Competition FAQs
Held each spring, the Capital Area Math & Science Competition brings together middle and high school students from the Greater Austin Area. At this free 1-day competition, students compete in 21 areas of math and science. Students also compete as part of a team to solve a hands-on engineering challenge. Breakfast snack, lunch, and giveaways are also provided to students. In addition to testing student knowledge and understanding of math and science concepts, the competition promotes team building, leadership, and academic achievement.
Q. What are the objectives of the competition?
Q. Where does the competition take place?
Q. When does the competition take place?
Q. Is there a registration fee to attend?
Q. Are students allowed to bring calculators or scratch paper to the Individual Testing?
Q. What is the Team Design Challenge?
Q. What is the typical schedule for the competition?
Q. How do students register to attend?
Q. How do students qualify to attend the State Math & Science Competition?
Q. What are the objectives of the competition?
A. The objectives are to:
- Encourage student participation in academic competition with their peers
- Reinforce the importance of good test taking skills
- Reward students for outstanding achievement in math and science
- Motivate students to continue to strive for academic excellence
- Promote the objectives of TAME and motivate students to pursue STEM careers
Q. Where does the competition take place?
A. The competition takes place in the Austin area, and the location varies each year. Past competition locations have included IBM, the 3M Innovation Center, and National Instruments.
Q. When does the competition take place?
A. The competition occurs on a Saturday in Spring, usually in January or February.
A. Any middle or high school student from any school in the Greater Austin Area is eligible to attend the competition.
Q. Is there a registration fee to attend?
A. There is no registration fee for students to attend the competition. At the competition, TAME will provide breakfast snacks and lunch for all students. Students also receive giveaways and will have the chance to win raffle prizes.
Q. What is the Individual Testing and what subjects are offered during this portion of the competition?
A. The Individual Testing is a testing period in which each takes 1 math and 1 science test. There are 10 math subjects and 11 science subjects. Each student will test in the math and science subject that are currently taking in school. Top scoring students in each subject will be recognized during the Awards Ceremony.
Q. Are students allowed to bring calculators or scratch paper to the Individual Testing?
A. Students are NOT allowed to bring calculators or scratch paper. Calculators and scratch paper will be loaned to students during the testing periods.
Q. What is the Team Design Challenge?
A. The Team Design Challenge is a hands-on engineering challenge that requires students to build and develop creative solutions using limited materials, simulating a real-world professional experience. Students will be randomly placed in teams of 4 at the competition. Teams will consist of students of different grade levels from different schools. Select teams will be recognized, based on judging criteria, during the Awards Ceremony.
Q. What is the typical schedule for the competition weekend?
A. The typical schedule is as follows:
- 8:30-8:45am—Registration
- 8:45-9:15am—Breakfast Snacks & Demonstrations
- 9:15-9:30am—Welcome Ceremony
- 9:45-10:30am—Math Tests
- 10:30-10:45am—Break
- 10:45-11:30am—Science Tests
- 11:30am-12:15pm—Lunch
- 12:15-1:15pm—Team Design Challenge
- 1:30pm-2:30pm—Raffle Drawing & Awards Ceremony
Q. How do students register to attend?
A. Students can register by completing the online registration (to be available soon). In the registration form, students will indicate what math and what science test they would like to take at the competition. Registration must be completed by deadline indicated on the form in order for the student's participation to be secured at the competition. In addition to the completed registration, all students will be required to turn in a completed Consent Form (to be available soon). upon arrival at the competition.
Q. How do students qualify to attend the State Math & Science Competition?
A. Students who attend the Capital Area Math & Science Competition are eligible to be invited to attend the State Math & Science Competition. The State Math & Science Competition, held 1-2 months following the Capital Area Math & Science Competition, brings together students from all TAME chapters for a weekend that includes free bus transportation to the competition city, overnight lodging, and participation in the state level 1-day competition.
