• To enhance TAME minority students' participation in fair competition with their peers

• To reinforce the importance of good test taking skills

• To increase students' awareness of the importance of speed and accuracy while performing in a "clocked test" environment

•  To reward students for outstanding performances and achievements in math and science

• To motivate students to continue to strive for academic excellence

• To broaden awareness of the TAME involvement and commitments

• To promote the objectives of TAME and motivate students to pursue careers consistent with these objectives

ELIGIBILITY

A student is eligible to participate in the TAME State Math & Science Competition if they meet both the Local Alliance Eligibility and the State Eligibility guidelines below.

Local Alliance Eligibility (click here to go to your Local Alliance)

• Student is a registered member of a TAME Local Alliance
• Student representation from the Local Alliances reflect the demographic percentage make-up of that chapter at the middle school and high school levels, respectively
• Chapters are encouraged to develop a preliminary contest or documented selection process for your students participating at the state level

State Eligibility

• Student's name is submitted to the competition committee by a representative of a local or regional alliance of TAME on or before state registration date

• Student has been actively involved in a local or regional TAME alliance program during the school year of the competition

• Student is currently enrolled between the grades of 6 and 12, inclusive

• Student has maintained at least a letter grade of "C," or its numerical equivalence, in each course during the semester of the TAME competition

• Student is not older than 19 years of age on September 1 of the current school year

COMPETITION LEVELS

All students compete in the test congruent with the class that they are enrolled in.  

Students must take a math and a science test.  Students taking tests in a class that they are not currently enrolled in, or not taking both a math and science test will be automatically disqualified.

PARTICIPATION

• Students can compete only in courses or grade level contest in which s/he is currently enrolled  or in which s/he has received transcript credit during the current school year (this only applies to classes completed in Accelerated Block Scheduling). 

• Algebra I and Integrated Physics & Chemistry will be offered separately at both the middle school and the high school level

• Students who received transcript credit for Calculus during the previous school year are only eligible to participate in a comprehensive Math test in addition to a Science test

• Student must compete in one math and one science contest; the team test is optional

• Each student must stay in the testing area for the duration of the test

• High School participation for each alliance – There is a 20 student maximum limit for participation in the high school contests.  A maximum of five students from each alliance may compete in each of the individual high school test categories.

• Middle School participation for each alliance - There is a 20 student maximum limit for participation in the middle school contests.  Alliances must have six participants from Sixth grade, six participants from Seventh grade, and six participants from Eighth grade.  The remaining two students can be from any middle school grade.

• Teams will be assigned at the competition.  All students will participate in the Team Test.

CALCULATORS

Calculators will not be provided at the Contest.  Students must bring their own calculator with them to the Contest.  Any calculator can be used as long as all programmable memories are cleared prior to the contest.  Anyone using illegal programs will be disqualified.

SCORING

• An individual or team test score will be the total number of correct answers on the official answer sheet

• In case of a tie the individual student or team of students with the most consecutive correct answers will be awarded the place.

•  Scoring results will not be distributed at the conclusion of the contest.  All answer sheets and grading information will remain confidential to the Math & Science Contest committee and the State Office.

CONTESTS LENGTH AND CONTENT

• Individual math test periods will be 45 minutes and contain a maximum of 50 multiple choice items

• Individual science test periods will be 45 minutes and contain a maximum of 50 multiple choice items

• The team test period will be 60-90 minutes in length and content differs from year to year.

RESPONSIBILITIES

TAME Central Office

The TAME State Math & Science Committee is responsible for the overall coordination and performance of administrative duties required to assure a successful program. To achieve these goals, TAME will be responsible for:

• Identifying a contest host facility

• Serving as the centralized point of contact for coordination of information related to the competition including final agenda for the actual contest day

• Allocating, purchasing and presenting of all awards

• Allocating of funds and arranging for at least one meal for the attendees

• Developing, reproducing, distributing, collecting and scoring of test material

• Providing required assistance and/or direction to the contest host to assure a successful program

• Providing Registration packages to be available the evening prior to the contest at the contest headquarters

Alliances

To simplify the registration and scheduling of students in this activity, the local and/or regional alliances will be required to do the following:

• Name only one (1) local volunteer as the Alliance Coordinator for the event who will attend with your group and act as the point of contact among the students, the alliance chairperson and treasurer, the chaperones and the central TAME office. 

• Be in compliance with all rules governing TAME Alliances

• Collect and submit in a timely manner all registration materials and information as required for scheduling and placement of participating students and chaperones

• Arrange and provide for students' transportation, hotel reservations at the selected facility, meals (only while traveling to and from event location), and other accommodations not provided by TAME.

• Under no circumstances will individual students or schools be allowed to make their own arrangements.  The Alliance is participating and the Alliance coordinator must make the arrangements.

• Provide appropriate number of volunteers/chaperones for the attending group:  

  • Chaperones MUST monitor the behavior of all students from their alliance throughout the event. The required ratio of adults to students is:

  • ONE chaperone to every SIX middle school students (total of 4 per 20 students)

  • ONE chaperone to every EIGHT high school students (total of 3 per 20 students)

  NOTE: Expenses for additional chaperones are the responsibility of the individual alliances.  

LOGISTICS

The Math & Science Competition is separated into two major categories: Junior/Middle School and High School.  Each category has two types of competition:  Individual and team contests.

• The individual contests require each student to compete for the highest score on a math test and science test against other students taking that same test

• The team contests allow groups to compete for the highest score on a test against other teams of students taking the same test.  Teams will be assigned at the event and will be made up of students from all of the attending alliances.  Each team member must have participated in the individual tests in order to be on a team.  Teams will submit only one answer/project per item/activity for scoring.

TEST AREAS

Junior High/Middle School Level  (Grades 6th through 8th)

Individual Competition 

1. Sixth Grade Math  
2. Seventh Grade Math
3. Eighth Grade Math
4. Algebra I
5. Sixth Grade Science  
6. Seventh Grade Science
7. Eighth Grade Science
8. Integrated Physics & Chemistry  

Team Competition - all students will participate in the team test.  Teams will be determined at the event and will consist of students from all attending alliances.