In the US state of Texas science is one of several academic events sanctioned by the University Interscholastic League. It is also a competition held by the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association, using the same rules as the UIL.

Science is designed to test students' knowledge of scientific fact, understanding of scientific principles and the ability to think through scientific problems.

Eligibility

Students in Grade 7 through Grade 12 are eligible to enter this event. Students in Grade 6 may compete with permission of the district executive committee, but can only compete in each junior high division (see below) only one time throughout their academic career.

For competition purposes, Grades 7 and 8 compete in separate divisions (Division I for Grade 7 and Division II for Grade 8) while Grades 9-12 compete together, with separate subjects covered on each test as follows:

  • The test for Grades 6-8 covers matter and energy, equilibrium, force and motion, physical and chemical properties, the relationship between organisms and the environment, the components of our solar system, and the composition of matter and genetics.
  • The test for Grades 9-12 covers biology, chemistry, and physics, with 20 questions in each general field (though physics and chemistry often overlap).

Each school may send up to three students for each junior high division. In order for a school to participate in team competition, the school must send three students.

For Grades 9-12 each school may send up to six students; students qualify for the next level if they are on the winning team, score in the top three individuals at a meet, or place first in biology, chemistry, or physics. In order for a school to participate in team competition, the school must send at least three students. Team scores are found by adding the scores of the top 3 individuals from a school.

Rules and Scoring

As the format and rules differ significantly for the junior high and high school levels, each is discussed separately below.

Junior High Level

The test consists of 50 questions, which must be completed in 45 minutes. A time warning is given at 30 minutes. At the stop signal, incomplete answers cannot be completed. Calculators are not allowed.

The questions may be answered in any order; there is no penalty for skipping questions.

Scoring is five points for each correct answer, and two points deducted for each incorrect answer. Unanswered questions are not scored.

High School Level

At the high school level, the test consists of 60 questions, which must be completed in two hours. The first 20 questions involve biology, the second twenty questions involve chemistry, and the final twenty questions involve physics. No time warning is given, except that tests cannot be turned in until the proctor announces that 30 minutes have passed.

The questions may be answered in any order; there is no penalty for skipping questions.

Questions must be answered to the proper number of significant digits, with "small variation" in the final significant digit acceptable.

The test booklet includes a periodic table of the elements, including atomic weights and atomic numbers, plus other scientific relationships, such as the vacuum speed of light or the gravitational constant, which may be used by the student.

Scratch paper is allowed in the contest, and notations may be made anywhere except on the answer sheet. Students may bring one calculator plus one spare, so long as it does not need external power. Hand-held computers are not allowed, nor are any calculators with factory-installed memory or with the ability to accept memory cards or memory sticks.

Scoring is six points for each correct answer, and two points deducted for each incorrect answer. Unanswered questions are not scored. In addition to the total score, each subsection (biology, chemistry, and physics) is scored separately.

Determining the Winner

Junior High

Scoring is posted for only the top six individual places and the top three teams.

There are no tiebreakers for either individual or team competition.

High School Level

The top three individuals and the top team (determined based on the scores of the top three individuals) will advance to the next round. In addition, within each region, the highest-scoring second place team from all district competitions advances as the "wild card" to regional competition (provided the team has four members), and within the state, the highest-scoring second place team from all regional competitions advances as the wild card to the state competition. Members of advancing teams who did not place individually remain eligible to compete for individual awards at higher levels. Furthermore, the individuals with the top score in each subsection will also advance even if the individual was not one of the top three overall scorers or the top team.

For individual competition (overall and for each subsection), the tiebreaker is percent accuracy (number of problems answered correctly divided by number of problems attempted, defined as any question with a mark or erasure in the answer blank). In the event a tie remains, all remaining individuals will advance.

For team competition, the score of the fourth-place individual is used as the tiebreaker. If a team has only three members it is not eligible to participate in the tiebreaker. If the fourth-place score still results in a tie, the individual tiebreaker rules will not apply, and all remaining tied teams will advance. At the state level ties for first place are not broken.

