Academic Decathlon
Academic Decathlon is the highest level of academic competition in the nation that isn’t about a single event but 10 different events that test the decathletes over multiple skills and disciples. This competition is not a sprint to the finish line but a marathon of student learning and development over the course of a year that tests each competitor’s wit, dedication, and their motivation to excel.
Each year the events center around a main theme that is announced the year before. Next year’s theme is WATER.
Each year the events center around a main theme that is announced the year before. Next year’s theme is WATER.
The Team
The teams are created by using the student’s GPA to place them in one of three divisions. Three members from each of the three divisions make up a team of nine.
VARSITY LEVEL:
GPA below 3.1 in core courses over the previous two scholastic years. While having the lowest GPAs on the team, these members are some of the most important on the competitive team. Smart students that struggle in the traditional classroom that can excel in a competitive environment give the team a huge advantage over other teams, as students that typically have C averages in core classes are not traditionally strong academically. They are the ringers of the team.
SCHOLASTIC LEVEL:
GPA above 3.1 but below 3.78 in core courses over the previous two scholastic years. These members are the integral work horses of the team that keep everything together. They face tough competition that requires students to work on their weaknesses in order to attain victory.
HONORS LEVEL:
GPA above 3.78 in core courses over the previous two scholastic years.
These are the anchors of the team. They face fierce competition and study in attempts to hit perfection on exams. These students learn more than most how to push their limits, as Decathlon competition truly pits Honors students against the best and brightest in the state.
Note: For classification purposes a grade in an honors or AP course do not receive extra points in computation of competitive level.
VARSITY LEVEL:
GPA below 3.1 in core courses over the previous two scholastic years. While having the lowest GPAs on the team, these members are some of the most important on the competitive team. Smart students that struggle in the traditional classroom that can excel in a competitive environment give the team a huge advantage over other teams, as students that typically have C averages in core classes are not traditionally strong academically. They are the ringers of the team.
SCHOLASTIC LEVEL:
GPA above 3.1 but below 3.78 in core courses over the previous two scholastic years. These members are the integral work horses of the team that keep everything together. They face tough competition that requires students to work on their weaknesses in order to attain victory.
HONORS LEVEL:
GPA above 3.78 in core courses over the previous two scholastic years.
These are the anchors of the team. They face fierce competition and study in attempts to hit perfection on exams. These students learn more than most how to push their limits, as Decathlon competition truly pits Honors students against the best and brightest in the state.
Note: For classification purposes a grade in an honors or AP course do not receive extra points in computation of competitive level.
The Competition
The team of 9 go on to compete in 5 different types of events that will put their mastery of various subjects and disciplines to the test. These events include:
Tests of knowledge
These 7 multiple choice tests are from the seven Academic Decathlon subjects that center around their knowledge of broad, but very important topic of WATER (the announced central topic for the 2021-2022 season)
SCIENCE: The science topic will be an introduction to marine biology.
LITERATURE: The literature curriculum will include critical reading, one long work of literature, and selected shorter works. The long work of literature will be The Sea-Wolf by Jack London.
ART: The art curriculum will explore the impact of water on art, including subtopics such as ink wash painting, watercolor, water as a subject of art, and the use of water in architecture, sculpture, and environmental art.
MUSIC: The music curriculum will explore the many ways water has influenced music, from musical instruments that rely on water to compositions inspired by water.
SOCIAL SCIENCE: The social science topic will be the impact of water on human history.
ECONOMICS: The economics curriculum will cover fundamental economic concepts, microeconomics, and macroeconomics. This topic will prepare Decathletes for AP economics.
MATHEMATICS: The mathematics curriculum will cover permutations and combinations, algebra, and statistics.*
Speech
In the prepared speech, you'll speak for up to four minutes on any topic you'd like. Afterward, you'll be asked to speak give an impromptu speech for up to two minutes on a topic you haven't seen before with only one minute to prepare. Students who are not comfortable speaking in front of people will find by the end of the competitive season that they have abilities they never thought they had.
Interview
You will be given 7 minutes to answer questions about the most interesting subject, yourself. The judges will ask you various questions pertaining to your background, interests, and goals.
Essay
You will be given 50 minutes to write the strongest paper possible on one of 3 prompts that you are given that can be from 6 of the 7 Academic Decathlon subjects- excluding math.
Super Quiz Relay
This is the one Academic Decathlon event that is open to the public. In this event, each division (Varsity, Scholastic, and Honors) will work together to answer 39 multiple choice questions in front of a live audience with only 10 seconds to deliberate among themselves. Each division will answer 13 questions, 2 from each of the 6 subjects and 1 question of math that they can use a calculator on. After the Varsity division completes their 13 questions, they will sit down as the Scholastic division tries to add points to their score, then the Honors division will answer the final 13 questions to end the relay.