Academics

Academics

Area Five: Academics

All Tests Given Prior to Festival Day!

Tests must be ordered by the established deadline in the Fine Arts Guidelines. Tests will be sent to the student’s home and administered by the parent, who is then responsible to return the test to the WVCEA office. All information must be filled in – Full Name, School, and Name of Test. Answer sheets will not be graded if this information is missing or is illegible. Students should print this information.

Tests at the Elementary and Junior High levels will be administered to two separate levels.

Elementary tests may be taken by 4th - 6th graders. Junior High tests may be taken by 7th – 9thh graders.

General Rules:

Where practical, objective questions will be posed in a variety of forms.

Each student will be expected to furnish his own writing tools: two sharpened #2 pencils (exception: Creative Writing: Poetry and Expository Writing: Essay, where a ballpoint pen is required).

All examinations and answer sheets, as well as extra paper for any necessary computations, will be provided

Three examinations will be given in each category, with a time limit of one hour for each examination (exception: Spelling, Creative Writing: Poetry, and Expository Writing: Essay). The three one-hour examinations may be taken at anytime the student chooses during the regularly scheduled testing periods for that category.

In categories requiring math computation, non-programable scientific calculators will be permitted. However, the following will not be permitted: 1) calculators with graphing or multiline display capabilities, 2) calculators which use paper tape or printers, and 3) hand-held computers, pocket organizer, or laptop computers. Any necessary tables or charts will be provided.

Division 1: Bible and Academic Testing

Category 1: Old Testament Bible Knowledge

Competition in this category will be by written examination, testing knowledge of factual or objective material (rather than interpretive), from pre-assigned Old Testament books.

Specific Rules:

1: The student will take three one-hour written tests.

2: No Bibles, reference materials, notes, nor study guides will be allowed in the testing

room.

3: Each student will be expected to provide his own pencils. All examinations and

answer sheets will be provided.

4. The six year cycle by school year is stated below:

2011-2012 Proverbs

2012-2013 Isaiah

2013-2014 Nehemiah, Daniel, & Jonah

2014-2015 Genesis

2015-2016 Joshua & Judges

Category 2: New Testament Bible Knowledge

Competition in this category will be by written examination, testing knowledge of factual or objective material (rather than interpretive), from pre-assigned New Testament books.

Specific Rules:

1. The student will take three one-hour written tests.

2. No Bibles, reference materials, notes, or study guides will be allowed in the testing room.

3. Each student will be expected to provide his own pencils. All examinations and answer

sheets will be provided.

4. The six year cycle by school year is stated below:

2011-2012 Philippians, Colossians, I & II Thessalonians, I Timothy

2012-2013 II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James

2013-2014 I & II Peter, I, II, & III John, Jude, Revelation

2014-2015 Mark, Acts 2015-2016 Romans, I Corinthians

Category 3: English

1. The English examinations will consist of questions covering:

a. Grammar and usage: eight parts of speech, phrases, clauses,

agreement, etc.

b. Vocabulary in context and spelling recognition

c. Mechanics: capitalization and punctuation

d. Library: research techniques, bibliography, footnote forms

e. Diagramming

2. No composition will be required

3. No questions pertaining to literature will be asked

Category 4: Algebra/Geometry*

The examinations will consist of questions covering:

a. Algebra 1

b. Algebra 2

c. Geometry

*Not available to elementary and Jr. high participants

Category 5: Advanced Mathematics*

The examinations will consist of questions covering:

a. Trigonometry

b. Analytical Geometry

c. Permutations, Combinations, and Probability

d. Pre-Calculus

e. Theory of Equations

f. Sequences and Series

g. Statistics

h. Limits

i. Advanced Algebra

j. Function Analysis

k. Matrix Algebra

l. Vectors

m. Complex Numbers

*Not available to Elementary or Jr. high participants

Category 6: Math*

The exam shall consist of questions covering General Math and Algebra

*For Jr. high and Elementary participants only

Category 7: Biology*

The examinations will consist of questions covering:

a. Cells

b. Protozoa

c. Algae and fungi

d. Plants

e. Genetics

f. Vertebrate and invertebrate physiology

g. Human anatomy

h. Fossils

*Not for Jr. high or Elementary participants

Category 8: Chemistry*

The examinations will consist of questions covering:

a. Matter and energy

b. Atoms

c. Formulas and equations

d. Gases, liquids, and solids

e. Periodic table families

f. Equilibrium

g. Chemistry laws

h. Acids and bases

i. Metric units

j. Scientific methods

k. Chemical bonding

*Not available to Elementary and Jr. high participants

Category 9: Physics*

The examinations will consist of questions covering:

a. Motion

b. Energy

c. Light

d. Electricity

e. Heat

f. Magnetism

g. Physics laws

h. Sound

i. Metric units

*Not available to Elementary and Jr. high participants

Category 10: Science (Elementary and Jr. high only)

The exam shall consist of questions covering life, earth, and physical science

Category 11: World History/ Geography*

The examinations will consist of questions covering:

a. World History

b. World Geography

*Not available to Elementary and Jr. high participants

Category 12: United States History/Geography*

The examinations will consist of questions covering:

a. United States Geography

b. United States History

*Not available to Elementary and Jr. high participants

Category 13: Geography/History (Elementary and Jr. High only)

The exam consist of questions covering world (including US) geography, history, and civics

Category 14: Creative Writing: Poetry

1. The writing period cannot exceed two hours in length.

2. The title will not be announced until the beginning of the contest period.

3. Previously written poems will not be acceptable.

4. Legibility will be a requirement for evaluation.

5. No reference materials, except for a dictionary provided by the test proctor, will be permissible. 6. Each student will be expected to provide and use a ballpoint pen.

7. Paper will be provided by the test proctor.

Category 15: Expository Writing: Essay

1. The writing period cannot not exceed two hours in length

2. The title will not be announced until the beginning of the contest period

3. An essay will be defined as a written expression of the authors opinion:

a. Stated in a thesis in the first paragraph

b. Supported and proven in three to four paragraphs in the body, each

introduced by topic. Sentences that relate directly to the topic but

each providing a different argument or fact

c. Concluding with a summarizing paragraph which restates the thesis

4. Essays written in the first or second person will be disqualified. However, essays

that contain occasional or infrequent first or second person pronouns will receive a

point deduction. Points or a fraction of a point will be deducted which will prevent

an otherwise first-place winner from placing first, a second-place winner from

placing second, or a third-place winner from placing third.

5. Legibility will be a requirement for evaluation

6. No reference materials, except for a dictionary provided by the test proctor, will be permissible

7. Each student will be expected to provide and use a bal point pen. If a correction

needs to be made, they may cross out (neatly). If they wish to use a pencil to write

a draft, they may do so on scratch paper, but the submitted entry must be in pen.

8. Paper will be provided by the test proctor

Category 16: Spelling

Note for Spellers: A written test is taken first during the time of academic testing; Students that score the highest are asked to participate in the Spelling Bee during the live competition.

Elem/Junior High will be held together (5th – 8th graders) 2 entrants per school, may not enter in Sword Drill, single elimination. Please ask fine arts coordinator for additional rules.

Scripps has changed the way they are making the spelling list accessible to our schools. They are no longer publishing their "Spell It" practice book; however, they are listing the words on their website, www.myspellit.com. You may print and duplicate as many copies as you need.

On the website the words are arranged according to their language of origin. There is information with each language that tells how the words were adopted in the English vocabulary. Clicking on a word will access the pronunciation and etymology of that word. There are other tools on the website including an interactive "Now You Try" tab.

At the Elementary and Junior High competition levels, we recommend that all words come from the practice list. Senior High competition has the option to use words from previously published lists or from other sources as needed.

No attempt has been made to categorize the words according to difficulty. Site coordinators will be responsible to compile a pronouncer's list that takes into account the spellers' age levels.

Spelling will be conducted in the traditional spelling bee fashion according to the rules listed below.