For district meet academic championship and district meet sweepstakes awards, points are awarded to the school as follows:

  • Individual places:
    • Overall score: 1st--15, 2nd--12, 3rd--10, 4th--8, 5th--6, and 6th--4.
    • In addition, the school with the top scorer in a subsection receives 3 points. A school can earn multiple subsection points even if the same student is the top scorer in two, or all three, of the subsections.
  • Team places: 1st--10 and 2nd--5.
  • The maximum number of points a school can earn in Science is 42.

The student with the most wins in the history of the competition is Kieran Fitzgerald from Friendswood High School, who achieved the highest score in any division three years in a row: 2003-2004, 2004-2005, and 2005-2006.

List of prior winners

Individual (Overall)

NOTE: For privacy reasons, only the winning school is shown. The 1958-59 winner was an "all schools" winner; beginning with the 1959-60 academic year winners were held in all five classifications. The classifications were renumbered in 1980-81, with Class B becoming Class A and the other classes adding one letter (thus, Class A became Class AA, and so forth).[1]

School YearClass AClass AAClass AAAClass AAAAClass AAAAA Class AAAAAA
1980-81Paint RockWolfe CityNew BraunfelsBrownfieldHouston Westchester
1981-82Paint RockLindsayKermitCollege Station A&M ConsolidatedPlano
1982-83RobyAnnaNorth LamarAlamo HeightsHouston Stratford
1983-84LindsaySpringlake-EarthPflugervilleNew BraunfelsArlington Lamar
1984-85Gold-BurgBairdNorth LamarCorpus Christi Flour BluffLubbock
1985-86Lenorah GradyBairdSlatonAustin WestlakeArlington
1986-87LindsayLiberty HillSlatonDenisonHouston Stratford
1987-88LindsayCliftonLampasasCedar HillHouston Stratford
1988-89PlainsRedwaterLampasasGranburyLeague City Clear Creek
1989-90AveryRedwaterBishopKerrville TivyHouston Memorial
1990-91Valley MillsSpringlake-EarthLampasasKerrville TivyLeague City Clear Creek
1991-92Valley MillsCanadianTroyCarthageKlein
1992-93LindsayWimberleySeminoleKingsvilleSan Antonio Holmes
1993-94LindsayFlorenceCueroKingsvilleSan Antonio Holmes
1994-95RuleTroupWaco ConnallyMesquite PoteetFort Worth Dunbar
1995-96RuleFranklinWimberleyAustin JohnsonSugar Land Elkins
1996-97Garden CityCanadianCommerceAustin AndersonHumble
1997-98Lenorah GradySundownBridgeportAustin JohnsonCollege Station A&M Consolidated
1998-99Lenorah GradyRogersAlvaradoAustin JohnsonTyler Lee
1999-2000Water ValleySaladoLa FeriaGregory-PortlandHouston Bellaire
2000-01Lenorah GradyStinnett West TexasSeminoleKingsvilleArlington Lamar
2001-02High IslandPattonville PrairilandSeminoleCedar ParkSouth Texas Science Academy
2002-03Port AransasArgyleWimberleyWhite Settlement BrewerBrazoswood
2003-04AveryArgyleBallingerFriendswoodKlein
2004-05Port AransasArgyleSeminoleFriendswoodSugar Land Clements
2005-06(tie) Garden City/Nueces CanyonArgyleCueroFriendswoodKaty Taylor
2006-07Garden CityFloydadaCueroHighland ParkSan Antonio MacArthur
2007-08MoultonVanderbilt IndustrialWimberleyFriendswoodSugar Land Clements
2008-09CanadianWhite OakWimberleyAustin Lake TravisArlington Martin
2009-10CanadianWhite OakWhitneyHighland ParkSugar Land Clements
2010-11CanadianWhitneyLa FeriaHighland ParkFort Worth Paschal
2011-12CanadianLago VistaLa FeriaHighland ParkSugar Land Dulles
2012-13SundownWhitneyArgyleHighland ParkDallas Science & Engineering Magnet
2013-14 Lockney San Antonio Cole Argyle Pearland Dawson Sugar Land Dulles
2020-21 Guthrie Eldorado Skidmore-Tynan Argyle Mission Sharyland Pioneer Arlington Martin

