Tips for Judging
Get your project ready for the moment it matters most: standing in front of a judge and explaining your work.
What Judges Are Really Looking For
Judges want to see that you understand your own project, not that you have memorized a script. They ask questions to find out how you thought through your experiment, what you learned, and how you would improve it next time.
- Can you explain why you chose your topic and your variables?
- Do you understand your own data, not just your conclusion?
- Can you talk about what you would change if you did it again?
For a closer look at specific questions judges tend to ask, see our Judge Q&A page.
Handling Judge Feedback
Judges sometimes point out weaknesses in a project's design or data. That is normal and not a sign of failure. Listen carefully, take notes if you can, and answer honestly rather than defensively.
If a judge asks something you cannot answer, it is better to say what you do know and explain your reasoning than to guess. A clear, honest response about your process shows more scientific thinking than a perfect answer would.
Make Sure Your Project Explains Itself
Before judging day, practice walking through your board and materials out loud. A well-explained project has:
- A clear statement of the question you were testing.
- Variables and procedure explained in plain language.
- Data presented with a graph the judge can read quickly.
- A conclusion that connects back to your original question.
This groundwork is easier if it starts early. Review the steps in Designing Your Own Project to make sure each part of your project supports the story you tell judges.