 2024
  • National Competition Phoenix, AZ – May 16-18, 2024

3. Events Details 
Students will participate in five different types of events.

  • Super Quiz™: The team will take turns solving multiple-choice challenges in front of a live audience. At the national finals, 3 members in a team will work together to figure out the best answer to each question before time runs out.
  • Speech: Students will speak for up to four minutes on any topic of choice. Afterward, students will speak for up to two minutes on a new topic they haven’t seen before.
  • Interview: Students will have seven minutes to answer questions about themselves. Be ready to answer questions about background, interests, and goals.
  • Essay: Students will write a paper within 50 minutes. Topics are related to six of the seven Academic Decathlon subjects—excluding only math.
  • Tests of Knowledge: At the end, students will take seven multiple choice exams, one in each of the Academic Decathlon subjects: Art, Music, Social Science, Science, Economics, Literature, and Mathematics. 

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