The Judge Wish List

From Stepping Up

What Judges Want

Stepping Up Guide

Section Home Aesthetics: The Board How to Deal with a Bad Judge Practice, Practice, Practice Talking to Judges: The Presentation The Judge Wish List Top 10: Mistakes Judges Make Top 10: Mistakes People Make During Judging

Above all, remember that to win at the Canada Wide Science Fair or at ISEF, you need not only to have a strong project, but also the ability to communicate effectively during the judging interview. Both are crucial to any success.

Judging at the Canada Wide Science Fair or ISEF can be a daunting process. Throughout, you must remember to communicate efficiently and also relay the key points of your project. Judges are not able to guess what you did, so it is important to explain everything logically and completely. These following points or the ‘Judge’s Wish List’ will help you become a pro at the interview process or rather will give you a bit of background for what your judge is expecting.

Contents 1 Desired Trait: Well Prepared Participant 2 Desired Trait: Participant Gives A Well Balanced Presentation 3 Desired Trait: Participant is Able to Think on the Spot and Provide Good Answers 4 Desired Trait: Participant Shows Creativity, and Originality in Project Display/ Presentation 5 Desired Trait: Participant's Report Contains Source Referencing Within the Text of the Report (Numbered References)

Desired Trait: Well Prepared Participant

• Different science fairs have different requirements for what is expected of a participant. It is important to read the judging rubric ahead of time. These can be found online or through your regional science fair committee. By doing this, you can make sure that your project is strong in all categories that are being judged. This way, when the judges go through the rubric, they can give you high scores for each section.

Desired Trait: Participant Gives A Well Balanced Presentation

• At science fairs, judges are usually fairly knowledgeable on the area of your project. When you are being judged, remember not to repeat points over and over again. It is imperative to emphasize, but repetition can get annoying. It’s an important balance. Practice makes perfect. Before judging, you may want to present to people who do not know your project at all, to get unique feedback on things you could work on.

Desired Trait: Participant is Able to Think on the Spot and Provide Good Answers

• Throughout the discussion part of the judging process, your judge/ judges will ask you a variety of questions about your project. These questions may be simpler and refer to your basic project material, however other questions may require immense thought. If your judge asks you a question that you do not have the slightest clue what they mean, you can either ask them for clarification or admit that you are unsure. Your judge is testing the amount of knowledge that you have on a specific topic, but they do not expect you to know everything.
• At ISEF and CWSF, you may have a judge that wants a thirty-second summary of your project. This can be extremely frustrating. I would suggest creating a four-sentence overview of your project and knowing that before hand. Then, after this, you can go into more detail. Being able to think on the spot and provide thoughtful answers is a virtue that most judges look for in science fair participants. The best way to work around uneasy situations is to rehearse your project material and presentation well- ensuring that you know any material that judges could possibly ask questions on.

Desired Trait: Participant Shows Creativity, and Originality in Project Display/ Presentation

• Although judging is mainly based on the scientific content of your project, and how you present your information, it is important not to forget the integral creativity aspect. Bring some enthusiasm and passion to your presentation, meaning avoid monotone at all cost. Judges are real people too, like the rest of us, who enjoy a thoughtful and expressive presentation. In reference to your backboard, try not to make it just one color. Add pictures. Have some fun and be creative. Judges appreciate your flare for imagination.

Desired Trait: Participant's Report Contains Source Referencing Within the Text of the Report (Numbered References)

• So, you spend loads of time writing up an awesome summary of your project for the judges. However, when you hand it to them, they take one look at it and then sigh- you suddenly realize that something is amiss. It is essential to properly source all information in your 5 page report within the text. Stating your bibliography at the end doesn't quite do it. Use footnotes within your writing to cite any passages or information that were taken directly from a book/ internet resource/ journal.. etc. All of academia will thank you for it, and in reality it's not really all that much extra work to do.