• UIL Academic Competition Summary Page

    Competition

    Summary

    Calculator Applications

    Students will use mathematics and calculators to solve a series of math problems. Topics include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, roots, and powers, as well as topics found in recent mathematics textbooks.

    Mathematics

    Students will use mathematics to solve a series of problems using only their brain, pencil, and paper. Topics include arithmetic, integers, fractions, decimals, exponents, order of operations, probability, statistics, number theory, interest, measurements, and conversions.

    Number Sense

    Students will use mathematics to solve a series of problems using only mental math. Students will not be able to make any marks on paper except to answer. Topics include arithmetic, geometry, algebra, and number theory, as appropriate for grade level.

    Chess Puzzle

    Students will solve a series of chess puzzles. This event focuses on analytical thinking, pattern recognition, and creativity.

    Dictionary Skills

    Students will answer questions created from the Merriam Webster’s Intermediate Dictionary using a dictionary during the competition. This event focuses on reading, spelling, and communication.

    Editorial Writing

    Students will read a fact sheet based on a situation, form a personal stance, and then write an editorial, as though writing for newspaper. This event focuses on forming and supporting a perspective and then effectively communicating about the topic through writing.

    Ready Writing

    Students will write for a specific purpose and audience, which will be chosen by the student from one of two prompts. The prompts may ask for a letter, a news article, a story, a persuasive essay, or something else. The writer will analyze the prompt for purpose, format, audience, and point-of-view, and then employ various writing strategies to achieve a clear, well-written, interesting, and original piece of writing.

    Spelling

    Students will correctly spell a series of words in written format as they are spoken aloud by a pronouncer.  Contestants in this event will focus on the rules of the English language, vocabulary meanings and definitions, and root words.

    Maps, Graphs, and Charts

    Students will solve a series of questions requiring the use of maps, graphs, and charts. This event focuses on reading visual graphic organizers, using reference materials, making comparisons, estimating and approximating, using scale, and interpreting grid systems, keys, and legends.

    Social Studies

    Students will solve a series of problems relating to social studies including history, government systems, economics, citizenship, and culture.

    Science

    Students will solve a series of problems relating to scientific facts, the understanding of scientific principles, and the ability to think through scientific problems. Contestants will need to both have a good knowledge of science the ability to think critically about a variety of scientific concepts and processes.

    Impromptu Speaking

    Students will create and present an impromptu speech without notes. Students will draw 3 topics, choose the one they want to develop, and spend 3 minutes preparing the speech. This event focuses on speaking skills, organization, and creativity.

    Modern Oratory

    Students will deliver a 3-6 minute prepared and memorized speech on a topic without the use of notes. Contestants will select one of the topics, determine a critical issue on the topic and acknowledge both pro and con points citing support discovered in their research. Students will choose and side, then support and defend that perspective.

    Oral Reading

    Students will perform a selection of poetry or prose. This year all grade levels will recite poetry. The reading must be under 6 minutes long, and may be as short as desired. This event focuses on literary analysis, performance skills, communication, and memory.

    Listening

    Students will listen to a selection and take notes. The notes and other content remembered by the student will then be used to answer a series of questions on the selection. This event focuses on listening, note taking, and memory.

    Music Memory

    6th grade only. Students will become familiar with several fine pieces of music taken from a wide spectrum of music genres to gain exposure to different composers and their music.  Student will have approximately 20 seconds to name the major work, the selection title, and the composer. This topic focuses on listening skills, musical analysis, and memory.