Arguably one of if not the most stressful events of the WSC, the Scholar’s Challenge tests each participants ability to recall the curriculum and use logic to correctly answer 120 questions. Spread out over a single hour, the Scholar’s Challenge is also the quietest event in the WSC. So what do you need to know about this daunting event? What hazards lay in store for you along the way? What terms and procedures are undertaken at this event? Find out below!
Important Terms:
Answer Sheet: Like many large tests nowadays, the scholar’s challenge will be assessed by a machine reader, as such your answers will be separate from the questions. The answer sheet will be the first thing you need to either retrieve or will already be on your table. Usually just a single page, the sheet will be split into 2 columns. Each column has roughly 60 rows of 5 bubbles (as shown below). We’ll get into what each bubble means and how the test is divided up later on in this section.
Important Terms:
Answer Sheet: Like many large tests nowadays, the scholar’s challenge will be assessed by a machine reader, as such your answers will be separate from the questions. The answer sheet will be the first thing you need to either retrieve or will already be on your table. Usually just a single page, the sheet will be split into 2 columns. Each column has roughly 60 rows of 5 bubbles (as shown below). We’ll get into what each bubble means and how the test is divided up later on in this section.
Questions Booklet: Usually the last thing that ever lands on your table during the scholar’s challenge, the question booklet is about 5-6 double sided pages containing a total of 120 questions. Given the total time of 60 minutes, that means you need to answer 2 questions every minute to have any hope of finishing on time.
Answer Bubbles: The scholar’s challenge is a multiple-choice test. Each question has 5 options labelled A,B,C,D and E underneath it. This corresponds to the 5 bubbles labelled with those same letters (left to right) on the answer sheet. Unlike a traditional multiple-choice test though, the scholar’s challenge actually allows you to fill in multiple bubbles, you still get scored as long as the correct answer has also been filled in. Be careful however, the more bubbles you fill in on a question, the lower your score for the correct answer will be. Please refer to the table below for a guide as to how many options corresponds to what score:
Answer Bubbles: The scholar’s challenge is a multiple-choice test. Each question has 5 options labelled A,B,C,D and E underneath it. This corresponds to the 5 bubbles labelled with those same letters (left to right) on the answer sheet. Unlike a traditional multiple-choice test though, the scholar’s challenge actually allows you to fill in multiple bubbles, you still get scored as long as the correct answer has also been filled in. Be careful however, the more bubbles you fill in on a question, the lower your score for the correct answer will be. Please refer to the table below for a guide as to how many options corresponds to what score:
Please also note that you need to fully colour the bubbles you wish to answer with, as shown in the photo below:
Topic Sections: With 6 areas on the curriculum (History, Science, Social Studies, Special Area, Literature, Art and Music) and 120 questions on the challenge, you know there’s some system of dividing the topics. Each topic has 20 questions, all 20 questions for 1 topic are given first before moving on to the next 20 questions for another topic. All you need to do is make sure that the question number on your answer sheet corresponds to the number on the actual question you’re answering. You also don’t have any restrictions on which question (or section) to start with first. Any order is fine as long as you correctly fill in the answer on the right question number.
Seating Allocation: Since most of the academic events in the WSC are done in your team of three, the scholar’s challenge is the only one that divides you. This is an individual event that splits your team up. Usually (at least in globals) there will be some sort of “seating plan” based on your overall team number and individual letter. Just look out for it when you enter the venue.
So now that you’re well-stocked on scholar’s challenge terms, let’s find out what actually happens when you walk into that room of dread and hate (or in my case, interest and joy).
Scholar’s Challenge Procedure
Congratulations! You have reached the end of this introduction and have hopefully learnt a little bit more about the Scholar’s Challenge. Ready to get yourself acquainted with the curriculum that will guarantee some degree of success (and stress-relief) for the challenge? Click on the button below to view the WSC resources.
Seating Allocation: Since most of the academic events in the WSC are done in your team of three, the scholar’s challenge is the only one that divides you. This is an individual event that splits your team up. Usually (at least in globals) there will be some sort of “seating plan” based on your overall team number and individual letter. Just look out for it when you enter the venue.
So now that you’re well-stocked on scholar’s challenge terms, let’s find out what actually happens when you walk into that room of dread and hate (or in my case, interest and joy).
Scholar’s Challenge Procedure
- Arrival at venue and seating: Usually the scholar’s challenge is either the first academic event to occur on the second day, or the first one after lunch. Regardless of which it is, when you enter the room be prepared to say goodbye to your teammates. There will usually be a few WSC staff and volunteer helpers to guide you as to where you’ll be sitting.
- Retrieval of Answer Sheets: Sometimes (in Global Rounds and Tournament of Champions especially), the helpers will direct you to stations at the front of the venue to collect your team’s answer sheets. Make sure you retrieve the ones with your team number on them, lest your score be confused with that of someone else. Once that’s done, give 1 to each member on your team and sit down.
- Distribution of Question Booklets: The last thing that occurs before the actual challenge itself starts, the WSC Staff and volunteers will distribute question booklets to every single scholar. Allow 10-15 minutes for this to happen, after all there can be up to (and possibly exceeding) 750 scholars in the same room taking the challenge! Once everyone has the question booklet, the announcer at the front of the room will start the challenge.
- Answer, Answer and Scratch Head: For the next 60 minutes (there’s usually a timer displayed on a big screen), the entire room will be silent. Scholars will confidently answer questions on areas they’ve studied, others will be scratching their heads at those they were reluctant to review, some might even fill in all 5 bubbles for every question! Whatever the case is, the next 60 minutes are your time to try your best on the practice challenge.
- ANDDDDDD..... TIMEEEEEE: Once the alarm rings on the big screen, the announcer will end the scholar’s challenge. This announcement is usually met with cheers of joy, thunderous applause and (for some) tears. Now begins the long and painful process of cleaning up.
- Collection of question booklets and answer sheets: Often times, the WSC staff will collect both the question booklets and answer sheets (to avoid any last-minute answer corrections). During this time, sit back and chat with those around you, see how they did on the challenge (you might find you did acceptable!). Once all the question and answer booklets are collected, you are free to get up and stretch a bit before collaborative writing (or debate, or lunch) begins.
Congratulations! You have reached the end of this introduction and have hopefully learnt a little bit more about the Scholar’s Challenge. Ready to get yourself acquainted with the curriculum that will guarantee some degree of success (and stress-relief) for the challenge? Click on the button below to view the WSC resources.
Alternatively, for those of you wishing to join the next season (for which there have yet to be any resources). Click on the button below to learn some quick tips as to how to succeed and not stress out too much (yes it is possible to calmly take the challenge) at the Scholar’s Challenge Guide page.
Finally, for those of you wishing to learn more about the other (usually less-stressful) events of the WSC, click on the button below to return to the introductions homepage.