Top Class in Science Competitions - Years 6 and 9

Although the two-day Norwich Science Olympiad will not be taking place this year, there will be two Top Class in Science competitions. One competition is for Year 6, and one for Year 9. These competitions will be organised by the Centre for the Advancement of Science and Technology (CAST Education).

As usual, each competition takes the form of quiz matches that are played head-to-head in real time on-line between whole classes or other groups of pupils in two different schools. The matches take place in schools at dates and times agreed by both schools. The matches last about half an hour.

The pupils are allocated to ten teams with up to three pupils in any one team. Each team works at a computer that downloads multiple-choice questions from the Internet. The quicker the correct answer is given, the more points the team scores. Each team in one class or school is paired with a particular team in the other class or school to play a game. All ten games take place at the same time. In each game, the two teams simultaneously receive the same questions. After twenty questions, the team with the greater number of points has won their game. The class winning the greater number of games has won the match. You can see sample questions, and run a trial match on the Top Class in Science website (www.top-class.org.uk).

The competitions will be structured in a series of knockout or group rounds as in football competitions. The details will depend on the number of entries. The matches will start soon after the beginning of the Summer Term. The grand finals will take place as stage shows before audiences of pupils, teachers and parents in the Drama Studio at the University of East Anglia on the evenings of Tuesday, 5 July (Year 6), and Thursday, 7 July (Year 9). You can see video-clips of previous grand finals on the Top Class in Science website.

Entries

To enter your class or school, please, go to the Top Class in Science website (www.top-class.org.uk), and follow the links to the entry form page. Completed entry forms must be received by 1 March.

At this stage, we can offer places for only one class or group from each school. As the maximum number of places in each competition is strictly limited to 32, we shall operate a 'First come, first served' basis.

Final details will be sent out before the end of this term. Meanwhile, if you require further information, contact Dr Malcolm Seddon (g.m.seddon@uea.ac.uk).