[2]

Individual (Biology)

NOTE: For privacy reasons, only the winning school is shown. The UIL did not score individual subsections until the 1985-86 scholastic year.[1]

School YearClass AClass AAClass AAAClass AAAAClass AAAAA Class AAAAAA
1985-86Ropesville RopesWaskomSlatonDaytonSugar Land Dulles
1986-87LindsayWaskomSlatonCorpus Christi Flour BluffKilleen Ellison
1987-88LindsaySan Antonio LacklandLampasasCedar HillArlington
1988-89WheelerVan AlstyneLampasasAndrewsLubbock
1989-90(tie) Avery/Petrolia/MedinaRedwaterWylieNorth LamarJersey Village
1990-91Valley MillsWaskomLampasasKerrville TivyLeague City Clear Creek
1991-92LindsayIngram Tom MooreHalletsville(tie) Carthage/Highland Park(tie) Klein/Langham Creek
1992-93LindsayCanadianRockdaleNorth LamarSugar Land Clements
1993-94LindsayValley MillsPearsallNorth LamarFort Worth Dunbar
1994-95RuleTroupWimberley(tie) Mesquite Poteet/North LamarFort Worth Dunbar
1995-96RuleFranklinKirbyville(tie) Port Lavaca Calhoun/Austin Johnson/North LamarCollege Station A&M Consolidated
1996-97Garden CityYorktownCommerceLongview Pine Tree(tie) Houston Bellaire/Sugar Land Clements
1997-98Lenorah GradyLexingtonWimberleyBay CityCorpus Christi Carroll
1998-99Lenorah GradyCallisburgShallowater(tie) Midlothian/Sulphur SpringsAustin Westlake
1999-2000Lenorah GradyColemanKirbyvilleGregory-PortlandHouston Bellaire
2000-01Lenorah GradyCallisburgKirbyvilleLongview Pine TreeSugar Land Clements
2001-02(unavailable)Comfort(unavailable)(unavailable)(unavailable)
2002-03(unavailable)Comfort(unavailable)(unavailable)(unavailable)
2003-04ShinerJunctionWimberleyFriendswoodTaylor
2004-05Martin's MillTeagueLa GrangeFriendswoodClements
2005-06Garden CityFloydadaPleasant GroveHighland ParkClements
2006-07Garden CityFloydadaGrahamHighland ParkSan Antonio MacArthur
2007-08MuensterElysian FieldsWhite OakHighland ParkSugar Land Clements
2008-09FlatoniaWhite OakWhitneyAustin Lake TravisSugar Land Clements
2009-10MuensterWhite OakLa FeriaWichita FallsSugar Land Clements
2010-11AlbanyWhitneyLa FeriaHighland ParkSugar Land Clements
2011-12Valley ViewWhitneyLucas LovejoyThe ColonyFort Worth Paschal
2013-14 Lockney San Antonio Cole Argyle Pearland Dawson Westlake
2020-21 Guthrie Albany Tuscola Jim Ned Argyle New Braunfels Canyon San Antonio Reagan

[2]

Individual (Chemistry)

NOTE: For privacy reasons, only the winning school is shown. The UIL did not score individual subsections until the 1985-86 scholastic year.[1]