Specific Rules:

1. Spelling will be conducted in the traditional spelling bee format in a single elimination fashion.

a. Information regarding spelling lists will be provided annually by the AACS National Office.

b. The dictionary specified in the current spelling bee information will be the final authority in

determining correctness of spelling and pronunciation.

c. NOTE: Rules of other national spelling competitions are not necessarily the same as the

AACS National Competition spelling rules.

d. The competition will be recorded for judges’ use only.

e. Capitalization of a word (whether omitted or added) shall not constitute an error.

2. Spelling Bee procedures:

a. All students will form a single line facing the Spelling Master.

b. All students will wear their AACS identification badges.

c. Words will be given to students from left to right.

d. A student will be disqualified upon one spelling error.

e. Words will be chosen from the current spelling bee list. If the Spelling Master decides that

additional words are necessary, the words will be chosen from the dictionary specified in the

official spelling bee booklet. This will be done at the beginning of a new round.

f. Pronunciation will be according to the diacritical markings in the dictionary listed in 1.b.

g. With the approval of the Judges, the Spelling Master may give a fuller explanation of the

meaning of the word to supplement the dictionary definition(s) quoted.

h. During competition, after the Spelling Master gives the student a word, the student may also

choose to pronounce the word before spelling it.

i. The student may request the Spelling Master to re-pronounce the word, define it, give its part

of speech, use it in a sentence, or give its language origin. The Master will grant the requests

until the Judges agree that the word has been made clear to the student. Judges may call an

error against any student who ignores a request to begin spelling.

j. After receiving the requested help in 2.i, the student will have fifteen seconds to spell the

word. Timing will begin at the student’s repeating the word or at the commencement of the

spelling of the word.

k. Having begun to spell a word, a student may stop and begin again, retracing the spelling

from the beginning; but in the retracing, there can be no change of letters or their sequence

from those first spelled. If letters or their sequences are changed in the respelling, the speller

will be declared in error.

l. The correct spelling of any incorrectly spelled word will always be given except when only

two students remain. The next word on the Master’s official competition list will then be given

to the next student, whether or not elimination occurs.

m. When the students are reduced to two, the elimination procedure changes. At that point,

when one student misspells a word, the other student will be given an opportunity to spell

that same word. If the second student spells that word correctly, plus the next word on the

pronouncer’s list, then the second student shall be declared champion.

n. If one of the last two spellers misses and the other, after correcting the error, misspells the

new word submitted to him, then the misspelled new word will be referred to the first

speller. If the first speller then succeeds in correcting the error and correctly spells the next

word on the pronouncer’s list, then he will be declared champion.

o. If both spellers misspell the same word, both will continue in the contest; and the one who

first misspelled the word will be given a new word to spell. The contest will then continue

under Rules (m) nd (n).

p. Any question relating to the spelling of a word will be referred to the Judges immediately.

Only a student speller may lodge a protest. The deadline for lodging a protest will be before

the affected student would have received his next word had he not been eliminated. No

protest will be entertained after a contested word has been given to another speller. When

only two spellers remain, a protest must be made immediately, i.e., before the second speller

has begun to spell the word, or, if both have missed the same word, before the correct

spelling is given the audience.

q. The Judges have complete authority and control. Their decision will be final in any dispute.

Category 17: Accounting*

1. The first test will center upon theory and transactions, the second upon

terminology, and the third upon short problems

2. The examinations will consist of questions drawn from any of these topics: special

journals, cash short and over, bank reconciliations, correcting checkbook balances,

recording transactions, classifications of accounts, adjusting and closing entries,

worksheet, cost of goods sold, combination journals, estimating bad debts, losses

and depreciation, recording bad debts, recording accruals and deferrals, financial

statements

*Not available to Elementary and Jr. High participants

Category 18: Home Economics*

The examinations will consist of questions covering:

a. Food and Nutrition

b. Clothing

c. Housing and home furnishings

*Not available to Elementary and Jr. High participants

Category 19: Political Science/Economics*

The examinations will consist of questions covering:

a. General principles of political science, including the nature and historical

development of the various types or governments in the world

b. Specific test on the nature and historical development of the United States

government

c. General principals of free enterprise economic theory

*Not available to Elementary and Jr. High participants

Category 20: Music Theory

1. Objectives for the test will include the following:

a. Major and minor key signatures

b. Major and minor scales

c. Harmony

d. Part-writing

e. Figured bass

f. Cadences

g. Rhythm and time signatures

2. The test does not include melodic dictation of aural recognition

Junior High Music Theory

Same topical objectives as Senior High listed above

Elementary Music Theory

a. Major key signatures (up to 3 sharps and 3 flats0

b. Major scales (up to 3 sharps and 3 flats)

c. Intervals

d. Simple cadences

e. Notation

f. Rhythm and Time Signatures

Category 21: Microsoft Office*

The test will cover computer applications and terms

Questions will cover applications in Microsoft Office 2000/XP

Questions will be computer generated from the Course Text Manager Test Bank.

* Not available to Elementary participants

Category 22: Spanish*

The examinations will consist of questions covering:

a. Grammar and usage

b. Vocabulary

c. Conjugation and agreement

d. Spanish to English translation and English to Spanish translation.

* Not available to Elementary and Jr. High participants

Division 2:

Science Fair

Requires Purchase of the Science Fair Rule and Regulations Manual (AACS, 2000 Vance Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37404, 1-423-629-4280)

Science Fair projects will be displayed during the entire competition in the specific location announced.

Each student must sign the Statement of Originality found on the Science Fair judging form and be present to answer questions in defense of his project.

Science Fair projects are to be individual projects, not group projects.

Category 1: Biological Sciences*

1.Biochemistry

2.Botany

3.Zoology

4.Health and Medicine

5.Microbiology

*Sr. High Only

Category 2: Physical Sciences*

1.Chemistry

2.Pure Physics

3.Applied Physics and Engineering

4.Mathematics and Computers

5.Earth and Space Science

*Sr. High Only

Social Studies Fair (Eementary/Junior High only):

WVCEA follows the guidelins of the WV Dept. of Education. It is now online for anyone to download. Please do the following for information and instructions.

Go to www.wvssfair.com. This will take you to WV Dept. of Education

Under "Information for Participants", click on "7-Steps Book"

Copy this book (28 pgs. long)- these are the guidelines and judges' form we will be using for Social Studies Fair.

Please note these differences in the rules on pgs. 2-3 of the booklet.

The following rules will not be applicable to WVCEA, so just write N/A on those lines: Nos.1,3,12,16,19,21,22, & 23.

Under Rule No. 2, our Divisions are Division I: Grades 4-6, and Division II: Grades 7-9. Also please note that projects may be done by individuals only and not in pairs for WVCEA.

While we will supply the actual judging form for the student (which will be what you see on booklet pg. 17). the student should make sure to complete the abstract (Appendix A -- pgs. 20-21) and have it with the project on display.

Social Studies Fair will be treated the same as Science Fair. The project (and abstract) should be put up by the student (date and time TBA), and the student will later have a scheduled interview time with judges.

Category 3: Home Economics: Machine Sewing* - Dresses (Church dresses, casual dresses)

*Senior High only

Category 4: Sportswear* - (Select one of these: skirt, blouse, jumper, or dress pants)

*Senior High only

General Rules:

Entries will be restricted to items of clothing in which the finished product is achieved essentially by machine stitching.

Patterns designed by the student are not required; however, the pattern and instructions must be included with the project. Garments must be removed from garment bags in order to be judged. The pattern and judging sheet must be placed in a zip-lock bag. Place a hole in the corner of the bag and slip it over the hanger.

All clothing must be of a modest design (no plunging necklines or backs). No dress slits are to be higher than the knee. NOTE: Due to the variance of definition of modest, decisions of the judges in reference to the matter will be final.

A 3x5 card must be attached to the garment giving the following information: On on side: