Northwest Ohio District 2 VIRTUAL Science Day at UToledo

Judging Criteria

 

Superior

Excellent

Good

Knowledge Achieved

10-9

8-7-6

5-4-3

Effective use of Scientific Method

10-9

8-7-6

5-4-3

Clarity of Expression

10-9

8-7-6

5-4-3

Originality & Creativity

10-9

8-7-6

5-4-3

Teamwork (for teams only)

10-9

8-7-6

5-4-3

Projects in the engineering category will be judged on “Uses of Engineering Design” rather than “Effective Use of Scientific Method”.

Students receive between 1 and 10 points for each of the four categories. The points are summed to form a rating category. The minimum number of points for each rating is:

  • Superior 36
  • Excellent 24
  • Good 12

Team projects are judged in the four above categories plus a fifth category, teamwork.

In order for a participant to have a reasonable chance of qualifying for state competition he/she/ must score some combination of 10s and 9s in each of the four judging categories -- knowledge achieved, use of scientific method, clarity of expression, and originality & creativity -- totaling a 36-40 or equivalent team point total. i.e. a higher superior rating. In order to assure quality student performances at State Science Day please note that judges will be looking for the following:

1. A Student Research Plan (1A) displayed with an 8-10 page research report. Report must be neat and well organized. Although in most cases judges will not be able to critically review all aspects of the report; any spelling and grammatical errors, notable lack of scientific method, and absence of pertinent references will lower ranking.

2. All completed forms including special forms for live vertebrate animals, human subjects, recombinant DNA, controlled substances, hazardous substances and devices, human and nonhuman animal tissues, or pathogenic agents.

3. A well written complete concise abstract.

4. All superior projects must be free of errors in spelling and grammar on the display board

5. Verbal presentations of participants receiving 38-40 or team equivalent superiors must be completed without reading from note cards or reports or presenting memorized speeches. Appropriate questions from judges must be adequately answered. Participants must be comfortable with terminology and have a thorough knowledge of their research.

6. If project involves experimentation, a control or controls must be present and explained. A minimum of 3 sets of data is expected.

 
PROCEDURE FOR REJUDGING AT ALL DISTRICT AND STATE SCIENCE DAYS:


Two judges will judge each project for The Ohio Academy of Science ratings. If each judge grants a total score within any one rating category (Superior, Excellent or Good), that specific rating (Superior, Excellent or Good) will be granted to the students and no rejudging is permitted. Rejudging is automatic and is permissible ONLY IF ALL THREE of the following conditions apply:

1. The judges’ final ratings are in different categories;
2. The average of the judges’ scores is in the lower category; and
3. The judges differ in their total points by more than five points.

Last Updated: 6/27/22