School YearClass AClass AAClass AAAClass AAAAClass AAAAA Class AAAAAA
1985-86BronteLiberty HillSlatonAustin WestlakeSugar Land Dulles
1986-87LindsayLiberty HillSlatonCedar HillDallas Skyline
1987-88HappyCliftonLampasasCedar HillLubbock
1988-89PlainsAbernathyLampasasMcKinneyBrazoswood
1989-90Valley MillsVan AlstyneBishopHighland ParkFort Worth Dunbar
1990-91Valley MillsCanadianAbilene Wylie(tie) Carthage/Kerrville Tivy(tie) League City Clear Creek/Lubbock/Pasadena Dobie/Houston Strafford
1991-92Valley MillsCanadianTroyHighland ParkLangham Creek
1992-93VegaCanadianDripping SpringsKingsvilleSan Antonio Holmes
1993-94LindsayStinnett West TexasBridgeportCorpus Christi Flour BluffSan Antonio Holmes
1994-95LindsayStinnett West TexasBridgeportMesquite PoteetSugar Land Elkins
1995-96RuleFranklinKirbyvilleAustin JohnsonRound Rock Westwood
1996-97MoultonStinnett West TexasWimberley(tie) Highland Park/Waco Midway/WillisHumble
1997-98MoultonStinnett West TexasKirbyvilleHighland ParkTyler Lee
1998-99San Antonio LacklandJourdantonAlvarado(tie) Gregory-Portland/Sulphur SpringsArlington Lamar
1999-2000Water ValleyStinnett West TexasOrangefieldGregory-PortlandHouston Bellaire
2000-01HedleyStinnett West TexasSeminoleKingsvilleKlein
2001-02(unavailable)(unavailable)(unavailable)(unavailable)(unavailable)
2002-03(unavailable)(Comfort)(unavailable)(unavailable)(unavailable)
2003-04AveryArgyleWimberleyFriendswoodPharr-San Juan-Alamo North
2004-05AcademyFloydadaWimberleyFriendswoodCollege Station A&M Consolidated
2005-06AveryHarmony Science AcademyCueroFriendswoodOak Ridge
2006-07Houston Harmony Science AcademyFloydadaCueroNorth Richland Hills Birdville(tie) San Antonio MacArthur/Sugar Land Clements/College Station A&M Consolidated
2007-08MoultonNew BostonWimberleyNorth Richland Hills BirdvillePlano
2008-09LindsayWhite OakWimberleyFrindswood(tie)Plano/Sugar Land Clements
2009-10CanadianIrving North HillsNew BostonDallas Highland ParkSouth Texas Science Academy
2010-11CanadianWhite OakLa FeriaPearland DawsonFort Worth Paschal
2013-14 Fort Worth Harmony School of Innovation Lago Vista Argyle Whitehouse Sugar Land Dulles
2020-21 Avery Eldorado Skidmore-Tynan Argyle Mercedes South Texas Science Academy Fort Worth Paschal

[2]

Individual (Physics)

NOTE: For privacy reasons, only the winning school is shown. The UIL did not score individual subsections until the 1985-86 scholastic year.[1]

School YearClass AClass AAClass AAAClass AAAAClass AAAAA Class AAAAAA
1985-86Lenorah GradyPlainsPflugervilleSan Antonio SouthwestArlington
1986-87MoultonLiberty HillSlatonBuda Hays ConsolidatedHouston Stratford
1987-88LindsayEastlandLampasasCedar HillSan Antonio Clark
1988-89Falls CityIraanLampasasDickinson(tie) Houston Bellaire/San Antonio Clark
1989-90PlainsBlancoBishopSaginaw BoswellLeague City Clear Creek
1990-91Valley MillsSpringlake-EarthVanKerrville Tivy(tie) Lubbock/Tyler Lee
1991-92Lindsay(tie) Ingram Tom Moore/WimberleyTroyHighland ParkPasadena Dobie
1992-93LindsayWimberleySeminoleKingsvilleSan Antonio Marshall
1993-94LindsayFlorenceWylieRed OakFort Worth Dunbar
1994-95RuleEldoradoWaco ConnallyStephenvilleFort Worth Dunbar
1995-96ThorndaleBolingWimberleyAustin Johnson(tie) Houston Bellaire/Sugar Land Elkins
1996-97EvadaleEldoradoBridgeportCarthage(tie) College Station A&M Consolidated/Fort Worth Dunbar
1997-98MoultonSundownBridgeportAustin JohnsonHumble
1998-99Valley ViewRogers(tie) Alvarado/StaffordWichita Falls RiderAustin Westlake
1999-2000Valley ViewUniversal City RandolphVanderbilt IndustrialHighland ParkHouston Bellaire
2000-01Lenorah GradyStinnett West TexasSeminoleCarthageArlington Lamar
2001-02(unavailable)(unavailable)(unavailable)(unavailable)(unavailable)
2002-03(unavailable)(unavailable)(unavailable)(unavailable)(unavailable)
2003-04Spring LakeArgyleChina SpringJohnsonKlein
2004-05Valley ViewArgyleCueroFriendswoodCollege Station A&M Consolidated
2005-06Garden CityArgyleHardin-JeffersonFriendswoodCollege Station A&M Consolidated
2006-07Garden CityThree RiversCueroKaty Seven LakesCollege Station A&M Consolidated
2007-08YantisIrving North HillsArgyleFriendswoodBeaumont West Brook
2008-09Perrin-WhittWhite OakArgyleAustin Lake TravisArlington Martin
2009-10CanadianWhite OakPollok CentralDallas Highland ParkSan Antonio MacArthur
2010-11Gail Borden(tie) Whitney/New BostonArgyleAustin Lake TravisAllen
2013-14 (tie) Avery/Comstock George West Argyle Pearland Dawson Sugar Land Dulles
2020-21 Guthrie Eldorado Fort Worth IDEA College Prep Port Lavaca Calhoun New Braunfels Canyon Arlington Martin

