STEM Competitions

TAME has been carefully monitoring the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to ensure a safe and consistent Divisional STEM Competition experience for all TAME Students, we have chosen to present the 2021 Divisional and State STEM Competitions as virtual events.

TAME students in grades 6 – 12 who are active members of a registered TAME Club and registered by the November 12th deadline 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.

Because the 2021 Divisional STEM Competitions will be held virtually, our format will look a little different: Students will compete in an online Engineering Design Challenge, and have the chance to hear from STEM guest speakers. We will not be including testing in the 2021 Divisional STEM Competitions.

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 six students, an Adult Sponsor, and regular meetings about STEM.

IMPORTANT: To be a TAME Club Member, you need to complete the Student Registration by November 12th. If your TAME Club isn’t listed on the registration form, contact your TAME Club Sponsor to make sure that your TAME Club has been registered.

TAME Club Registration closes in fall, so make sure you get yours completed soon! Once registration has closed and the date of your Divisional Competition has been announced, the TAME State Office will contact your Club Sponsor, who will confirm whether you’re able to participate in the Divisional STEM Competition. Students who have signed up to attend the event will receive the event details (website, call-in information, etc.)

Make sure that you will have access to an electronic device (computer, tablet, etc) and the internet on the day of the Divisional STEM Competition. Let your Club Sponsor know right away if you think you won’t have access to your device and internet.

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.

If you’d like to practice for the Engineering Design Challenge, TAME’s Blog features Engineering Adventures, and you can visit TAME’s Engineering Activity board on Pinterest for design challenge ideas that you can practice with friends in the classroom or try with your family in your own living room.

There won’t be any testing included in this year’s Divisional STEM Competitions, but we will be including math and science testing at the State STEM Competition. There are practice tests available here to get ready to compete. You’ll also want to try out the virtual platform. Instructions will be emailed to you directly.

As you take your practice tests to train for the State STEM Competition, 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.

In the 2021 season, the Divisional STEM Competitions will not contain any testing.

Currently, TAME anticipates that at the 2021 State STEM Competition, all participants will take either a math test or a science test:

• When a student has qualified to attend the State STEM Competition, they will be asked to select a Math or a Science test.
• Students in middle school (grades 6, 7, 8) will take the Middle School Math Test or the Middle School Science Test.
• Students in high school (grades 9, 10, 11, 12) will take the High School Math Test or 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).

Calculators are permitted on only the High School Science Test, and periodic tables are permitted only on the High School Science test. TAME will provide both calculators and periodic tables for the State STEM Competition tests.

At each Divisional STEM Competition, 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.

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. The first-place Engineering Design Challenge Team 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. 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 the Divisional or State STEM Competition.

When the State STEM Competition is offered in person, TAME provides transportation, lodging, food, and supplies for all students who attend. When hosted virtually, TAME covers the cost of hosting the competition online.

In a typical year when events are offered in person, 300 high-achieving students are invited to compete in the State STEM Competition. State participants take a timed math test OR 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.

In the evening, attendees will have a chance to participate in a variety of activities with students from all across the state.

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.

In fairness to all students, it is TAME policy that all participants must take part in all the scheduled events of the STEM Competition. You must participate in the activities for your Divisional STEM Competition on its scheduled day. Students who do not participate in the full Divisional STEM Competition may not be eligible to attend the State 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. 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.

Each year, TAME announces the theme for the State STEM Competition. TAME Club Members from across the state are invited to take part in TAME’s Creative Design Contest. There are two ways to enter:

• Suggest a hashtag related to the theme of the event. The winning hashtag will be used on social media by TAME Staff, State STEM Competition attendees, and TAME Sponsors.
• Submit a t-shirt design related to the theme of the event. The winning design will be featured on t-shirts, event programs, and other promotional materials that will be distributed to hundreds of participants at the State STEM Competition.

The contest is now open. See past Creative Design Contest winners here.

Each winner is awarded a cash prize, and if the winning student is in grade 6-12, they also receive a special invitation to the State STEM Competition.

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

In a typical year when events are offered in person, 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.