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Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.

What Judges Look for in Science Fair Projects

By , About.com GuideSeptember 10, 2011

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First off, I found this great list of all of the science fairs in the world that have webpages. The list gets updated regularly. It is organized according to subject and geographical location. So... if you don't know where to find a science fair, start there.

Once you find a science fair, you'll want to make the most of your experience. Good grades and prizes are nice, too. I've written about project ideas, but I haven't really talked about what judges will look for when it comes to rating your project. Here's a quick rundown:
  • Did you use the scientific method? Experiments and designs that solve a problem will get higher ratings than models or demonstrations.

  • Could you explain your project without reading it off of your display? Basically this shows that you actually did your project as opposed to getting too much help from a parent or teacher.

  • Did you seem friendly? Were you interested in and excited about your project? Enthusiasm and a willingness to answer questions can really help your presentation.

  • Was your poster attractive? Posters that are easy to read and visually appealing will do better than anything handwritten and blotched by water stains. If it looks like you made your poster on the bus on the way in, don't expect it to win a prize or get a good grade.
10 Ways to Impress a Science Fair Judge | Be a Good Science Fair Judge

Comments

September 9, 2008 at 12:16 pm
(1) David Bradley says:

I shall pass this advice on to my kids are at the age where they should know that doing is not the same as understanding while doing…

March 20, 2011 at 12:41 pm
(2) Molly Clift says:

I’m 11 and i just wanted to see what judges would think of my project, because my mom wants me to bring my grades up, so thank you for the info!!! :)

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