Tennessee Science Bowl Format

The regional competition is played in a question-and-answer format in which two student teams attempt to answer toss-up and bonus questions. Teams are randomly placed in divisions and play against the teams within their division during the round-robin rounds. The top two teams in each division advance to the single-elimination rounds in the afternoon.

How It Works

  1. Each regional competition round is divided into two eight-minute halves with a two-minute break.
  2. The first half begins as soon as the moderator begins the first toss-up question. Before reading the question, the moderator identifies:
    • whether it is a toss-up or bonus question
    • the subject area
    • whether it is multiple choice or short answer
  3. If a contestant elects to answer the toss-up question, he/she activates the lock-out system (an electronic device that locks out all other contestants and identifies the student who wishes to answer the toss-up question). The moderator then verbally recognizes the student.
  4. Should the student answer the toss-up question correctly, the student's team receives 4 points and is awarded a bonus question. A correct answer to the bonus question results in the team receiving an additional 10 points.
  5. Play then continues with the reading of the next toss-up question to the two teams.
  6. On toss-up questions, team members may communicate with each other non-verbally (e.g., in writing or by hand signals). They may not, however, communicate verbally or use mouthing for communication.
  7. As a toss-up question is read, a student may cause an interruption to the reading of the question.
    • If the moderator verbally recognizes the student and he/she answers correctly, that team is awarded 4 points, and the team wins the right to answer a bonus question.
    • If the student interrupts the question, is verbally recognized, but answers the toss-up question incorrectly, 4 points are awarded to the opposing team and the question is read in its entirety to the opposing team. That team may answer the toss-up question for a chance at the bonus.
  8. A student MUST wait to be verbally recognized by the moderator before beginning to answer the toss-up questions. If a student answers a toss-up before being verbally recognized, the opposing team is awarded 4 points, the response is ignored (the moderator will not reveal whether the answer was correct or incorrect), and the toss-up question is offered to the opposing team. This rule is necessary to avoid situations where two team members think they have activated the lock-out system and blurt out simultaneous answers.
  9. The game is over when the second half ends, or 23 toss-up questions have been read. The winning team is the one with the greater point total.