STEM Competitions

TAME students in grades 6 – 12 who are active members of a registered TAME Club can compete in a Divisional Competition. Students must participate and qualify in a Divisional Competition to receive an invitation to the State Competition. For information about Divisional Competitions in your area, check your local Chapter.

Participants take a timed math and science test administered by grade level. Students also compete in an Engineering Design Challenge with students from other schools at the event. In addition to testing student knowledge of math, science, and engineering concepts, the competition promotes teamwork, leadership, and academic achievement.

To participate in TAME activities like Divisional Competitions, you need to be a member of a TAME Club. Our clubs are free and require only eight students, an Adult Sponsor, and regular in-person meetings about STEM.

IMPORTANT: TAME Membership is a two-part process beginning with annual Club Registration. Once the Adult Sponsor registers the TAME Club for their school or organization, then the students in their club need to complete their Student Registrations. The STUDENT REGISTRATION DEADLINE for students in grades 6-12 who want to participate in STEM Competitions is in November, so get your registration in soon!

Once the dates for Divisional Competitions have been announced, the TAME State Office will reach out to Club Sponsors to confirm which students are planning to attend. Students who have signed up to attend the event will be added to Design Challenge Teams and receive free t-shirts at the event.

Students who do not register by the deadline are still welcome to register and participate in the activities hosted by their TAME Club. Graduating seniors must complete Student Registrations to apply for annual TAME Scholarships in the spring semester when they become available.

Students who want to train to compete can take practice tests. For our Engineering Design Challenge, TAME’s Blog features Engineering Adventures. You can also visit TAME’s Engineering Activity board on Pinterest for over 200 design challenge ideas that you can try with friends in the classroom or with your family in your own living room.

As you take your practice tests to train for Divisional or State STEM Competitions, you might wonder whether we have any special rules. You will be glad to know that we do not penalize students for wrong answers, so we strongly encourage you to complete the whole test and not leave any blank answers. Think like a scientist or an engineer–it’s better to make your best guess and see what happens, than to hold back because you don’t know for sure. In the STEM world, the only failure is in not trying. Tie-breakers at a STEM Competition will be settled by comparing the tests to find the first incorrect answer or skipped question.

TAME appreciates the value of hard work and practice in success. To help our students better prepare for our annual STEM Competitions, TAME provides practice tests, past Engineering Design Challenges, Engineering Adventure activities, and advice on competing like a scientist. At the Divisional and State STEM Competitions, all participants will take a math test and a science test:

• Students in middle school (grades 6, 7, 8) will take the Middle School Math Test and the Middle School Science Test.
• Students in high school (grades 9, 10, 11, 12) will take the High School Math Test and the High School Science Test.

Students will have 45 minutes to answer 50 questions on each test. Middle school tests are based on middle school TEKS but focus on critical thinking and analytical skills. They are designed to not require a calculator. High school tests are also 45 minutes long and have 50 questions. They are based on TEKS for typical high-school classes in Algebra, Geometry, Pre-calculus and Statistics (for math) and Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Anatomy & Physiology and Forensic Science (for science). These tests are designed to use calculators and periodic tables. Read more about the 2017-18 changes here: No easy answers – but 3 big new experiments!

The top six finishers in each test and the top three teams from the Engineering Design Challenge will be recognized. Three teams also receive a special Judges’ Choice Award for creative problem solving. One student from each grade level will be recognized as the Ace Award Winner for the highest combined math and science score.

Invitations to the State STEM Competition will be coordinated by the Chapter leadership and emailed directly to the TAME Club Sponsor, student, and parent/guardian. Ace Award Winners will be invited to attend the State STEM Competition. Other students may be invited to advance to State based on performance in the Engineering Design Challenge or other criteria.

Two special invitations to the State STEM Competition are also set aside for the winners (grades 6-12) of the T-Shirt Design Contest and the Hashtag Contest, both open until February 27th. The two winners of these contests will also receive $100 each and see their ideas and designs featured on shirts, giveaways, and event materials at the State STEM Competition.

There is no fee to register or compete in these events. We ask that TAME Clubs provide their own transportation to Divisional STEM Competitions, but TAME provides funding for transportation to the State STEM Competition.

300 high-achieving students qualify to compete in the State STEM Competition. Just like the Divisional competitions, State participants take a timed math test and a timed science test covering the topics taught in math and science classes offered at their school. A favorite of many students is the State Engineering Design Challenge, in which we bring together students from diverse backgrounds to engineer a solution to a real-world problem in a timed competitive setting. See past State Design Challenges here.

At the State STEM Competition, TAME sponsors cover all costs, including transportation, food and lodging, and great giveaways and prizes. The Competition celebrates TAME students’ achievement in STEM and is a chance to meet like-minded peers and mentors from across Texas.

Due to time constraints, safety considerations, and fairness to all students, it is TAME policy that all participants must take part in all the scheduled events of the STEM Competition.

We understand there may be schedule conflicts and ask that students make a choice between other plans and the STEM Competition, rather than trying to do both. Students may not take tests early or late, and may not arrive late only to take part in the Engineering Design Challenge. This is to ensure a level playing field and consistent experience for all our students.

Students who ignore this policy may be disqualified from the STEM Competition or future TAME events or scholarship opportunities.

Each year in February, TAME Club Members from across the state are invited to submit their design for the annual T-Shirt Design Contest. The winning design is featured on the t-shirts, event programs and other materials that will be distributed to hundreds of participants at the State STEM Competition. See past winners here.

The winner is awarded a cash prize of $100. If the winning student is in grades 6-12, he or she also receives a special invitation to the State STEM Competition.

Check our Competition Schedules & Results page for updates on the State STEM Competition.

For the 300 students who accept the invitation to the annual State STEM Competition, TAME will arrange transportation, food, and entertainment at no cost to students. Thanks to our generous sponsors, the event is free for all.

Students MUST travel with their TAME Chapter to and from the event and participate in all parts of the event. Students may not leave early or travel separately.  

Food will be provided to all students and chaperones with meals at the event and during travel. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options will be available for those who requested them.

Due to limited space and safety constraints, parents/guardians, family, and spectators are not able to attend the State STEM Competition. This allows us to ensure the security of all participants.

Family at home can watch the action unfold in real time as TAME live-tweets photos, videos, and updates about the event. Follow TAME on Twitter and Instagram and cheer on TAME students with #LonestarSTEM.

Results will be posted to the TAME website as soon as possible after each event. Please see our Competition Schedules & Results page for updates.