Erie Regional History Challenge to Debut

Posted on April 22nd, 2014 at 10:53 AM

The First Ever Erie Regional History Challenge to Debut

Erie, PA. (April 22, 2014) – Erie Times-News in Education has partnered with the Jefferson Educational Society to offer the first ever “Erie Regional History Challenge” for students in grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. All schools belonging to the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit #5 or the Erie Diocese Catholic Schools are eligible to participate. No student may enter into a competition above or below their grade level as of the 2013-2014 academic calendar year.

The 2014 History Challenge will be played in two sections with a preliminary round and then a final round. For the preliminary round, students will take a 30-point, multiple choice exam based on Common Core Standards for the appropriate age level. A maximum of eight students will advance to the final round from each group. Qualifiers for the final round will be the top eight scores from the preliminary round exam. The final round will be held at the Jefferson Educational Society, located at 3207 State Street, Erie, PA 16508, on Thursday, May 29, 2014 at 4:30 PM. This event will be free and open to the public.

Rules and Regulations for the 2014 Contest

Welcome to the 2014 Erie Regional History Challenge. Outlined below are the rules and regulations for this year's competition. Please ask one of the tournament organizers if you need any clarification for any of the rules or if you have any questions about the contest.

The Erie Regional History Challenge (alias: History Challenge) is divided into three participant sections: Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, and Grades 9-12. All schools belonging to the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit #5 or the Erie Diocese Catholic Schools are eligible to participate. No student may enter into a competition above or below their grade level as of the 2013-2014 academic calendar year.
The 2014 History Challenge will be played in two sections – preliminary round and final round. For the preliminary round, students will take a 30-point, multiple choice exam based on Common Core Standards for the appropriate age level. A maximum of eight students will advance to the final round from each age group. Qualifiers for the final round will be the top eight scores from the preliminary round exam. In the event of a tie, students will write a history-based essay, which will be judged by a panel of contest organizers.
In the final round of the History Challenge, there will be two stages of competition to determine a winner. In the first stage, all eight finalists for each separate group will compete in an individual, buzzer-based competition (Note: There will be separate finals competition for each grade-level group.) based on 20 questions. Each correct answer will earn one point for the student. A student who answers 10 questions correctly will automatically advance to the final stage and is excused from the remaining stage questions. All scores are reset after the first stage. In the event of a tie after 20 questions, students with the tie score(s) will answer a series of toss-up questions. The first to answer the questions correctly will advance automatically.
Two students will advance to the final stage of the final round. The top two highest scoring totals from the first stage will advance. A toss-up question will be given to players who tie for the second finalist spot. To prevent matches from going too long, a student who answers three-consecutive questions incorrectly will be deducted one point. There is no penalty for the first or second-consecutive incorrect question.
In the final stage, there will be 10 questions given to the finalists in the same, buzzer-based format. The contestant who answers the most correctly out of the 10 questions will be named the winner of the 2014 Erie Regional History Challenge.
For each question at every stage of the finals, the reader will wait eight (8) seconds after he or she has finished reading the question before reciting multiple choices for the answer. After the multiple choices are read, three (3) seconds will elapse before the question is considered dead. The reader will allow three seconds after you have buzzed in to provide your answer. It is advisable to wait to be recognized to answer; however, you need not be recognized after you buzz in. If you answer and have not buzzed in, you will be suspended for that question.
If a student wishes to protest, he or she must bring it to the reader's attention before you leave the contest area. Only students themselves may protest in the contest. If a protest is won by the student, a student who was awarded a point for the answer will still retain the point.
Any student found to be cheating in any stage or round of the contest will be disqualified immediately.
If an event occurs during the contest that is not outlined in the rules and regulations, a team of contest organizers will make an immediate ruling.