[2]

Team

NOTE: UIL did not recognize a team championship in this event until the 1990-91 scholastic year.[1]

School YearClass AClass AAClass AAAClass AAAAClass AAAAAClass AAAAAA
1990-91Valley MillsCanadianLampasasWaco MidwayLubbock
1991-92Valley MillsCanadianTroyHighland ParkLubbock
1992-93LindsayWimberleySeminoleKingsvilleSan Antonio Holmes
1993-94LindsayCanadianCueroNorth LamarFort Worth Dunbar
1994-95LindsayTroupWaco ConnallyNorth LamarPlano
1995-96RuleCanadianWimberleyAustin JohnsonHouston Bellaire
1996-97VegaStinnett West TexasBridgeportWaco MidwayHumble
1997-98MoultonStinnett West TexasWimberleyHighland ParkHumble
1998-99Lenorah GradyLindsayWimberleyHighland ParkArlington Lamar
1999-2000HedleyStinnett West TexasBridgeportGregory-PortlandHouston Bellaire
2000-01Lenorah GradySeymourBridgeportCarthageArlington Lamar
2001-02(tie) Sudan/VegaArgyleSeminoleFredericksburgSouth Texas Science Academy
2002-03Port AransasArgyleWimberleyJacksonvilleFort Bend Hightower
2003-04VegaArgyleBallingerWichita FallsKaty Taylor
2004-05Kingsville AcademyArgyleWimberleyFriendswoodSugar Land Clements
2005-06Garden CityArgyleCueroHighland ParkSugar Land Clements
2006-07Garden CityFloydadaCueroHighland ParkSugar Land Clements
2007-08HarperFloydadaArgyleHighland ParkSugar Land Clements
2008-09Lindsay(tie) North Hills School Irving/White OakWhitneyHighland ParkSugar Land Dulles
2009-10CanadianNorth Hills School Irving(tie) La Feria/WhitneyHighland ParkSugar Land Clements
2010-11AveryWhitneyLa FeriaHighland ParkFort Worth Paschal
2011-12Valley ViewWhitneyLa FeriaHighland ParkSugar Land Dulles
2012-13Valley ViewWhitneyArgyleHighland ParkSugar Land Dulles
2013-14Harmony School of InnovationLago VistaArgylePearland DawsonSugar Land Dulles
2014-15KnippaValley ViewWhitneyArgyleCollege StationSugar Land Dulles
2015-16KnippaLockneyWhitneyArgyleFrisco LibertySugar Land Dulles
2016-17Cross PlainsThrallWhitneyArgyleHighland ParkSugar Land Dulles
2017-18Cross PlainsLindsayWhitneyArgyleHighland ParkSugar Land Clements
2018-19Lamesa KlondikeThrallWhitneyLa FeriaHighland ParkSugar Land Dulles

[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 UIL: Academics - Archives Archived 2011-07-05 at the Wayback Machine
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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