Here are some FAQs regarding the ORQE Exams (which are for the Middle and Elementary School Divisions Only):
How much does it cost to take the ORQE Exams? – All three Exams (for Science, History and Geography) are free of charge.
Who can take the ORQE Exams? – Students in 8th grade and under can take the ORQE Exams. We offer separate divisions for students in 8th grade, 7th grade, 6th grade and 5th grade and under. Parents can administer the Exams if a school does not want to register (including if the school registered only for one or two exams, then the parents can administer the others), if the student is studying from home because of Covid-19 or if the student is homeschooled.
How do my students register? – Registration will open September 27, 2021, and the link will be available here.
Can I enter more students than what I had indicated when I created my account? –Yes, these numbers are only meant to be an estimate. You are welcome to have more or fewer students take the exams than the number you originally estimated when you registered.
What happens if the students incorrectly fill in their registration information? – Please help your students to make sure their registration information is correct (especially their name and grade). We have thousands of students taking these Exams, and this will help make sure we track them properly. This is a big part of the reason we are asking for students to be supervised when taking the Exams. We want to be sure to be able to attach your student’s great score to the right person!
What is my sponsor number? –One of the items students will need to fill in when they register is your Sponsor Number. That code can be found once you log into your sponsor account, and then go to sponsor hub, and click on sponsor ID list.
What score will my student need to qualify for Regional Finals? – Qualifying scores will be decided based on the body of received scores at each level of competition. We will let the sponsors know which students have qualified for the Regional Finals once the ORQE Exams have closed.
How much time does my student have to take the Exam? -All Exams are 50 multiple-choice questions, and students have 20 minutes to take each exam.
How are the Exams scored? – Each correct answer will receive 2 points. An incorrect answer or an answer left blank receives zero points (but there are no negative points this year on the ORQE Exams for incorrect answers). Students are welcome to change their answers.
Should students be supervised while taking the Exams? – As much as possible, yes. Please make sure that their name and grade are entered correctly and help them stay focused on the Exams. Also, those supervising must avoid assisting students, as tempting as it may be. Students should determine the answers to questions entirely on their own and without any other resources than their brain (including the internet). Please also instruct them not to discuss the Exams in case other students have yet to take them.
What is the deadline for students to take Exams? – For the History Bee, the Science Bee and the International Geography Bee, students have until Midnight PST at the end of the day on January 24, 2022. At that point, we will begin assessing who has qualified in preparation for opening Regional Finals registration in late January. For the United States Geography Championships (which uses the same exam as the International Geography Bee but does not have Regional Finals), students will be able to take the Exam until the National Championships registration closes in early May.
Can my student take an Exam for which I did not register them? – Absolutely. Your students may take all three Exams if they so choose. There is no cost for these Exams, and they just might qualify if they try! If the teacher does not want to administer all the Exams, then a parent or a different teacher can create a sponsor account to administer the other Exam(s).
That should pretty much cover everything, but please feel free to ask questions as they arise by emailing info@iacomeptitions.com.
Best of luck to all of your students!
